Author: Carl Bomstead

Carl Bomstead is a longtime Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance judge and Classic Car Club of America Master Judge. He wrote his first story for SCM in February 1997.

1954 Kaiser-Darrin Roadster

There have been many great automobile designers who have left their mark on the motoring landscape. Among these greats would have to be the contributions of Howard “Dutch” Darrin, whose design talent was favored among many of Hollywood’s elite. Quite simply, if you were famous and you wanted a car […]

1914 American Underslung Model 644 Touring

The innovative American Motors Company of Indianapolis, IN, is best remembered for their famous “Underslung” models. These striking designs placed the frame rails below the axles, giving a significantly reduced center of gravity along with a sporting profile. Significantly oversized wheels remedied the problem of ground clearance. This design innovation […]

Darin Schnabel ©2013, courtesy of RM Auctions

1932 Chrysler CH Imperial Cabriolet

 The 1932 Chrysler CH Imperial offered by RM is believed to have been the first car to receive a Bohman & Schwartz body. In many ways, it represents a watershed moment in California coachbuilding. While the car could easily have been built on the longer CL Imperial, choosing the 135-inch-wheelbase […]

Courtesy of Bonhams

1948 Chrysler Town & Country Convertible

A woodie with Full Classic status This 1948 Chrysler Town and Country shows only 77,630 miles, which is believed to be from new. The interior is finished completely in striking blue leather upholstery, a rare option in 1948 (supposedly only 10% were ordered with the leather option). It is complemented […]

1950 Nash-Healey Roadster

What emerged from this two-year restoration process is nothing short of remarkable — Donald Healey’s own Nash-Healey, exactly as he built it, with no expense spared to ensure 100% historical accuracy. Restored by Tsikuris Classics — under the supervision by noted authority Bill Emerson. All major components are original to […]

1954 Chrysler GS-1 Special by Ghia

During the 1950s, Italian coachbuilder Ghia built numerous one-off “dream cars” for Chrysler Corporation. One, the slab-sided and extremely modern “Thomas Special,” named for Chrysler export executive C.B. Thomas, was so well received at European shows that a limited run of duplicates was produced for European customers. Others soon followed, […]

1937 Pontiac Deluxe Six Woodie Wagon

• Reported to have sold new to the Wrigleychewing-gum family in Chicago, 1937 • Sold by Wrigley family in 1977 to family mechanic, then to a collection in Arizona in 1983; stayed there until 2013 in dry storage • It is said that this rare and interesting woodie is one […]

1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Convertible Coupe

As advanced as the Model J Duesenberg was upon its introduction in 1929, most of the technical advancements contained within were confined to the body and chassis. The design of the front end and fenders — as well as that of most coachbuilt bodies — still bowed toward late-1920s convention, […]

1932 Auburn 8-100A speedster

The 1932 Auburn 8-100A Speedster was the Auburn Automobile Company’s most spectacular 8-cylinder offering — an ideal Depression-era road machine for those who could afford it. It offered outstanding performance for a dashing couple, with the flexibility of a 2-speed rear axle providing a low ratio for city use and […]

1955 Hudson Italia

Hudson designer Frank Spring (who left Murphy Coachbuilders in the 1930s to join Hudson) contracted with Carrozzeria Touring of Milan to build 25 production models of his dream sports car. Touring created a Superleggera coupe with an aluminum unibody built over a steel tub frame. Unique to the Italia were […]