Author: Ken Gross

Ken Gross is a Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Chief Class Judge and a founding member of the International Chief Judges’ Advisory Group (ICJAG). He served as Executive Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, and his 15 critically acclaimed auto exhibitions have drawn record crowds at major fine-art museums nationwide. The author of 25 books, Ken has been contributing to SCM for more than three decades.

1935 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Rollston

The Rollston Company was inarguably New York’s finest coachbuilder — renowned for the proficiency of its designers in both open and convertible styles, with conservative or rakish lines. Few American shops of any era were so skilled at so diverse a catalog, all built with outstanding craftsmanship and rock-solid quality. […]

Remembering Dr. Fred

Dr. Frederick Anthony Simeone, whose extraordinary car collection featured many racing cars with Le Mans history, died on Saturday, June 11. He was 86. Fittingly, his last moments were spent at the hospital he regarded as a second home, as the 24-hour race was well underway. “Dr. Fred,” as many […]

1951 “Hirohata” Mercury Custom Coupe

Uniquely American in many ways, the custom-car craze truly found its calling in the late 1940s, blossoming throughout popular culture in the following decade. For many owners, the restyled early post-war Mercury coupes have been the way to go for these changes, and the 1949–51 cars quickly became an open […]

1931 Duesenberg Model J Roadster “Green Hornet”

The Classic enthusiast will behold this Duesenberg at first glance and wonder what looks so familiar. Finally, it will click: The body resembles a Packard roadster of 1930–31. The reason, of course, is that the body is a Packard roadster of that vintage. The body, as noted by prominent Duesenberg […]

1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 Type S

The Mercedes-Benz “S” was created in a magical period for the company, shortly after the merger of Daimler and Benz, while Ferdinand Porsche was chief engineer. He built a powerful-yet-versatile automobile — a true all-rounder, at home on the racetrack, at hillclimbs and providing exhilirating driving for the road. The […]

1934 Mercedes-Benz 500/540K Spezial Roadster

The sensation of the 1934 Berlin Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz’s legendary 500K supercar was the creation of the gifted engineer and former racing driver Dr. Hans Nibel. What set his supercharged Mercedes apart from the big, blown Mercedes of the previous decade was the model’s advanced chassis design, which combined swing […]

SCM’s Oregon Odyssey

To celebrate his magazine’s 30th anniversary, SCM Founder and Publisher Keith Martin, a veteran of countless driving tours in vintage cars, planned a tour of his own — and invited magazine subscribers to join him. Keith’s impressive guest list included Miles Collier, SCM columnist and founder of the Revs Institute; […]

1936 Ford Cabriolet

First car built by Ken “Posies” Fenical for his shop, Posies Rods and Customs, Hummelstown, PA Chopped 3.5 inches, with a Carson-style padded top 350-ci small-block Chevrolet V8 with three Rochester 2-bbl carburetors Featured in over 20 hot rod magazines worldwide Built in 1981 and restored in 2011. Known as […]

1936 Ford Deluxe Roadster Custom

Traditional-style hot rod with modern drivetrain and conveniences 406-ci small-block Chevrolet engine with 700R4 transmission Custom built by Joe White’s Performance and Machine, Austin, TX Windshield and folding-top assembly chopped two inches Authentic 100% stock Ford steel roadster body

1932 Ford Roadster

Offered from the collection of Jack Dunning Professional build by Glenn and Randy Hatcher Brookville steel body and chassis 1939 Ford flathead V8 engine and driveline This car, Lot 431, sold for $65,450, including buyer’s premium, at RM Auctions’ sale in Hershey, PA, on October 11, 2019.