Columns
-
1973 Jaguar E-Type Series III V12 Convertible
If ever there was an auto manufacturer to take lessons learned from racing and apply them to their street cars, it was Jaguar. The legendary D-type was a formidable competitor on the track and Jaguar included all the D’s best traits when it debuted the E-type in 1961. Arguably the most well recognized sports car…
-
1973 Datsun 240Z
Few realize the roots of Nissan reach back to 1912, when a young man named Masujiro Hashimoto created a car. The car was named DAT, after three family member’s initials. By 1934, the cars were Datsuns and the company was Nissan. By the late 1950s, Yuraka Katayama, a young engineer educated in America, advocated both…
-
It’s a Vision Thing
DETROIT, MICHIGAN The future of the automobile will be shaped by the collision of grand strategies and the realities of the marketplace. At the recently concluded North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), held at Cobo Center in Detroit, the struggle between car makers to hold and increase market share was palpable and ferocious.Like gladiators in…
-
1963-64 Studebaker Avanti R-1/R-2
The Avanti was an automotive Hail Mary, a last-ditch effort to bring excitement and warm bodies to Studebaker showrooms. In 1961 Studebaker president Sherwood Egbert made the decision to build a sports car-and to do it as fast as possible. He called upon one of the best-known industrial designers in the world, Raymond Loewy, who…
-
1965 Volkswagen 21-Window Deluxe Micro Bus
When the boxy Volkswagen Transporter arrived on American shores in 1949, its effect and influence was immediate. Using standard Beetle components, it was easy to maintain and was one of the best ways to move small groups of people. Dubbed the “Micro Bus,” Volkswagen’s unique Transporter survived through the decades and evolved into several different…
-
1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Rally Sport
Introduced to compete against Ford’s popular and youth-oriented Mustang in 1967, the Camaro’s brawny good looks and high-performance options resulted in an immediate sales success. Building on this, Chevrolet debuted a completely redesigned second breed of Camaro on February 26, 1970, that was aimed to be “the Corvette for everyday use.” Supported by a new…
-
1958 Alfa Romeo 750 Giulietta Sprint Veloce
It only took delivery of a few Giulietta Sprints to their new owners in 1954 for word to spread that Alfa Romeo had built something exceptional. Alfa Romeo, caught by surprise, had to quickly figure out how to increase production in order to meet demand. Alfa’s previous best-seller had been the 2600 Sprint, with 6,999…
-
1981 Ferrari 308 GTBi
The advent of the new Pininfarina-designed 308 GTB was hailed as one of the best Ferraris of modern times. And it is no wonder-following on the heels of the mechanically inspired but visually challenged 308 GT4, the new 308 was drop-dead gorgeous. As Sergio Pininfarina himself pointed out, “Every Ferrari car previously designed by us…
-
1966 Ford GT40 Mk I
The failed merger in 1963 between Ford and Ferrari and the subsequent return to competition motorsport at the highest level by the American company is motoring lore. After their rejection by Ferrari, Lee Iacocca and Leo Bebee formed Ford Advanced Vehicles and went shopping for a Le Mans winner. Following their visit to Eric Broadley’s…
-
1972 Lamborghini Miura SV
Rock-and-roll star Rod Stewart was no stranger to the Lamborghini Miura, the world’s first mid-engined supercar-he has owned both a Miura S and SV. When he ordered the right-hand drive SV shown here, he specified a bright yellow finish with dark blue leather upholstery. He also ordered air conditioning, which was relatively novel on a…