It still conjures up Ealing Comedy images of Miss Marple meandering absent-mindedly through rustic English villages at 25 mph The whole “people’s car” thing never went over particularly well in the upwardly mobile post-war U.S. Cars like the Crosley, Citroën 2CV, and VW Beetle screamed austerity at a time when […]
Archives: Profiles
1954 Dodge Firearrow III Concept
Chysler’s financial crises of the early 1950s couldn’t stop the string of Virgil Exner’s Ghia concept cars {vsig}2009-4_2307{/vsig} In 1953, Dodge unveiled its first concept car, the Firearrow, a sleek out-of-this-world roadster that provided a glimpse of what everyone’s new automobile would look like in just a few years. While […]
1932 Daimler 40/50 Double Six Sport Saloon
The long hood is a bit like a padded medieval codpiece {vsig}2009-4_2310{/vsig} This 1932 Daimler Double Six 40/50 Sport Saloon is, without question, one of the most imposing automobiles ever constructed by the legendary British marque-or any maker of exclusive luxury vehicles. While only 26 Double Sixes were built over […]
1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 S
The Lamborghini Miura is where it all started-the first production automobile to earn the “supercar” tag. Prior to the Miura’s arrival in 1967, many sports cars offered high levels of performance and handling. But the Miura was the first built around the criteria that define our modern concept of the […]
2003 Ferrari Enzo
Its design is pure haute couture, a cutting edge style that dances on the line between art and automobile {vsig}2009-4_2312{/vsig} In 1998, only a few years after the introduction of the groundbreaking F50, Ferrari began planning its newest limited-production supercar. The criteria for this car was similar to those […]
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
In many ways, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster was an improvement over its Gullwing predecessors. The multi-tube chassis was redesigned with lower sills and conventionally hinged doors for easier entry and exit. Roll-up windows overcame one of the Gullwing’s greatest drawbacks-inadequate interior ventilation-and the seats were given a three-position backrest rake […]
1946 Steyr-Allard Hillclimb Car
It’s shiny and extreme, weird, overdone, and in-your-face in a manner that puts a grin on you just walking around it {vsig}2009-4_2315{/vsig} Sydney Allard’s famous one-off hillclimb car, the 1947 Steyr-Allard, is the best known of all his vehicles. Allard competed in the British Hillclimb Championship with this car for […]
1958 283/245 Convertible
Although the cars built from 1953 to 1955 introduced the Corvette to America, it was the 1956 second series that truly earned the title “America’s Sports Car.” The clean good looks of Harley Earl’s new body design struck a chord with the American public, and it quickly outsold the older […]
1964 350 Convertible Resto-Mod
Introduced in 1963, the Bill Mitchell-designed Corvette Sting Ray was a quantum leap in the Corvette’s ongoing development. Equipped with a revolutionary yet simple independent rear suspension conceived by Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Corvette matured into a true sports car. Continuously improved, the Corvette featured an ever-expanding list of available […]
1967/74 “Delmo Johnson” Race Car
After many years in retirement, Corvette Grand Sport racer Delmo Johnson was encouraged by some Texas friends to become involved in vintage racing. He acquired this, his last race car, around 1990 from his old friend John Mecom, an equally famous Texan. The car began life in 1967 as a […]