Profiles
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1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner Retractable
Even if the Commies had beaten us in space exploration, we had both the hideaway hard top and the Edsel The Ford Fairlane Skyliner can claim to be America’s first production convertible to feature a retractable hard top. Introduced as Ford’s top-of-the-range model in 1955, the Fairlane was rival to Chevrolet’s successful Bel Air and…
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1965 Ferrari 1512
Ferrari built three of these cars 40 years ago and never used the engine again. If you blew it up, it would be a very long walk home In an attempt to curb the ever-increasing speeds of Formula One, engine regulations were changed in 1961 to a maximum capacity of 1.5 liters. By the time…
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1901 Panhard et Levassor Rear-Entrance Tonneau
The first Panhard rolled out in 1891, and in 1892 this pioneer firm created the mechanical layout nearly all other successful manufacturers would follow: front engine, midships transmission, and driven rear wheels. Called “La Systeme Panhard,” it was the beginning of many innovations this company would bring to automotive development, such as wheel steering and…
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1925 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Scaphandrier-style tourer
Looking at the clumsy double tops I wonder: What were they thinking? When electrical engineer F. H. Royce joined forces with well-known motoring sportsman the Hon. C. S. Rolls to form Rolls-Royce Motors in 1905, it took them two years to hit their stride with the 40/50 HP model, now commonly called the “Silver Ghost.”…
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1966-67 Oldsmobile Toronado
How can muscle car collectors overlook anything this big? The 1966 Toronado was America’s first front-wheel drive car since the Cord 810, 30 years earlier. It was certainly Oldsmobile’s (and possibly GM’s) last stylistic tour de force. The post-1967 years became increasingly unfriendly to this type of individuality as committees, legislators, and focus groups took…
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1957 Chevrolet Corvette “Fuelie” Convertible
In 1956 Chevrolet introduced a restyled Corvette that was a complete departure from earlier models. The new Corvettes gave the American sports car a new identity that was much more sporting. They were fast, sleek, and extremely clean in their appearance. Recognized by collectors as benchmark years in Corvette styling, the 1956 and 1957 models…
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1951 Land Rover Series I
In the end, who cares about their pug-like looks. They work and they can’t be killed {vsig}2006-2_1911{/vsig} Land Rover is one of the most charismatic names in the motoring world, with a rich history around the globe. Its beginnings were humble-it was designed as a utility vehicle and mobile power source for ranchers and…
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1969 Monteverdi 375 S
I had always wanted one, perhaps because, like me, the car was Swiss-born, but with an American heart {vsig}2006-2_1912{/vsig} With its beautiful, squatted-back, ready-to-pounce body styling, the Monteverdi 375 S was designed to be the definitive combination of luxury and power. The steel-bodied car was both strong and smooth. With 375 hp and 280 lb-ft…
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1959 Ferrari 250 GT “Tour de France” Competition Berlinetta
Ferrari’s 250 3-liter LWB Berlinettas so dominated the grueling Tour de France in the mid 1950s, they took their name from it. They racked up a string of victories in the epic French race, scoring a 1-2-3 in 1958, when only 21 of 60 starters finished. The five-day, 3,300-mile marathon included open road rally stages,…
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1954 Porsche 550/1500RS Spyder “Le Mans Prototype”
Porsche built four 550 Spyders for the 1954 Le Mans 24 Hours, numbered 10 through 13. This car, S/N 550-10, was assigned to Richard von Frankenberg and Helm Glockler. In practice, it was the fastest of the 1,500-cc 550s, but it was also the first to retire. Only 20 minutes into the race, a holed…