After Paul’s eloquent handing over of the keys the other day, I was pondering if or what I should say and have decided that we do owe you, the readers, a brief update. I’ve been a reader of CC since the beginning and also of the time before at the other site, as was JP Cavanaugh and I believe Jason Shafer as well, and we all somehow ended up writing for CC, which perhaps was inevitable. We all enjoy the format the way it has been and do not anticipate any major changes; in fact we’d prefer if you weren’t even really aware that some of the names at the top of the masthead have changed. While Paul announced this a couple of days ago, we’ve been running things for almost the last couple of weeks now, hopefully it’s been fairly transparent.
The way we view this transition is really as more of a placeholder of indeterminate length. Should Paul decide to re-enter the workforce at some point in his retirement, we intend that CC will be here and just like stepping back into a comfortable pair of boots and are totally okay with that if it should occur.
Change is scary, and we are all resistant to it. But change can also be due to progress, and CC really has been a work in progress from the beginning. First just cars from the curb, then Cars Of A Lifetime, then the odd Rental Car Review and AutoShow, and now we are at the point where we are also semi-regularly reviewing new vehicles as well as covering some industry news and developments. When you think about it, all the Curbside Classics that we love were new at one time and all new vehicles will eventually be Curbside Classics as well. So this is natural. That being said, we are striving to keep a balance between old and new and everything in between. I have always loved how when I’d click on the website I would have no idea if the newest article would be about a Chevy or a Honda or a BMW or even a train or a bicycle or maybe even a plane or a farm implement! And that’s what has made it exciting, fun, and an honor to write for this publication.
But seriously, it’s also been a collaboration since the beginning. This site is bigger than one person and is more than one person can (and should) handle; JP, Jason, and I all have other obligations and commitments as well. CC is a fairly well-oiled machine with a few squeaks and rattles but the more of us that all crowd under the hood, the better we can fettle it. We’ve always welcomed reader submissions (which is what we all were to begin with) and continue to encourage that. It’s been amazing to have people actually read, comment and even occasionally agree with my opinions! I’m sure Jason and JP feel the same. If you’re interested, let us know and we can figure out how to get you started. And if you are already doing it, a huge “Thank You!” is in order. And if not, no worries, we’re happy and occasionally still slightly amazed that you want to come here to read our stuff.
So that’s it in a nutshell. The goal is to keep going and have it be pretty much the same as it ever was; reading your comments from the other day made it obvious how much you, our readers, like this big tent the way it is. Why mess with a good thing?
Thank You,
Jim Klein along with Jason Shafer and JP Cavanaugh
Love the pic.
Save Ferris!
All hail the new triumvirate. 😉
I am sure you guys will keep up the fine work, best of luck.
Thanks for taking over, fellas. Can I assume the contact information remains the same?
Just got off a 2-week rental with a Fusion Hybrid and I was going to write a Rental Car Review, but Jason beat me to the Fusion punch 🙁
Yes we are in the process of transitioning that over. If you send something and don’t hear back, please just try again, it’s probably that we probably didn’t get it for some reason, not that you’re being ignored. The goal is to be extremely responsive.
The Hybrid is definitely a different animal in many ways than the base model we just saw so I’d say there is room for your take on the Hybrid.
There once was three guys named J
Who took over a website that was doing okay
They knew not to mess with what was a success
And everybody cheered them on… hurray!
Aye Aye, and Aye my three captains. I’m glad you guys are on it.
I second that emotion!
Good-luck, three J’s!
Curbside Classic has apparently been taken over — ‘conquered if you will — by a master race of talented, literate, automobile enthusiasts. It’s difficult to tell from this vantage point whether they will consume the readers or merely enslave them. One thing is for certain: there is no stopping them; they are already here. And I for one welcome our new content overlords. I’d like to remind them that as a trusted TV personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground COAL caves.
This is wonderful.
This is Kent Brockman reporting.
Spending time on this site is like enjoying a glass of your favourite fine wine. Enjoy, relax, and take it all in. Keep up the great work!
I’m, sure the new managing trifecta will do a sterling job, no point in changing what isnt broken.
Well, Sterling might not be the best analogy here 🙂
LOL!
So far, so good!
(Searching thru the cobwebs of my mind, trying to find out if I made any pithy, snarky comments on any of the past Jim Klein & Co postings here….)
Wait . . . so we aren’t going with the all-Studebaker thing we discussed? 🙂
Don’t tease me!
Hi folks, I don’t post much but visit just about daily. Such a great site! Thanks for keeping it going in the same fashion as previous
We quickly realized it’s easier to keep doing things the same way as opposed to changing it.
There was discussion about 100% Studebakers, then 100% GM B-bodies, plus a few others, but that gets tedious that other 99.7% of the time. So it’s pretty much business as usual.
This seems like a good transition to a group of folks that will keep things going smoothly here.
I guess my one piece of input is to suggest that the occasional CC meetup has been an important part of bringing people together here, and I hope they will continue.
I’d be up for another one eventually, us three did a little one in the Midwest last summer. But yes, they are extremely enjoyable for myself and the other guys as well.
I figured as much (re no changes in particular), but am glad you put this post out here!
Count me in! Getting excited for the future of CC.
I’m happy it’s you three that are keeping it going! A day w/o CC is like a day w/o sunshine.
Good luck guys – we’re in good hands.
I suggest we refer to you collectively as Kaiser J.
CC is in safe and talented hands. Cheers!
This site is one of the few that I enjoy reading the comments almost as much as the articles, themselves. And that’s pretty rare in that somehow it has cultivated an intelligent, informed bunch of readers. In contrast, every time that I read the comments on something like Jay Leno’s Garage, I’m sorry that I did so……lots of harsh comments, fighting, name calling, etc. My IQ feels like it goes down. I guess that’s what happens as the popularity of something goes up, but I feel like there’s a small but dedicated following and loyalty to CC here that is like a bunch of cool, relaxed car enthusiasts.
Also, this site is one of the few where it’s a bit like going to a car show where, although I do enjoy the tried and true things that I like, it’s actually the oddball cars that I enjoy reading about. Like someone who has a Gremlin X or something. Somehow, an article about something like maybe a Chevette piques my interest. I guess as common cars become less common, it’s a fascination in itself……who keeps this car going? What is its story? That’s the allure of a curbside classic–sometimes they’re not really classics in the traditional sense, but kept alive and still out there, even if it’s a clapped out rustbucket.
I have a selfish request… will you guys keep scanning the Cohort Flickr group for photos to run? It brings me great joy to see shots posted there appear here.
Late here, as usual for the past year or three (life is very full!)…but great news. Thank you and congrats for picking up the reigns Jim, Jason, JP. I look forward to the ride continuing (and possibly to you all putting your own stamps on it a little bit!). Cheers, Scott.