-
-
Curbside Classics Archives
About Author: Jim Brophy
Posts by Jim Brophy
-
![(first posted 2/23/2019) Several weeks ago we looked at buses built by Alfa Romeo – today, let’s review another storied Italian manufacturer better know for its svelte coupes, handsome sedans, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/1936-lancia-omicron-del-1936-1-e1549456135637.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Bus Stop Classics: 1920 – 1975 Lancia Buses – Italian Flair")
Bus Stop Classics: 1920 – 1975 Lancia Buses – Italian Flair
Posted on March 8, 2025 | 24 Comments(first posted 2/23/2019) Several weeks ago we looked at buses built by Alfa Romeo – today, let’s review another storied Italian manufacturer better know for its svelte coupes, handsome sedans, […] -
![I’m getting to that age when for some reason or another, the mind starts to focus on the negative versus the positive – I’d call it “curmudgeon-itis.” I’ve tried to […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1598163531164-1-e1741140406923.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "QOTD: What Are Some of the New Auto Technologies That You Love and Some That You Hate?")
QOTD: What Are Some of the New Auto Technologies That You Love and Some That You Hate?
Posted on March 8, 2025 | 89 CommentsI’m getting to that age when for some reason or another, the mind starts to focus on the negative versus the positive – I’d call it “curmudgeon-itis.” I’ve tried to […] -
![Recently the Editors of Vintage Motor Coach Magazine asked if I would author an article on Prevost’s urban transit coaches – specifically the “Citadin”, which we’ve covered here at […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1962-prevost-model-49-s-transit-bus-1-e1738468290145.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Bus Stop Classics: Prevost Travel-Aire and S-Series Urban Transit Buses – A Couple of Rare Birds")
Bus Stop Classics: Prevost Travel-Aire and S-Series Urban Transit Buses – A Couple of Rare Birds
Posted on February 8, 2025 | 17 CommentsRecently the Editors of Vintage Motor Coach Magazine asked if I would author an article on Prevost’s urban transit coaches – specifically the “Citadin”, which we’ve covered here at […] -
![(first posted 1/26/2019) I saw this spiffy Suzuki Twin parked at a Tokyo supermarket last weekend. I hadn’t paid much attention to these before, but after seeing […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IMGP2804-1-e1548158379289.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Outtake: 2003-05 Suzuki Twin – Would Make a Great Clown Car")
CC Outtake: 2003-05 Suzuki Twin – Would Make a Great Clown Car
Posted on January 26, 2025 | 20 Comments(first posted 1/26/2019) I saw this spiffy Suzuki Twin parked at a Tokyo supermarket last weekend. I hadn’t paid much attention to these before, but after seeing […] -
![(first posted 1/19/2019) Think Alfa Romeo and your mind’s eye will most likely conjure up a beautiful red roadster or lithesome coupe, both powered by a high-revving […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/800.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Bus Stop Classics: 1950’s Alfa Romeo Buses – Mass Transportation Con Verve")
Bus Stop Classics: 1950’s Alfa Romeo Buses – Mass Transportation Con Verve
Posted on January 19, 2025 | 31 Comments(first posted 1/19/2019) Think Alfa Romeo and your mind’s eye will most likely conjure up a beautiful red roadster or lithesome coupe, both powered by a high-revving […] -
![It seems all vehicle manufacturers were (and are) guilty of it – “badge engineering” or doing as little as possible to distinguish one brand or model of car from another, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1975-dodge-charger-daytona-e1735813183303.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "QOTD: What’s The Worst Case of “Badge Engineering?”")
QOTD: What’s The Worst Case of “Badge Engineering?”
Posted on January 11, 2025 | 78 CommentsIt seems all vehicle manufacturers were (and are) guilty of it – “badge engineering” or doing as little as possible to distinguish one brand or model of car from another, […] -
![The recent holiday season has brought two major, perhaps landmark, automotive news stories from Japan. The first is obviously the potential merger of Honda and Nissan. Lots of commentary and […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/images-4.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Commentary: Two Key Automotive Industry Developments from Japan")
CC Commentary: Two Key Automotive Industry Developments from Japan
Posted on January 4, 2025 | 23 CommentsThe recent holiday season has brought two major, perhaps landmark, automotive news stories from Japan. The first is obviously the potential merger of Honda and Nissan. Lots of commentary and […] -
![(first posted 12/29/2018) Here’s a bus that caught my eye when doing a little research on the Mercedes O321H – this is a 1954 Krauss-Maffei KML (Krauss-Maffei […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1954-krauss-maffei-kml-110-body-also.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Bus Stop Classics: 1954 Krauss-Maffei KML 110 Coach – Wind Cheater")
Bus Stop Classics: 1954 Krauss-Maffei KML 110 Coach – Wind Cheater
Posted on December 23, 2024 | 16 Comments(first posted 12/29/2018) Here’s a bus that caught my eye when doing a little research on the Mercedes O321H – this is a 1954 Krauss-Maffei KML (Krauss-Maffei […] -
![It’s a real conundrum, isn’t it? Shell out a few more bucks and get that oil changed, brake fluid flushed, or HVAC filter replaced? In my over fifty years of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/images-3.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC QOTD: Do You Follow Your Car Manufacturers Factory Maintenance Schedule or Do You Go Your Own Way?")
CC QOTD: Do You Follow Your Car Manufacturers Factory Maintenance Schedule or Do You Go Your Own Way?
Posted on December 21, 2024 | 34 CommentsIt’s a real conundrum, isn’t it? Shell out a few more bucks and get that oil changed, brake fluid flushed, or HVAC filter replaced? In my over fifty years of […] -
Bus Stop Classics: Cambridgeshire Guided Busway – The Longest in the World
Posted on December 21, 2024 | 15 CommentsA while back we reviewed the Yutorito Elevated Busway, let’s now take a look at one that’s more down-to-earth – and is also currently the longest in the world. -
![(first posted 12/15/2018) A few weeks back we looked at the Dyson Land Liner coach, which was essentially a trailer bus with the prime mover tractor replaced by a […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SantaFeTrailwaysplywoodbus_01_resized-e1543137624245.jpg?resize=115%2C77&ssl=1 "Bus Stop Classics: 1942 Santa Fe Trailways “Victory Liner” Coach – Another Innovation During War That Didn’t Make the Transition to Peacetime")
Bus Stop Classics: 1942 Santa Fe Trailways “Victory Liner” Coach – Another Innovation During War That Didn’t Make the Transition to Peacetime
Posted on December 15, 2024 | 35 Comments(first posted 12/15/2018) A few weeks back we looked at the Dyson Land Liner coach, which was essentially a trailer bus with the prime mover tractor replaced by a […] -
![With the exception of Tatra87 and myself, there’s probably not a lot of other Curbsiders that have a yen (no pun intended) for a tutorial on Japanese license plates. But […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/New-Local-Patterns-Japanese-License-Plate-1_600x-e1733452655879.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Commentary: Everything You Wanted to Know About Japanese License Plates – Or More Useless Trivia")
Curbside Commentary: Everything You Wanted to Know About Japanese License Plates – Or More Useless Trivia
Posted on December 14, 2024 | 33 CommentsWith the exception of Tatra87 and myself, there’s probably not a lot of other Curbsiders that have a yen (no pun intended) for a tutorial on Japanese license plates. But […] -
![Japan used to have quite a few trolleybus lines, though most have been replaced – first by diesel, and now by Battery Electric and Fuel Cell models. Currently there is […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/may-28-2013-toyama-japan-260nw-1219266205.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Bus Stop Classics: Tateyama Trolleybus – Saying Goodbye to the Last Trolleybus Line in Japan")
Bus Stop Classics: Tateyama Trolleybus – Saying Goodbye to the Last Trolleybus Line in Japan
Posted on November 30, 2024 | 13 CommentsJapan used to have quite a few trolleybus lines, though most have been replaced – first by diesel, and now by Battery Electric and Fuel Cell models. Currently there is […] -
![A sign of the times…a forward thinking European city doing its best to be ecologically and environmentally friendly implements an innovative car-sharing service utilizing pure Battery Electric vehicles to reduce […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/xgB1oDiPwQN0JSAgM1WNqqcHDAUxhuE5aU0mRCk8-e1732281529949.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Outtake: 1974 – 1986 Witkar – Have Pod, Will Travel")
Curbside Outtake: 1974 – 1986 Witkar – Have Pod, Will Travel
Posted on November 24, 2024 | 18 CommentsA sign of the times…a forward thinking European city doing its best to be ecologically and environmentally friendly implements an innovative car-sharing service utilizing pure Battery Electric vehicles to reduce […] -
![(first posted 11/24/2018) Here’s a very unique and technically interesting bus from our friends down under – it’s a Dyson Landliner and it plied the roads in Australia […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Dyson-Landliner.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Bus Stop Classics: 1945 Dyson Landliner Bus – An Innovative Experiment from Down Under")
Bus Stop Classics: 1945 Dyson Landliner Bus – An Innovative Experiment from Down Under
Posted on November 23, 2024 | 39 Comments(first posted 11/24/2018) Here’s a very unique and technically interesting bus from our friends down under – it’s a Dyson Landliner and it plied the roads in Australia […]
