- Description
- Car nut with a soft spot for classic Lincolns and early automotive air conditioning.
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Curbside Classics Archives
About Author: Tom Halter
Posts by Tom Halter
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![In March of 1977, headlines and TV newscasts across the US breathlessly broke the news that GM had been selling some Oldsmobile models with Chevrolet engines. While this may hardly […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/5356100018_large.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The 1977 Oldsmobile Chevrolet Engine Scandal – There’s No Rocket In My 88’s Pocket")
Automotive History: The 1977 Oldsmobile Chevrolet Engine Scandal – There’s No Rocket In My 88’s Pocket
Posted on May 13, 2020 | 142 CommentsIn March of 1977, headlines and TV newscasts across the US breathlessly broke the news that GM had been selling some Oldsmobile models with Chevrolet engines. While this may hardly […] -
![I have written about my 2017 Ford Fusion Platinum several times before (here and here). Now that it is has accumulated nearly 40,000 miles and is at the end of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMG_0773.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL Long Term Followup: 40,000 Miles with a 2017 Ford Fusion Platinum")
COAL Long Term Followup: 40,000 Miles with a 2017 Ford Fusion Platinum
Posted on February 25, 2020 | 47 CommentsI have written about my 2017 Ford Fusion Platinum several times before (here and here). Now that it is has accumulated nearly 40,000 miles and is at the end of […] -
COAL: Cars Of My Father, Part 3 – The Mopar Era
Posted on February 14, 2020 | 17 CommentsPicking up from where I left off last time, my dad was moving on from the conversion Chevy Van that had outlived its usefulness. -
COAL: Cars Of My Father, Part 2
Posted on February 7, 2020 | 16 CommentsPicking up from where I left off on my previous post, let’s peruse some more of the cars owned by my father over the years. -
![I am convinced that Automatic Climate Control (a.k.a. Automatic Temperature Control) is one of the greatest automotive inventions. You set the temperature you want and press the “Auto” button, and […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IMG_0760.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "QOTD – How Do You Use Your Automatic Climate Control?")
QOTD – How Do You Use Your Automatic Climate Control?
Posted on February 3, 2020 | 95 CommentsI am convinced that Automatic Climate Control (a.k.a. Automatic Temperature Control) is one of the greatest automotive inventions. You set the temperature you want and press the “Auto” button, and […] -
![Inspired by Adam Dixon’s recent post, I’ve decided to bookend my own COAL series by writing about some of the cars of my father. I’ve already covered some of his […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/VW1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: Cars Of My Father, Part 1")
COAL: Cars Of My Father, Part 1
Posted on January 31, 2020 | 14 CommentsInspired by Adam Dixon’s recent post, I’ve decided to bookend my own COAL series by writing about some of the cars of my father. I’ve already covered some of his […] -
![Quick confession: I am somewhat of a leadfoot. Nothing reckless, mind you: I’m typically a 5-10 mph over the limit guy. But that said, you can’t be too careful. As […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_0779-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "QOTD: What The Heck Has Happened To Waze?")
QOTD: What The Heck Has Happened To Waze?
Posted on January 29, 2020 | 62 CommentsQuick confession: I am somewhat of a leadfoot. Nothing reckless, mind you: I’m typically a 5-10 mph over the limit guy. But that said, you can’t be too careful. As […] -
![Like most failing car lines, DeSoto went out with a whimper, and not a bang. Unlike some other defunct brands that promptly sent their final vehicle straight to a museum […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Last_1961_DeSoto_assembly_line_Chrysler_Corporation_7.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Unicorn Hunt: The Search for the Last DeSoto")
Curbside Unicorn Hunt: The Search for the Last DeSoto
Posted on January 27, 2020 | 81 CommentsLike most failing car lines, DeSoto went out with a whimper, and not a bang. Unlike some other defunct brands that promptly sent their final vehicle straight to a museum […] -
![DeSoto was introduced by Chrysler in 1929 as a mid-price brand to slot under the Chrysler brand. Like most cars of this era, DeSotos did not originally have proper model […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DeSoto_Fluid_Drive.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "What’s in a Name? The Second Lives of DeSoto Model Names")
What’s in a Name? The Second Lives of DeSoto Model Names
Posted on January 2, 2020 | 26 CommentsDeSoto was introduced by Chrysler in 1929 as a mid-price brand to slot under the Chrysler brand. Like most cars of this era, DeSotos did not originally have proper model […] -
![By now, everyone on this site has seen and has formulated an opinion on the Tesla Cybertruck. Now that I’ve had some to get over the shock and awe, I’ve […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/02_Desktop.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Design Analysis/QOTD: Does The Tesla Cybertruck Represent A Permanent Shift In Truck Styling?")
Design Analysis/QOTD: Does The Tesla Cybertruck Represent A Permanent Shift In Truck Styling?
Posted on December 30, 2019 | 66 CommentsBy now, everyone on this site has seen and has formulated an opinion on the Tesla Cybertruck. Now that I’ve had some to get over the shock and awe, I’ve […] -
![I’m back with a long overdue post in my Cold Comfort series detailing early automotive air conditioning systems. Today we’ll be looking at the factory system in this 1955 Cadillac […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_0500.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Cold Comfort: 1955 Cadillac Series Sixty Fleetwood – The Cadillac of Early Air Conditioning Systems")
Cold Comfort: 1955 Cadillac Series Sixty Fleetwood – The Cadillac of Early Air Conditioning Systems
Posted on November 30, 2019 | 54 CommentsI’m back with a long overdue post in my Cold Comfort series detailing early automotive air conditioning systems. Today we’ll be looking at the factory system in this 1955 Cadillac […] -
![We’ve all seen good cars ruined by bad spoilers and wings. Well, this isn’t that post: Today I want to talk about cars whose looks were actually improved by the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/TA.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "QOTD: Spoilers Ahead! What Is Your Favorite Automotive Wing?")
QOTD: Spoilers Ahead! What Is Your Favorite Automotive Wing?
Posted on November 25, 2019 | 99 CommentsWe’ve all seen good cars ruined by bad spoilers and wings. Well, this isn’t that post: Today I want to talk about cars whose looks were actually improved by the […] -
![Movies by definition are a form of escape, and require a form of social contract called “Suspension of Disbelief.” Basically it means that I am willing to overlook the fact […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/g.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "QOTD: What Is Your Biggest Automotive Movie Pet Peeve?")
QOTD: What Is Your Biggest Automotive Movie Pet Peeve?
Posted on November 19, 2019 | 206 CommentsMovies by definition are a form of escape, and require a form of social contract called “Suspension of Disbelief.” Basically it means that I am willing to overlook the fact […] -
![Like a meteor crashing through the sky, diagonally canted quad headlights were a styling trend that shone brightly and then burned out quickly. Let’s take a look at this short-lived […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1961-DeSoto-Front-View.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside History: The All-Too-Brief History of Diagonally Canted Headlights")
Curbside History: The All-Too-Brief History of Diagonally Canted Headlights
Posted on November 12, 2019 | 104 CommentsLike a meteor crashing through the sky, diagonally canted quad headlights were a styling trend that shone brightly and then burned out quickly. Let’s take a look at this short-lived […] -
![It has been over two years since I finished my Cars of a Lifetime series, so I figured I would check in with a quick update (two, actually). As the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_9062-EFFECTS.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 2015 Q3 and 2009 TT – Audi Duty Time")
COAL: 2015 Q3 and 2009 TT – Audi Duty Time
Posted on November 9, 2019 | 11 CommentsIt has been over two years since I finished my Cars of a Lifetime series, so I figured I would check in with a quick update (two, actually). As the […]
