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Curbside Classics Archives
Automotive Histories Archive
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![(first posted 12/22/2016; revised, augmented and re-illustrated 12/22/2022) Here we go for the final installment of the First Batch of the French Deadly Sins. In doing these in chronological […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/FrDs1_rsze3.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: French Deadly Sins (First Batch) – 1973-75 Citroën GS Birotor: Rotary Death-Spiral")
Automotive History: French Deadly Sins (First Batch) – 1973-75 Citroën GS Birotor: Rotary Death-Spiral
Posted on December 22, 2022 | 68 Comments(first posted 12/22/2016; revised, augmented and re-illustrated 12/22/2022) Here we go for the final installment of the First Batch of the French Deadly Sins. In doing these in chronological […] -
![(originally posted 1/19/2012. Updated 12/21/2022 with information from “The Cadillac Frame – A New design Concept For Lower Cars” a paper submitted to the SAE by GM engineers that was […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/X-Frame-61-Buick-a.png?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: An X-Ray Look At GM’s X-Frame (1957-1970) – Xing Out Some Myths")
Automotive History: An X-Ray Look At GM’s X-Frame (1957-1970) – Xing Out Some Myths
Posted on December 22, 2022 | 210 Comments(originally posted 1/19/2012. Updated 12/21/2022 with information from “The Cadillac Frame – A New design Concept For Lower Cars” a paper submitted to the SAE by GM engineers that was […] -
![(first posted 12/21/2016, revised, augmented and re-illustrated 12/21/2022) Welcome to the second post in this first edition of the French Deadly Sins series (see Part 1 here). Today, we […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/FrDs1_rsze2.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: French Deadly Sins (First Batch) – 1954-65 Panhard Dyna Z / PL 17: Faustian Bargain")
Automotive History: French Deadly Sins (First Batch) – 1954-65 Panhard Dyna Z / PL 17: Faustian Bargain
Posted on December 21, 2022 | 46 Comments(first posted 12/21/2016, revised, augmented and re-illustrated 12/21/2022) Welcome to the second post in this first edition of the French Deadly Sins series (see Part 1 here). Today, we […] -
![(first posted 12/18/2016, revised, augmented and re-illustrated 12/19/2022) Last month’s GM Deadly Sins™ recap has occasioned some lively debates, but the General’s fall from grace has had many parallels throughout […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/FrDs1_rsze1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: French Deadly Sins (First Batch) – 1951-54 Hotchkiss-Grégoire: Hotchkiss Of Death")
Automotive History: French Deadly Sins (First Batch) – 1951-54 Hotchkiss-Grégoire: Hotchkiss Of Death
Posted on December 20, 2022 | 63 Comments(first posted 12/18/2016, revised, augmented and re-illustrated 12/19/2022) Last month’s GM Deadly Sins™ recap has occasioned some lively debates, but the General’s fall from grace has had many parallels throughout […] -
![(first posted 1/10/2013) Michelin invented the steel-belted radial tire, which it introduced in 1946. That turned out rather well for them. In the early seventies, anticipating the trend to […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/TRX-mustang.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Michelin’s TRX Tire–Reinventing The Radial Tire Didn’t Work Quite As Well As Inventing It")
Automotive History: Michelin’s TRX Tire–Reinventing The Radial Tire Didn’t Work Quite As Well As Inventing It
Posted on December 17, 2022 | 78 Comments(first posted 1/10/2013) Michelin invented the steel-belted radial tire, which it introduced in 1946. That turned out rather well for them. In the early seventies, anticipating the trend to […] -
![(first posted 11/21/2016) Welcome to Part 6 of our never-ending journey exploring relatively small displacement engines used at various times in automotive and light truck history. While this is the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1981-Ford-Trucks-02.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "The Little Engines That Could, Part 6: 1982 Was The Height Of Malaise And Passenger Cars Weren’t The Only Victims")
The Little Engines That Could, Part 6: 1982 Was The Height Of Malaise And Passenger Cars Weren’t The Only Victims
Posted on November 21, 2022 | 68 Comments(first posted 11/21/2016) Welcome to Part 6 of our never-ending journey exploring relatively small displacement engines used at various times in automotive and light truck history. While this is the […] -
![The 1973 OPEC oil embargo had a massive impact on the auto industry. In short order, fuel economy suddenly moved to the forefront of deciding factors for new car shoppers. […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Ford-FIOD-AOD-Transmission.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Ford AOD – An In-Depth Look At Its Design & Function – Lugging Its Way to Higher Fuel Efficiency")
Automotive History: Ford AOD – An In-Depth Look At Its Design & Function – Lugging Its Way to Higher Fuel Efficiency
Posted on November 17, 2022 | 32 CommentsThe 1973 OPEC oil embargo had a massive impact on the auto industry. In short order, fuel economy suddenly moved to the forefront of deciding factors for new car shoppers. […] -
![(first posted 11/8/2016) Welcome to Part 4a of our continuing journey into exploring relatively small displacement engines found in both cars and trucks at various times in automotive history. This […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1963-Chevrolet-Light-Duty-Trucks-Cdn-08.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "The Little Engines That Could, Part 4a: The Chevy 153 Four Goes Vanning")
The Little Engines That Could, Part 4a: The Chevy 153 Four Goes Vanning
Posted on November 8, 2022 | 49 Comments(first posted 11/8/2016) Welcome to Part 4a of our continuing journey into exploring relatively small displacement engines found in both cars and trucks at various times in automotive history. This […] -
![(first posted 11/4/2016) Sherman, set the way-back machine to 1974—to the wonderful days of seat belt-ignition interlocks, presidential resignations, 55 mph speed limits, and soaring fuel prices. The […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/18jawe29gzrcfjpg.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: 1974 Dale — Dollar For Dollar, The Best Car Never Built!")
Automotive History: 1974 Dale — Dollar For Dollar, The Best Car Never Built!
Posted on November 4, 2022 | 57 Comments(first posted 11/4/2016) Sherman, set the way-back machine to 1974—to the wonderful days of seat belt-ignition interlocks, presidential resignations, 55 mph speed limits, and soaring fuel prices. The […] -
![For too many years I’ve cringed when I see or hear the expression BOF (Body On Frame) as applied to American cars with perimeter frames, meaning pretty much all of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Frames-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Tech History: The Perimeter Frame – Body-And-Frame, Not Body-On-Frame")
Tech History: The Perimeter Frame – Body-And-Frame, Not Body-On-Frame
Posted on November 3, 2022 | 50 CommentsFor too many years I’ve cringed when I see or hear the expression BOF (Body On Frame) as applied to American cars with perimeter frames, meaning pretty much all of […] -
![The 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe (SWC) has become an icon, and one of the most expensive and sought-after of all classic Corvettes. But that wasn’t always the case. […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1963-Vette-SWC.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Unicorn Hunt: 1963 Corvette Without a Split Rear Window")
Curbside Unicorn Hunt: 1963 Corvette Without a Split Rear Window
Posted on October 28, 2022 | 27 CommentsThe 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe (SWC) has become an icon, and one of the most expensive and sought-after of all classic Corvettes. But that wasn’t always the case. […] -
![(first posted 6/22/2013) Like Jim Cavanaugh — or even more so, if that’s possible — I found the 1980 Mark VI to be rather pathetic: a rolling monument to bad […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Lincoln-Mark-6-Ad03.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Design Analysis: Did The Lincoln Mark VI Have The Biggest Overhang Ratio Ever?")
Design Analysis: Did The Lincoln Mark VI Have The Biggest Overhang Ratio Ever?
Posted on October 26, 2022 | 128 Comments(first posted 6/22/2013) Like Jim Cavanaugh — or even more so, if that’s possible — I found the 1980 Mark VI to be rather pathetic: a rolling monument to bad […] -
![(first posted 10/26/2016, revised in October 2022) The Citroën 15-Six, colloquially known as the “Quinze” in its native land, was the apex of the automaker’s car range for 18 […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1954_brochure.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The Citroën 15-Six – Traction Royalty Genealogy 101")
Automotive History: The Citroën 15-Six – Traction Royalty Genealogy 101
Posted on October 26, 2022 | 35 Comments(first posted 10/26/2016, revised in October 2022) The Citroën 15-Six, colloquially known as the “Quinze” in its native land, was the apex of the automaker’s car range for 18 […] -
![When one discusses American cars of the 1970s, good handling is not typically something that pops into one’s thoughts. If anything, most American cars of the 1970s have a reputation […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1973-Grand-Am-cutaway.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: 1973-77 GM Colonnade Chassis Design – Corner Carving through the Brougham Era")
CC Tech: 1973-77 GM Colonnade Chassis Design – Corner Carving through the Brougham Era
Posted on October 26, 2022 | 67 CommentsWhen one discusses American cars of the 1970s, good handling is not typically something that pops into one’s thoughts. If anything, most American cars of the 1970s have a reputation […] -
![It’s natural and very common to assume that the new 1971 GM B/C bodies were significantly bigger than their 1970 predecessors, as they certainly look that way. But thanks to […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/chevrolet-1970-impala-vert.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "A Common Myth Debunked: The 1971 GM Big Cars Only Look Bigger Than Their Predecessors")
A Common Myth Debunked: The 1971 GM Big Cars Only Look Bigger Than Their Predecessors
Posted on October 24, 2022 | 57 CommentsIt’s natural and very common to assume that the new 1971 GM B/C bodies were significantly bigger than their 1970 predecessors, as they certainly look that way. But thanks to […]
