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Curbside Classics Archives
Automotive Histories Archive
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![(first posted 2/6/2017) Checking out Paul’s paean to the 1955 Lancia Florida, a design that influenced auto design worldwide for over a decade, I was taking in the sensuous curves […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/rear-window-wiper-movie-2.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Saloon with a View: An Incompleat History of the Rear Window Wiper")
Saloon with a View: An Incompleat History of the Rear Window Wiper
Posted on February 6, 2023 | 119 Comments(first posted 2/6/2017) Checking out Paul’s paean to the 1955 Lancia Florida, a design that influenced auto design worldwide for over a decade, I was taking in the sensuous curves […] -
![(first posted 1/15/2017) Over the years, many automakers have invested large sums of money to identify and cater to niche markets with special editions. Subaru hooked up with LL Bean, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1956-Dodge-La-femme-001-Medium.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Couture: 1955-1956 Dodge La Femme—I Am Marketing, Hear Me Roar")
Curbside Couture: 1955-1956 Dodge La Femme—I Am Marketing, Hear Me Roar
Posted on January 23, 2023 | 109 Comments(first posted 1/15/2017) Over the years, many automakers have invested large sums of money to identify and cater to niche markets with special editions. Subaru hooked up with LL Bean, […] -
![(first posted 1/22/2017) All good things come in threes and the best is usually left for last… Let’s see if you agree with these platitudes as we consider our final […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/FrDs2_mon.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: French Deadly Sins (Sports/Luxury Edition, Part 3) – Monica 560")
Automotive History: French Deadly Sins (Sports/Luxury Edition, Part 3) – Monica 560
Posted on January 22, 2023 | 33 Comments(first posted 1/22/2017) All good things come in threes and the best is usually left for last… Let’s see if you agree with these platitudes as we consider our final […] -
![(first posted 1/21/2017) Welcome to part two of this new round of French Deadly Sins. As we saw yesterday, Bugatti was an old marque at the end of its rope, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/FrDs2_facel.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: French Deadly Sins (Sports/Luxury Edition, Part 2) – Facel-Vega Facellia")
Automotive History: French Deadly Sins (Sports/Luxury Edition, Part 2) – Facel-Vega Facellia
Posted on January 21, 2023 | 52 Comments(first posted 1/21/2017) Welcome to part two of this new round of French Deadly Sins. As we saw yesterday, Bugatti was an old marque at the end of its rope, […] -
![(first posted 1/20/2017) Welcome to another edition of the French Deadly Sins. Over the next three days, we will focus on three sports/luxury cars made in France from the ‘50s, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/FrDs2_-bug.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: French Deadly Sins (Sports/Luxury Edition, Part 1) – Bugatti Type 101")
Automotive History: French Deadly Sins (Sports/Luxury Edition, Part 1) – Bugatti Type 101
Posted on January 20, 2023 | 33 Comments(first posted 1/20/2017) Welcome to another edition of the French Deadly Sins. Over the next three days, we will focus on three sports/luxury cars made in France from the ‘50s, […] -
![(first posted 1/11/2013) Events at Ford Motor Company have been silently spelling the end for their bread-and-butter V8 of the last two decades. With the cancellation of the Panther platform […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/4-6-failure.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Engine History: The Ford 4.6 liter V8")
Engine History: The Ford 4.6 liter V8
Posted on January 12, 2023 | 213 Comments(first posted 1/11/2013) Events at Ford Motor Company have been silently spelling the end for their bread-and-butter V8 of the last two decades. With the cancellation of the Panther platform […] -
![Welcome to the third and final installment of my search for full-sized American cars from model year 1970 and later with a three-on-the-three manual transmission. For this installment, we will […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DSCI3193.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Unicorn Hunt: 1970+ Full-Sized Cars with Manual Transmission, Part 3 – Chrysler Edition")
Curbside Unicorn Hunt: 1970+ Full-Sized Cars with Manual Transmission, Part 3 – Chrysler Edition
Posted on January 7, 2023 | 31 CommentsWelcome to the third and final installment of my search for full-sized American cars from model year 1970 and later with a three-on-the-three manual transmission. For this installment, we will […] -
![In Part 1 of this series, our big game (and I do mean big) was 1970-1973 GM full-sized cars with a three-on-the-tree transmission. We came back with our unicorn bags, if […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Monosnap-1970-Ford-LTD-351-3-Speed-Stick-3-OTC-BURNOUT-Test-n-Tune-YouTube-2022-12-18-13-46-56.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Unicorn Hunt: 1970+ Full-Sized Cars with Manual Transmission, Part 2 – Ford Edition")
Curbside Unicorn Hunt: 1970+ Full-Sized Cars with Manual Transmission, Part 2 – Ford Edition
Posted on January 6, 2023 | 22 CommentsIn Part 1 of this series, our big game (and I do mean big) was 1970-1973 GM full-sized cars with a three-on-the-tree transmission. We came back with our unicorn bags, if […] -
![It may seem difficult to believe, but some American full-size cars were available with a manual transmission as late as 1973. After the decline of full-sized muscle cars in the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/shift-pattern2.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Unicorn Hunt: 1970+ Full-Sized Cars With Manual Transmission, Part 1 – GM Edition")
Curbside Unicorn Hunt: 1970+ Full-Sized Cars With Manual Transmission, Part 1 – GM Edition
Posted on January 5, 2023 | 130 CommentsIt may seem difficult to believe, but some American full-size cars were available with a manual transmission as late as 1973. After the decline of full-sized muscle cars in the […] -
![1951 Kenworth powered by Hall-Scott 600 hp OHC hemi V-12 – The Ferrari of Trucks Once upon a time there was a builder of large spark-ignition engines that stood (hemi)head […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/H-S-Kenworth-V12-close.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Hall-Scott – Legendary Builder Of High-Power Gas Engines For Trucks, Buses, Cars, Boats, Airplanes And More")
Automotive History: Hall-Scott – Legendary Builder Of High-Power Gas Engines For Trucks, Buses, Cars, Boats, Airplanes And More
Posted on January 2, 2023 | 29 Comments1951 Kenworth powered by Hall-Scott 600 hp OHC hemi V-12 – The Ferrari of Trucks Once upon a time there was a builder of large spark-ignition engines that stood (hemi)head […] -
![(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 […]
