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Curbside Classics Archives
Automotive Histories Archive
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![(first posted 7/16/2017) Automotive pundits and experts around the world routinely claim that the minivan (a.k.a the MPV, the people-carrier or whatever you wish to call Puff the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/plymouth_1984.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: One Box To Rule Them All – An Archeology Of The Minivan")
Automotive History: One Box To Rule Them All – An Archeology Of The Minivan
Posted on July 16, 2023 | 65 Comments(first posted 7/16/2017) Automotive pundits and experts around the world routinely claim that the minivan (a.k.a the MPV, the people-carrier or whatever you wish to call Puff the […] -
![(first posted 7/12/2017) I was at a car show last summer when I photographed the Corvette above with an unusual six tail light configuration. Now […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IMG_4811.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Six Tail Light Corvettes")
Automotive History: Six Tail Light Corvettes
Posted on July 12, 2023 | 122 Comments(first posted 7/12/2017) I was at a car show last summer when I photographed the Corvette above with an unusual six tail light configuration. Now […] -
![(first posted 7/11/2017) General Motors invested heavily in downsizing its lineup during the second half of the 1970s. With CAFE targets to meet and the potential threat of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/j-body-2-dr-sedans-and-convertibles.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "GM North America’s FWD Platform Proliferation of the 1980s – A Guide To All 15 Platform Codes")
GM North America’s FWD Platform Proliferation of the 1980s – A Guide To All 15 Platform Codes
Posted on July 10, 2023 | 102 Comments(first posted 7/11/2017) General Motors invested heavily in downsizing its lineup during the second half of the 1970s. With CAFE targets to meet and the potential threat of […] -
![(first posted 7/2/2017) Renault long played the understudy to the leading role of innovator taken by Citroen. From the 1930s to the late 1980s, Citroen undisputedly was the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/bingo-card-2.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History – An Outline History Of Renault, 1963-1986, Or The CC Guide To Renault Bingo")
Automotive History – An Outline History Of Renault, 1963-1986, Or The CC Guide To Renault Bingo
Posted on July 2, 2023 | 101 Comments(first posted 7/2/2017) Renault long played the understudy to the leading role of innovator taken by Citroen. From the 1930s to the late 1980s, Citroen undisputedly was the […] -
![(first posted 5/27/2020, updated 6/28/2023.) Half-model year vehicles are an interesting historical oddity that you don’t see anymore. They briefly gained favor in the sixties as a way […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/n_1970.5-Ford-Falcon-Folder-01.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: 50% Better – A Half-Baked History of Half Model Year Cars")
Automotive History: 50% Better – A Half-Baked History of Half Model Year Cars
Posted on June 28, 2023 | 90 Comments(first posted 5/27/2020, updated 6/28/2023.) Half-model year vehicles are an interesting historical oddity that you don’t see anymore. They briefly gained favor in the sixties as a way […] -
![(first posted 6/14/2017) A ten cylinder Corvair engine installed in a FWD ’62 Impala? How’s that to get the juices of a hard-core Corvair air-head going? One of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/CC-328-033.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Engine Prototype: The Stillborn Corvair Gen2 Modular Engine – From Two to Twelve Cylinders")
Engine Prototype: The Stillborn Corvair Gen2 Modular Engine – From Two to Twelve Cylinders
Posted on June 23, 2023 | 57 Comments(first posted 6/14/2017) A ten cylinder Corvair engine installed in a FWD ’62 Impala? How’s that to get the juices of a hard-core Corvair air-head going? One of […] -
![(first posted 6/22/2017) Welcome to the Buick Edition of our journey into shockingly low volume production cars produced between 1946 and 1995. As always, car models whose production is […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/1985-Buick-Electra-T-Type-01.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Shockingly Low Volume Production Cars – The Buick Edition")
Automotive History: Shockingly Low Volume Production Cars – The Buick Edition
Posted on June 22, 2023 | 106 Comments(first posted 6/22/2017) Welcome to the Buick Edition of our journey into shockingly low volume production cars produced between 1946 and 1995. As always, car models whose production is […] -
![(first posted 6/15/2017) I may fancy myself a bit of a Corvair-O-Phile, but there’s still lots to learn. The trip to the Ypsilanti Museum yielded some new information about […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Corvair-1961-heaters-both.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Corvair Warm Comfort – Heating Optional (1960-1961); Your Choice of Gasoline or Engine Heat")
Automotive History: Corvair Warm Comfort – Heating Optional (1960-1961); Your Choice of Gasoline or Engine Heat
Posted on June 15, 2023 | 55 Comments(first posted 6/15/2017) I may fancy myself a bit of a Corvair-O-Phile, but there’s still lots to learn. The trip to the Ypsilanti Museum yielded some new information about […] -
![(first posted 5/22/2013) Was it in response to VW’s Automatic Stickshift? In the spring of 1968, Chevrolet introduced its own semi-automatic transmission, called Torque Drive. It turned out to be […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/chevy-torque-drive.png?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Chevrolet’s Torque Drive – A Dumber Powerglide")
Automotive History: Chevrolet’s Torque Drive – A Dumber Powerglide
Posted on June 14, 2023 | 109 Comments(first posted 5/22/2013) Was it in response to VW’s Automatic Stickshift? In the spring of 1968, Chevrolet introduced its own semi-automatic transmission, called Torque Drive. It turned out to be […] -
![(first posted 5/24/2013) One of the more unique chapters in the colorful history of the Indy 500 was written by Clessie Cummins, the irrepressible founder and promoter of his pioneering […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/cummins-diesels-assaulted-indy-inline-4-photo-448621-s-original.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Big Cummins Diesels Come To The Indianapolis 500")
Big Cummins Diesels Come To The Indianapolis 500
Posted on June 14, 2023 | 24 Comments(first posted 5/24/2013) One of the more unique chapters in the colorful history of the Indy 500 was written by Clessie Cummins, the irrepressible founder and promoter of his pioneering […] -
![(first posted 9/23/2014) In this day of nine-speed automatics and CVTs, a two-speed automatic transmission may seem downright antediluvian. Not infrequently, comments here express shock, surprise or disdain for the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Powerglode-shifter-crop-horz.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Two-Speed Automatics vs. Three-Speed Manuals – When 2 = 3, More Or Less")
Automotive History: Two-Speed Automatics vs. Three-Speed Manuals – When 2 = 3, More Or Less
Posted on June 13, 2023 | 136 Comments(first posted 9/23/2014) In this day of nine-speed automatics and CVTs, a two-speed automatic transmission may seem downright antediluvian. Not infrequently, comments here express shock, surprise or disdain for the […] -
![(first posted 3/30/2012. Revised 6/11/2017) Or some of both? All depends…among other things, whether we’re talking 1950 or 1973. Powerglide was the first automatic transmission available on a low-priced car. […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Powerglide-01.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Powerglide: A GM’s Greatest Hit Or Deadly Sin?")
Powerglide: A GM’s Greatest Hit Or Deadly Sin?
Posted on June 12, 2023 | 186 Comments(first posted 3/30/2012. Revised 6/11/2017) Or some of both? All depends…among other things, whether we’re talking 1950 or 1973. Powerglide was the first automatic transmission available on a low-priced car. […] -
![(first posted 6/8/2017) We humans see faces in all sorts of things, we’re wired that way. We especially see faces in the fronts of our cars. Two […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/squareback73.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream – Cars Without Grilles")
Automotive History: I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream – Cars Without Grilles
Posted on June 8, 2023 | 167 Comments(first posted 6/8/2017) We humans see faces in all sorts of things, we’re wired that way. We especially see faces in the fronts of our cars. Two […] -
![(first posted 6/7/2017) I recently posted about the Indy 500 Official trucks, reviewing some of the different packages that manufacturers offered in the 1970’s and 1980s. One of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/79pt4_jpg.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: 1979 Ford Indianapolis Speedway Official Truck Package")
Automotive History: 1979 Ford Indianapolis Speedway Official Truck Package
Posted on June 7, 2023 | 26 Comments(first posted 6/7/2017) I recently posted about the Indy 500 Official trucks, reviewing some of the different packages that manufacturers offered in the 1970’s and 1980s. One of […] -
![(first posted 6/6/2017) For this latest installment of exploring low volume production cars, let’s take a look at Dodge, the sometimes mid-priced sometimes low-priced brand in the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/1976-Dodge-Monaco-01.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Shockingly Low Volume Production Cars – The Dodge Edition")
Automotive History: Shockingly Low Volume Production Cars – The Dodge Edition
Posted on June 6, 2023 | 49 Comments(first posted 6/6/2017) For this latest installment of exploring low volume production cars, let’s take a look at Dodge, the sometimes mid-priced sometimes low-priced brand in the […]
