Eventually, auto manufacturers will tune in to what customers actually want. The Ford Courier, based on the Mazda “B” pickup, was a response to the resounding popularity of the compact Nissan and Toyota pickups that hit our shores in… more»
Mille Miglia Contender: 1954 Fiat 8V Berlinetta Series II
How would you define a car manufacturer’s “models”? We are accustomed to thinking of a model as a production run of identical cars, like Toyota’s Camry, or Ford’s Lincoln Continental. Ok, models can undergo facelifts and whatnot, but mostly… more»
So Close to Running: 1976 Lotus Eclat Sprint 520
Lotus created several compelling cars, nearly all of which – when in good fettle – are exciting to own and drive. If there’s a fly in the ointment, it’s the dastardly condition of so many examples today. The quality… more»
Survivor! 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad
The 1950s brought a renaissance of style to American automobiles. Design departments began to shed the look of the 1940s to adopt influences from cultural trends – most particularly aviation. Harley Earl surfed these trends with alacrity, introducing a… more»
BoatCar Project! 1967 Amphicar Model 770
Amphibious vehicles have been around since the 1700s, starting with horse-drawn wagons that could tolerate water. The first self-propelled boat-car was the Orukter Amphibolos, a steam-powered wagon invented in 1805. In the 1870s, logging companies used amphibious tugs to… more»
No Reserve: 1966 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight
Among Oldsmobiles, the 98 occupied the top slot, always retaining its luxury connotation despite GM’s habitual gyration of its models from top to bottom of the pecking order. Sitting on a longer wheelbase than the mid-market 88, with fancier… more»
Yard Find: 1970 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
Sometimes we ask, “What would you do with this car – restore it or use it for parts?” But I’m going to call it early on this Rolls – it’s a parts car. The seller suggests this route himself, but… more»
Stylish Streamliner: 1948 REO Speedwagon
This appealing REO Speedwagon is a great example of post-war Art Deco styling, coming from Ransom Eli Olds’ second act. After selling his Olds Motor Works to GM in 1908, the auto executive founded the REO Motor Car Company…. more»
Fun Brit: 1961 Triumph Herald 1200
This chipper little roadster is a 1961 Triumph Herald 1200, featured here on craigslist for $7800. It’s located in Phoenix, Arizona, and T.J. sent us this tip – thanks, T.J.! The Herald was first launched in 1959 in sedan… more»
A Cut Above: 1977 Cadillac Seville Renaissance Edition
Let’s add one more niche vehicle and another coach builder to our repertoire of obscurities: this 1977 Cadillac Seville was altered by A. H. Hotton Associates (AHA), originally headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Called the Renaissance, Hotton’s creation added… more»
Suspended Animation: 1962 Fiat 1200 Project
This 1962 Fiat 1200 cabriolet has been sitting for ten years, after coming to the seller from a twenty-year owner. Long ownership history often benefits classic cars, aiding the preservation of records, receipts, manuals, provenance, and the hardware itself…. more»
Micro-Car Project: 1960 NSU Prinz Sedan
A handful of companies were founded as sewing machine makers – Singer, Opel, Peugeot, White Motors. NSU was a variation on the same theme; its predecessor, Mechanische Werkstätte zur Herstellung von Strickmaschinen, made knitting machines. In 1905 – after… more»
Compare and Contrast: Two MGB GTs
Up next, we have two MGB GTs at opposite ends of the spectrum: one is in need of just about everything, the other has a known history and could go to a casual show tomorrow. The 1970 project car… more»
Big Bruiser: 1951 Clark Yardlift 150
I can only take so many vintage cars before I need to revert to something that can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’. Besides, I’ve seen the light: a forklift is so mighty handy. I recently managed to… more»
Born in Brazil: 1984 Puma GTC
Trade protectionism is all the rage these days, with tariffs and trade rules galore. But this Puma from Brazil is a testament to the fact that import controls have existed for decades. Furthermore, the Puma wouldn’t exist without trade… more»
















