Studebaker’s Hawk series took flight starting in 1956, with an array of variants topped by the Golden Hawk. Styled by Raymond Loewy, the Hawks incorporated both pillared coupes and pillarless hardtops, sharing a low stance and a prominent radiator…. more»
• For Sale • 7 Comments
Road or Track: 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Consider the poverty of the American car scene in the 1970s. The dominant themes were horsepower reduction and fuel efficiency, sapping fun from the driving experience. Only Japan was meeting our new requirements handily, sending over cars like the… more»
• For Sale • 16 Comments
Italian Boxer Engine: 1963 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupé
Prominent on the flanks of the Lancia Flavia above are the initials “HF” – letters profoundly significant to Lancia, its history, and the Flavia coupé. Lancia was founded in 1906 by two racers, Vincenzo Lancia and Claudio Fogolin. Despite… more»
• For Sale • 27 Comments
Nearly Ready to Go: 1971 Ford Maverick, 302CID V8
Ford launched its subcompact Maverick for model year 1970, capturing buyers who wanted sporty looks in an economy car. Once the Falcon shifted to an intermediate platform, the Maverick became the de facto compact option. It was never meant… more»
• For Sale • 33 Comments
Rare Notchback: 1965 Volkswagen Type 31
Let’s talk about nomenclature. Our subject car is a Volkswagen Type 3, but more specifically it is a Type 31. The “3” means it was of the notchback/squareback/fastback family, introduced in 1961; and the “1” means it’s a notchback…. more»
• For Sale • 9 Comments
One Owner! 1989 Honda Prelude Si
Honda’s first sports car was its S500, launched in 1963. It entered a market already populated with Datsun’s Fairlady and soon, Toyota’s Sports 800. From then, it was just a few short years until Japanese sports cars proliferated into… more»
• For Sale • 40 Comments
Last of the Breed: 1961 DeSoto Two-Door Hardtop
In the 1950s, DeSoto was knocking the ball out of the park. The nameplate had migrated upscale from a bread-and-butter necessity in the immediate post-war period, to a fashionista by 1957. That year, Virgil Exner gave the car exuberant… more»
• For Sale • 14 Comments
Previously Swanky Brit: 1967 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow
Rolls-Royce began suffering a sales shortfall in the 1960s, a victim of its culture of tradition. This tenacity had already prevented the adoption of the first, modernized design drawn by John Blatchley a decade before, for its new Silver… more»
• For Sale • 36 Comments
Low-Buck Cult Classic: 1995 Ford Taurus SHO
The Ford Taurus was a best-seller when it arrived in 1986. Its styling broke new ground, introducing the rounded lines that have become ubiquitous today. It was the ultimate family car, with decent gas mileage and adequate performance. But… more»
• For Sale • 7 Comments
Engine Out: 1967 Sunbeam Alpine Series V Project
Sunbeam’s Alpine nameplate was recycled over the course of more than two decades, putting thousands of Alpines of one sort or another on the roads. The first of these descended from the Sunbeam-Talbot saloon and was famous for its… more»
• For Sale • 8 Comments
Mopar Project: 1971 Dodge Dart Swinger
The Dodge Dart was a chameleon in the Chrysler line-up: it was first introduced for model year 1960 as a full-sized car, then spent a year in the mid-sized segment before settling into the compact category until the last… more»
• For Sale • 18 Comments
Swan Song: 1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible
Nothing did more to put independent automakers out of business than the price war of ’53-’54. Post-war demand for cars had been thoroughly satisfied by then, and increasing market share meant a steady drumbeat of new products and lower… more»
• For Sale • 14 Comments
Estate Sale: 1957 MGA 1500 Roadster
The MGA delivers a high “smiles to miles” quotient, with its graceful shape, reasonable price, and simple mechanicals. The design of the car far preceded its production. It was first unveiled in 1951 as a race car built on… more»
• For Sale • 11 Comments
Long Term Ownership: 1967 Austin Healey 3000 BJ8
The arrival of Donald Healey’s new British sports car in 1953 permanently shifted the trajectory of buyers’ expectations. The Healey 100 was fast – in fact, it was named for its top speed. Later models were even more muscular…. more»
• For Sale • 11 Comments
No Reserve Turbo Diesel: 1982 Mercedes 300TD Wagon
Is a project Mercedes 300TD Turbodiesel a money-pit? or a gem in the rough? That’s the question as we contemplate this 1982 300TD, fresh from storage. On the one hand, the seller has replaced enough parts so the wagon… more»
• For Sale • 16 Comments
One Owner, Original Paint: 1966 Jaguar Mark X
Jaguar’s Mark X was the ultimate expression of the company’s marketing tagline – Grace… Space… Pace. Introduced in October 1961, just a few months after the Jaguar XKE, the new saloon represented an upgrade over every other Jag saloon… more»
