For Restoration? 1974 Lamborghini Espada Series III

Marcello Gandini put his prints on many a supercar, from the Countach to the Stratos, the Miura to the Espada. Of this grouping, only the four-seat Espada is even the slightest bit practical. In fact, keep one in good… more»

Stored for 35 Years: Meyers Manx II

Inspired by DIYers in Southern California who were hacking up VW Beetles to make beach buggies, Bruce Meyers began building his own version – known as Old Red – in 1963. His interpretation employed a monocoque fiberglass body with… more»

Early Grader! 1937 Caterpillar No. 10 Auto Patrol

Time to wax poetic about one of my favorite topics: construction equipment. Not only is the history of these machines intimately entwined with human progress, but learning how the first guy came up with the first forklift, grader, excavator,… more»

Formerly Father’s: 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe

Ford’s styling shift from 1936 to 1937 set its competition scrambling. Headlights melding into fenders, and the fenders themselves snuggling ever closer to bodies – the new interpretation of the vehicle resonated powerfully with buyers. Briggs Manufacturing, a Detroit… more»

Spinner Grill: 1950 Studebaker Champion

We’re looking at the extravagant prow of a 1950 Studebaker Champion. Whose idea was this anyhow! It reminds me of Little Red Riding Hood saying to the Wolf, “Grandmother, what big teeth you have!” As we all know, that… more»

Cream Puff! 1971 Ford Pinto Half Hatch

Should we give this Pinto a “best condition” award? Showing only 89,000 miles and with one repaint since new, this well-preserved 1971 “half-hatch” is located in Vancouver, Washington. It’s advertised here on craigslist for $8500. While we aren’t given… more»

One Owner! 1981 Toyota Corona Luxury Edition

Toyota had a rough start in the US market. Its first export was the Toyopet Crown, sold out of its Hollywood, California dealership – its sole location. But the underpowered and overpriced sedan was not ideally suited for the… more»

Professional Restoration: 1953 Studebaker Commander Starliner

The glorious 1953 Commander coupe ranks as one of the company’s best designs. Its sleek lines were a sharp departure from earlier Commanders: it lost the humpy bonnet and haunchy fenders of old, and gained a graceful greenhouse. The… more»

Not a Kit Car: 1988 Pontiac Mera

Kitting out the Fiero as a supercar – let us count the ways. There’s the Miura wannabe, F40s and F50s, a GT40, a replica Testarossa – the list goes on. But this one is not a kit car: it… more»

Long Term Ownership: 1965 Ford Falcon Deluxe Club Wagon

While early sedan delivery vehicles provided a template for future vans, it was the Volkswagen Transporter – launched in 1950 – that popularized the body style. It still took ten years for the first US-made vans to hit the… more»

Americana Incarnate: 1915 Republic Two-Ton Truck

This truck is from the most prolific manufacturer you’ve never heard of: Republic Motor, with roots reaching back to 1913. Search the internet for “first truck made in the US”, and you might turn up Autocar, but more likely… more»

One Owner: 1981 BMW 320i

Like a dog paddling in a pond, BMW’s three-series was steady on top, with a lot going on underneath. The sporty sedan theme perfected by the 2002 persisted, but the car’s entire demeanor was refined. The styling remained boxy,… more»

Grandma’s Special: 1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LS

The Grand Marquis was launched as the top trim level of Mercury’s Marquis nameplate in 1975. And “grand” it was, with a choice of big V8s paired to a three-speed automatic, “Twin Comfort Lounge Seats”, deep pile carpet extending… more»

Rhode Island Find: 1964 Greyhound Glide-A-Ride

What do you do when you have to haul a lot of sightseers around the 700-acre 1964 World’s Fair? You don’t want diesel smoke, you can’t drive anything very large, it has to motor slowly, visibility outward must be… more»

Low Mileage Survivor: 1974 Toyota HiLux Pickup

Here’s a compact pickup that managed to dodge the 25% “chicken tax” to find itself in the good ole US of A. The chicken tax was a retaliatory measure taken against Europe in 1964, which had tariffed imports of… more»

Survivor 1941 Cadillac Sedanette

The Bill Mitchell/Harley Earl team modernized most of GM’s designs starting in the late 1930s. The changes at Cadillac jettisoned old-fashioned running boards, incorporated headlamps into fenders, and relocated the spare into the car’s interior. In 1941, Cadillac introduced… more»

Barn Finds