Sportswagon: 1972 Volvo 1800ES

Tired of cramming your golf clubs crosswise into your British roadster? Can’t fit those 2x4s into the Karmann Ghia? Here’s the answer: Volvo’s sporty 1800ES. Produced for only two years in 1972 and ’73, just 8077 were made. The… more»

French Flair: 1960 Facel Vega HK500

Rare. Powerful. Celebrity magnet. From a company that specialized in metal-bending for other car makers came the Facel Vega HK500, radiating that French “we do things differently” kind of charm. Why did a metal-bender decide to develop its own… more»

Soviet Chic: 1975 VAZ Lada 2103

In the convolution of Soviet central planning, Leonid Brezhnev created a new car company in the 1960s, edging it into the market below Moskvitch, which was Russia’s primary carmaker. The goal was to increase production and expand offerings to… more»

Happy New Year! A Retrospective

As the old year fades to a new beginning, I’m straying yet again from our typical vehicular themes to show you a broader round-up of my 2025 machinery encounters. This handsome but derelict tractor sits in a bay-side field… more»

A Mazda By Another Name: 1989 Ford Probe GT

Porsche tried to replace the air-cooled, rear-engined 911 with the water-cooled, front-engined 928. We all know how that worked out. Likewise, Ford tried to replace the Mustang with the Probe, following the same pattern of total reconfiguration of what… more»

Low Mileage Survivor! 1941 Ford De Luxe “Opera” Coupe

From one of my favorite dealers in Portland, Oregon, comes this wonderful, well-documented 1941 Ford “Opera” coupe with only 48,200 original miles. The recipient of three Rouge awards attesting to its originality, this coupe can be found at Matthews… more»

428CJ Transplant! 1970 Ford F-250 Highboy 4×4

There’s nothing like a Ford F series to get the job done. This 1970 F-250 is a long-bed 4×4, factory-equipped with a 360 CID V8. The engine was replaced in 1980 with a 428CJ from a Mustang, said to… more»

1971 Ford Station Wagon With ToteMotel Camper

He loves it, she hates it: this 1971 Ford Country Sedan station wagon/Tote Motel camper combo is for sale – apparently in the name of family peace. It is listed on eBay with an asking price of $13,500 or… more»

Pristine Machine: 1964 Plymouth Barracuda

Few models have launched from more humble beginnings to reach such dazzling heights as the Plymouth Barracuda. Originally a trim package of the Valiant, the Barracuda was aimed at Chevrolet’s Corvair and the well-advertised rumor of the arrival of… more»

Survivor! 1977 Chrysler Cordoba With 5800 Original Miles

The Chrysler Cordoba is famous for commercials featuring Ricardo Montalbán, crooning over “rich Corinthian leather”. That’s what most of us remember about the car. But the Cordoba was a stalwart entry in the personal luxury niche, credited with saving… more»

Chrysler’s Halo Car: 1999 Dodge Viper

Bob Lutz loved driving his Cobra replica. Rumor has it that his enjoyment of the 1980s roadster inspired the Viper, albeit with an eye to bettering the Cobra’s performance. Fortunately, Lutz was working under Lee Iacocca at Chrysler: if… more»

Needs A Savior: 1930 Chrysler Series 77 Sedan

The majesty of cars from the late 1920s and early 1930s is impressive even today. Every car maker was on the bandwagon, showcasing big sedans, big tourers, big phaetons. We forget now – as we look at our nearly… more»

Green Machine: 1972 Chevrolet Corvette

These ’68-’72 Stingrays are my second favorite Corvette body style, nudged out by the extravaganza of the ’58’s – chrome up to here, fake vents, quad headlights, and so on. But I digress. Today’s ’72 T-top coupe is described… more»

Plenty of Pieces: 1962 Austin Healey Sprite

Please buy this Sprite before I head up to Ellensburg, Washington to haul it home myself! This Mk II project car is advertised here on craigslist for $2500, including a veritable plethora of parts, many of them new. We’re… more»

Rare One-Ton: 1949 Diamond T 201

Charles Tilt, the son of a shoemaker, preferred motors to shoes. So after working for his father starting in 1896 for eight years, and managing a farm for another year, he began working for Charles Knight in 1904. Knight… more»

California Barn Find: 1970 MGB GT

MG owners are a hardy bunch, but back in the 1950s, a chorus of buyers was clamoring for a closed car option. In 1956, the MGA coupe finally followed the MGA roadster to market. However, as elegantly styled as… more»