All posts by Albert S. Davis

Cars We've Driven, Luxury Cars

Test Driven: 2014 Hyundai Equus Ultimate (GRADE: B)

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Hyundai has no secrets in its intentions. Since 2009, this company has managed to make itself look leagues better than almost everyone. When one company screws up in the news, Hyundai has a positive headline on the same page of the local newspaper. Somehow, they can make the entry-level Accent and Elantra and sell them in the same dealers as the high-end Genesis sedan, as well as the subject of this review, the flagship Equus. No other car company can sell a range as diverse as this under the same franchise roof. Hyundai bills the big Equus as a car to fight the S-Class for a much lower price. On paper, that’s quite a clear truth, but I had to drive it to see if that advertising line lives up to its billing.

Continue reading Test Driven: 2014 Hyundai Equus Ultimate (GRADE: B) →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Pebble Beach Concours 2013: The Lincoln Continental and Zephyr

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I’ll be honest, I’m a complete sucker for the Lincoln Zephyr and the Continental of this era.  They get overlooked occasionally by Cadillacs and by independent marques of the Depression era, but their long-standing reputation of simple elegance, beauty, and dashes of brashness are symbols of what the Lincoln name used to mean.  They all pack V12 engines, they all have (except the ’42 model in this gallery) restrained styling, and each one was an excellent example of its year and body type.  This being a feature year for Lincoln at Pebble Beach, they had their very own class.  The cars within this class included everything from the classic 1938 Zephyr coupe in black, to an all-original 1940 Zephyr Continental Cabriolet, to a 1942 Continental Cabriolet (1 of 11 left in the world).  Some of them included all the original brass fittings in the interior, something I’ve never seen on a Lincoln.  The car pictured up top is a 1941 Continental Coupe which won the class.  In fact, for those of you with good memories (or those of you who can pair cars with movies as well as I can sometimes), that body style and year were featured in one of the most memorable mob movies ever, The Godfather.  Sonny Corleone, played by James Caan, drives a black 1941 Continental coupe to his grisly death in one of the most memorable scenes of the film.  If you don’t remember, I’ve included it at the end.  Enjoy the photos of these understated, elegant automobiles.

Continue reading Pebble Beach Concours 2013: The Lincoln Continental and Zephyr →

Cars We've Seen, USER SUBMITTED

Spotted! 1981 DeLorean DMC-12, Pasadena, CA

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My brother Matt sent this photograph and some others my way while he was out driving with his colleague Nick near Caltech over in Pasadena.  It’s quite a pretty area and there’s actually a good amount of older classics and quirky old cars running around (there are lots of hipsters in old Beetles there too, if I recall correctly). What’s strange about this example is that it seems to have had its louvers over the engine cover removed and replaced by Back to the Future style fins. Matt, thanks for sending this in.

-Albert S. Davis

Spotted by: Matt Davis and Nick Cowper

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: 1967 Rolls-Royce Phantom V State Landaulette by Mulliner Park Ward

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This particular Rolls-Royce Phantom V has quite a unique history.  That it’s one of five in its State Landaulette body from Mulliner Park Ward is just scratching the surface.  It was ordered by Communists, but was sold to an American for political reasons, who used the car for political purposes.   Continue reading 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: 1967 Rolls-Royce Phantom V State Landaulette by Mulliner Park Ward →

Opinions

The Malaise Era: As bad as it gets, or misinterpreted?

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We all know how bad cars in America became after Nixon won a second term.  From that point until the end of Reagan’s second term, cars built here in America were, to most of the country, lacking in performance, quality, and innovation.  I understand the sentiment.  Looking into the cars built during the era, we see engines strangled by emissions regulations, stylists stymied by big safety bumpers and lighting changes, and salesmen who were stuck with cars that Americans didn’t want.  I do not want to go into any of  that today, however.  The reason?  I think the Malaise Era of the USA deserves another look, from a more universal perspective. Continue reading The Malaise Era: As bad as it gets, or misinterpreted? →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1956 Continental Mark II Convertible by Hess and Eisenhardt, owned by Barry Wolk, at Pebble Beach.

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At Pebble Beach this year, Lincoln was a featured marque.  In my opinion, a celebration of the Lincoln brand is not complete without mention of the Continental.  To further that point, featuring the Continental name in any way is not finished without mention of the famous Continental Mark II of 1956-1957.  This particular car has a heck of a history to it.  Barry Folk of Farmington, MI collects cars with the Continental nameplate and owns this Continental Mark II convertible.  3 convertibles were built out of examples which were damaged during delivery.  Two of them were built by Hess and Eisenhart, and one other was built by Durham.  This particular car is one of the two Hess and Eisenhardt cars.  It won 3rd in class at the Concours (and I’ll be honest, I wanted it to win first place, it was a stunning example), and participate in the Tour d’Elegance as well, where I first discovered it while Nick was busy photographing the Ferrari 275 GTB NART Spyder.  Enjoy the photos of this unique Continental Mark II. Continue reading 1956 Continental Mark II Convertible by Hess and Eisenhardt, owned by Barry Wolk, at Pebble Beach. →

Cars We've Driven, Luxury Cars

Test Driven: 2014 Jaguar XJR (Grade: A)

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Jaguar is on a serious roll lately.  They have gone from a company that was on its back to a company that everyone is watching very closely in less than 6 years’ time, thanks to a few new models, a new parent company, and a large amount of development money that’s been spent effectively.  I’ve been waiting 2 years to drive another Jaguar XJ after taking a used one out for a spin in North Jersey.  While I was with Nick at the Pebble Beach Concours, that wait ended abruptly with the roar of the 550hp XJR.  I had to ask: Is this car worth its price and will it be on a new level of performance compared to the old XJR?  I took the wheel of this silver-grey 2014 model around the 17-Mile Drive to find out.
Continue reading Test Driven: 2014 Jaguar XJR (Grade: A) →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

The 1950 Lincoln Presidential Limousine at the Pebble Beach Concours

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This year, Lincoln was a featured marque at Pebble Beach.  Back in 1950, the US Secret Service took delivery of a brand-new presidential limousine, this 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan.   This year, that very automobile was featured at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.  I think it’s fantastic to see these overlooked early 1950s Lincolns in general, but to see this one is a treat.  It’s a living piece of American history.  In fact, it was used until shortly after Kennedy was sworn in, making this one of the few Presidential cars to be used by three presidents (in this case, Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy).  And here, on the lawn of the 18th hole, it looked truly majestic.  Amazingly, the car was not armored and the glass for the bubble roof (added during the Eisenhower administration) is Plexiglas.  Enjoy the photos.   Continue reading The 1950 Lincoln Presidential Limousine at the Pebble Beach Concours →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Test Driven: Aston Martin V8 Vantage S, Al’s Take (GRADE: B)

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Las Vegas is a strange place. It was quite hot outside when I arrived at the track on July 5, during the tail-end of a massive heat wave in the vicinity. I was already sweating after just a few minutes in the 100+ degree heat. After signing in and attending the driver’s meeting, I chose this Aston Martin as my second car after some time in a Mercedes SLS AMG. After climbing out of the SLS, the sweat was replaced by a feeling of confidence.

I drove a total of four different cars on this track that morning, and of them, this Aston was by and large the most surprising. I didn’t know what to expect, with this Vantage S being my first ever Aston Martin, but after I climbed out of the hot seat, I realized that this entry into Aston’s lineup is a lot better than people might think.

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Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Best In Show is…this beautiful Packard.

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This year at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, I was overjoyed when the master of ceremonies announced the Best of Show winner from the finalists. I’d been photographing this stunning brown Packard convertible the entire afternoon, and when it drove through the confetti as the trumpets sounded, I was elated.

In fact, the owners of this car, Superior Court judge Joseph Cassini III and his wife Margie, live in West Orange, NJ–less than 20 miles from the town I grew up in (Randolph).

This particular Packard is a 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria, and was fully restored by RM Restorations in Canada. It is a particularly rare example in that the coachwork was done partially by Dietrich and partially by the factory as a special. The 10,000 man-hour restoration was finished only recently, and this was its show debut.

Enjoy the photos. Congratulations to the Cassini family on your award!

Continue reading The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Best In Show is…this beautiful Packard. →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

2013 Greenwich Concours D’Elegance: 1932 Cord L-29

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The Cord L-29 was a revolutionary automobile for its time.  It’s one of the first cars to ever be assembled with front-wheel-drive, but uses a longitudinal engine layout, unlike every FWD car sold in America today.  The car had a 137.5″ wheelbase and the steering took 4 turns from lock-to-lock, but reports came in at the time that it was actually a very good handler.  It had inboard brakes, De Dion drive system, and and full instrumentation (including an ammeter).  In its day, it was a shock to the system.
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Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

Obscure Auto: 1978-1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck

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The late 1970s were a bleak time for America.  The country was stuck with a bad case of stagflation, there was rife conflict in the Middle East as the shah of Iran was losing his grip on his country, and if you wanted anything fast and American, you were either wrenching on an older car, or looking longingly at the used car lots for a Hemi Challenger that wasn’t beat to within an inch of its life.  This, however, didn’t stop Dodge from trying to bring the magic back. Continue reading Obscure Auto: 1978-1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck →