Sometimes, a little bit of Lancia is all you need to brighten your day. In this case, a Delta Integrale, possibly the most streetable rally special Lancia ever built, delivered the goods. Continue reading Lancia Delta HF Integrale at the December Bergen County Cars and Coffee
Sometimes, people forget that Detroit did have a few performance oriented cars on the market after the muscle car era came to a close and before the Malaise era went full 8-ball and full Disco Inferno. This burnt orange Colonnade Century hardtop coupe was quite a looker, and had a window sticker that displayed a truly chock-full list of options, including a 455 big block V8, four-speed manual, power everything, a tilt and telescoping wheel, and raised white letter tires. This is a prime example of what Americans could still get their hands on if they read the options list carefully–instead of ending up with a dowdy little Vega or underpowered Malibu (like my dad had in the Eighties). Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1973 Buick Century Grand Sport Stage 1 at the 2018 Greenwich Concours
This year, pre-war European cars were heavily British. This is unusual, in that I would have expected to see perhaps a Hispano-Suiza, a Delage, or a Delahaye or two at Greenwich. Luckily, on elegance alone, this stunning Lagonda V12 grabbed my attention and refused to let me leave empty-handed. While I wish I’d taken more photographs of this gorgeous, one of 9 luxury convertible, I am glad I got a chance to see it. I doubt I will see another one–as I doubt there is another one as well-sorted as this. Continue reading 1939 Lagona V12 Drophead Coupe at the 2018 Greenwich Concours
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqqcrf64U
Everyone loves Rodney Dangerfield. And here he is, telling us all how to be the greatest auto mechanic ever. I gotta say, he’s right on the money.
At one time, almost every single taxicab in New York City was the same shape. Unlike today, when you hail a checker cab and it could be a Toyota, Ford, or a Nissan, all “checker cabs” were indeed made by a company called Checker. The very last one of these finally went out of commission in 2001, twenty years after the last one rolled out of the factory. These were a hodgepodge design–they used GM engines and steering columns, but the front end interchanged with a 1956 Ford. The bodywork, however, was in-house. Not a lot of them are on the road today, but those that are always draw a good amount of attention for their tough-as-nails engineering, cavernous interiors, and retro styling (for the Seventies, anyway).
Continue reading 1977 Checker Marathon at Cops and Rodders 2018
Only at the Bergen County Cars and Coffee premiere event will you see a Pagani Huayra BC, a black Mercedes G-Class convertible (which were not technically legal in the USA), and this stunning Petty Blue Superbird in the same location. I mean, you will see this at a Concours, but not for free. And that’s the beauty of Cars and Coffee–expect the unexpected at all times. Even if you’ve been tipped off as to what’s going to be there. Continue reading A Blue Superbird at a Cars and Coffee (and friends)? Only at Bergen.
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Usually, I’m a bigger fan of Hudson in darker colors, as the thicker shades hide some of the rather unusual lines. This time, I was mistaken. This ivory convertible Hornet is exactly what the “Step-Down” design should be, and I’m happy that I was able to photograph it last fall. Not many convertibles survive from this model line, and with a sunvisor, wire wheel covers, wide white wall tires, and slathers upon slathers of chrome, I couldn’t resist the allure. Enjoy the photos of this rarely-seen American boulevard cruiser. Continue reading 1952 Hudson Hornet Convertible at the AACA Fall Meet in Hershey
By 1977, the Dodge Charger was no longer the lithe, sexy muscle car of its youth. Continue reading 1977 Dodge Charger SE at the 2018 Cops And Rodders at DeVry
This will be the final post about any Mark VII for a little while, but it’s a favorite of mine. Back when this car was still new, Motorweek took one out for a spin. Even when it was new, the Mark VII was a polarizing car–it had its fans, and it had its haters. I will still want another one.
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Well, like all things, this story has to end. It was September 2017, and the Lincoln was running and driving with a new battery, water pump, and fuel pump. The power steering system was still leaking like a sieve and it smelled funny like always, but I did not care. The day I picked it up, I took over running a poker game at a local bar and everyone was genuinely shocked to see me pull up in the thing, especially after I’d killed it on the highway a week prior. With a whole day of driving in hot September temperatures under its belt, I was confident the Lincoln could make it on the trip it didn’t make the year prior–Radnor. Continue reading The Lincoln Mark VII Chronicles, Part VI: All Good Things Come to an End.
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Isn’t it funny how no one really modifies Falcons much, yet when someone modifies an old Maverick, the lines really perk up? I certainly think so, and the owner of this well-dressed Maverick coupe would likely agree. While I didn’t catch it at the Cops and Rodders display at DeVry in North Brunswick this weekend, I’m quite glad I caught it leaving. Continue reading Sometimes all you need in life is a Ford Maverick
Chrysler was known for its “ideas” cars on the show circuit in the Fifties. While Ford and Chevy raced on the track, Plymouth wanted to innovate. Enter this unusual station wagon. With flat-folding seats, a power-retractable third row seat, power tailgate with retracting rear window, and an incredibly luxurious interior, the Plainsman was very far ahead of its time as a concept. The car would eventually be sold to Chrysler’s Latin American sales president, who escaped Cuba with it during the Revolution. This car traveled the world before being restored nut-and-bolt in California very recently and looked truly incredible, despite being buried in the back of the field. Enjoy the photos of this incredibly unique station wagon. Continue reading 1956 Plymouth Plainsman at the 2018 Amelia Island Concours
Mind Over Motor 