Classic Old Cars
DeSoto History (the short version)
Many automobile manufacturers with long and illustrious histories have not survived to the present day. In this category, one company stands out: DeSoto, which was previously a Chrysler division that specialized in the kinds of large family cars that were common among 1950’s American autos. The Hernando de Soto brand, named after the Spanish conquistador…
Read MoreA look at a Few Muscle Car Prices
While some vintage vehicle enthusiasts may prefer a leisurely spring cruise in a convertible, others will be looking for something much sprightlier inside a fixed-roof coupe. Muscle cars, you know. In this week’s This or That, we’ve chosen a $35,000 garage price ceiling to bring you a selection of torque-happy steeds, all of which are…
Read More1955 Packard Clipper Custom
Contrary to popular belief, not every collector car requires a complete top-to-bottom, nut-and-bolt, ground-up restoration. Many cars have been used and appreciated but have never been subjected to the kind of physical torment that later necessitates hundreds of man-hours just to repair rust or collision damage on difficult-to-find body panels, or the need to track…
Read MoreA Look at the Studebaker Avanti
Looks Like It is From the Future While Milwaukee-based industrial designer Brooks Stevens was working on emergency updates for the Lark and Hawk, Studebaker president Sherwood Egbert enlisted the help of Raymond Loewy to design a new generation of Studebaker passenger cars. Loewy, who hadn’t worked for Studebaker since 1956, jumped in with both feet,…
Read MoreA Look at Custom Woody Wagons
Wooden station wagons, once workhorses. Many created in small numbers because they were ugly. After a half-century of manufacturing, they were halted due to their difficulty in manufacturing and maintenance. Now they are classic beauty, worth more than a home. The first horseless wagon was created by a forgotten craftsman in the late 19th century.…
Read MoreThe Plymouth Road Runner History
The Plymouth Road Runner was manufactured between 1968 and 1980 by the Chrysler’s Plymouth division. In 1968, many thought that original muscle cars were slipping away from their image as very inexpensive, fast automobiles as they increased options. Although Plymouth already had the GTX, designers wanted to reinvent the muscle car concept. Plymouth desired an…
Read MoreThe “Ford” Model “T” History
As production and sales of the T grew, the price fell roughly 50% in six years, while sales increased sevenfold. In 1909, the conventional four-seat open tourer cost $800; the price reduced to $500 in 1913 and to $450 in 1915. 69,762 units were sold in 1911, 170,211 units in 1912, 202,667 units in 1913,…
Read MoreChevy’s BEL AIR 1953 Until 1975
The Bel Air is a car series made by General Motors’ Chevrolet division from 1953 until 1975. From 1950 to 1952, hardtops in Chevy’s premium model range were called Bel Air, but it was not a separate series. The Bel Air was manufactured in Canada until the 1981 model year. 1953-1957 Chevrolet rebranded its series…
Read MoreHistory of the “SUPERBIRD”
The Wildest of the Wild While the 1969 Charger Daytona and the 1970 Superbird share some obvious similarities, the only true similarities are the front windshield and side glass. Additionally, their sheet metal nose cones and tall cast aluminum rear wings were unique. For example, the Superbird’s snout is angled downward more than the Daytona’s,…
Read MoreCrazy Custom 383 Plymouth Cuda
Beautiful Tribute Hemi ‘Cuda convertible tribute with rotisserie restoration Hemi V8 426 cubic inch A833 manual transmission with four speeds Rear-axle Dana 60 / Posi-traction differential / 4.10 gear ratio Power steering, power front disc brakes, rear drum brakes, and a heavy-duty suspension are all standard equipment. Violet High-Intensity Paint with a black convertible top…
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