Originally published in Automobile, February, 1991; republished by the author “As impassable as the alleys of Stamboul; as filthy and mucky as the roads of the province of Nagpur.” Everywhere there were “pools of yellow slime.” The streets were paved, but the mud and slush lay in furloughs and windows. It was Chicago, and the […]
Henry’s Revolution: The Model T put the nation on wheels and changed it forever
Originally published in Motor Trend Presents 100 years of the Automobile in America (1995); republished by the author Henry Ford stands with the Model T Set the handbrake, open the throttle lever slightly, set the ignition timing lever at “full retard,” and close the carburetor choke by pulling a wire protruding through the radiator. Then, […]
1912 Simplex 50 HP Tourabout: Quality construction, sporting luxury powered by 10 liters
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek July 20, 1987 Rolling down the highway at 50 mph, the only sounds come from the wind as it whistles around the windshield and the gentle shushing of the drive chains, that and good conversation. Ahead, under the doghouse -shaped hood, four 5 ¼ inch pistons glide through a […]
The First Off Roaders: Did these folks have the roughest of all off-road conditions?
History originally published in Pickup Van & 4WD September 1981 “it is particularly important that the tires be a very large section, generally much larger than the normal equipment… This being a secret of successfully traversing bad sand.” This sentence is (a) a sample from an off-roaders handbook, (b) a quote from one of Dick […]
1903 Winton Bullet #2: Alexander Winton’s Great Red Hope
Originally published in AutoWeek February 1, 1982 Alexander Winton in the Winton Bullet No. 2; Contemporary photograph, public domain It was…unexpected. The hood is broad and flat behind the wedge-shaped nose. Low and clean lined, it looks almost modern. Such appearances, though, are betrayed by the tall wheels, narrow tread and the exposed driving position. […]
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