History originally published September 7, 1984 America was a different place in the Thirties. It was a land of coal and coke, iron and steel. It was a time when motor oil was judged by where it came out of the ground. Man was muscle and sweat was honest. The throb of the foundry was […]
Model T speedster: Hot rod of an earlier age
History originally published in AutoWeek February 16, 1987 The crackle of the exhaust was like nothing you’ve ever heard, popping and snapping it idle, booming down the solid brass 4.0 inch diameter pipe that ran almost the length of the car. This crisp bark wasn’t the plebeian putt-poutt-putt of the Ford Model T. It certainly […]
1933 Rolls-Royce Park Ward Coupe: Right drive, left entry
History originally published in AutoWeek June 25, 1984 Rolls-Royce has never been predisposed to produce a range of vehicles designed and priced for a variety of pocketbooks. One was expected to aspire to the same standards as that great perfectionist, Henry Royce, and if not, well, there were lesser motorcars. Rolls built, in fact, only […]
Alvis 4.3: John Bull to the core
History originally published in AutoWeek, February 13, 1984 Full square against the wind, it couldn’t be anything but British, tradition-proud and built in the time-honored way. More than a matter of appearance, an Alvis of the ‘30s is John Bull to the core, and the 4.3-liter tourer was the Alvis of Alvises. A particularly British […]
Type 49 Bugatti: Mme. Abry’s piece de resistance
History originally published in AutoWeek November 26, 1983 The Schlumpfs: Hans and Fritz, brothers, textile industrialists of Alsace, fanciers of classic automobiles,, fanatics for Bugatti’s. How the Schlumpfs must have burned to have this car. They had one chance in World War II during the German occupation of France. The car – a Bugatti Type […]
1938 Alfa Romeo 8C2900 B: Champ of the Mille Miglia
History originally published in AutoWeek July 18, 1983 Wedged in the passenger seat as Bill Serri works the Alfa, cutting crisp vintage holes through the workaday traffic of the New Jersey that lies across the river from Philadelphia, it’s not hard to imagine a riding mechanic named Mambelli occupying the same seat 45 years ago. […]
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