History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek April 1, 2002 Volvo’s first sedan was immediately disowned by Helmer MasOlle. The landscape and portrait painter – and car enthusiast – had indeed designed a prototype sedan and its touring car counterpart. He gladly took credit for the open torpedo-bodied ÖV4, bearing strong resemblance to a Voisin he […]
1929 Nash Model 461 Cabriolet: “The Car with the Twin-Ignition Motor”
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek December 24, 2001 Harold Metzger gently chided me for having chirp the tires of his 29 – Cabriolet. “Well, we certainly know it has enough power to burn rubber!” I had halted on a hill having failed to negotiate a downshift on the non-synchronized gearbox. (One doesn’t get much […]
The BMW 328 Mille Miglia prototype looked like a winner
History originally published in AutoWeek December 16, 1985 This is a shape, profoundly sensual, utterly female. It is sublime in efficiency, knowledgeable of what must be known, simple and spare like some great rolling Bauhaus woman, a supple stylization of the female form. It has hips. Viewed from above, it narrows from the shoulders of […]
Jaguar SS 100: It takes a rare kind of loyalty
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek February 11, 1985 In Syracuse, New York, halfway up the hill in a quiet neighborhood of older homes, is a house much like the ones on either side. Its yard is neatly kept, and out back is a rock garden that, were it summer, would be a floral paradise. […]
Kermit the Bentley: It’s not easy being green
History originally published in AutoWeek December 10, 1984 “Back in the mid-1950s a young man in England named Collin Hiley was apprenticed to Rolls-Royce Aero as an apprentice aero engineer,” Phil Brooks spoke with the practiced ease of one who has told the story before. “On his weekends,” Brooks continued, “he was working for a […]
Lancia Lambda: Sometimes one head is better than two
History originally published in AutoWeek February 28, 1985 Idling on the gravel drive, it’s utterly Palladian radiator reflecting the lowering rays the autumn sun, the Lancia Lambda hides surprisingly modern ideas and innovative concepts beneath its classic form. Independent front suspension was rare enough in the ‘20s, but unit body construction – almost universal today […]
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