History originally published in Sport Compact Car October 1996; republished by the author. No matter how fine you hone your products, if the market has moved on to something else, you’re dead. The best widgets in the world are useless if they been replaced by framuses. That was the dilemma facing Toyo Kogyo , as […]
1954 Cunningham C3 Cabrio: Rocky’s roadster combines race heritage, backyard ingenuity
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek July 25, 1988; republished by the author wealth, Cunningham was able to indulge in a number of interesting cars in the ‘30s. After cutting his racing teeth on MGs, for the 1940 New York World’s Fair Grand Prix he built the BuMerc, a modified 1939 Buick Century with a […]
The Arnolt-Bristol: an all-American sports car, via Bristol and Bertone
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek, on May 23, 1988; republished by the author There probably never was in Arnolt-Bristol like Dave Hans’s back in the ‘50s. Not that there couldn’t have been. It just wouldn’t have been very likely. First of all, there’s Dave Hans’s detailed restoration. Back in the ‘50s, the Arnolt-Bristol was […]
‘57 Ford Stocker: NASCAR veteran runs again
History/track driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek November 13, 1986; republished by the author I pulled a knob on the dash turn on the ignition and pressed a button where the lighter had been to crank the starter. The engine fired with a blagga, blagga, blagga that echoed in my helmet like a headache remedy […]
1956 Morgan Plus-4: Old-fashioned at birth, it was a winner right out of the box
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek March 28, 1988, republished by the author The banjo-strung Blumel’s Brooklands steering wheel is close, good for huddling for warmth, but it still leaves my elbow in the chill autumn morning air and my upright posture would be more appropriate in a front row church pew than at the […]
Berkeley: Tiny but not insignificant
History/driving impressions republished by the author, originally published in AutoWeek October 6, 1986 Well-known late-night comedian: “This car is really small.” Audience: “How small is it?” WKLNC: “This car is so small that if Santa brought you one for Christmas, he’d leave it in your stocking – while you were still wearing it. It’s so […]
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