This morning, on the FP’s Morning Shift under Reverse, they noted that on this day in 1956, the last Packard was made, and linked to this article on the History Channel’s website. Only problem is, the last Packard was not made in 1956, but in 1958. The June 25, 1956 date marks the last Packards made in Detroit, MI at…

Given Torch’s recent article on the 1980 Chevette relative to its competition, it got me thinking about what entry-level shitbox I would have bought if I were in the market in 1980. What would you have chosen in the ‘80 Chevette’s class?

AMC was clearly excited about the upcoming 1988 Renault Medallion (read my recent post on the Medallion here), since they teased it 6 months early on the back of the 1987 Renault Alliance brochure. Pictured below the teased Medallion was (L to R) the Alliance DL 5-door hatchback, the GTA 2-door sedan, Alliance DL…

And may all your Medallion dreams come true.

I have been on an AMC-era Renault brochure-buying kick for the last 2 weeks. Almost each passing day has seen a new package in my mailbox with brochures showing LeCars, 18i’s, Fuegos, Sportwagons, Alliances, Encores, and GTA’s in full glossy color. But the brochure that’s meant the most to me has been AMC’s last...…

Pininfarina’s 1963 Corvette Rondine is quite possibly the prettiest car ever made. It would have been perfect for Cadillac.

I’ve been inspired to reflect on my teen years since I saw this post on the FP Wednesday. I was an arty, deeply closeted but obviously gay teenager who wore polyester ‘70s 3-piece suits to class to live out my Barney Miller TV Land fantasies. I didn’t have posters of F355's or Diablos or Vipers on my walls. Although I…

1. Quality is Job #?

It was shown to the public as part of AMC’s “Concept 80" campaign in 1977. AMC had an all-new subcompact vehicle platform in the advanced design stages at the time, but later concluded that the company didn’t have the money to tool up a completely new design. 

Behold, the 1963-64 Studebaker Zipvan. In modified form, of course. Most were sold to the USPS as postal vans, though some weren’t.

The Spanish market understood. They took the 1966-73 Jeepster Commando chassis and turned it into an actual 4x4 minivan, which they sold from 1970-85 as the Jeep SV Toledo.

Here’s a 1961-75 Jeep FJ Fleetvan for your trouble.

In Doug’s latest YouTube video, he calls the 1973 Silver Shadow the “Rolls-Royce Phantom of its day.” Except for one small problem. The 1973 Rolls-Royce Phantom was the Rolls-Royce Phantom of its day.

The Regal is now in its 6th generation. The first two were RWD A and G-body cars. The second two were “sport sedan” developments of the W-body. And the most recent two have been Opel-based. FUN FACT:

Someone on my street has a ‘72 Ford Galaxie 500 hardtop with this poem taped inside the passenger side window. Only in Portland.

Not sure if the LGBTQ rainbow sticker that I put on the back after Pulse Orlando had anything to do with it. But here we are. How much cash am I out to fix this? How much will this buff out?

Haters step off. My beloved Buick Verano (I own a ‘13 model) is rated by Consumer Reports as the best entry-level luxury car on the market. Still. In its 6th and final model year. The CLA is rated the worst.

Great LaFayette’s Ghost! SIMCA bought Ford of France in 1954. Chrysler bought SIMCA and Rootes in the ‘60s to form Chrysler Europe. PSA bought Chrysler Europe in 1978. Now PSA has bought Opel/Vauxhall from GM. Collect them all!

Just yesterday, I posted a small appreciation of the Lancia Ardea. In it I explained that the sweet little thing had the smallest displacement V4 ever.

It’s the first mass-produced car with a 5-speed (1948). It’s got the smallest V4 production car engine (903cc) ever made. It clung to RHD when almost all of Continental Europe drove on the right. It’s the grandfather of the Fulvia and the great-great grandfather of the Delta.