1974 was a cardinal year in which OPEC decided to limit the fuel we could buy and we ended up with massive lines at gas stations around the nation. That event singularly spelled doom for these leftover relics of the 1960's. The ‘74 bird lived into 1976, but at 224" long and 10 mpg, it was, along with the 214" Cadillac…

Erik - I turned off the F1 coverage before the Parc Ferme as, whether one was rooting for Red Bull or Mercedes, it was a ridiculous way to end the season. I found it so egregious that I may not renew my F1TV subscription for next year. The stewards had far more options than the one they implemented.

“...about a relative nobody in F1 and racing.” I’d say you’re being unfair to all of those who reached F1, period, not to mention those at the pointy end(s) of GT racing. No one gets into F1, if even for just a few races, without displaying exceptional talent after paying enormous dues.

Agree completely with your analysis and I’d hoped Porsche learned from the 924 experience. Four cylinder sports cars can be excellent and the 924, once it got a Porsche engine was a great car. It was largely rejected because it lacked the “soul” of the flat six. For those who can get around this, the driving enjoyment…

“an engine from the Carter Administration.” is nonsensical. Lexus introduced their first car in 1989 based on an all-new four-cam V8. The GR V6 used in most sedans today was introduced in 2002 and to avoid the problems experienced with direct injection, employs direct and port injection, a more reliable and durable…

My wife and I had a 2007 BMW 335i that we purchased new. Other than going into limp mode on the track after two or three laps (due to overheating), it was a decent daily driver. With about 35,000 miles on it, my wife came home and said, “The doors won’t unlock.” I told her that was impossible, but then found that the…

Thanks for a nice trip to the grandaddy M5. I was a little surprised at the performance numbers, however. I owned a 2001 325i Touring which with its 187 hp 2.5l six and a published weight of +/-3400 lb had a 0-60 time of 7.2 sec and a top speed (without the U.S. limiter) of 144. This is not a knock on the original M5,…

The tragedy of pick-up trucks is ongoing. Kudos to that minority of pick-up buyers who actually need a pick-up. When I see one of these bloated and overdesigned lumps parked next to its 1970's predecessor, I can only wonder why it takes so much volume to carry the same load. And should gas prices spike to $5 or so,…

Thanks, Jason - I started driving in one of these, a ‘63 Caravelle S, complete with one liter motor at the back sporting 51 hp! It was a great car for a teenager, as it had great difficulty breaking speed limits. 0-60 was around 19 seconds with a virtually identical 1/4 mile time. It set the stage for a lifetime of…

Must be Matthew McConaughey’s influence... 

The sad GM truth is that if the guys who build and engineered the LS-series motors were running the company, they’d once again be considered world class. Somehow the LS crowd manages to keep the accountants at arm’s length while they continue to polish their jewel. The remainder of their car is “designed” by…

You’re on the money. In an extreme manner, this is precisely what the Wachowskis were portraying in “The Matrix”. Imagine what would happen if people figured out that indebtedness was only slightly removed from slavery? Or that their chances of being murdered by a fellow American are 1 in 133, but the odds of being…

I must say I had the same feeling and haven’t touched hallucinogens in decades...

nother good point about the photo is the lack of “automatic temperature controls” and accompanying (simple) analog controls. Whether digital of rotary switch, can we just have a rotary device to set temperature, fan speed and output location? See S2000, although fan speed is set with a wand; still a good effort.

Bravo! This looks like a true labor of love, and no doubt will give you years of enjoyment when it is completed. Thanks for the great story (so far).

I always enjoyed the overall shape; it is just the ridiculously “bangled” details which drive me nuts. The alignment of the headlamp seam with the seam which finishes under the door, the “Z” line in the side are for me nonsense which Chris Bangle enjoyed. 

In a revelation last week, it occurred to me why “tall cars” are making a comeback - in the 1930's they had the ergonomics just right for getting in and out of a car. Having said that, the Escalade, like other truck-based SUV’s is an absolute terrible excuse for a vehicle unless you want to haul a huge trailer or…

A brilliant ride from Kornfiel! I doubt this move has been done in the entire history of MotoGP.

I’ll get flamed for saying this, but I had livery rides in NYC last week, first in a Maybach, and the second in a Continental. Both were incredibly quiet, although the V6 in the Lincoln was no match for the V8 Maybach. Sad that the Lincoln is not selling well. From a passenger standpoint, I have to say that the…

Thanks for a great piece, Peter. Nothing like some detail on the horrors of drum brakes to make us wish they were gone. Mileage?