To go back to the real beginning, Monsieur Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac (not Pierre Francois de la Brioschi) was the explorer who “founded” and named Detroit, (d’etroit — the strait.) It is his family coat-of-arms that became the Cadillac badge. GM designer Ned Nickles’ prototype drawing is fantastic, but its grill is the Mercedes logo, and it’s got Buick fender portholes. I owned a 1957 Sedan de Ville, and its tailfins had twin lights straddling the bottom of the fin. The ’57 Eldorado Brougham (super rare) had V-notched fins. Both of these contributed to the ’59. Still, it certainly appears that Brooks Stevens did indeed create the iconic fin that found its way to the 1959 Cadillacs; and then into cultural history. Excellent article! ... View more

“Porsche, a company that was still years away from the water-cooled sports cars”… The water-cooled 928 appeared in the mid-late 1970’s, but that’s PAST, not future. Also; “Merc” is generally understood to mean Mercury. Try the accepted “MB”. Otherwise, a great and fascinating article. ... View more

If there’s a Part III in the works, please consider Jan Akkerman and Steve Hackett. Most who’ve heard those names will think “Art-Rock & Prog-Rock”, but they both have some really serious classical chops and taste. Check ‘em out — a believer you shall be… ... View more

Back in those days I subscribed to a magazine titled “Science & Mechanics”, a lower-budget and slightly irreverent version of the “Popular both-of-those-words magazines”. One of my favorite contributors was Joe Gutts, (“Ask Joe Gutts”,) whose writings were always both informative and entertaining. A memorable letter exchange went thusly: “I think you are a fat, lazy ape who is too lazy to shave in the morning, and I’ll bet you a beer you won’t print this.” The indeed portly and bearded Mr. Gutts replied “I’ll do anything for a beer; when’s the payoff?” Occasionally he’d do full-length road-test reviews, and he did one of the then-new Toronado. The totally flat floor was mentioned, as was the very long hood. Conducted in San Francisco, he had real difficulty when cresting their famous hills, since, until the nose was level again, one could not see ahead. It’s been a long-held belief that GM tried out new high-end technologies with the Oldsmobile brand, before allowing them into Buick or Cadillac, and possibly tarnishing those names. The Toronado fits that practice. My God, was it ever a gorgeous car… ... View more

Well, it's a stick-shift, and Wikipedia's engine description reads: "The 2.0 L (1,986 cc) 100 kW (136 PS) B19ET was sold in certain markets where engines of over 2–litre displacement were heavily taxed, such as Italy. The engine has the same stroke as all other redblocks, the smaller displacement is the result of a smaller bore at 88.9 mm × 80 mm (3.50 in × 3.15 in). It is a very robust engine with forged pistons (made by Kolbenschmidt). The B19 later turned into the B200 low friction engine." The Turbocharger raises the above-listed power output. The rear seat configuration and sidelights didn't make it to U.S. models. ... View more

"BUDGET Luxury"?? Range Rover and Maserati?!? If that's how you categorize things, then I'm not surprised that Best Coast Motorsports went under. ... View more

"there’s no substitute for originality" may be true, but it doesn't mean better. My original right hip got changed out in 2008. A huge improvement. ... View more

I loved my Aurora MM set. I had some popular body shells, like the Green Hornet's Black Beauty, along with an XKE and Ferrari. Anybody remember cleaning the Commutator Brushes with a pencil eraser? ... View more

I remember the shock and dismay from many new Cadillac owners when they first saw an engine labelled Oldsmobile. Fortunately, these were not the types to ever open the hoods themselves. The styling WAS beautiful, (except for the bench-seat front bumpers.) I still like the look of vinyl roofs. ... View more

Only?? ... View more

I’ve spent most of my life on Long Island, NY, just East of NYC, (and containing two of its boroughs.) One of our numerous claims to notoriety was the invention of the Demolition Derby. Larry Mendelsohn at one time owned and operated Islip Speedway, in Islip NY. I actually worked for him, though in a different venue. I lived about five miles North from it, and every Saturday night you could hear the sound of unmuffled car engines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islip_Speedway ... View more

I had a '69 Spider, and the old acronym re-definition really was true... Fix It Again Tony! ... View more

Sheesh! SO many vehicles, in SO many configurations... Supercharged, Turbocharged, Variable-Valve Timing, Paddle-Shifters, Eight and MORE-speed Trannys... Today's automotive technology is nothing short of INCREDIBLE. The performance, the efficiency, the longevity, are all just fantastic. I wonder how far (and fast) we'll go even in only the next decade... ... View more

What an absolutely wise and essential article. A "Monograph". Your experience and advice is truly right-on-target. You'll have saved many folks from buyer's regret. ... View more

Remember the cautions about oily rags... They CAN combust. ... View more

As a former avid cyclist, I had the memorable experience of "tacoing" a front wheel. Consider: a taco shell is basically a disc, folded. We shouldn't want anything else folded, except maybe clothes. ... View more

Fantastic article, with amazing research and documentation. Thanks!! ... View more

A friend of mine had one and he'd LIKE to forget it. ... View more

License-plate frame seen at a Jaguar meet: "Ah, but when it runs..." He's not only a Saint, but a Masochist too. ... View more

Sorry Sajeev... A handy LFA Buyer’s Guide?? We’d first need your accompanying “Handy Lottery Winning, GUARANTEED”. I recently parted ways with my beloved SC400, as it had developed a seemingly undiagnosable problem. In its day it was the Japanese supercar, and cost well over $43K; (more than double that figure in today’s $$.) OK, the LFA is certainly no production car. It is obviously something of a Custom/Hyper car; akin, and even above, an Aston-Martin. Not that “the service department of a Lexus dealership” wouldn’t be the best source for service; it’s unlikely that most all of them have even seen one. Choose wisely. Oh well; thanks for yet another sheer-fantasy, unattainable-dream article. When it’s official, you’ll all be invited to my wedding, to Jennifer Love Hewitt. ... View more

Da/n! I'd forgotten, (or never realized) what nice cars these were. Classic looks and classy design and accoutrements. One thing, though — I seem to remember Ricardo saying "fine" Corinthian leather. Donald... would that have come from Corinthians One, or Two? ... View more

Rob, I recently had to donate my SC400 because no one was able to diagnose its stalling-in-drive problem. The OBD-I system told me it was the Mass Airflow Sensor. It wasn't. My mechanic next tried to find the issue, with far better diagnostic equipment, and also couldn't. Too bad — I loved that car, but at this point we were just doing expensive exploratory surgery; with no guarantee of success. ... View more

Forgot the 1967 Eldorado? ... View more

If I'm not mistaken, Ford owned Volvo around this time. My brother owns the same car, except his is a V6 gasoline engine, and it has been nothing but trouble. Engine, transmission, suspension; you name it: bad. I had a 1982 240, and it was mostly quite reliable. I guess a manufacturer's generation of their models and "parent" owner makes a big difference. ... View more

My Dad had a '67 Buick Electra 225; a heavy car if ever there was one. I was learning to drive at the time, and usually drove my Mom's car. The first time I touched the brakes in the Buick, Dad and I both almost went through the windshield. Drums not good enough? Hell yeah, they are. ... View more

It should. ... View more

Good GRIEF! Wasn’t the Escalade monstrosity enough of an insult? Must EVERYTHING be an SUV? Maybe a svelte wagon style, like the Volvo 1800ES, but seriously; NO SUV! ... View more

I'm confused... This article says the vehicles were manufactured in the early 20th century. Why then is the bicycle frame lugless with a crown-less aluminum fork? Those didn't happen until at least mid-century. ... View more

The "article" was from 1969, not 1970... The tail end isn't so bad — kind of like the '67 Eldorado. The front? Just another Corvette. I had a 1970 Coupe de Ville, a gorgeous and understated car. Black, with a white vinyl roof and a white leather interior. ... View more

Gee, and I thought this going to be about the little tobacco-pipe cleaners, (though they have their uses too.) One other thing about that twisted-wire shaft: don't let it get even the slightest bend in it, or your whole arrangement might start to flop about. Great stuff, Phillip! ... View more

What about wheelwells? Surely, they are the most vulnerable areas for rust to begin. I recommend a two-step/two day procedure... Thoroughly wash and power-rinse inside all the wells. The next day, when all should be dry(?), I spray the inner surfaces with WD40, being careful not to get it on any brake components, (plastic bags to cover those.) Spray-on paint or undercoating is probably better, but these would also seal in any contaminants that might still remain. ... View more

What a great idea! A magnetic wand can also help. Here's a solution I recently utilized for the reverse process; re-installing a bolt that holds a part in place, an Idle Air Control Valve in my case: I placed the part on a piece of paper with the "face" (which mates with the surface it returns to) against the paper. Next, I squeezed a small amount of GE Silicone into the bolt holes. Finally, I dropped the bolts into place and let it sit awhile. The thread-ends won't protrude beyond the part's face since they're all on the paper. The silicone holds the bolts in position, yet still allows them to be pushed & rotated upon re-installation. No more dropped or lost bolts. ... View more

Mr. Exner's "Crown jewel", perhaps. As unique as they come. Didn't Michael Corleone ride in a '59 model in "Godfather II"? ... View more

Maybe the most detailed (run-on) articles you've written, and of great   interest to BMW owners, but the best lesson is here:   "we left the exact matter of ownership unresolved, as one can do with a dear friend where the both of you trust each other completely."  ... View more

"Motocycle"? Why not? — We have Moto-Guzzi and bicycles by Motobecane. Cycle, meaning wheel, need not mean only two.  ... View more

Other than the couple of the Mercedes models, I would bet (maybe even real money...) that few, or even none of the other models, won any battles with Mother Rust.  Especially those makes/models... I'd ride in one only to treat iron deficiency.  ... View more

Wright was definitely a force in the architectural world, love or hate his designs, (I myself LOVE Fallingwater,) and also a force in his "personality", (again - love or hate.)  His inclusion of matching interior decor and furnishings reveal how far his dedication, (control) could reach.  Recently, some cable-tv stations have been frequently showing "House on Haunted Hill", that late-50's William Castle / Vincent Price chestnut. Did you know that the (ugly, to me, it looks like a penitentiary,) building's exterior was another F.L.W. design? Now you do.  At least his taste in cars was more even-keeled... and excellent.  ... View more

My G_D, what an absolutely astonishingly gorgeous car!  What I'll never understand is why so many carmakers chose to build certain models in such limited quantities.  It can't be simply for the cachet and rarity; every corporation knows that profit rules. Just a few hundred or thousand more could have brought in a fortune.  There's probably a lot of 20/20 hindsight and Monday quarter-backing that went with such decisions. I truly hope so.  ... View more

It should also come with a small video camera to mount on the recipient car's underside. Point it at the driveshaft...  ... View more

Yea and Amen! Someone bought, paid for and OWNS the car. We seem to have now become products ourselves, with all of the tracking of us and personal info gleaned from us, all of it surreptitiously. I'm no paranoiac, but there are many reasons for concern.  Now, if we could only halt the robbery that is the taxation on the SAME CAR any time it changes hands...  ... View more

Thieving SOBs such as these don't even deserve a Yugo. Shoe leather is what their mode of transportation should be.  As always, the best example there is would be Jesus. How incredibly scant is any resemblance between His actions and attitudes and the majority of "messengers-in-His-name" we have today.  ... View more

  I myself am currently at the back-out point with my 1992 Lexus SC400. It died (stalled) on August 2nd, and has not been driveable since. I've chased down and checked out every conceivable likely issue, without cure. MAFs, IACs, EGRs; you name it... I finally caved and brought it (towed it) to my mechanic, where after about ten days, still no actual diagnosis of the problem. My financial situation (poor) no longer allows for further spending. I will likely be donating it to some Public Television outlet. Maybe I’ll see my name in the ending credits of a show, (probably not Motor Week… maybe Secrets of the Dead.)   And Rob — stay away from those R129s.  ... View more

ALL of Humankind's various spoken languages employ a very special, in-reserve set of magical words, to be brought forth in specific circumstance.   Dealing with vehicular failures brought forth the Best, the Strongest of these, (Cursed Art Thou, O Vile Chariot, by Every God Knownst!) So: *&%$#@! - You!  ... View more

Sam, I've been loving these recent articles about the inane and insane progress meted out on what, admittedly, is a "lost cause", (why else are we here?)  Honestly and transparently, it's so The Gang can re-assemble, and for that, you're to be commended. More than commended...  I love all your friends, as they either were just like many of mine, or were, in part me, (the beer-swilling...) but I also love you.  Your sharing of these so-powerful memory-stirring scenarios, along with some recent very personal painful experiences, serve to form bridges across multiple spans.  KNOW that you have helped any number of people, in areas far from merely automotive.    ... View more

So, an "energy-efficient Hummer"?  Kind of like Orson Welles playing Nick Charles; (do the Google searches already...)  ... View more

Just a few years back I got interested in these, and went to look at a couple.  After all, they were Mercedes' and maybe their top-player too. The prices being asked were amazingly reasonable; even low.  All that technology comes at a price: when things go bad, they go J.P. Morgan bad. The owners might not have been wanting to get another car just yet, but the cost of needed repairs spurred them, (catapulted might also be accurate,) to sell, and "cheap".  My finances don't allow for such fantasies. (I was also considering Porsche 928's... Whew, dodged a real bullet there.)  ... View more

So, "In the later ’70s the well-traveled Vette relinquished its daily driving duties to a 1986 Pontiac Firebird"...  It must have been a Dr. Brown time-travelling Vette. Or, more likely, the '86 Firebird went back in time.  ... View more

What a beautiful story, Rob. At 66, I’ve taken a few of those return trips to past environs, but finding big changes, was left unsatisfied. Funny, I lived in Bethpage back in 1961-1963, the last period of real normalcy in my life. I’m always still going back there in my mind. In the mid 70’s I entered a contest for a John Player Special, probably sending in over 100 entries. I didn’t win, though. You mention being in a band… Not a drummer too? Thanks again for a superbly-written article with all the important and relevant elements included, human and mechanical.  ... View more

The problem of the laser dot not perfectly aligning with where the IR is reading from is called parallax, and it will occur more strongly as one positions the reader closer. You may be able to detect just how far off it is by using an incense stick or “punk”. It presents a very small, yet hot target. Hold it near and in front of a large plain background and engage the tool, pointing it at the lit tip until you get the max temp reading. The laser spot should show you the parallax difference. ... View more

I am actually one of those who look to see "where it's made" before buying. Not that I'm a rabid buy-American type, but most, if not all, Chinese product really is junk (pun intended.) A lot of it is downright dangerous too, considering the many poisoned babies and dogs, and phony pharmaceuticals. ... View more