Classic Cars

Henry Ford built automobiles. But he is also responsible for building the entire auto industry into a functional production mechanism. With exceptional drive and perseverance to make up for his limited education, Ford modernized the industry’s mass-production concepts with the moving assembly line. His Model T reshaped the world with a focus on the needs and the wallets of the common man. He made the improbable sequence of transitions from a farming background to a machinist-inventor, to an automobile manufacturer, to a capitalist industrialist icon, to an American icon folk hero.

Sep 30, 2005 - Dan Cooper

Buick Motor Division of General Motors, and before that, the Buick Motor Company, have proudly offered some of the finer examples of automotive excellence in the industry. From David Buick and his engineers, Walter Marr and Eugene Richard, through Billy Durant and the good times and the bad, Buick cars have survived to be exemplary industry leaders.

Aug 31, 2005 - Dan Cooper

Carroll Shelby’s Cobra is one of America’s favorite legends. From the first roadster, through the Daytona Coupe, to the power of the 427ci Ford engine, the legend that is Cobra history is one built on the originality of brilliant ideas, and one man’s drive to put it all together.

Jul 31, 2005 - Dan Cooper

In America, “Hemi” means Chrysler. But that’s not always how it has been. Because of their technical superiority, hemispherical heads have brought success and fame to Jaguar, BMW, Peugeot, Franklin and Welch, among others.

Jun 29, 2005 - Dan Cooper

What is the advantage of even-numbered cylinder arrangements over one-, three-, or five-cylinder engines? Odd-numbered cylinder configurations are in the minority today. But that has not always been the case, and it appears the “odds” are making a comeback.

May 28, 2005 - Dan Cooper

The Selden patent episode in automotive history presents a look at attempted monopoly in the age of the great trusts. The legal battle against George Selden’s “road engine” patent, waged by Henry Ford, Thomas L. Jeffery and others, is a story of powerful financial interests and their ineffective attempts to control a budding industry.

Apr 29, 2005 - Dan Cooper

Second in a series on hard to find automotive books, this article covers three titles: A History of Sports Cars, Dictionary of World Coachbuilders and Car Stylists, and Handbook of Automobiles.

Mar 27, 2005 - Dan Cooper

This article chronicles the development of the V-12 engine from the earliest examples to the latest offerings from the likes of Cadillac, Chrysler and Peugeot, and includes a historical timeline.

Feb 28, 2005 - Dan Cooper

This is a treatment of names from the past, the memorable, those almost nobody remembers, and a Top Ten list of the all-time strangest sounding marques.

Jan 24, 2005 - Dan Cooper

The name, Ferrari, elicits an emotional response that few others can match.

Dec 21, 2004 - Dan Cooper

What a collector car is worth is the question this article deals with, by exploring why values might increase and decrease. Valuation sources are also cited.

Nov 29, 2004 - Dan Cooper

The aesthetic appeal of the automobile has its roots in the horse drawn carriage industry, and in the custom-body era builders of the finest coachwork ever created.

Oct 26, 2004 - Dan Cooper

Here is an addendum to the previous article on hood ornaments and automotive mascots, including a more thorough list of further references for continued research.

Sep 26, 2004 - Dan Cooper

The AMC Gremlin was certainly one of a kind, and it left a legacy that remains one of American automotive history's most interesting. Read about how the car developed and blossomed, and about the origins of the peculiar name. Also find a new and distinctive name for the car, one which has never before seen the light of common knowledge.

Aug 24, 2004 - Dan Cooper

This is the second article in a two-part series on the demise of the independents in the American automotive industry. Read about the glory days of American Motors and the ultimate failure of the last of the independents.

Jul 22, 2004 - Dan Cooper

Read part one in a two-part series on the demise of the so-called independent automakers in America. The industry developed into the haves and the have-nots, and the big boys grew as the others faded into oblivion. The last of the independents is now gone, leaving us only the big three of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. The story of the decline of the independents can be told in the story of the decline of American Motors Corporation, and of the companies that went into the makeup of American Motors.

Jun 30, 2004 - Dan Cooper

Here is an invitation to seek out the older books on old cars and the automotive industry. Some are well worth a look, but you may have some trouble finding them. Look here for some ideas on how to find the hard-to-find books.

May 27, 2004 - Dan Cooper

Here is an introductory article to the hobby of car collecting. A little planning can go a long way. This article might offer you some options you have not yet considered. Especially if you have not yet decided on what to collect, how to start, or where to look for answers. And of course, if you already have your collector car, then what to do with it is the next logical question.

Apr 27, 2004 - Dan Cooper

Here is a brief description of two of the more prized automotive mascots in the history of motoring, the Cormorant and the Goddess of Speed on Packard automobiles.

Mar 31, 2004 - Dan Cooper

The automotive mascot, usually a hood ornament, captured the imaginations of motorists for two decades, and still exists in a few remaining examples today. How and why they came about, and some resources for finding out more about these interesting artifacts, comprise the subjects of this article.

Feb 9, 2004 - Dan Cooper

Here is a rationale for what may be termed the American automotive heartbeat, and a brief history of the American automotive industry. Our cars continue to define our lives in very special ways. Presented here is an explanation of perhaps the two foremost reasons in the mindset of American culture, for our continuing interest in automobiles. Viewing different manufacturers and different time periods, we can still see a common thread running through our cultural perspective. Two criteria seem to appear in most every case, pointing to the difference between the ordinary and the exceptional examples of the automobile. What is our attachment to these machines? And how can it be the same despite the apparently dissimilar vehicles of yesteryear and today? Our attachment is the same despite the differences between a 1904 Stoddard-Dayton and a 2004 SUV.

Jan 15, 2004 - Dan Cooper

An insight into the international federation for vintage and classic vehicles, and what exactly is a rally.

Aug 3, 2001 - Dan Cooper

The history behind the world famous mascot of Rolls-Royce cars.

Jul 10, 2001 - Dan Cooper