When you are an editor of small weekly newspapers, and even a daily, you are as much an editor as a reporter and photographer, which gives you lots of experience in the field. It was in rural Humboldt County on the extreme North Coast of California where I did much of my reporting — in [...]
This Jaguar XK140 is a restored fixed-head coupe that was photographed at the 2011 Palo Alto Concours d’Elegance at Stanford University in Palo Alto. The model is an SE because its engine is equipped with the upgraded C-type (sports-racing) cylinder head, which increases the car’s horsepower. The Jaguar features a 3.4-liter DOHC in-line (Hemi) six [...]
Silicon Valley continues to be home to the vanguard of society’s eventual transition to electric-powered vehicles. Let’s just hope policy-makers are watching the trend-setting automotive industry, which has already understood the need for the transition. As the pursuit of carbon-based energy resources continues to pollute our air and destroy the environment in extraction zones, perhaps [...]
Some of the early automakers transitioned from making horse-drawn carriages to making automobiles — some of which could be hitched to horses, if the engine failed. One of the earliest of this American genre of automakers was McFarlan. The company dates back to 1856, when J.B. McFarlan founded his carriage-building company in Connersville, Ind. By [...]
The most-populous country on the globe is a world leader in all kinds of categories. However, some readers may be surprised to find out that China led the world in the purchases of Rolls-Royces. That’s correct. A country that has a hybrid mix of nearly every “ism” in the world can now boast that it [...]
Among the world’s finest artistic masterpieces — as beautiful as any painting by masters such as Picasso, Cézanne or Matisse — are works of art known as “rolling art.” In other words, cars. If you do not believe it, perhaps you suffer from a bit of snobbery, or lack imagination, or simply have never experienced [...]
If you are looking for a convertible, one of the best buys on the market is the 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. It comes in three models: • GS Sport Convertible • SE Convertible • GT Convertible The GS and SE sport 2.4L, 162hp engines, while the GT packs 40 percent more power with a 3.8L, [...]
So why does a Custom Super Clipper Eight Packard have a red-colored clutch pedal? I wondered the same thing when the doctor who owned this 1948 Packard saw my quizzical look and came over to explain it to me at the 2011 Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance held at the Crystal Springs Golf Course. There even is [...]
Starting out at just over $15,200, the world’s smallest four-seater is a smart buy. Featuring an eye-catching design that you will not soon forget, the four-cylinder Scion iQ is only 10 feet long. “Scion prides itself on being an innovative brand with a lineup of iconic vehicles that set automotive trends,” said Scion Vice President [...]
One of the prettiest classic cars I’ve come across at auto shows and museums is a 1958 Bentley S1 Continental Park Ward Coupe. The very rare car is displayed at the Blackhawk Automotive Museum in Danville (*I am a member). “This S1 by Park Ward is one of only 35 produced that were left-hand drive,” [...]
Fiat has been around since 1899, but in America it is not as well-known as its U.S. corporate cousin, Chrysler. But that’s beginning to change, thanks to the car industry shakeup over the past few years. Having been in media most of my professional life, I have to hand it Fiat’s marketing department, whose marketing [...]
Chevrolet is marketing it as a super-car, but it’s not a Corvette. It’s a 2012 ZL1 Camaro. That’s correct, Chevrolet is banking on this model’s modest price ($54,095) and what it says is excellent performance to take on the Audi R8 GT ($196,800), Maserati Gran Turismo ($122,800) and Mercedes SLS AMG ($185,750). “From the original [...]
This rare 1937 Railton “Fairmile” drophead coupe was one of my favorites at the 2011 Palo Alto Concours d’Elegance held at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. “The Railton is a unique automobile that combined British bodywork {Coachcraft of London} with American engineering primarily during the pre-war years of the 1930s,” states information provided by [...]
Mitsubishi claims its Miev (i) is the “Most Popular Car on the Planet.” Whether you believe that claim or not, there is one fact not in dispute: the i is a trend-setter among electric automobiles. For automotive buffs like me, this is one of the most-exciting times in automotive history, and the i is one [...]
Nissan had customization in mind when it manufactured its 2012 Cube. That is more than obvious with more than 40 accessories to help buyers customize their Cubes. Yet it may be the Cube’s unique “wrap-around” rear window that turns most heads, and which enhances safety. Nissan also had affordability in mind. The three Cube models [...]
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