Categories: Classics

Once upon a time, if you were somebody, you owned a Cadillac. Rock stars, movie stars, politicians, potentates, they all drove or were driven in a Cadillac. This once famous American marque fell from favor over the last few decades, mostly due to cost-cutting and general corporate apathy. However, exciting new models like the Cadillac CTS, Cadillac ATS, and Cadillac Escalade, have Cadillac dealers brimming with new customers. But how did Cadillac become “The standard of the world”? Let's find out...

Thanks to Fiat's ownership, the Chrysler Group's Dodge brand has enjoyed a resurgence in sales and popularity. The Dodge Dart is now a popular choice in affordable transportation. The Dodge Durango makes a great family/toy hauler. And the hemi-powered Dodge Charger has become a favorite among cops and speed-freaks alike. But where did this tire-squealin' car maker come from? Glad you asked...

I'm a huge fan of the American Pickers television show. I like everything about it. Mike Wolf and Frank Fritz are genuine people, and they are my kind of guys, with motor oil running through their veins.

If you're into cars, then you've no doubt heard BMW cars referred to as “The Ultimate Driving Machine”. This is because their combination of agility and power makes them very engaging to drive. The BMW 3-Series and BMW 5-Series are commonly used as the benchmark in their segments. Even the BMW X3 and BMW X5 offer more driving excitement than any luxury SUV has a right to. So how did BMW become so popular? Let's find out...

The 1980s were a Grade A, pasteurized version of the 1950s. Your TV still sat on the floor, encased in wood. Kids still respected their elders. Our president was still staring down the Russians. Cars were slathered in chrome, and luxury still meant a vinyl roof and wire hubcaps. Not much had really changed since Ike left office; then Buick came along and changed everything.

Say hello to the future. Say hello to the Buick Grand National...

If there’s one question that an automotive journalist hates more than “You get paid for that?!” it’s “What’s the best car?” And from this side of the fence, I’d rather be the doctor friend that has to look at every awful thing anyone who knows them wants diagnosed gratis than to be the guy that “misdiagnoses” someone into the wrong vehicle.

I mean really. How hard is it to say, “That’s gross. And malignant. And you’ve got to consort with a better grade of partner if you want that to stop happening.”? I mean, it’s not like you gave them the sore, you just told them that how terrible it was and, in all honesty, how much they deserved it.

No, in my case I will forever be viewed as the one who passed on some terrible, life-destroying plague that cannot ever be cured as the terms of the lease are quite strict and resale values aren’t where they were predicted they’d be, etc., if a single feature is found wanting or the slightest thing goes wonky.

If you want an expert opinion, they say, ask an expert. Well, as an expert, I say something different. Even I can see you clearly need ointment or something for that. Oh, right. Expert car stuff. That’ll take a little longer to explain…

Imagine driving down a five lane—two in either direction with a turn lane in the center—street lined with houses. You're in the nearer-to-center lane—at the 45 mph speed limit, of course—and notice a small pickup back out of a far away driveway into the curb-side lane of your half of the road. You think nothing of it, seeing as how they’re starting to roll forward in a different lane, as expected. But just as the “Why are they going so slow?” question sounds in your brain, the truck's driver decides to make an abrupt left turn directly into your path when you’re two car-lengths away.

Instantly you’re HARD on the brakes and diving for the center turn lane in a vain attempt to miss the collision, knowing that turning any further will only put you in the path of oncoming traffic and make things worse. And that’s the last thought your brain gets out before your beloved 1981 Volvo wagon’s right front corner plows into the offender’s 1990 Toyota pickup at its left front tire.

Welcome to the REAL world of 40+ mph “small overlap” impacts, 1992-style. And, as I’m sure you’ve guessed from all the driving and typing I’ve done in the 22 year interim, I was (relatively) unhurt. The other guy(s), well, not so much…

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance took place last Sunday, on the golf course at Pebble Beach, overlooking Monterey Bay. A 1954 Ferrari 375 MM Scaglietti Coupe won Best of Show, the most elegant car on the lawn this year. The car, owned by Jon Shirley of Medina, WA, has what auction companies call “the perfect storm of provenance”—both sexy and scary. It is fundamentally a racing car, (the MM designation stands for Mille Miglia)  and fast, even by twenty first century standards—contemporary reports suggest a top speed of perhaps 185mph for open 375 MMs, and this car has a more aerodynamic coupe body.  Of course, it makes do without traction control or airbags, and doesn’t have much in the way of brakes; however, it has plenty of 4.5-liter Ferrari V12. Furthermore, it has celebrity ownership history: Acclaimed Italian movie director Roberto Rossellini commissioned the car, and allegedly gave it to film star Ingrid Bergman. It sports a recent world class restoration: That is to say, it is cosmetically perfect. So in these respects it is a typical Pebble winner. What sets it apart is that it is a car built after World War 2. It is the only postwar Best of Show winner in the last four decades. Why ?

Instead of always trying to be ahead of the world on information and breaking news, sometimes it's better to take a deep breath and look back on what has already come to pass. In this next edition of our Haunted Highways series, we aim to do just that.

Not too long ago, Hyundai vehicles were overlooked by most new car buyers. They were well-built and loaded with features, but they lacked any sort of style. The 2008 introduction of the Hyundai Genesis luxury sedan changed all that, and brought some much needed attention to the South Korean car brand. Fast forward a few years, and Hyundai now commands a sizable chunk of the U.S. and international car markets. Stylish models like the Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Sonata, and Hyundai Equus now pack customers into the showrooms. Proving that value doesn't have to be boring.

If you want a luxury car that isn't entirely boring to drive, then you've probably heard of Infiniti. This luxury division from Nissan offers a wide range of premium models like the Infiniti Q50, Infiniti Q70, and Infiniti QX60. From their luxury SUVs to their sport coupes, each Infiniti is engineered to excite the driver while coddling them in luxury.