Recently, we did an interview with Todd Ruel (formerly of Torq-O.com) for the inaugural podcast of his new website on orphan cars and orphan brands, Gone Autos. The podcast is now live — you can check it out here.
The Nine Lives of the Jaguar XJS
The Jaguar XJS, introduced in 1975, remains one of the most controversial models ever to emerge from Browns Lane: a heavyweight GT far removed from its predecessor, the immortal E-type. Nonetheless, it survived for almost 21 years, enduring some of the most tumultuous periods of Jaguar’s history. This week, we look at the development and lengthy evolution of the XJ-S, from 1975 to 1996.
Falcons Down Under: The Australian Ford Falcon, Part Two
By 1971, the American Ford Falcon was dead, but the Australian Falcon was still going strong. This week, the second part of our history of the Falcon down under, including the birth of the first all-Australian Falcon, a classic one-two finish on Mount Panorama, and a shot at international movie stardom as we look at the Ford XA Falcon and the subsequent XB, XC, XC Cobra, XD, and XE.
The engine bay of a 1978 XC Cobra, spotted in Florida in 2011. (Photo © 2011 John Cox; used with permission)
Continue Reading Falcons Down Under: The Australian Ford Falcon, Part Two
Falcons Down Under: The Australian Ford Falcon, Part One
While the North American Ford Falcon quietly disappeared in 1970, its Australian counterpart went on to a long and eventful career that continues to this day. This week, we take a look at the birth of the Australian Ford Falcon, including the 1960–1972 XK, XL, XM, XP, XR, XT, XW, and XY Falcon, the Falcon GT, and the beginnings of a storied racing career.
A 1960 dealer brochure for the XK Falcon sedan. (Image: Ford Motor Company)
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This Time, It’s Personal: The 1967-1970 Cadillac Eldorado
The 1967 Cadillac Eldorado is a milestone Cadillac by any standard. Rakish, sophisticated, and surprisingly sporty, it was the division’s first front-wheel-drive car and its first serious entry in the burgeoning personal luxury genre. This week, we explore the story of the first FWD Eldorado.
Author’s note: An earlier version of this article first appeared in August 2009. We’ve completely rewritten and expanded it, clearing up some errors and misconceptions and adding new information and new images.
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Behind the Scenes at Ate Up With Motor
As we come to the end of 2010, we present a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of Ate Up With Motor.
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Out in Front: The Front-Wheel-Drive Oldsmobile Toronado, Part 2
Most histories of the Oldsmobile Toronado start and end with the original 1966 models, but that wasn’t the end of the story. The Toronado survived another 25 years and its most commercially successful period was still to come. This week, we look at the history of the 1971-1992 Toronado and examine another vehicle that shared its novel powertrain: the 1973-1978 GMC Motorhome.
Continue Reading Out in Front: The Front-Wheel-Drive Oldsmobile Toronado, Part 2
Out in Front: The Front-Wheel-Drive Oldsmobile Toronado, Part 1
Both technologically and stylistically, the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado was a landmark — a striking, sophisticated big GT that was also the first front-wheel-drive American production car in nearly 30 years. This week, we look at the origins of the 1966-1970 Toronado and the evolution and development of its unusual FWD Unitized Power Package.
Continue Reading Out in Front: The Front-Wheel-Drive Oldsmobile Toronado, Part 1
All the Way from A to B: The History of the MGB, Part Two
As we saw in our first installment, by the mid-sixties, the MGB had become one of the world’s best-selling sports cars. Not even its most loyal fans, however, would have imagined that it would survive for 18 years — or that it would rise again barely a decade after its demise. This week, we present the second half of our history of the MGB, including the 1971-1981 MGB, the 1966-1981 MGB GT, the MGB GT V8, and the MG RV8.
Continue Reading All the Way from A to B: The History of the MGB, Part Two
All the Way from A to B: The History of the MGB, Part One
In the same way that the 1955 Chevy defined an era of American cars, the MGB was the archetypal English roadster of the 1960s. It was not the fastest, the most sophisticated, or even the cheapest of its kind, but for nearly 20 years, it was the default choice among inexpensive sports cars. This week, we look at the history of the ubiquitous 1962-1970 MGB roadster.
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Plan C: The Short-Lived Six-Cylinder MGC and MGC GT
Conceived as an afterthought, savaged by the press, and hastily discarded by its maker, this six-cylinder version of the ubiquitous MGB has become the MG that time forgot. This week, we take a look at the story behind the rare and much-maligned 1968-1969 MGC.
Continue Reading Plan C: The Short-Lived Six-Cylinder MGC and MGC GT
The Harder They Fall: The Saga of the DeLorean Motor Company
It was the automotive story for almost a decade: former GM superstar John DeLorean had set out to build his own high-tech sports car, only to end up in handcuffs. This week, we present the complete saga of the DeLorean Motor Company and the DeLorean DMC-12, a strange tale of grand ambition, political intrigue, and cocaine.
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