Old joke: When I was young, I really wanted a BMW. Nowadays, I’d be satisfied with a “BM.” This column is a little embarrassing, because it shows what a dumb cluck I was when I was younger. However, many “life lessons” have been acquired by making du

Q. My brother and I bought a very low-mileage 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood in January, because we love old cars, but also to sort of annoy our elderly mother. (When she was a young adult, her dad bought Cadillacs as a symbol of his immigrant success. She

The most original, unrestored General Motors Motorama show car in existence is, without a doubt, the 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special. The car carries still carries its original hand-applied bronze metallic lacquer paint finish, interior, engine and d

Built Ford-tough in Dearborn, Mich., Henry Ford’s Model A pickups need no introduction. Built a bit tougher in Jurupa Valley, Calif., Henry Escalera’s version deserves its own introduction. From here on out as we refer to Henry, we’re referring to ho

Steve Ward owns this delicious 1960 Ford Starliner that he says has “fins and chrome galore! Bubble glass top, transplanted 351 Cleveland and C-6 automatic. Loooong hood and trunk. Floats down the road like a dream!” ■

Six days after the Imperial Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941, Louis and Ann Serra bought a new Packard. Not just any Packard, but the dandy new Clipper. True, it was only offered in sedan form, but it was low-built, sleek an

The remains of this 1954 Pontiac Star Chief seem to be sinking into the blacktop. The old Poncho was quite a spectacle after sitting in a wooded boneyard in the small town of Iola, Wis., for many years. There don’t appear to be many exterior pieces t

If copy writers for this 1955 Chevrolet sedan delivery ad could have seen into the future, chances are their prose would have gone something like this: “No matter why you buy this neat delivery vehicle and what you do with it, someday, several decade

Rob Borman knew his 11-year-old self would never forgive him. A few years back, the Aurora, Ill., resident had found the type of car—a gorgeous 1953 Kaiser Manhattan—he’d always been looking for in the car corral at the Iola Car Show in Wisconsin. Bu

This unfortunate 1952 Willys Aero-Lark coupe was the sole participant in this single-car accident, which occurred when the driver lost control, struck a sign and overturned late one Saturday night in Pennsylvania. Styled by designer Phil Wright and e

My 63 years of active-duty fire service has seen similar fire apparatus as shown in the May 1, 2024, “Reader Photo” (above). The 1952 International Harvester (corn binder) cab and chassis shows a John Bean Company Fire Apparatus body. They were famou

“This photo was taken at my parents’ house in Duluth, Minn., in about 1948, two years before I was born,” says Steve Isola. “It is my 17-year-old uncle Melvin posing with either his or my dad’s 1937 Ford Model 78 2-door sedan. I can approximately dat

Chevrolet had a lot going for it by the mid 1950s, a point in time in which it had walked away from the immediate postwar years and ended up creating a string of automotive icons. Chevy wasn’t the only badge to complete such a transition over what am

Q. I would like to thank Mr. Robert Reeves (Q&A Jan. 15) for answering my question about my Buick model car (1911 Buick “Bug”). I’m in agreement that this car is probably from a Hudson Miniatures Old Timers kit, although my model is 6.5 inches long.

Bruce Garvey refused to believe his car was cursed. His 1949 Studebaker Champion Regal Deluxe sedan was just too lovable, and too solid, to ever be permanently doomed by bad luck. But it’s a good thing Garvey has a good sense of humor. “I had a ’46 S

“We created this car for the few. The few discerning Americans who always loved Thunderbird’s looks, luxury and performance—but longed for 4 doors for easy entering and exiting,” wrote Ford’s marketing department about the company’s all-new 1967 Thun

During the Antique Automobile Club of America’s 2023 Eastern Fall Meet in Hershey, Pa., there was buzz about a black 1961 Chrysler Newport four-door sedan parked on the show field. Normally, an early-1960s sedan doesn’t create such a stir, but this N

Larry Smith didn’t set out to buy his 1986 Mercury Capri, and while it didn’t exactly fall into his lap, things changed when he saw it. “It’s a one-owner car bought new at Smith Ford in Norwich, New York,” Smith said. “It was a lady who owned it and

“Here is a photo of my dad, Frank Bois, in 1949 with his first car, a 1947 Chevrolet Fleetline,” says David Bois. “He was 30 years old at the time this photo was taken and he was very proud of what he endured and accomplished to get to the point of p

“Here’s mud in your eye,” a friendly drinking toast, may have inspired Plymouth to celebrate the introduction of the 1963 Valiant with mud in its headlamp “eyes.” The Valiant is shown in this ad covered in caked dirt after enduring rigorous tests on