Filed in archive
Automobilia
, Design
, Great Gifts
by philip on February 22, 2010
Back in my sports car days one of the most desireable accessories was a Nardi woodrim steering wheel. It could make an ordinary car seem special and told the world that its owner was a person of disce...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
by Philip Powell on October 14, 2009
As one who is inevitably so late buying Christmas presents he ends up paying FedEx more for shipping than the cost of the gifts, it may seem odd that I would dare to mention the "X" word before the fi...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, Automotive Art
, British Cars
, Concours
, Great Gifts
, Morgan
by Philip Powell on August 5, 2009
A major highlight of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance for those who appreciate automobile fine art is the annual poster. Now, however, there are three. One for the Concours, one for the Tour d...
Filed in archive
American Independents
, Automobilia
, Catalogs
by Philip Powell on July 28, 2009
The October 2009 issue of Collectible Automobile has a fascinating profile of carleton Spencer, who was in charge of interior colors and materials for Kaiser-Frazer from the company's beginnings ...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, Japanese Oldies
, Model Cars
by Philip Powell on April 13, 2009
One of the most unusual model car collections ever to be presented to the public will be on view July 10-August 16, 2009 at the Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York. "Buriki: Japanese Ti...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, Buick
, Catalogs
by Philip Powell on February 27, 2009
These days few automakers are willing to use the term "station wagon" to describe their vehicles, at least not in the North American market. Instead they go by meaningless words like "c...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, Catalogs
by Philip Powell on November 19, 2008
So today I'm strolling down Sidney's main street and I spot my friend Chris who, when not adding performance upgrades to his 2007 Mustang, tends to the gardens that are a feature of our seasid...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, Gifts
, Romantic Notions
by Philip Powell on October 10, 2008
Once again the United States Postal Service has honoured the classic car world with a set of five commemorative postage stamps. This new set features classic American cars of the 1950s and includes a ...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, Automotive Art
, Catalogs
by Philip Powell on August 9, 2008
We've all collected or read coffee table books featuring beautiful classic cars. Here's one that takes a fresh approach. "Prestige, Status and Works of Art: Selling the Luxury Car 1888-19...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Automobilia
, Chrysler
by Philip Powell on July 29, 2008
It would be difficult to find a more appropriate setting for the vehicle that RM is featuring in its annual Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook auction. The car, seen above, is a 1932 Chrysler CL Imper...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, Automotive Art
, Catalogs
by Philip Powell on May 7, 2008
Time was when automotive advertising images frequently placed an aircraft in the background, especially in the finned era of the 1950's. And why not? Both modes of transportation represented freed...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, Automotive Art
, Cadillac
, Design
by Philip Powell on April 28, 2008
Well, this could get me back to using snail-mail! The U.S. Postal Service is issuing a second set of automobile stamps as part of its "America on the Move" series. The first set included car...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Automobilia
, Catalogs
by Philip Powell on April 20, 2008
I'm always delighted to discover a new (to me) classic cars site that I can recommend to our viewers. In this case two, although they're both connected. The first, a Web site, is called The Ol...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Automobilia
, Museums
by Philip Powell on April 16, 2008
I never had a chance to meet Art Astor but we do have something in common. A 50-year broadcasting veteran, Art is also a renowned classic cars collector. I'm a 50-year veteran of automobile journa...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Automobilia
, Automotive Art
, Catalogs
by Philip Powell on March 26, 2008
I once had a brief career as a public relations person, first with VW/Porsche, then with Ford. To suggest that I wasn't cut out for the work would be an understatement, for to succeed in that busi...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, Catalogs
, General Motors
by Philip Powell on February 15, 2008
Long before the days of the minivan, the station wagon was a popular alternative for large families or just folks seeking extra carrying capacity. Wagon advertising inevitably featured illustrations o...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Automobilia
, Books
by Philip Powell on December 17, 2007
An article in "Classic Driver's newsletter" regarding an international automotive annual sent me scrambling to my bookshelves in search of a much older issue. Unfortunately (for the purp...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, Ford
by Philip Powell on December 14, 2007
After many years of service as an ad writer it probably comes as no surprise to learn that I'm fascinated by old car ads. New ones too, though I'm not impressed with the current crop. It seems...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, Automotive Art
by Philip Powell on December 4, 2007
As an admirer of Oriental culture and classic bicycles, I take great pleasure in offering my viewers this typical Shanghai street scene. Well, perhaps not so typical. In fact, it was a work in progres...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, British Cars
by Philip Powell on December 3, 2007
I'm being sentimental once again so please forgive this connection with the past, for I was almost tearful when reading a Classic Driver article about the opening of The Gauntlett Gallery in Londo...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Automobilia
, Automotive Art
by Philip Powell on November 12, 2007
So who is that lady, lying on her back, bosom slightly revealed, with cameras clicking from every direction? She's Sophia Loren, she's 71, and she's still sexy. Luck, genes, and a determin...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, Catalogs
, Historic Transportation
, Romantic Notions
by Philip Powell on October 26, 2007
I was astonished when, a few years ago, my former About Cars colleagues Aaron Gold and Colin Hefferon told me of the huge interest in collecting vintage buses. Imagine the size of the garages! Now com...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
by Philip Powell on June 6, 2007
If you enjoy collecting automobilia, or would even acquire a single piece, here's a wonderful opportunity to obtain a bargain without ever leaving your computer. The l'art et l'automobile ...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
by Philip Powell on February 1, 2007
While wandering through the Russo and Steeles tents prior to their Scottsdale auction I was stopped in my tracks by a panther, an English pre-war style reproduction sports car using Jaguar parts. The ...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
by Philip Powell on November 29, 2006
Look closely at the cars in this photo and you might think you're seeing an article on Mercedes' racing activities in the 1950's. Not so. This is a page from a 1991 Mercedes press kit. Now quite desir...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
by Philip Powell on October 3, 2006
Many's the time I've complained about Christmas promotions coming far too early in the season. And yet, here am I, suggesting Yuletide gifts in early October! In my own defence let me add that I'm not...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
by Philip Powell on September 1, 2006
Let's say you have a large den, home to automotive art, artifacts, and models. Or a garage in which you keep and maintain your beautiful collector cars. And let's say you've always had a nostaligic fo...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
by Philip Powell on March 29, 2006
Back in 1969 my ex and I made our first trip to Europe, highlighted by a week's skiing in Switzerland. Fiat's press rep met us at the airport with the keys to a media car but before climbing the mount...
