classicaldrive
How to Steer With Style: Try a Woodrim Steering Wheel
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...
Santa Claus is Coming to Town in a Classic Wooden Hot Rod
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...
Pebble Beach Retro Poster Returns to the Golden Age of Automobile Art
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...
The Kaiser-Frazer That Never Was? Or Was This the Pride of Willow Run?
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 ...
Early Japanese Car Models Arrive in New York
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...
Buick Folder Brings Back the Days When Station Wagons Were Admired and Loved
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...
Get an Early Start With Car Fan's Christmas Gifts
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...
Post Office Honours Classics of the 50s With New Stamp Set
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 ...
Luxury Car Catalog Art Featured in New Book
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...
Historic Chrysler Imperial Convertible Highlights 2008 Meadow Brook Auction
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...
Planes and Cars Posed Together in Advertising Brochures
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...
U.S. Postal Service Unveils 1950's Classic Car Stamps
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...
Two Great Classic Car Sites Worth Viewing
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...
Art Astor's Amazing Collection of Classic Cars and Historic Broadcasting Equipment to be Sold
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...
A Car Guy's Lament for Black & White Photo Art
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...
Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser Meets Pony Express
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...
The Only Automobile Annual Worth Having
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...
Ford Cortina Ad Aimed at Squashing Volkswagen's Bug
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...
A Sneak Peek at the 2008 Pirelli Calendar
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...
A Gallery for Car Enthusiasts Whose Taste Ranges From Vuitton to Cartier
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...
Pirelli, Sophia Loren, and Yes... This is Still a Classic Cars Blogsite
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...
Historic Truck and Bus Literature Collection Goes on Sale
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...
Collecting Automobilia Made Easier With Online Auction
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 ...
Old Gearshift Knobs Shift Cash, Not Gears
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 ...
Old Press Kits Become Valuable Collectibles
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...
Busted Knuckles Not Necessary but it Helps
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...
Neon Nostalgia You Can Hang on Your Wall
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...
Classic Cars Meet Classic Watches
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...
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