Filed in archive
Chevrolet
, Design
, Ford
by philip on February 25, 2010
Some of us think that combining a station wagon with a sports car is a great idea. Fun to drive yet practical, too. Unfortunately there aren't many true believers, for such a vehicle has never sol...
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
American Independents
, Auctions
, Design
by philip on December 31, 2009
Few American classics can match the romantic, even mysterious image of the Tucker. Brilliantly conceived, superbly engineered, it was brought to a halt by indecent accusations of stock manipulation, b...
Filed in archive
Design
, European Specials
, Ferrari
by philip on December 21, 2009
One of the advantages of wealth is that if you dream big dreams you can afford to turn them into reality. As did Edward Walson who commented "I had always dreamed of designing sports cars, and wh...
Filed in archive
Concours
, Design
by philip on December 11, 2009
Perhaps it's a bit unfair to ask viewers to identify a mystery car without providing the answer but I'll be honest, friends. I don't recognise the car myself and the truth won't be officially revealed...
Filed in archive
Design
, Fashion Items
, Porsche
by Philip Powell on November 25, 2009
Way back in the early 1980s I purchased one of the very first Porsche Design products, a watch. Needless to say it was both beautiful and unique. I might still have it today had I not allowed myself t...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Design
, German Cars
, Mercedes
by Philip Powell on November 13, 2009
Is this 300SL the real thing or is it the product of some very skillful computer imaging? If someone did actually cut and section such a valuable car for the purpose of adding a back seat we have to a...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Chrysler
, Design
by Philip Powell on October 19, 2009
The other day I was looking through a back copy of Collectible Automobile magazine and came upon an article about the 1957 Chrysler cars. In his story author Jeffrey E. Godshall recalled "...a bold ne...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Automotive Art
, Chrysler
, Design
by Philip Powell on August 31, 2009
In the longest of my several careers I was an advertising copywriter and, later, creative director, working mostly on car accounts. At the time we depended on photography to show the cars, as is the c...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Automotive Art
, Chevrolet
, Design
by Philip Powell on July 13, 2009
Why is it that we sometimes need visitors from other places to help us appreciate the beauty of our own domain? I'm especially guilty as I live in what is arguably the loveliest part of a spectacu...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Auctions
, Buick
, Design
by Philip Powell on July 10, 2009
A few days ago I posted a blog about the styling of the post-war Buick Roadmaster (although a convertible was shown, it's the fastback that really turns my crank). It was, and still is, one of my ...
Filed in archive
Alfa Romeo
, As We See Things
, Concours
, Design
by Philip Powell on July 6, 2009
The extravaganza known as Pebble Beach just keeps getting bigger, which would be okay with humble auto writers like me if it didn't continue to push room rates beyond reach. (Yes, the rich are dif...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Auto Shows
, British Cars
, Design
, European Specials
by Philip Powell on July 3, 2009
Walking down Sidney BC's main street recently on a fine sunny day, I spotted a Daimler SP250, known as a "Daimler Dart" until Chrysler threatened legal action. Although SP250s are scarce...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Auto Shows
, Automotive Art
, Concours
, Design
by Philip Powell on June 17, 2009
If I could give myself a Fathers Day gift it would be an all-expenses paid trip to Detroit to see the annual Eyes on Design concours d'elegance. I'd do so because this event is attended by man...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Chrysler
, Design
by Philip Powell on June 3, 2009
It's not unusual to spot a Chrysler Airflow (or its DeSoto sibling) at an auction. Normally these would be 4-door sedans, much maligned for their unpopular "streamlined design." Often fo...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Design
, Movies
by Philip Powell on May 25, 2009
It may not appear on anyone's "most beautiful cars" list but for me the original Sunbeam Alpine deserves to be there, as would almost any car designed by Raymond Loewy. Perhaps the Alpin...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Design
, Rare Europeans
by Philip Powell on April 10, 2009
The 1938 Jaguar SS100 is, to my mind, the epitome of what a sports car should be. Never mind the lack of an envelope body and modern conveniences, one look at the SS100 and you know this is a car mea...
Filed in archive
Automotive Art
, Design
, Rare Europeans
by Philip Powell on March 23, 2009
I've walked countless times through New York's Grand Central Station while on my way to the J. Walter Thompson ad agency next door. During those memorable years I observed many unusual things ...
Filed in archive
Concours
, Design
, Ferrari
, Italian Cars
by Philip Powell on March 20, 2009
My last visit to the Pebble Beach classics week was in 2006. I haven't returned because the cost of comfortable accommodation during that period is outrageous. It's a seller's market, as t...
Filed in archive
Design
, Ford
, Museums
, Station Wagons
by Philip Powell on March 16, 2009
Everybody loves a "Woodie," especially California auto dealer Nick Alexander. Nick has collected more than 35 examples of the iconic wood-panelled wagons, along with their coupe/convertible ...
Filed in archive
American Independents
, As We See Things
, Concours
, Design
by Philip Powell on March 11, 2009
Sometimes you really have to view a car in the metal to appreciate its true style and personality. I've seen Tuckers before but only in museums or on crowded auction floors. At the Palm Springs De...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Design
, French Cars
by Philip Powell on February 20, 2009
When it comes to style, car designers know more than you and me. So when Ian Callum (famous for his Jaguar and Aston Martins), Leonardo Fioravanti (of Pininfarina/Ferrari fame), ItalDesign founder Gio...
Filed in archive
American Independents
, Concours
, Design
, Electric Cars
by Philip Powell on February 10, 2009
Back in the early thirties (you remember them, don't you?) a Concours d' Elegance was a beauty contest for new cars and feminine fashion. Today a Concours is mostly about classic automobiles f...
Filed in archive
Design
, German Cars
by Philip Powell on February 6, 2009
Here, in all its black-and-white glory, is one of my favorite classic sedans, the BMW 1800, also known in Europe as the Neue Klasse. It made a huge impression on me during my young years as a Canadian...
Filed in archive
Concours
, Design
, Fun Events
by Philip Powell on January 26, 2009
Pebble Beach, Villa d'Este, Amelia Island... watch out! Your concours may be world class but there's a bright new competitor ready to join you in the list of "events not to be missed.&quo...
Filed in archive
American Specials
, Design
by Philip Powell on January 10, 2009
During the 20's and 30's, when fast wooden runabouts and racers captured the imaginations of boat lovers, marine architects terminated their hulls in a sleek stern not unlike that of a duck. ...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Design
, General Motors
by Philip Powell on December 24, 2008
The New York Times Wheels site has a lengthy list of comments resulting from a contributor's beef with certain contemporary car features. One suggestion that kept popping up was that manufacturer...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Design
, European Specials
, French Cars
by Philip Powell on December 21, 2008
Sometimes it seems that every high-end classic car auction has to have a Bugatti on the block. Considering that the French marque was a low-volume sports/racing machine, one wonders how so many surviv...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Chrysler
, Design
, Plymouth
by Philip Powell on December 17, 2008
The business coupe is a relic from another era, beginning in the late 30s and ending in the early 50s. Those were the years of the traveling salesman who carried samples and deliverable goods as he dr...
Filed in archive
Design
, Ferrari
, Historic Transportation
, Romantic Notions
by Philip Powell on November 20, 2008
Italians know fast. They also appreciate beautiful design. Put them together and you get the A.G.V., a new type of train slated to go into service in 2011 with an Italian fast-rail company, N.T.V. But...
