Sure, we all know Jeep is the king of SUVs and off-roading, but back in the 1960s and '70s there was this toughy, the International Scout II.
Car Spot: 1937 Bantam Roadster
From the same company that built the first Jeep My first thought when "small cars" are mentioned is the 70s with the Japanese imports and domestics like the Pinto, Vega, and Gremlin. But way back in the 30s this country was introduced to a small car, the American Bantam similar to the one in this... Continue Reading →
Car Spot: Ford Pinto
America's answer to the Japanese car invasion ... Let me set the scene for you if you weren't around for the late 1960s to early '70s. Up until this point, gas was cheap in the US, about 31 cents a gallon, and we drove cars with big engines that got crappy gas mileage. But then... Continue Reading →
Car Spot: 1960s Amphicar
A car that could swim ... I love spots like this because the Amphicar is certainly not a car, er boat, you see every day. Matter of fact, it's not really a car, well not a really good one, and not really a good boat either. What it is, is fun! I spotted this one... Continue Reading →
Car Spot: Plymouth Prowler
Weird but way cool The 90s was a great time for Chrysler as they cranked out hit after hit. There was the PT Cruiser. Don't laugh because it sold over a million copies in ten years and might have been made longer if Chrysler hadn't kind of forgotten about it. They had a total beast... Continue Reading →
Car Spot: Buick Grand National
Not your grandpa's Buick Growing up I remember my uncle having a Buick and that's pretty much the image the brand had with an aging demographic preferring a cushy ride more than performance. With not a lot of foot traffic in the dealerships they needed something much like American Motors that I've written about in... Continue Reading →
Car Spot: 1991 Nissan Figaro
Cuter than a soft, fuzzy puppy. I'm usually a guy who likes the cars that have the big rip-roaring V8 engines but this week's spot, the Nissan Figaro, is just as cool but in a different way. Our daughter Meg spotted this Figaro at a show near Madison, WI. Note Vette right next to it.... Continue Reading →
Car Spot: Trabant 601 S “Delux”
East Germany's answer to West Germany's "People's Car" .... Growing up in the 1960s and '70s I remember the Cold War, and how the communists used East Berlin as a showcase for the success of socialism. Automobiles were a big part of that but ultimately, they were just terrible cars like this week's car spot,... Continue Reading →
Car Spot: Ford Festiva
The International House of Ford ... Growing up in the 1970s and having a dad who worked in the auto industry, American Motors, I can tell you it was not a fun time. If this sounds familiar, let me know as it was pretty much all about politics. Because the United States supported Israel in... Continue Reading →
Car Spot: Switchblade
World's first flying sports car As I write this post I'm suffering from post-AirVenture depression. My first love is all things aviation being a pilot. For as long as I can remember I've attended the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) AirVenture in Oshkosh. For one week at the end of July, the airport becomes the world's... Continue Reading →