Simanaitis Says

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Category Archives: Classic Bits

A HOT ’55 CHEVY AND MORE

“AFTER 25 YEARS OF BUILDING CONSERVATIVE six-cylinder automobiles,” R&T wrote, “the 1955 Chevrolet V-8 is an anomaly…. but it certainly appears that a Chevrolet V-8 with optional 180 bhp engine … Continue reading

January 7, 2025 · 6 Comments

OXBURROW AND FULLER CONTINENTAL TOURERS SURELY GOT AROUND

OF COURSE, IT’S THE BENTLEY DRIVERS CLUB—contrasted with the Rolls-Royce Owners Club. The italics mine, not theirs. Confirmation of this is evident in Bentley Motors: On The Road, a compendium … Continue reading

January 4, 2025 · 7 Comments

MERCEDES-BENZ W196R—FOR THE WELL-HEELED COLLECTOR

MY FAVORITE CAR MAGAZINE, Classic & Sports Car, reports that “Moss and Fangio’s Mercedes-Benz W196R is for sale.” This is surely to be a highpoint of the February 1, 2025, … Continue reading

December 11, 2024 · 4 Comments

PORSCHE 1600—MORE THAN 60 YEARS AGO

TODAY, PORSCHE SELLS SUVS (about two-thirds of its products)—and then there’s the 911 (about 15 percent of production) and some others. However in October 1961, R&T marveled, “… back in … Continue reading

December 4, 2024 · 6 Comments

SPRITE II OUTGROWS ITS BUGEYES—AND MORE

A CURIOUS THING ABOUT R&T’S August 1961 road test of the Sprite II is the magazine’s complete omission of the name Austin-Healey. Variously the car’s BMC allegiance is noted, but … Continue reading

November 30, 2024 · 1 Comment

JAG XK-E: “THE FINEST CRUMPET COLLECTOR KNOWN TO MAN”—HENRY N. MANNEY III

WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF 1961, what better recommendation could a car be given? R&T was rather more PC in noting, “The car comes up to, and exceeds, all our great … Continue reading

November 20, 2024 · 8 Comments

L.C. CRESSWELL’S AUTOMOTIVE ART—AND A QUIZ FOR YOU

LAURENCE POMEROY’S THE GRAND PRIX CAR cites no less than Leonardo Da Vinci. It would be typical of Pom to offer this quote in Tuscan dialect, but indeed he favors … Continue reading

November 11, 2024 · 6 Comments

HENRY J—A COMPACT CAR WITH HUGE HERITAGE PART 2

YESTERDAY WE LEFT OUR ROAD AND TRACK STAFFERS trippin’ to Reno in one of industrialist Henry J. Kaiser’s tidy little products. Today we pick up in Part 2 with their … Continue reading

November 2, 2024 · 4 Comments

HENRY J—A COMPACT CAR WITH HUGE HERITAGE PART 1

“FOR SOME MONTHS,” THE MAGAZINE ENTHUSED in January 1952, “Road and Track [the “&” came along in mid-1954] has been off-handedly touting the virtues of a much under-rated and (we … Continue reading

November 1, 2024 · 1 Comment

BENTLEY YW 5758—THE RIGHT STUFF PART 2

YESTERDAY WE BEGAN DISCUSSING Classic & Sports Car’s article by Simon Hucknall about Bentley YW 5758, one of the legendary cars participating in the marque’s 1-4 dominance of the 1929 … Continue reading

October 25, 2024 · Leave a comment