CAR LIFE magazine road test of the new 1965 Thunderbird. Whilst ostensibly the same as the ‘64 model, the new ‘65 Tbird had an ace up it’s sleeve - front disc brakes. That might not seem anything special today - but back in the mid ‘60s it was a game changer…
The Case of the South Africa Holdens
Did you know Holdens were sold in South Africa during the 1960s and ‘70s? They didn’t have a Holden badge though - replaced by the Chevrolet name and famous bowtie logo. They also had Chevy engines. Read on to find out more about the African Holden-Chevs.
Heard the one about the Rocket Car?
On a lonely graveyard shift 20 years ago I came across an incredible story on an obscure, now defunct website. Written in the vein of a Stephen King short story - it purported to be the origin of the infamous Darwin-award winning rocket car myth…
The Woody Wagon - pop culture icon
Southern California surf culture turned the humble woody wagon in to a pop culture icon. Originally just a cheap and convenient way for teenagers to get surfboards to the beach, thanks to songs by the likes of the Beachboys and Jan and Dean - surf culture, and by extension the woody wagon - became instantly hip!
The DeLorean DMC-12 - Back to the Founder
Maker of the infamous DMC-12 gullwing sports car of the early 1980s, the DeLorean name will forever be associated with failure and scandal. Which is a shame, because prior to getting caught in an FBI drug sting, John DeLorean had been a shining light in the US automotive industry.
Glamorous, Stylish and Powerful: America's Personal Luxury Cars 1958-1978
Though not strictly performance cars, the personal luxury car had serious horsepower. Whilst acceleration was always respectable, the personal luxury car's forté was effortless cruising – a long-distance mile-eater rather than stoplight dragster.
A Farewell to Holden
General Motors has announced the closure of Holden as a business from 2021. Effectively, Holden was terminal when local production ceased in 2017. All GM have done is announce they will be switching off life support.
A Mustang Story
This wasn’t just any fastback - it was a 1968 S-code 390 GT 4 speed. If you don’t know your Mustangs - that’s about as good as it gets
Once the Standard of the World – a brief history of Cadillac
Cadillac was once truly the ‘standard of the world’ as their ads boasted. But it was no boast - they really were one of the most exclusive, and innovative marques in the world. We look back at Cadillac’s technical innovations and look at some of the reasons for its’ decline as a world class car.
Ford v Ferrari – The inside story
Ford V Ferrari - The background you should know about the Movie, the rivalry and Le Mans. A 1960s car magazine accurately described Le Mans as “a four hour sprint race followed by a 20 hour death watch” and “probably the most dangerous sporting event in the world”.