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Articles Matching “History”

Silly old commercial: Nissan Urvan SGL

Banovsky on July 24, 2009

Since I spend way too much time looking at old car commercials on YouTube, I thought I could share a few with vLane readers.

Horses…carriages…and a van? Click through for the clip.

Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Classic, WTF, History, Misc, Advertising, Humor, Nissan, Commercial, Urvan SGL, Australia, Datsun, Silly old commercial
From the archive: 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham

Banovsky on July 23, 2009

We were browsing the Cadillac media archives, and came across this lovely image we'd like to share…

The 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham's glove box

The image above displays some vehicle accessories you could have ordered with your Eldorado Brougham, such as:
- Stainless steel (with a silver finish) magnetized glove box drink tumblers
- Cigarette and tissue dispensers
- Lipstick (cologne was mentioned in the dealer Data Book, but was apparently never offered)
- Ladies' compact with powder puff, comb, and mirror
- Leather notebook
- STEP atomizer with 1 oz. bottle of "Arpege" perfume extract made by Lanvin, Paris
Yes, those were the days…

Read more:
Read full article | Comments (6) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Classic, WTF, History, Misc, Coupe, Humor, Cadillac, Pic, Archive
vLane's 4th of July Car Show Listing

Banovsky on July 3, 2009

We love cars. And there's nothing better than taking a stroll past some of the great classics that owners show during some of our nation's classic car shows.

Gotta spend the holiday looking at cool cars!

This year, since July 4th is on a Saturday, there are a ton of amazing car shows across the nation. If we were a little closer to Gulfport, Mississippi, we'd be at the Motorsports Rods & Hawgs Party — which sounds like a great time. Thankfully, the Cash for Clunkers legislation won't be touching any of these beauties!

Take a look at some of the shows, and if you have any more that we can add, email us at editorial [at] motomozo [dot] com with the subject line, "Car Show" or leave a note in the comments!

Click on for the listings!

Read full article | Comments (2) | Filed under Event, drivers, News, Classic, Feature, History, Misc, Convertible, Coupe, This week, drivers, US, community, Cash for Clunkers, July 4, July 4th
Rachel Veitch and her 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente

Banovsky on July 2, 2009

What a difference the Internet can make. It's doubtful anyone would have taken interest in a 557,000-mile 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente.

Veitch describes her car as more loyal than "any of her three husbands"

But thanks to the folks at GrowingBolder.com, this remarkable story of 90-year-old Rachel Veitch and her car can be enjoyed by all.

Through countless years, she describes how reliable her chariot has been ("…more than any of my three husbands"), how she always goes for the lifetime warranty (16 batteries and counting…), and her unique method of theft protection (a handgun hidden within reach.)

Even better, though, is that Veitch genuinely appreciates the act of driving and doesn't take it for granted. She even mentions that older drivers should be tested regularly to keep their skills sharp.

Click through to watch the video.

[Source: GrowingBolder.com via Detnews.com]

Read full article | Comments (3) | Filed under driving, Classic, Feature, WTF, Sedan, History, Misc, maintenance, women, women, Detroit, women, antique, US, 1964, Mercury
Working-Class Hero: Ford P71

Derek Kreindler on July 2, 2009

The Ford P71 has inspired a generation of drivers to react with a Pavlovian mixture of fear and hatred every time we see the blacked-out grill or dog dish wheels in our rearview mirror.

A shame, but it'll qualify to be traded in under Cash for Clunkers.

It can only mean one of two things; a nasty, vindictive police officer lurking behind us, or a nasty, vindictive cab driver waiting to cut us off and say lewd things about our female blood relatives. And since you can't buy a P71 from a Ford dealer, chances are it will have been driven by one of these two types.

The P71 is based on the well-known Crown Victoria, a perfectly adequate rental car and grandparent shuttle. To maximize the car for pursuit duty, as well as the endless miles of city driving that urban police departments must deal with, the P71 has undergone a host of upgrades, starting with an upgraded suspension, re-enforced frame, dual exhaust, a limited slip differential and special high offset wheels.

Click through for more on Ford's most bad-ass highway cruiser…

Read full article | Comments (1) | Filed under highway, Feature, Sedan, History, Ford, Ford, Crown Victoria, P71, police
Kim White vintage automotive handbags

Banovsky on June 23, 2009

Ok, so I may not be the most fashion-conscious. Or fashion literate. But I do know a few things about rocking recycled material for bags, as I've been living with a Freitag bag for a few months now.

Pretty cool vintage fabrics make cooler designs

Still, I'm not a woman. So it was cool to find these vintage handbags made from old automotive fabric stock.

Designer Kim White uses never-used textiles that were intended for use in American vehicles. Her website says:

"She fortuitously unearthed an entire warehouse of automotive fabric, which may be the last existing stock anywhere in the US, and she is the sole owner of these amazing textiles."

A great story, and even better is that each handbag is tagged with the year and make of the fabric, so you can tell your friends your bag's fabric could have been a Camaro, Mustang…or Gremlin.

Well, maybe you wouldn't tell them it was supposed to be the seats in a Gremlin.

Click on for more…including a "Camaro" bag!

Read full article | Comments (2) | Filed under History, Misc, accessories, women, handbags, bag, women, women
Upcoming: #carchat 15; June 17 @ 8PM EST

Banovsky on June 17, 2009

This week, we're talking new GM leadership, automotive FAILs, Saab, and have a shopper to help.

Check out the #carchat How-To, or click through for a #carchat widget. Anyone can join us at 8PM EST June 17, on Twitter. And if you'd like to suggest topics, please tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat."

This week:
So click through and read a few links related to tonight's discussion.

Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Event, Government, Industry, Future, WTF, Saab, History, Advice , Discussion, Social Media, carchat, shopping, Chevrolet, Detroit, Twitter
2009 Le Mans 24-Hour preview

Banovsky on June 12, 2009

This guest post comes courtesy of Eric Trytko — sometimes known as “The Duke.” He's the host of RumblestripRadio , a podcast dedicated to motorcycle road racing, and runs a blog that covers all forms of motorsport, Rumblestrip.net.

The unveiling of a new car, in this case, Audi's R15 TDI, is a big event at Le Mans.

"But, what is so important about driving fast?"

"Many people go through life doing things badly. Racing is important to men who do it well. When you're racing, it's life: anything that comes before or after is just waiting."

That answer comprises about 25% of Steve McQueen's dialog in the epic racing drama, Le Mans, yet sums up why drivers, mechanics, teams, and manufacturers continue to come every year to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Le Mans ranks either first or second — depending on your point of view — as one of the most important events in motorsport.

This year will be the 77th running of the legendary race and a over a quarter of a million people are expected to attend. And yet people still ask the questions: “Is this race necessary?” or: “Why, in these times of economic unpleasantness, and anything with with an internal combustion engine is the devil incarnate, are we still doing this?”

Read through for the answer…

Read full article | Comments (1) | Filed under Event, Audi, Feature, Europe, Aston Martin, History, Motorsport, This week, Social Media, racing, Chevrolet, Corvette, Le Mans, France, 2009
Upcoming: #carchat 14; June 10 @ 8PM EST

Banovsky on June 9, 2009

This week, we've got Hyundai PR guy Dan Bedore joining us for a Q&A session on Hyundai's product renaissance, we chat about the Cash for Clunkers bill, news that a Chinese firm has purchased HUMMER, about declining car ownership, and "fringe" motorsports like drifting, sand racing, and LeMons. Oh, and a car shopper needs our help!

Check out the #carchat How-To, or click through for a #carchat widget. Anyone can join us at 8PM EST June 10, on Twitter. And if you'd like to suggest topics, please tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat."

This week:
So click through and read a few links (and watch a video!) related to tonight's discussion.

Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Government, Industry, Environment, Future, History, Misc, Hyundai, Advice , Humor, This week, Discussion, Social Media, carchat, Detroit, 2010, Twitter, HUMMER
Driving the Ford Model T

Banovsky on June 3, 2009

Ford Canada invited a few journalists out to drive not only the new Ford Fiesta (more on that later), but also sample some of their bread and butter products…circa 1920.

Click through for the video

The Ford Model T, or Tin Lizzie, was produced between 1908 and 1927. Thanks to Henry Ford perfecting the assembly line, it took only 93 minutes to assemble a car — far faster than its competitors…if you could call any "other" car a competitor.

How successful was the Model T? In 1914, there were more Model Ts produced than all other cars combined. At its peak, 10 per cent of all cars in the world were Fords. And between 1917 and 1923, it was so successful that Ford didn't have to purchase advertising.

Henry Ford said of the car:
I will build a car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one - and enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God's great open spaces.

Even though it is considered the car that put America on wheels, it wasn't exactly the easiest car in the world to drive. If you want to see a video of that (hand throttle and all!) plus a gallery of Model T pics, click through…

Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Classic, Feature, History, Misc, Ford, Convertible, Ford, Detroit, Model T, antique