Every once in a while you still see an old Econoline van around; but you almost never see a 1965 Ford Falcon Club Wagon. These were the passenger versions of Ford’s delivery van, and they came in three flavors: the base model, which was called Falcon Station Bus, andthe Club Wagon and Deluxe Club Wagon. Ford told us that “…two salty Six engines [were] offered: the standard job w
You don’t realize just how small a car like this 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500is until you see one in traffic. But surprisingly, the interior, while snug, is comfortable for two average sized adults. Triumph tells us in their brochure that the Spitfire’s 24-foot turning radius is “…six feet less than a VW Beetle.” Its 1500cc engine (thus the name), also according to the
If you wanted the ultimate touring sedan 30 years ago, you might have wanted to take a look at the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL. The Lof course meant it was a longer version of the 560 SE, while560indicated a 5.6L V8 under that long hood. This was the final year for this model, and the engine put out 275 hp, giving the car a top speed of about 150 mph. To say that my understanding of German is a lit
There were over 70 different two-tone color combinations available to buyers of a1956 DeSoto Firedome. This one, seen a few weeks ago at the Frontiersmen VFW Car Show in Tonawanda, is Iridescent Gray Poly and Shell Pink, and you just know it will be a standout wherever it shows up! The ad copy writers were really singing the praises of Chrysler’s push-button automatic transmission in 1956, h
This 1972 Ford Mustang Mach 1is a one-owner car, having been bought new by Fredonia’s Joel Polito at Hartley Ford, which was also located in Fredonia back in the day. This 49-year-old pony car has only about 80k miles on the odometer, and is equipped with a 351cid V8 under that scooped hood, connected to a console-mounted SelectShift automatic transmission. The black vinyl interior still loo
There seem to be a lot of pre-war Fords, Chevys, and Plymouths still around today, but how often do you come across a 1940 Chrysler Windsorin the wild? We found this one in a Tonawandaparking lot back in May, looking like it’s in an unrestored state. I know these things were big and roomy inside, but the brochure illustration (below)makes the Windsor’s interior look bigger than some sm
You see them in many period photos and advertising illustrations, but you don’t often come upon a car like this 1967 Chevy Chevelle SS 396sporting a set of whitewall tires these days. This Super Sport'salso wearing a black vinyl roof, another typical option from that era. Most 1960s muscle cars still around today seem to be pretty monochromatic (in my experiences, anyway) and shod in afterma
Seeing a 1963 Chevrolet Impalasport coupe at a cruise night/car show isn’t all that unusual. Seeing one like this, sporting what looks like an Anniversary Gold paint job and looking like it just drove out of the showroom however, isn’t all that common (at least in my experiences). The front fender badge would seem to indicate that there’s a 283cid V8 under the hood. That Annivers
This 1997 Volkswagen Passat GLXrepresents the nameplate’s final year before a total makeover for MY 1998. The Passat name was first used in MY 1973, although the cars sold in North America wore aDasherbadge. It marked VW’s entry into the world of water-cooled engines and front-wheel-drive, along with the Scirocco and Golf/Rabbit. The ’97 Passat was available in sedan and station
The 1962 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eightfour-door models were offered in three variations: a pillared sedan (Town Sedan); a six-window-hardtop (Holiday Sedan); and this four-window hardtop, or, in Olds-speak, the Holiday Sports Sedan, which replaced the flat-top Sports Sedan from the previous year. Olds said of this new silhouette: “…unique roof motif gives it a sporty new sparkle!”You