Automotive History

Honda restores 1961 Chevy pickup as part of 60th anniversary


An original 1961 Chevrolet pickup used as a delivery truck by Honda in the 1960s

(June 19, 2019) Shortly after American Honda Motor Co. (AHM) first opened for business in 1959, the company purchased a small fleet of Chevy pickups to deliver motorcycles to its fledgling dealers across Southern California. One of these trucks is depicted in an iconic photo circa 1961 in front of AHM's original office at 4077 Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.

Fisher no-draft ventilation system revolutionizes car comfort

From The Old Motor

(June 6, 2019) General Motors introduced one of the most important innovations in closed car passenger comfort, its new “No Draft I.C.V Ventilation” window system to car buyers in 1933. GM’s unique new vent window system led the way by offering this new individualized comfort to all passengers who rode in its Fischer-bodied cars.

Two videos highlight city driving in the late 1930s and 1940s


Street scene in San Francisco in the 1940s

(May 25, 2019) Here are two interesting videos depicting city street driving in the 1940s. The first video was filmed in Portland, Ore., in 1939 and the second — some of it filmed in color — was shot in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Mexico City.

Legendary Bugatti Type 35 — World's most successful racing car

(May 7, 2019) MOLSHEIM, France — Light, strong, fast and elegant. The Bugatti Type 35 is one of the most successful racing cars of all time. And deservedly so: the French manufacturer's open-top sports car secured over 2,000 victories between 1924 and 1930. Today, the Type 35 is a legend in international motor sport. And a whole lot more besides.

Bertha Benz: The journey that changed everything (watch the film)

(March 9, 2019) STUTTGART, Germany — The Mercedes star is now shone on the woman without whom the company would perhaps never have existed in this form: Bertha Benz. To mark her 170th birthday on may 3, Mercedes-Benz relates Bertha's historic long-distance journey in cinema quality, thus encouraging men and women throughout the world to make their visions come true with courage and self-confidence.

The story of one of the world's most extraordinary and valuable vehicles

(February 23, 2019) Elegant, sporty, luxurious and rare. These are four of many epithets that can be applied to Bugatti. But there is one model for which they are especially appropriate: the Type 57 SC Atlantic Coupé is not just one of the Bugatti legends but perhaps the greatest. Only four of these cars were created between 1936 and 1938. Three of these extraordinary coupés are still in existence. They are regarded as the most valuable cars in the world. The automotive world has been searching for the fourth Atlantic for over 80 years.

From static to streaming — The history of car radio

(January 5, 2019) A new infographic illustrates the history of the car radio, from the 1930s through the current decade. Since the team at VAIS Technology continues to follow and adapt to the advances in car audio, they wanted to share this chart of the in-car technology upgrades throughout the decades. The journey to today's in-car entertainment was bumpy.

Film depicts how Ford constructed the 1962 Fairlane

(December 13, 2018) A fascinating video from a publicity film produced for the Ford Motor Company at the Dearborn Assembly Plant shows in detail how a 1962 Ford Fairlane was constructed. The factory, located at the huge Ford River Rouge Complex, began operations in 1928 manufacturing the Model A Ford. At that point it was the most extensive factory system in the world.

Heavy Philadelphia traffic on Sept. 7, 1950


Temple Univeristy archives

(October 25, 2018) Race Street appears to be an appropriate name for this Philadelphia thoroughfare which joined the entrance to the Delaware River Bridge in this photo from the Temple University archives. According to the source, the image was taken on Sept. 7, 1950.

Actor Gary Cooper's 1935 Duesenberg SSJ to be offered at auction

(August 13, 2018) Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, will present one of the greatest American classic cars ever offered for public sale with an estimate in excess of $10 million — a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ owned by actor Gary Cooper. The auction will be held Aug. 24 and 25.

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