Hispano-Suiza is a legendary automotive brand, known for its performance, luxury, and exclusivity. It was founded by Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt, an innovator comparable to figures such as Ford and Benz. After several failed attempts with companies in Spain, Birkigt founded Hispano-Suiza in 1904 and manufactured his first car that same year. The brand quickly gained prestige, especially after its victory in the Coupe de l'Auto in 1910 and the launch of the "Alfonso" model, in honor of King Alfonso XIII of Spain. In 1914, Hispano-Suiza introduced several notable models, such as the Type 24, which remained in production until 1922.
Produced for a brief period between September 1945 and November 1949, around 10,000 examples were built, all in right-hand drive, even for the coveted American market.
The Pope-Hartford Model 33, produced in 1913, is a rare automobile, with only 228 units built, of which only three four-passenger phaeton versions are currently known. The Pope-Hartford brand, belonging to the Pope Manufacturing Company, was prominent in the automotive industry in the early 20th century. Pope was active in automobile competitions, achieving notable results in events such as the Glidden Tour, the Portola Road Race, and the Indianapolis 500.
This iconic Silver Ghost, nicknamed “The Silver Fairy,” was delivered in 1909 to botanist John H. Thomas. Restored faithfully to its original design with subtle improvements, it has won Best of Class awards at Pebble Beach. It combines historic elegance with impeccable performance, true to the Rolls-Royce heritage.
The 1933 Chrysler Imperial CQ Roadster is an extremely rare classic car: only 243 convertibles were built, and very few examples remain today. Despite the economic crisis of the time, Chrysler remained financially stable, and its Imperial series, while not a big seller, was noted for its luxury and exclusivity. In 1933, the CQ model was completely redesigned, and market response was positive: total production increased over the previous year, reaching 3,822 units for the CQ series, helping Chrysler climb to ninth place in domestic sales.
Thanks to its reputation for high performance and its decidedly sporty style, the Chrysler 75 remains a highly valued car among classic car enthusiasts today. It is also one of the few American models of its era capable of competing in both the Mille Miglia and the Le Mans Classic, reinforcing its collector's appeal and providing a rare opportunity to relive the excitement felt by the Chrysler team members following their remarkable successes in 1929.
Hispano-Suiza is a legendary automotive brand, known for its performance, luxury, and exclusivity. It was founded by Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt, an innovator comparable to figures such as Ford and Benz. After several failed attempts with companies in Spain, Birkigt founded Hispano-Suiza in 1904 and manufactured his first car that same year. The brand quickly gained prestige, especially after its victory in the Coupe de l'Auto in 1910 and the launch of the "Alfonso" model, in honor of King Alfonso XIII of Spain. In 1914, Hispano-Suiza introduced several notable models, such as the Type 24, which remained in production until 1922.
Produced for a brief period between September 1945 and November 1949, around 10,000 examples were built, all in right-hand drive, even for the coveted American market.
The Pope-Hartford Model 33, produced in 1913, is a rare automobile, with only 228 units built, of which only three four-passenger phaeton versions are currently known. The Pope-Hartford brand, belonging to the Pope Manufacturing Company, was prominent in the automotive industry in the early 20th century. Pope was active in automobile competitions, achieving notable results in events such as the Glidden Tour, the Portola Road Race, and the Indianapolis 500.
This iconic Silver Ghost, nicknamed “The Silver Fairy,” was delivered in 1909 to botanist John H. Thomas. Restored faithfully to its original design with subtle improvements, it has won Best of Class awards at Pebble Beach. It combines historic elegance with impeccable performance, true to the Rolls-Royce heritage.
The 1933 Chrysler Imperial CQ Roadster is an extremely rare classic car: only 243 convertibles were built, and very few examples remain today. Despite the economic crisis of the time, Chrysler remained financially stable, and its Imperial series, while not a big seller, was noted for its luxury and exclusivity. In 1933, the CQ model was completely redesigned, and market response was positive: total production increased over the previous year, reaching 3,822 units for the CQ series, helping Chrysler climb to ninth place in domestic sales.
Thanks to its reputation for high performance and its decidedly sporty style, the Chrysler 75 remains a highly valued car among classic car enthusiasts today. It is also one of the few American models of its era capable of competing in both the Mille Miglia and the Le Mans Classic, reinforcing its collector's appeal and providing a rare opportunity to relive the excitement felt by the Chrysler team members following their remarkable successes in 1929.
The Renault Type B, launched in 1899, was one of the first major innovations in the automotive industry. Designed by the Renault brothers as an evolution of the Type A, it featured a De Dion-Bouton single-cylinder engine and a revolutionary direct-shaft drive system, patented by Louis Renault. Despite its modest power, it offered efficient and reliable performance. Its two-seater cabriolet design combined functionality and elegance, making it stand out among the vehicles of its time. Furthermore, its racing successes helped establish Renault as an up-and-coming brand. The Type B marked the beginning of Renault's legacy and laid the foundation for the modern automobile.
Tremulis's primary concern was aerodynamics; he believed his design for a gyroscopically balanced two-wheeled car would represent the ultimate automotive aerodynamics. In short, Tremulis hoped the Gyron would be a breakthrough that would influence future automobile design.
The Stanley brothers launched the Model K Semi-Racer, produced between 1907 and 1910, with a 30-horsepower engine derived from the record-breaking vehicle. This Model K was a project initiated by Bruce Green in Tennessee, USA, and completed in the UK by the prestigious restorer John Goold & Sons in 2006. It features a 30-horsepower boiler, a red finish with gold trim, black leather upholstery, period instrumentation, and a gas lighting system. Despite not having a condenser, it offers a unique driving experience, valued for both its beauty and its functionality.
The LaLee Streamliner is a mysterious, aerodynamic vehicle whose history has fascinated automotive design enthusiasts. It first appeared in 1938 photos in Dearborn, Michigan, and was attributed to a California aviator named Daniel LaLee. The car, with an aviation-inspired design, featured a supercharged V8 engine, automatic doors, a retractable roof, and other innovations.
The Volkhart V2 Sagitta was a 1947 German automobile based on the VW KdF-Wagen, designed as a messenger vehicle for the Luftwaffe. Although only two were built, it was notable for its advanced aerodynamics, making it even faster than the first Porsche, despite having less power.
In 1950, the first generation of the HEMI, called the FirePower, was launched. It was a 180-horsepower (hp) V8 with 312 lb-ft of torque. Although it wasn't yet known as the HEMI, its power was just as legendary, and four years later, a 340-hp version was available. The name HEMI comes from the engine's hemispherical combustion chamber. The first HEMI engine appeared in 1951 in a Chrysler, but it wasn't called that. The name HEMI was given to the second generation of the engine, the 426 HEMI.
Jack Wolfram was Oldsmobile's Chief Engineer at the time of the OHV V-8's development. He belonged to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and commented on April 5, 1949: "Shortly after the resumption of automobile production in 1946, Oldsmobile engineers began to study the fundamentals for a new engine design."
Forrest Keeton found success with his Keeton automobile and so he launched a second brand: the Car-Nation Motorette Company. Both companies were purchased by Charles Schaeffer and merged into the American Voiturette Company. The Car-Nation marque only existed between 1912 and 1915. Today, only seven Car-Nations are known to remain in the world, and only two of them are the rare Model C Roadster.
In 1954, Borgward introduced the Isabella. Initially, the two-door sedan was to be called the Hansa 1500, but strong support from employees and the press convinced the company to use the name Isabella as its test vehicle. Many Borgward enthusiasts believe it to be the most beautiful car the brand ever made. The Borgward was not a cheap car, being considerably more expensive than its Ford and Opel competitors, but not as expensive as a Mercedes-Benz.
Buick pioneered the very concept of the concept car with the 1938 Y-Job, which predicted design ideas for Buicks into the early 1950s. In 1949, General Motors made concept cars a public attraction with its Autorama show at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and then the traveling Motorama show from 1953 to 1961.
The Chevrolet Corvair is a rear-engined, air-cooled compact car manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet over two generations between 1960 and 1969. A response to the Volkswagen Beetle, it was offered in 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe, convertible and 4-door station wagon in its first generation (1960–1964), and as a 2-door coupe, convertible or 4-door hardtop in its second (1965–1969). It was also offered as a subseries known as the Corvair 95 (1961–1965). The name "Corvair" was first applied in 1954 to a Corvette-based concept with a hardtop fastback-styled roof, part of the Motorama traveling exhibition. When applied to the production models, the "air" part referenced the engine's cooling system.
The first American concept “Car of the Future”. 13” wheels helped its long and low design. Imagine how futuristic this car looked on the road in the 1930s! The Y-Job accompanied 16 other amazing GM concept cars for a never before seen on the east coast, 2019 exhibition Styling the Future: A History of GM Design & Concept Cars.
Il ne fait aucun doute que les moteurs V-8 OHV lancés par Oldsmobile et Cadillac étaient distincts de leurs prédécesseurs ainsi que les uns des autres. C'est un fait que Cadillac a commencé à rechercher et à développer le V-8 OHV dans les années 1930, bien avant les recherches d'après-guerre d'Oldsmobile, mais quel crédit Cadillac mérite-t-il pour le développement des deux moteurs ?
The 1916 Packard 1-25 Twin Six Runabout was a blend of sophisticated styling and cutting-edge technology. The 1916 Twin Six Runabout wasn’t just a mode of transportation; it was an expression of status and craftsmanship. Owners of this vehicle were seen as forward-thinking individuals who appreciated both performance and prestige. More than a century later, its classic design continues to captivate collectors and vintage car enthusiasts.
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