Things You Can’t Do in a New Car
New cars can do all kinds of things - even drive themselves. But there were all kinds of things you could do in the cars of the past that you can’t...
The Uncle-ized Car
What’s the cost of Uncle when it comes to our cars? How much have his various fatwas added to the MSRP?
One way to add it all up is to compare a...
Cadillac Eldorado, 1953–1985
A good name is a good beginning—and when Cadillac decided to christen its ultra- convertible after the mythical "gilded one" of Aztec/Mayan legend, it could not have chosen a more fitting...
Quadrajet Metering Rod Trick
One of the more intimidating aspects of tuning a Rochester Quadrajet carburetor is getting the air horn back on without damaging the primary metering road assembly, which must be seated as...
Doomed: Cadillac Seville (1976-2004)
When did Cadillac start becoming BMW - or trying to?
This can be pinpointed with some precision. It was 1976, the year of the Seville. This was Cadillac’s first small car -...
Old Muscle Ruled . . . When New Cars Sucked
Muscle cars - the original-era muscle cars from the '60s and '70s - don't seem to be as popular now as they were when I was in high school and college...
A Look Back for a Company With no Future
For the second year in a row, GM is selling nostalgia about the cars it used to make and hoping that will translate into sales of the cars it makes now.
Last...
To Update Or Not to Update?
As modern cars pass the event horizon of cost and complexity (and so, hassle) it's tempting to go retro and buy an older car - one without computers, black boxes, touchscreen inputs...
Old School vs. New-ish
My friend Jeff just got his 2002 Trans-Am back - after much engine work - and is somewhat disappointed. The car sounds tough. Slightly choppy idle and booming voice under way,...
Plug n’ Play
One of the great things about old cars is you can selectively update them with modern technology without them turning into modern cars.
An overdrive transmission - but not air bags. Better...