Author Archive

1958 Ford Del Rio Ranch Wagon
Note: The following story was excerpted from the February 2004 issue of Collectible Automobile magazine
By John Biel
The American station wagon has had many transformations over the years. It went from being seen as a commercial vehicle to being accepted as a passenger-car style. Wood body construction gave way to steel. And though four-door convenience made the most sense for such a vehicle, two-door wagons enjoyed a brief heyday that peaked in the mid Fifties.
The Speed of Sound: Ford v Ferrari

Christian Bale (left) and Matt Damon in Ford v Ferrari, which opens November 15, nationwide.
Film may have been born as a visual medium, but when the first “talkies” hit the silver screen more than 90 years ago, sound quite literally entered the picture. Should you go to see Ford v Ferrari, the new Hollywood movie about the quest to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966, you’ll be glad it did.

1932 Buick Series 90 Convertible Phaeton
Note: The following story was excerpted from the April 2005 issue of Collectible Automobile magazine
The story of how Buicks came to be manufactured in Canada—including the very one featured on these pages—starts with one man. Robert Samuel “Sam” McLaughlin, born in 1871, eventually entered the well-regarded family carriage business located in Oshawa, Ontario. Then, in the early years of the twentieth century, he got interested in the automobile business.

This Collectible Automobile article won the 2019 Carl Benz Award from the Society of Automotive Historians,
The story of a car that barely was that appeared in Collectible Automobile® magazine has won a second award. “Toward the Tucker: Creating Preston Tucker’s Bid for Glory” is the 2019 winner of the Carl Benz Award presented by the Society of Automotive Historians (SAH).

Collectible Automobile Magazine earned a “Best-in-Category” trophy at the 2019 Automotive Heritage Awards.
The second-annual Automotive Heritage Awards (AHA) honored a second consecutive Collectible Automobile® magazine article as the best of its class. The article “Toward the Tucker: Creating Preston Tucker’s Bid for Glory” by Karl Ludvigsen garnered both a gold medallion and a “Best-in-Category” trophy when the 2019 journalism awards were presented July 28.

1947 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Fleetline Aerosedan
Note: The following story was excerpted from the October 2006 issue of Collectible Automobile magazine
Let’s say you’re not convinced that appearance is an important factor—maybe the important factor—that drives car shoppers to choose one vehicle over another. Then consider the 1947 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan. Despite being the most expensive two-door closed car in the Chevy lineup, it was still the most popular model of the best-selling brand in America in ’47.

1933 Hupmobile K-321 Convertible Coupe
Note: The following story was excerpted from the April 2004 issue of Collectible Automobile magazine.
The automobile was meant to foster travel and, by golly, here’s one that has. The Hupmobile convertible coupe featured on these pages has been to Australia and back during its lifetime.
Photo Feature: 1966 Ford Thunderbird

1966 Ford Thunderbird
Note: The following story was excerpted from the December 2005 issue of Collectible Automobile magazine.
In the decade or so since its 1955 introduction, the Ford Thunderbird came to attract a solid following from female motorists. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that the 1966 T-Bird convertible featured on these pages was intended to please a lady.