Outsiders would never have guessed that the company behind the spectacular sedan pulling crowds ten-deep at the 1976 London Motor Show was on its knees. Aston Martin Lagonda 1976 But Aston Martin was staring bankruptcy in the face in the spring of 1976 when, as a last-ditch attempt to save the company, its directors decided […]
Caught out by the fuel crisis of the mid-1970s, US carmakers simply did not offer the right cars. They could only look on aghast as economical Japanese imports snatched their sales. Amc Pacer 1975 The panic to compete sired some terrible emergency products, such as the Ford Pinto, which developed a tendency to catch fire
In the Wagoneer, the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) was crystalized. It was the first off-road vehicle with selectable four-wheel drive, purpose-designed to be just as suitable for cruising on highways. Willys Jeep Wagoneer 1962 The Wagoneer featured four doors. Its lofty bulk was cleverly masked by consultant designer Brooks Stevens, using visual tricks such as
Until its demise in 1988, Austin was a mainstay of the British automotive industry. Austin introduced millions of ordinary people to the joys of driving with models such as the Seven, A30, Mini, and Metro. Other highlights of the marque’s history included Austin-Healey sports cars and the Maxi-Britain’s first hatchback. HERBERT AUSTIN, the son of a
World-renowned for prestige and driving excitement-and as the maker of James Bond’s favorite cars-Aston Martin is a prime example of a small British marque: building sports cars against the commercial odds, yet surviving decade after decade thanks to the support of devoted owners and dogged backers. ASTON MARTIN BEGAN in 1913 in a London garage, founded
The Mercedes-Benz SL class of sports roadsters from the 1960s were known for their supremely elegant styling. Also referred to as W113 within the company, they were manufactured from 1963 to 1971. The “pagoda roof” 230SL of 1963 offered good performance and exceptional handling, together with comfort and sophistication. It was followed by the larger-engined
Conceived as an image-booster for the ailing Studebaker company, the fiberglass Avanti was a striking GT car. Studebaker president Sherwood Egbert first conceived such a sporting flagship but it was styled by Raymond Loewy, the legendary American industrial design genius most closely identified with the curvaceous Coca-Cola bottle. Studebaker Avanti 1962 The Avanti’s unadorned and
The Cobra was “invented” by Carroll Shelby, a Texas farmer and racing fanatic, who aimed to concoct a sportsracing car that could stand up to Ferrari. Shelby AC Cobra 1962 His method was to shoehorn a muscular Ford Fairlane V8 260ci (4,261cc) engine into the “hull” of AC’s Ace sports car. The simple, ladder-frame chassis
As Renault’s response to the utilitarian Citroën 2CV, the 4 was a long time coming, making its debut 13 years after the minimalist Citroën first delivered motoring to millions of French drivers. Renault 4 1961 But for Renault, the car entered totally new territory on several fronts. It was the company’s first front-wheel drive car,
Dr Ferdinand Porsche and his son, also Ferdinand (Ferry), found enormous success with the first Porsche, the 356. However, as the 1960s dawned, Porsche’s links to Volkswagen were creating limitations. Porsche 911 1963 The next Porsche phase started in 1963 when the 911 was unveiled. When the car reached lucky customers in 1964 (the 911