Design Number 22

In October 1932, the AISCR (later to become the FIA) announced specifications for a new racing class. It was incredibly simple. A weight limit of […]

The Accidental Purchase

I didn’t mean to do it. Honest. Purchasing another vehicle was not in the plans. What’s that, you don’t believe me? Well I understand. If […]

The Other Bismarck

Other than in name, Bismarck motorcycles has little to do with the famous chancellor or the famous battleship. Bismarck was a noted producer of bicycles […]

The First Pagoda

It is lost on many people that the much celebrated Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing and the companion roadster were not great sellers. They formed great race […]

The Green Elephant

Quick, in postwar Germany of 1951, what was the fastest production motorcycle? Would you believe a machine referred to as the Green Elephant? Neither would […]

On Receiving Gifts

The car sat under a tree, wedged in between a rusted out Plymouth Valiant and a tractor-trailer that was being used as storage. It was […]

The Toaster

Back in the late 1960s BMW motorcycles were celebrating a very successful long run of the /2 models. They were also aware of their reputation […]

Shaping an Icon

There are a few shapes in the last 100+ years of automobile design that can be reproduced in the form of a silhouette and yet […]

NSU Missiles

Prior to WWII, Several of the German manufacturers, like many around the world, had discovered the allure of supercharging. NSU was one of them. Just […]

Moments

Perhaps it is the degradation of my memory faculties, but I have come to consider life to be a series of interludes, punctuated by powerful […]

NSU R080

As postwar Europe was beginning to hit its stride in the early 1960s, NSU was thinking that it needed a larger sedan. It began developing […]

Cover Chronicles

There are few vehicle manufacturers around today that can trace the design of their engine back more than a couple of decades. Royal Enfield is […]

Bucking the Trend

Unlike many German motorcycle manufacturers, who started off in the late 19th century manufacturing bicycles, or typewriters, the story of Bucker motorcycles did not begin […]

Carlisle Import 2012

The beautiful thing about the Carlisle Import event is that it’s very eclectic. If you are a regular reader, then you know it always has […]

Volkswagen Fastback

In 1961, Volkswagen introduced the Type 3 line with the Notchback (See VW Notchback), and the Type 34 Karmann Ghia. The cars were also known […]

Audi F103

The German automotive landscape of the 1960s was an interesting place to be. It seems as if everyone was almost part of, or owner of […]

The Victoria Ventures

With a name like Victoria, you would imagine a fine British marque or perhaps an Australian one. Certainly the product of an english-speaking country. However, […]