Category: Historiography

September 13, 2020

Histroriography: The Pin-Up Star

Yet, no one ever heard of the poster's subject until they began showing up on many bedroom walls. Who have ever heard of the manufacturer? They made farm tractors before they made this sexy beast? And, where is Sant'Agata? Italy?!? Really?!?

July 21, 2020

Historiography: The Personalization of the Pickup Truck

Whether you were a farmer, a tradesperson or in the business of transporting goods a distance, a truck was the best way to accomplish commerce. It made money for you, your employees and your business. The idea was simple: Take a chassis, add a cab and find a way to take care of the back to carry loads.

June 17, 2020

Historiography: Still Riding With a Panther

The answer above would be a proper response to the question of the Panther platform's longevity. It also serves as a reminder as to why Panther platform cars are recycled at a greater rate than any vehicle ever made in the past 35 years. Everywhere you go – regardless of the average income of a neighborhood, you will find more than one such rear-wheel drive dinosaur driving around the block.

May 3, 2020

Historiography: The Once Mighty World Conqueror

Interestingly enough, it was not Willys Overland’s civilian Jeep lineup that would be the world conqueror in the post-World War II universe. That would come from one of the vehicles influenced by the Jeep – the one the British automotive industry would produce as one of their own.

April 22, 2020

Historiography: The Tri-Fives

The answer would be obvious by now. You probably recall the old advertising theme from the 1970s, telling us that Americans love "baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet." The bowtie brand was the dominant brand of automobile for decades.

April 1, 2020

Historiography: The Origin Story of Victory & Reseda

It also became the proving grounds for the website you are ready today. My initial forays into reviewing vehicles and talking about the automotive industry. Then, I made a choice as to the direction of this space by turning it into an online automotive magazine. It earned a name – something you may not be able to pronounce.

March 2, 2020

Historiography: 100 Years of "Zoom-Zoom"

One of the new zaibatsu began in Hiroshima on January 30, 1920. The Toyo Cork Kogyo Company opened up for business. It began as a manufacturer of cork items and machine tools to help prop up the growing industrial might of Japan. The fledgling company had its struggles through the 1920s, renaming itself as Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd. in 1927 while being bailed out by a local bank and other local businessmen after dipping into bankruptcy.

February 16, 2020

Historiography: All Bull

Supercars are an interesting thing to discuss here. I bore witness to the not-so-rare Lamborghini on the streets of the San Fernando Valley, Beverly Hills and everywhere else in the Los Angeles basin. Hot Wheels and Matchbox sold plenty of Miuras to the fascination of many car-loving children. Heads snap upon sight of a Silhouette, Jarama, or an Urraco. The rarity of early Lamborghinis adds the mystique of the cars that wear the badge sporting the iconic bull.

January 12, 2020

Historiography: The Decade That Roared

Actually, the "Roaring Twenties" did not materialize until after the dawn of the new decade. We came out of World War I trying to regroup from victory in a war that divided the USA. Yet, the 1920s would end on a down note. You probably heard of the Stock Market Crash and the subsequent Great Depression.