Pre-War Classics

Prewar Classics: Perhaps the only truly great thing to come out of the Great Depression were the Classics, those often large and very powerful machines with couture coachwork built by cutting-edge body builders. Although these ultra-expensive cars were built for the wealthiest of clientele before the October 1929 stock market crash, the drive to stay alive by builders of these innovative chassis and custom-made bodies in the ensuing 1930s produced the most elegant and beautiful automobiles the world has seen. Here, news and features stories on those extraordinary cars recognized by the Classic Car Club of America are featured, from the straight-eight-powered Duesenberg and Packard to the V-16 Marmon and Cadillac along with every other Classic-era creation that elevated the automobile to an art form.

Car of the Week: 1925 Packard Holbrook coupe

bearnest | August 14, 2012
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A few Packards intended for the American market in the 1920s were actually shipped to far away shores, and at least one particularly special 1925 Packard went as far as “Down Under.” More »

Categories: Car of the Week, Pre-War Classics | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

Car of the Week: 1927 Chrysler five-passenger coach

bearnest | July 23, 2012
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Pedro Aguilera tried his best to hide his excitement the first time he laid eyes on his 1927 Chrysler. The Port St. Lucie, Fla., resident had no intentions that fateful day four years ago of shopping for a pre-war Chrysler — or a Chrysler of any vintage for that matter — but it was love at first sight. More »

Categories: Car of the Week, Pre-War Classics | Tags: | 12 Comments

Meet Marge’s Bugatti

raustin | July 23, 2012
The tiny, well-built Bugatti features unique nautical-style touring coachwork with elegant flying fenders.

A 1925 Bugatti Type 23 Brescia tourer from the David V. and Margery Uihlein Collection returned to Monterey, Calif., in the summer of 2011, a full 31 years after it had been selected as winner of the Briggs Cunningham “Most Elegant Open Car” trophy at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. More »

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1938 Graham convertible by Saoutchik offered for sale

Angelo Van Bogart | May 18, 2012
A California seller is offering this 1938 Saoutchik-bodied 1938 Graham convertible on eBay.

Graham was quite the risk taker, but it had to be in order to continue producing cars through the Great Depression. In the mid 1930s, it was supercharging its mid-priced cars — unheard of in anything less than an Auburn. … More »

Categories: Pre-War Classics, Under the Hood | 3 Comments

The 20 Millionth Ford — a 1931 Model A — will lead 2012 MAFCA tour

Angelo Van Bogart | April 12, 2012
The restored 20 Millionth Ford, a 1931 Model A Fordor. FoMoCo paid for its restoration and then displayed it at its headquarters for 10 years. It's now back in its longtime owner's hands and will lead a MAFCA tour.

The Model A Ford Club of America announced that Mr. Rod Liimatainen, owner of the 20 Millionth Ford, will lead the MAFCA Model A Tour at the National Convention with the historic 1931 Ford Model A. This will be very reminiscent of the days gone by, when the Slant Window Town Sedan traveled the country promoting the Ford Motor Co. Liimatainen is a member of the Superior A’s, the regional club hosting the convention June 18-22 in Marquette, Mich. More »

Categories: Features, Old Car News, Pre-War Classics, Under the Hood | 2 Comments

A few ‘Editor Photos’ plus a mystery car

Angelo Van Bogart | February 15, 2012

Every week, we feature a reader photo in Old Cars Weekly. This “Reader Photo” space is strictly for the vintage photos from readers’ family albums, or other interesting photos readers have stumbled upon while digging through swap meets, antique stores … More »

Categories: Pre-War Classics, Under the Hood | 2 Comments

R.E. Olds family establishes award

raustin | January 27, 2012
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The Classic Auto Show & Cruise-In of Dublin, Ohio, a major fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation of Central Ohio, recently announced that the family of Ransom E. Olds, the early automotive pioneer who created the Oldsmobile and REO Companies, has … More »

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Ginger Rogers’ 1929 Duesenberg stars at 2012 Amelia Island

raustin | December 20, 2011
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Vehicle to appear among other legendary Hollywood star cars once belonging to Natalie Wood, Rita Hayworth and Tom Mix The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Foundation announced today that a 265 horsepower 1929 Model J Duesenberg that once belonged to Hollywood … More »

Categories: Car Show News, Hobby News, Pre-War Classics | Tags: | 2 Comments

America’s Car Museum names 1927 LaSalle ‘Guest of Honor’

raustin | September 19, 2011

‘Hard Hat & High Heels’ Party is Sept. 24 Lots happened in 1927: Babe Ruth hit 60 homers, “Silent” Calvin Coolidge was quietly running the White House and prohibition was in full swing.  Also, a verbose 1927 LaSalle 303 Roadster, … More »

Categories: Hobby News, Museum News, Pre-War Classics | 1 Comment

The Classic in the castle

raustin | August 30, 2011
This was the first Duesenberg owned by Glenn Stewart that later became Joe Kaufman’s first Duesenberg. This pieced-together photo shows how Kaufman found it in Milwaukee in 1954.

How did Joe Kaufman of Manitowoc, Wis., become acquainted with the first and last Duesenbergs owned by a mysterious Maryland millionaire named Glenn Stewart? Did it happen by pure coincidence or was it just destiny? You decide. More »

Categories: Features, Pre-War Classics | Tags: | 1 Comment