Lord_k's Articles (669)

Three-wheel vehicles powered by small and noisy engines... dieselpunk?  Of course!

In the mass culture, the image of a 'Dieselpunk tricar' is based on the Morgan Aero - fast, sporty, elegant. But what about a trike truck? Here's the story of a once famous make, told by Paul Markham on his much-recommended…

Today, a masterpiece of postwar streamline design:

Based on a 1949 Fiat 500C, the Fiat 750 MM Panoramica is perhaps the cutest creation ever to roll through the doors of Zagato*.…

In 1937, the Airomobile was a one-of-a-kind experimental model built by engineers from Franklin Auto and Lewis American Airways.*

It was intended to be a low-priced, mass produced car. The design was the result of Paul M. Lewis, who wanted a simple inexpensive ( target price of $300) and safe automobile in 1934. The…

An undisputed Diesel Era icon, the Bucciali TAV8/32 Flèche d'Or (Golden Arrow) deserves a special place in our Garage.

Unlike most upcoming manufacturers, Alberto Bucciali nearly lost his life fighting as a pilot in the WW1 before manufacturing his own cars*. And of the few he made with his brother Paul-Albert, this TAV8 was their…

Swiss vehicles are far less famous than Swiss watches, Swiss cheese and Swiss pocket knives. Let's give some Dieselpunk love to Helvetic omnibuses!

In Switzerland, dozens of Saurer, FBW and Berna buses, as good as new, are the stars of numerous automotive events. Thanks to…

This Friday, in the midst of Gatsby Craze, it's time to remember a true supercar - the most ambitious creation of W O Bentley:

The 8-Liter Bentley was introduced at the 1930 London Motor Show*. It featured an 8-liter engine which was a development of Bentley's race-winning 6.5-liter unit. The main purpose of this model was to add competition…

The Swedish Ur best translates as 'original', and Ursaab was the Saab’s first prototype automobile*.

Project 92, so-called as numbers 90 and 91 had already been assigned to civilian aircraft, was agreed in 1945. Saab had decided that, with the Second World War drawing to a close, there would be a need to diversify away from military…

The Piaggio P.108 was the only four-engine heavy bomber used by the Regia Aeronautica during World War II.

In 1938 the Regia Aeronautica issued a request for proposal for a BGR (Bombardiere a Grande Raggio, long-range bomber); proposals came from Caproni with their Ca.204 and Ca.211 projects, CRDA with…

It's time for the Auto Union Type D racer - the last but not the least in line.

By limiting the maximum weight of Grand Prix cars from the 1934 season onwards to 750 kg, the sport's governing body, the Association Internationale des Automobiles Clubs…

This is the last chapter of the Early Lockheed's Saga.

The Lockheed Model 9 Orion was the last of Lockheed's single engine transports, seated six passengers and was powered by a 420hp P&W Wasp engine. The Orion cruised at 180-195 mph and is claimed to be the first transport capable of 200 mph. The Orion was also the first commercial…

A front-wheel drive posh car in the early 1930s? A few thousand bucks will buy you a Cord... or a Ruxton.

The Ruxton is a forgotten manufacturer, often overlooked when considering early pioneers in automotive design and mechanics. One of their biggest automotive achievements was the use of front-drive…

A bright star of the immediate post-war period, the Cisitalia (pronounced Cheese-Italia) was small, modern and gorgeous.

As a successful businessman and experienced amateur driver, Piero Dusio started Cisitalia, officially known as Consorzio Industriale Sportive Italia*. The company employed a wealth of talent to develop limited production sports cars that…

If we're in forgotten car makes already, what about another one?

Richard Lea and Graham Francis entered into partnership in August 1895 to make advanced and relatively expensive cycles of quality in Lower Ford Street, Coventry, which soon gained a high reputation*. Less successful was their first experiment with cars in…

What about giving some dieselpunk love to a remarkable car make, sadly overshadowed by its German and Italian neighbors?

The Austro-Daimler Motor Company produced automobiles from 1899 through 1934. Their factory was located in Wiener-Neustadt, which is located south of Vienna, in…

Given its origin, the Blenheim could be called "fast and spurious". The aircraft was initially envisaged as a luxury transport and wasn't a part of any military programme.

The often told story of the six-seat executive aircraft built for Lord Rothermere, proprietor of the aviation-supporting Daily Mail, usually misses the vital point. Why did…

Another page of the Mercedes-Benz racecar saga: the W154:

Shortly after the first races were held organizers created rules and regulations to create a somewhat level playing field and to keep things relatively safe. In that light the rules setup for Grand Prix racing from 1934 to 1936 made little…

When we say 'weird' we mean it. Definitely.

With the issue of a specification for a successor to the Potez 631 twin-engined fighter in service with the Armee del'Air, P-E Mercier and Jacques Lecarme of the Societe Nationale de Constructions Aeronautiques de Sud-Est (SNCASE) tendered the design of a highly innovative aircraft, the SE 100…

Another Bugatti? Well, we just can't have enough. And this one is truly unique.

Most Type 57s feature bodywork penned by Jean Bugatti in one of four distinct styles named after Mont Ventoux, the Col du Galibier and the Stelvio Pass, but this custom coupe took the best traits from each*. It was built…

The oddest and most unconventional contender - probably for any aerial competition - was the Piaggio-Pegna PC.7.

The floatplane (or should we call it a 'foilplane'?) was built for the 1929 Schneider Trophy contest. A cantilever high-wing monoplane with long slender fuselage, it had twin hydrofoils instead of floats and was intended to float with…

By the end of 1920s, front-wheel drive configuration found its way into one of the most ambitious automotive designs ever.

The Cord L-29 was revolutionary, using a front-wheel drive system rather than the popular rear-wheel drive configuration. Many believed that having the front wheels be responsible for turning, carrying the…