March

March 15, 2010

1959 Ford Design Award | AUTO BREVITY Here's the deal: that award that Ford received for exceptional design for its 1959 cars was...well, it was more of an advertising campaign than anything else. Of course, most press releases and film strips of the time were done with promotion in mind, so there's nothing unusual there. The award was basically a staged promotional event at the 1959 Brussels World's Fair.

So, we decided to issue our own award for exceptional styling. We did this because we feel the 1959 Fords were rather restrained that year when compared to other makes with rocket ship tail fins, gobs of chrome slathered everywhere, and strange appendages erupting out of sheet metal that didn't really seem to have any purpose. Yes, in a world of stylists gone mad, the group at Ford let sanity prevail. So, we're a bit late (just five decades), but as they say, better late than never!

March 13, 2010

Automotive Magazines | Classic Car Magazines
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Do you subscribe to magazines? If you do, you may be interested to know that Automotive Mileposts has just completed a major update of our magazine section. Now expanded from one page to four, it allows you to search for exactly what you want. We've partnered with Amazon for fulfillment, and we're compensated by Amazon for your subscriptions and renewals. Your support is very much appreciated, and allows us to continue developing the site.

March 5, 2010

The Oldsmobile Starfire was General Motors first response to the Ford Thunderbird. As GM and Oldsmobile's first personal luxury model, the Starfire was loaded with extras in its standard form, and was the most expensive Oldsmobile offered at the time.

A high performance Rocket V-8 engine offered slightly more horsepower and torque than other Rocket V-8s, and the list of standard equipment included front bucket seats upholstered in top grain leather, a center console with stick shift, power windows, power seat, white sidewall tires, a tachometer, power steering, power brakes, and more.

A two door Holiday Hardtop joined the line for 1962. The Starfire always featured unique interior and exterior trim to set it apart from the other Oldsmobile models, even though it followed the rest of the line with current styling.

The Starfire was discontinued after 1966, as the Toronado had taken over the top spot in the Olds line as the new personal luxury star. A later hatchback bore the name from 1975-1980, but it was an economy model and only had the name in common with the originals. Interesting car, interesting story, and a popular collectible among Oldsmobile fans.

The 1961-1966 Oldsmobile Starfire is scheduled to be published as part of Phase Four of site development.

March 4, 2010

Many believe that the 1977-1980 Lincoln Versailles was not Lincoln's finest hour. That may be true. However, we don't believe the car deserves the bad reputation so many have given it. The Versailles introduced a great many new innovations and processes during its short life span, and credit must be given for that.

The Versailles was never a bad car. It just looked a little bit too much like the cars upon which its platform was sourced from. And when the car in question is the most expensive model offered by a top luxury make, and the car it came from isn't...well, that invites some rather obvious comparisons. Was the Versailles worth what it cost? Perhaps.

The car the Versailles was built to compete with—the Cadillac Seville—also had rather modest beginnings as a Chevrolet Nova. Cadillac just did a better job of hiding its origins. In any case, it's an interesting story from the era many point to as the time the American car makers lost their way, and allowed the imports to gain access to the North American automobile market.

The Lincoln Versailles is scheduled to be published in Phase Three of Automotive Mileposts, and this contents page will serve as a place holder until the individual Versailles pages are published.

March 3, 2010

1974 Lincoln Continental This was the year of the (in)famous Seat Belt/Starter Interlock System, the gas crisis and resultant gas shortage, mandatory energy-absorbing rear bumpers, and a very quiet Lincoln Continental. Lincoln had been conducting tests for several years, and discovered that Cadillac (they didn't actually mention the make of the car at this point...that would come later) owners actually found the Lincolns to be more comfortable and easier to drive.

1974 saw a considerable styling shift toward the popular Continental Mark IV, especially up front. In short order, all Lincolns would bear the honor of displaying the classic Mark IV grille, and this was the first step toward prepping the public for that reality. Rear styling was updated as well, which gave the rear of the car a trimmer appearance despite the new rear bumper protruding from the end of the car.

The gas crisis had a severe impact on sales of the Lincolns in 1974, but they would recover quickly the following year. A major upper body restyle would give the Continentals a much changed look for 1975, and we actually find the 1970-1974 cars to be a bit more contemporary, due to the more treaditional roofline. In 1974, Lincoln challenged luxury car buyers to judge your car by our car. Many did, and many were switching to Lincoln.

February

February 27, 2010

Our new 1973 Lincoln Continental section, a part of our Phase Two roll out, is now online. 1973 was a significant year for Lincoln in a couple of ways. A new Town Coupé was introduced as a companion to the formal Town Car, giving Lincoln a new model to compete with.

1973 was a record sales and production year for Lincoln, as well as for the U.S. automobile industry as a whole. No one could know what would lie ahead—a gas crisis—just as the 1974 model introductions had been made. The 1973 model year would be the year everyone in the auto industry would remember and long for again.

In 1973, America was watching All In the Family, Sanford and Son, Hawaii Five-O, Maude, and Bridget Loves Bernie on television. We were being terrified at the movies by The Exorcist, falling in love with Paul Newman and Robert Redford as con men in The Sting, and remembering the carefree summer of 1962 in American Graffiti. A simpler, slower time when large American luxury cars were the envy of all, and there was nothing more impressive than the 1973 Lincoln Continental.

February 23, 2010

AutomotiveMileposts.com is now faster! Last night, our technicians made changes to our server that allows compressed data to be sent to site visitor's computers. This means the size of files on our site has in some cases been cut by more than 75 percent! For you, pages will load much faster and should result in a better experience while viewing our site.

Most newer browsers are set up to automatically request compressed data from Web sites, and most of the popular sites send compressed data, and have for some time. If you're using an older browser, it will most likely not request compressed data, and our server will not attempt to send compressed data unless it is requested.

Those of you on cable or broadband connections will likely not notice much difference unless you really pay attention, but for folks on dial up connections, the difference should be very apparent to you.

We appreciate the time you spend at AM, and hope this change will make the site more enjoyable for everyone.

February 22, 2010

1972 Lincoln Continental On the radio, you were listening to Brandy by The Looking Glass, Garden Party by Rick Nelson, or perhaps Helen Reddy's latest hit, I Am Woman. The year was 1972. President Richard Nixon was running for re-election against George McGovern, and that campaign would dominate much of the news in 1972—as well as for years to come with the discovery of a break in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate building.

As hectic as things in the nation may have been that year, inside the 1972 Lincoln it was quiet. This was the smoothest, steadiest, quietest Lincoln built to date. The Town Car became a full production model, and exterior styling was nicely updated. Sales increased significantly for the year, due in part to the new styling, but a drop in the base price might have had an impact as well. Ah...1972...the beginning of disco music, and memories of fashion trends like bell bottom pants and platform shoes...and Three Dog Night performing Black and White on the radio in a 1972 Lincoln Continental. We'll take a Town Car in Red Moondust Metallic, please.

February 21, 2010

1974 Ford Thunderbird White and Gold Luxury Group The second of two new Special Editions announced at mid-year for the 1974 T-bird, the White and Gold Luxury Group is a spectacular two tone trim package combining Polar White paint for the body with Gold Fire on the lower bodysides below the wide vinyl bodyside moldings. Topped with a Gold Levant grain vinyl roof, which matches the bodyside moldings, Gold accent stripes and color-keyed Deluxe Wheel Covers also accent the exterior.

But the real appeal is in the dazzling interior of two tone White leather seating surfaces and Gold Flare vinyl seat sides, instrument panel, carpeting, and side trim panels. A White padded vinyl insert appears on the side panels as well. Dramatic, and not for the faint of heart!

1974 Ford Thunderbird Burgundy Luxury Group One of two Special Edition models offered for the Thunderbird line in 1974 after an absence of a special model for 9 years. Ford had built special edition T-birds in 1963 and 1965, both of which were successful, but from 1966-1973 hadn't released any special models, except for the 1967 Thunderbird Apollo, which wasn't offered to the public.

These special models usually had a specific color combination not offered on other cars, and sometimes came with unique ornamentation to indicate their prestige status. The 1974 Burgundy Luxury Group followed in the steps of the 1973 Continental Mark III Silver Luxury Group in offering a color combination that was distinctive and not available otherwise. The Burgundy shade also seems to have been one of Ford's favorites for special editions in the Thunderbird line as well.

February 16, 2010

1972 Lincoln Continental Town Car Introduced in 1969 as a luxurious interior trim option for the Lincoln Sedan, the Town Car model honored Lincoln's 50th Year in 1971 as a limited edition Golden Anniversary Town Car. By 1972, the Town Car was a full production model added to the Lincoln line, which would expand in 1973 to include a Lincoln Town Coupé as well.

For 1972, the Town Car was only available on the Sedan, and could be ordered with any exterior finish, vinyl roof color, or interior trim color. Choices would be more limited the following year, so 1972 was an excellent year to enjoy Lincoln's finest, smoothest, quietest vehicle ever.

February 15, 2010

1961 Lincoln Continental Paint Colors and Interior Trim Codes Due to special requests from several loyal Automotive Mileposts site visitors, we have decided to try something a bit new for a change. These visitors are considering purchasing one of the first Lincolns of the 1960s, and wanted information about what paint finish colors were originally offered, as well as interior trim availability and trim codes to verify authenticity.

Since we are so far behind our original publication schedule, we decided to publish the information they asked for on one page for now, so they will have it available to them, and we will expand that information when we do get around to publishing the full 1961 Lincoln Continental section, which is part of Phase Three, scheduled to be published later this year.

So, here's a quick peek at the 1961 Lincolns, we hope you enjoy it, and we might do this again from time to time if people find it helpful.

February 13, 2010

Elegance in action for 1968: Cadillac! The 1968 Cadillac joins the Automotive Mileposts' family of luxury classics. Sporting a powerful new 472 V-8 engine, it was the largest engine ever installed in a production motorcar at the time. Designed to provide more reserve power to operate accessories while providing adequate performance at highway speeds, the engine would be modified for even larger displacement in future years.

1968 represents the first year power windows were standard on all Cadillac models, and important safety features such as side marker lights and parking lights that remained illuminated with the headlamps were provided for the first time. Cadillac of 1968 was elegance in action, and the division was shattering sales records at the time, too. Travel back with us to the tumultuous and historic year of 1968, where the world inside a Cadillac was more peaceful than the world outside.

February 6, 2010

Rear Window Defogger Installation Part of our Technical Articles series, this article walks you through the steps to install a factory Rear Window Defogger in your 1968-1971 Thunderbird or 1969-1971 Continental Mark III. Complete instructions, including a list of parts needed as well as part numbers. We've even included links to our Classic Car Parts Auctions pages to help you find everything!

This option not only clears the rear window of fog, it also helps to defrost or deice your rear window, as well as provide improved air circulation in the rear seat area during warmer months. It helps your air conditioner by circulating the hot air in the rear part of the car, which improves overall interior cooling.

If you didn't know you needed this option on your car, you do now. It only takes a couple of hours to install...and it's plug and play! The wiring is already in your car!

February 5, 2010

1967 Cadillac Cadillac set new sales records again for 1967, maintaining its lead as the Standard of the World. All-new styling attracted customers like never before, and they chose from the biggest selection of models in the luxury field, 16 standard and five Firemist exterior colors, new interior colors and fabrics, and more luxuries than ever before. It was an exciting time for those with the means to purchase a new Cadillac. Take a journey back to the Surprisingly New, Superbly Cadillac for 1967!

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