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Articles by Paul Daniel
The last Ambassador: Discover the Longest-Running Nameplate
I’m going to give you a bit of automobile trivia that you can use, and I’m betting that no one else will have the answer to the question: What is the longest-running nameplate in automobile history? If you guessed Ambassador, you would be correct. Disclaimer: My dad worked as Transportation Manager at the AMC National Parts Distribution Center in Milwaukee for 27 years, and yes, I’m an AMC geek.
Discovering a Rare 1958 Porsche Speedster in Green Bay
I’m constantly amazed at the cars that good friend Darrel Burnnet unearths to display at The Automobile Gallery & Event Center in Green Bay. I mean, when we were both up there doing sports on TV, we had no clue as to what a rich car community Green Bay and the Fox Valley Cities have to offer. Today’s spot, a 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster 1600 Super, is a great example, and it was located in a shed not far from The Automobile Gallery & Event Center.
69 Dodge Coronet Super Bee 440 Six Pack: Muscle Car Legend
The late 60s were a great time for muscle car enthusiasts. All the manufacturers were in it, and sometimes even divisions within the same company would go head to head. In 1969, Plymouth introduced the Road Runner, and, not to be outdone, Dodge entered the muscle car race with the Super Bee 440 Six Pack.
Exploring the Rare 2001 Isuzu VehiCROSS: A Quirky SUV Gem
Growing up as a fan of all things American Motors, I owned a Gremlin and Pacer, so I can appreciate quirky cars, which is why this find, a 2001 Isuzu VehiCROSS, caught my eye at the Dallas Car & Toy Museum. Like all the other cars in the museum, this was in perfect shape but located off the main floor in a room with other unique cars like an AMC Pacer.
My Journey with Classic Motorcycles: From Honda to Ducati
I’ve owned multiple bikes over the years. Left to right, my 86 Bandit, 2008 Busa, and 73 Honda 350 that I restored and then later sold. I’ve been riding motorcycles off and on for most of my life. It all began in 1973 when I bought a Honda 125 and hid it from my parents in another garage. I did eventually break the news to them. Fast forward to around 1986, and living in Green Bay, I took the California Superbike School at Road America and, shortly after that, bought a 1985 Kawasaki 900R Ninja.
Second Gen Dodge Ramcharger: A Nostalgic Journey
Chrysler, or FCA Chrysler, or now Stellantis, has gone to the vault to revive a nameplate from the past. It happened with the Jeep Gladiator, Chrysler with the Pacifica, and Dodge with the Challenger and Charger. Now it’s Ram’s turn as it is officially bringing back the legendary Ramcharger name for a new full-size, body-on-frame SUV targeted for release around 2028. That name has been absent from the market for more than three decades.
Exploring the 1978 Chrysler New Yorker: A Classic Land Yacht
“Hop in my Chrysler, it’s as big as a whale, and it’s about to set sail I got me a car, it seats about 20 So come on and bring your jukebox money” Screen grab from their music video. The exact model is never mentioned or shown. Lyrics from the B-52s’ 1989 smash “Love Shack” about a secluded place where lovers can meet to get it on.
The Neiman Marcus BMW Z3: A Collector’s Dream
I’m back after taking a couple of weeks off to go to some flying events. Flew some fun stuff and saw lots of cool stuff. Now I have a great find to share. Looking to separate themselves from traditional marketing tactics, automakers have many times used movies to create buzz for a car before it even hits the showroom floor. This week’s spot, a 1996 BMW Z3, is a perfect example. Just like the one Pierce Brosnan drove in the movie.
1965 Ford Galaxie: A Classic Car Icon
I’m now one week post-EAA’s AirVenture 26, and the withdrawal has pretty much passed. Saw some great aircraft and also some automobiles you don’t see every day, like this 1965 Galaxie I spotted parked near the maintenance facility in Oshkosh. It looked right at home parked near the buildings where staff work on the equipment necessary to keep the grounds spotless. 1965 will best be known for Ford enthusiasts as the previous spring had witnessed the introduction of the new subcompact Mustang.
Exploring the Type 65 Coupe by Factory Five Racing
As a kid, I must have built dozens of plastic model car kits, and if you’re into cars like I am, you probably did the same. The kits, made mostly of plastic, came in boxes that would have easily been mailed or nicely fit under the Christmas tree. I still have a lot of those that survived multiple moves.
The EV1: Pioneer of Electric Vehicles
If you were buying a car in 1996, we bought two that year: a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Ford Taurus wagon; there were plenty of options available. Among them were engine choices. For the Jeep, it was AMC’s trusty 4.0-liter I-6 (185 hp) or 5.2L Chrysler Magnum V8 (225 hp).
The Legacy of the Cutlass Supreme Convertible
I know I’m dating myself, but I remember Oldsmobile cars. Probably my best-known is the 442 because of its performance, but it was the Cutlass that was the brand’s bread and butter until it was shut down in 2004, over 20 years ago, which makes this week’s spot a 93ish Cutlass Supreme Convertible super-rare. A simply gorgeous day and I have no idea why a person would put the top up.
Why We Passed on the 1992 Dodge Stealth for Family Needs
Having already owned a 1986 Jeep XJ Wagoneer, which I had purchased from my dad, we were looking to add a passenger car. Remember back in the day when mom and dad had a station wagon and a car? Well, fast-forward to the early 90s. Being that we still got the employee discount from dad working at American Motors, now owned by Chrysler, we were now Mopar people. In the showroom sat this bright red 92 Dodge Stealth, and we loved it. But then common sense took hold. I hate when that happens.
2008 Cadillac XLR: The Luxury Roadster Experience
The disadvantage of a small company, like American Motors, was that if they misjudged the market, like with the Pacer and Matador Coupe, they ended up on the ER with pneumonia. In contrast, a big company with lots of cash behind it, like General Motors, if they mess up on a product or service, they might get a case of the sniffles. Such is the case of this week’s spot, a 2008 Cadillac XLR Platinum Edition. In classic black, but what’s with the top up?
Car Spot: 69 Trans-Am Shelby Mustang Boss 302
In 1963, my dad landed a dream job as National Transportation Manager at his, and mine, dream company, American Motors. That was a good year for the company as Motor Trend magazine named AMC’s entire line as car of the year. It was also the time when the seeds were being planted for the company’s move into something it was not known for: high performance with the Javelin. What’s the saying? Win on Sunday and sell on Monday.
Car Spot: 66 Lancia Fulvia S1
Italy is famous for its art, wine, food, and rally racing. Bet that last one didn’t come to mind, but it’s been a big part of the country’s heritage since it first started in 1906 with the Targa Florio, which was founded in Sicily and set the stage for grueling, open-road point-to-point racing. Then, in 1921, the Coppa delle Alpi (Alpine Cup) was established and widely considered one of the very first true rally races in Italy. They raced “all-out”! Safety rules, not many.
Car Spot: 1974 Dino
Though it measures just 44.7 inches from the ground to the top of the roof, few sports cars in history have ever stood as tall as the Dino! This Fly Yellow 1974 Dino is believed to be 1 of just 91 “Flares and Chairs” Dinos ever built, with the “Flares and Chairs” package consisting of Campagnolo wheels, flared fender arches, and “Daytona” seats.
Car Spot: 1954 Agnelli Ferrari 375 America Coupe Speciale!
Throughout history, rarely has there been a figure as commanding of attention as heir to the Fiat fortune, international business mogul, and playboy Gianni Agnelli. Silver-haired, suave, and as stylish as his tailored A. Caraceni Italian suits, Agnelli was named one of the 5 most handsome men in the world by Esquire magazine. Gianni Agnelli knew style….
Car Spot: 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
I am constantly amazed at the car people, buddy Darrel Burnett is connected to. He finds all kinds of interesting cars that the public probably has never heard of and gets the owner/caretaker to agree to exhibit them at The Automobile Gallery in Green Bay, WI. Case in point: last weekend at its Festa Italiana Event, highlighting cars with deep Italian heritage, he brought in a super-rare and ultra-valuable 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. The rare car is ready for the adoring crowds and glamor shots.
Car Spot: 62 Ford Mustang I Roadster
If you’re really into cars, give me some names of automotive engineering icons. The designers who left a lasting impact on the automotive landscape. The go-tos would be Carol Shelby, Colin Chapman, Ralph Gilles, along with a couple of others. This blog entry is about one man who should be added to that list, Roy Lunn, who created the vehicle in this week’s spot, which I found at a recent visit to The Henry Ford Museum. The car on display at The Henry Ford.
Car Spot: 2012 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport
I have to admit it, I’m an impulse buyer. Where should I start? How about the 1970 AMX that I bought while living in Green Bay. The engine blew up, and it turned out that the body was mostly Bondo? Or how about the 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa I bought one spring? Or how about the dozens of radio-controlled airplanes? Yup, if I see a new shiny bright object, it usually ends up coming home with me. So, where is this going, and how is this week’s spot involved? Buckle up, here we go.
Car Spot: 2003 Honda S2000
If I asked you about a sports car that Honda made, most likely you would name the NSX. But there’s another, not quite as fast but a lot cheaper, the Honda S2000, this week’s spot. The S2000 is named for its engine displacement of two liters, while “S” stood for “sports,” carrying on in the tradition of the S500, S600, and S800 roadsters of the 1960s. The front-mid engine open-top sports car, introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1995, was manufactured by Honda from 1999 to 2009.
Car Spot: 67 Dodge Deora
I’ve been attending the Chicago Auto Show for as long as I can remember. It all began back in 1963 when dad went to work for American Motors, and we would get special tickets for a manufacturer ‘s-only night. I remember, of course, all the latest cars AMC was displaying, but also took notice of the cool concept vehicles that almost every manufacturer showed off. At the 67 show, AMC was showing off their new AMC and Javelin, but the vehicle that stood out the most was this Dodge Deora.
Car Spot: 1966 Ford GT 40 Mk 1
If you’re like me, you have watched the movie Ford v Ferrari at least a dozen times. While I love all that Carol Shelby has done, I developed a great appreciation for what Ken Miles added to the story. Sure, he was kind of rough around the edges at times, but he was also a great driver and a great engineer. And yes, he got screwed at Le Mans. Courtesy 20th Century Fox So I’m in Dallas visiting our daughter and driving on one of the freeways, and I spot a car a couple of cars ahead of me.
Car Spot: 1960 Chrysler 300F Convertible
Despite its $7,500 sticker price, well beyond what the average American made in an entire year, Cadillac sold 1,285 Eldorado Biarritz convertibles in 1960. Just a hunch, I suspect they weren’t sold to shy, retiring types. I’ll see your Caddy and raise you this, said Chrysler. Chrysler responded with a dreamboat of its own. The divine Chrysler 300F went stride for stride with Cadillac, testing the elasticity of steel.
Car Spot: 1959 Rambler American Station Wagon
The reason consumers loved the Rambler in the late 1950s and early ’60s is that it was dependable transportation at an affordable price, thanks to George Romney’s vision for the company: bigger was not necessarily better. Rambler really was rocketing up the U.S. sales charts — from 13th to 6th place in ’58, zooming past Cadillac, Mercury, and Chrysler. In 1961, in fact, AMC would briefly take over third place in US sales, knocking Plymouth off its traditional perch.
Car Spot: 1973 Triumph Stag
The public was teaming with anticipation to the point that the Stag was instantly on backorder in Britain when it was introduced in 1970. A star was born…literally! The Stag’s celebrity status was secured when it starred alongside Sean Connery’s James Bond in the worldwide #1 box office smash Diamonds are Forever. Unfortunately, the Triumph Stag wasn’t forever … failing to survive for even a decade.
Car Spot: 1969 AMC Hurst SC/Rambler
The late 60s and early 70s were a great time to be a fan of American Motors. That scrappy little car manufacturer from Kenosha, WI, kept pumping out cars on a shoestring budget that got the attention of the gearheads. This week’s spot, a 69 AMC Hurst SC/Rambler, is a great example of that. There were two options on the exterior, An A and a B. The A came with broad red bodysides, wild hood graphics, and a fat blue dorsal stripe, while the B (this one) made do with only simple rocker-panel striping.
Car Spot: 1961 Futura/Waimea
In the 27 years that my dad worked for American Motors Corp., he brought lots of images of concept cars home for me to drool over. The problem was that AMC rarely had the funds to actually manufacture those concepts. AMC wasn’t the only independent automaker that was cash-strapped. So were the others at the time, like Kaiser-Frazer, best known for owners of Jeep but also a producer of passenger cars through the mid-1950s.
Car Spot: 2nd Gen Pontiac Catalina Safari Wagon
My wife and I were out last night and experienced what’s known as Lake Effect here in Southeastern Wisconsin. Snow wasn’t forecast, but we got a light dusting. As this area is known to put down copious amounts of salt, we were surprised to see this classic Pontiac Catalina Safari Wagon in the parking lot before we sat down to eat. This reminded us of a time when every family we knew owned a four-door sedan along with a station wagon.
Car Spot: 1st-generation K-5 Chevy Blazer
Once the weather warms up here in Wisconsin, I love going topless. Whoa there, this is a G-rated blog entry, and you wouldn’t want to see my dad bod without a shirt on. I’m talking about car owners who drop the top on their vehicles, like this week’s spot, a first-generation Chevy K5 Blazer. I spotted this primo K5 at a car show I recently attended near Fort Myers, Florida. It was 54 years ago next month that Chevy set the tone that sort of kicked off the monster SUV craze. It sure earned its name.
Car Spot: Pontiac Solstice
I can’t think of a car guy who has been more instrumental in bringing so much performance to the market than Bob Lutz. The ex-Marine, while at Ford of Europe, led the creation of the Ford Escort III and Ford Sierra, at Chrysler, the Viper, and at General Motors, this week’s spot, the Pontiac Solstice. As I write this post its still winter in Wisconsin. I found this Solstice under the bright summer sun at the golf course I work at. Hurry back, summer; we love you.
Car Spot: 69 Olds Vista-Cruiser
If you grew up in the 70s like I did, your family most likely had 2 cars in the garage, a sedan and a station wagon. For us, it was a 63 Rambler Classic 4-door and a 67 Rebel Wagon. Mom and Dad took us everywhere in that wagon, to Washington DC, the New York World’s Fair, Yellowstone National Park, and lots of other places.
Car Spot: 79 Hurst Olds
Hurst was big on promotions, as seen in this example with one of the rarest, a convertible. For car guys, the name Hurst was synonymous with performance. It all began in the early 1960s when enthusiasts replaced the factory-standard floor or column-mounted gear shifter with custom Hurst floor shifters to obtain better control of gear selection, particularly for competitive driving. It meant so much that GM, Ford, Chrysler, and AMC teamed up with the brand to produce some truly wicked cars.
Car Spot: 88 Jeep Comanche Eliminator
Well, that might just be my opinion because I’m a Jeep guy. Jeep had just revolutionized the SUV world by introducing the new XJ model in 1983 and it was an immediate hit. Developed when American Motors Corp. owned Jeep, they marketed XJs as Sportwagons, an SUV before that term was even used, and are credited for spawning competitors, as other automakers noticed the design cannibalizing sales from regular cars.
Car Spot: 72 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser
Classics are cool. Whether you’re talking Jeeps, Fords, Toyotas, or whatever, there’s something about the lines and design of classic iron that draws the eye and captures the imagination. This is one reason why so many vintage 4x4s survive today. This ’72 FJ40 Land Cruiser is a perfect example of a classic. This is a vehicle that was designed to be taken off-road, even in its stock form. People just like them.
Car Spot: 2011 Magnum Roadside Aircraft
My friends often ask me which I prefer, cars or airplanes. My answer is both, and the reason this spot caught my eye while I was visiting the Dallas Car and Toy Museum last week. Born from the hands of architect-turned-aviator Rick Johnson, this remarkable craft began as an Avid kit plane but evolved into something far more ambitious.
Car Spot: 1985 Renault Fuego
I remember my dad talking about the growing partnership that American Motors Corp. had with Renault in the late ’70s and early ’80s while he was working at the National Parts Distribution Center in Milwaukee. After periods of intermittent independent success, Renault acquired a significant interest in AMC in 1979. The company was strapped for cash thanks to the Pacer and Matador coupe not making sales projections, so Renault would provide cars. One of them was this week’s spot, the Renault Fuego.
Truck spot: 55 Ford F-100 pickup
Happy New Year! $30 million bucks is a lot of money today. Still, in the mid-50s, it must have represented a fortune to Ford when it decided to go back to the drawing board to redesign its F-100s using something that had never been done before, an ergonomic study. What they came up with was a stunning example, like this week’s spot, a 1955 Ford F-100. I spotted this beauty while picking up holiday libations. That’s my ’17 Durango next door.
Car Spot: Series 4 Alfa Romeo Spider
I bet if you went to any event and asked people to name one Italian sports car, they’d say Ferrari because of the brand’s legacy of performance and luxury. After all, who wouldn’t want to own one, but then there’s the money, it’s always about the money, which makes this week’s spot, a Series 4 Alfa Romeo Spider, the perfect alternative for an Italian car that won’t bust your budget. 4th-gen drop top I spotted this past summer at the golf course that I work at.
Car Spot: 2001 Pontiac Aztek
I’ve been looking for one of these for the longest time. Not because they’re cool, just the opposite. I know, as an owner of a ’72 AMC Gremlin and ’75 Pacer, what’s the saying? Those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Well, at least one guy found the Aztek interesting because he put it in the Dallas Car and Toy museum. This Aztek was displayed in a room off the main exhibition area along with some other unique cars. And yes, there’s an AMC Pacer.
Car Spot: 67 Ford Ranchero 500 XL
For the most part, compact cars of the ’60s were nothing to write home about. Basic transportation was the answer to higher fuel prices and imports. Ford’s entry was the Falcon, today almost forgotten, but it was how the Mustang, and this week’s spot, a 67 Ford Ranchero, came about. The snazzy 500XL is the rarest, with just 1,881 produced. This type of vehicle was the original hybrid. Not the ones that we drive today, but back in 1957, this was a hybrid, part car, part truck.
Car Spot: 1967 Dodge Coronet R/T Convertible
I think the mid- to late-60s were the golden age for American automobile manufacturers, mainly because horsepower was king and each company was trying to outdo the others. This week’s spot, a 67 Dodge RT Coronet Convertible, is a great example. I found this spot this past summer at the golf course where I work. In 1967, Dodge was tardy to the party, introducing the Coronet RT.
Car Spot: 69 Jaguar E Type
When you think of iconic cars from the ’60s, the ones I think about are the ’63 Split Window Corvette, ’64 Pontiac GTO, ’65 Mustang, 1966 Lamborghini Miura, and this week’s spot, the Jaguar E-Type. Actually, some consider it the greatest sports car of all time. Of course, if you talk to the British, the name spells success. It was a winner on the most famous racing circuits in the world, and a sales winner on every market where the model has been offered. What is the secret of this success?
Car Spot: Early 60s VW Transporter Pickup
In some ways VW of the 60s could be compared to Chrysler of 80s utilizing one platform to create so many vehicles. This week’s spot, a VW single cab pickup is a great example of the company’s ingenuity. Introduced in the early 50s it was one of the most advanced commercial vehicles of the time due to its frameless unit-body construction. The Volkswagen Transporter, initially the Type 2, was a range of light commercial vehicles, built both as vans, pickups, and cab and chassis variants.
Car Spot: 79 American Motors Spirit
As much as I love American Motors, there were times when they rode with a model too long. Take, for example, the Gremlin. Introduced in 1970, they made changes, but should have moved on way before 1978. Sales were strong early in its production, peaking at over 170,000 units in 1974, but after the introduction of the Pacer in 1975 went downhill. Then, in 1979, they did something about it and introduced the Spirit, the subject of this week’s spot.
Car Spot: 1975 Bricklin SV-1
If you’re a regular reader of my posts you know that I’m a lover of all cars weird. I’d have to be to be an AMC geek. This spot comes from Malcom Bricklin, importer of the Subaru 360 that I found earlier this year at AirVenture in Oshkosh. Yup, that car that was barely a golf cart and got hammered in reviews for its lack of safety. Consumer Reports said it was “the most unsafe car on the market”. Ouch! So let’s build on that which led him to invent this week’s spot the SV-1.
Car Spot: 1976 Oldsmobile Toronado
If you were looking for a luxury car, the mid-70s had lots to choose from. With just about every option available, you could fit comfortably into a Chrysler New Yorker and Cordoba, Lincoln Continental Mark V, Ford Thunderbird, Cadillac Eldorado, Buick Riviera, or this week’s spot, the Riviera’s twin, Oldsmobile Toronado. Introduced in 1966 and manufactured through 1992, it lasted four generations, each one with more luxury than the one preceding it.
Car Spot: 2023 Ferrari 812 Superfast
About a month ago my wife and I went down to Grapevine TX to visit our daughter who works as a safety officer at DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport) and take in the Packer-Cowboy game. Everything is bigger in Dallas and AT&T stadium is huge. So are the amount of exotic cars I spotted while down there. We were having diner one night and parked right out front was this drop-dead gorgeous Ferrari 812 Superfast with the top off.
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