Collectible and Classic Cars

The 1953 Paxton Phoenix Convertible Coupe had unique features like a power-retractable top. It also featured a fiberglass body and chrome bumpers that kept the overall weight under 2,200 pounds. Learn more about this car's design and engineering.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The 1956-1968 Renault Dauphine enjoyed a long successful run. The original name of this car was to be "Corvette" but Chevrolet beat Renault to the punch. Get valuable design and engineering details for Renault's appealing sedan.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The 1954 Ford Crestline Sunliner convertible was the glamor queen of the 1954 Ford lineup. Ball-joint front suspension was incorporated into the design of the Sunliner for improved ride and handling. Learn about the 1954 Ford Crestline Sunliner convertible.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Studebaker had its best years with the Commander and Champion in 1950 and 1951. The styling was intended to be the new look for cars. It failed to start a new trend, but sales remained high. Learn about the bullet-nose Studebakers and see their specifications.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The 1950 Mercury offered plenty of customized features inside and out from the roof coverings to the seats. The color-coordinated seats and special trim matched the exterior theme of the car. Check out the beautiful 1950 Mercury.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The 1964-1967 Chevrolet El Camino was popular with consumers due to its abundance of options. The V-8 series of engines featured a 220 horsepower four-barrel carburetor with dual-exhaust. See the evolution of the 1964-1967 Chevrolet El Camino.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Plymouth's 1955 vehicles represented a welcome change from previous years' designs. The chassis was stretched to 115 inches and featured upgraded shock absorbers and rear springs. Learn about the 1955 Plymouth and see photos.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The 1940 Packard One Eighty served as the basis for the Darrin Victoria roadster. The car carried a 356-cubic-inch L-head straight-eight engine that produced 160 horsepower. Learn more about the 1940 Packard One Eighty and its custom version.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The 1971-1980 Ford Pinto was a marketing success however it faced a fire controversy during its run. The car was designed to compete with the growing Japanese subcompact class of cars. Learn all about the history of the 1971-1980 Ford Pinto.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The 1949 Plymouth "woodie" wagon sold worse than the Suburban station wagon even though it got a head start in sales. The higher maintenance of the wood-bodied design was part of the reason why this model sold so poorly. See the 1949 Plymouth wagon.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Stutz formed in 1912 and quickly earned a reputation for fast race-worthy cars. Stutz introduced America to an early form of the sports car. Learn how they made the switch to consumer cars and why.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Cord produced cars for only 10 years, but they are deemed to be some of the best ever built. The man behind it all was Errett Lobban Cord. Read about the Cord company and its cars in this article.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Kaiser made inventive cars during the 1940s and 1950s that just never caught on with the public. Kaiser was experimenting with the idea of plastic-bodied cars. Read about the history of Kaiser in this article.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Hudson made some of America's finest most popular cars during its 48-year history. A low-priced four-cylinder Essex was a key to their early success. Learn about Hudson's history and its cars in this article.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

LaSalle was formed as a companion line to Cadillac seeking to fill a price gap between themselves and Buick. The division chose the name LaSalle, honoring the French explorer. Find out how LaSalle fit the bill.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Crosley cars created unique models from the sporty Hotshot to the handy FarmORoad. Founder Powel Crosley, Jr. entered the auto industry in 1939. Read about the history of the now-defunct Crosley company.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Edsel was formed by Ford to match GM model-for-model, but by the time Edsel debuted the entire market was depressed and the medium-price segment had shriveled from 25 to 18 percent. Learn how and what it meant for Edsel.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Essex manufactured cars for Hudson that were actually so well-received the name was dropped from common use. Find out why and how the Essex helped turn Hudson around.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Franklin set itself apart from other automakers by using air-cooled engines and lightweight aluminum parts. Franklin was ahead of the industry by selling more sedans than open cars before 1920. Learn more about Franklin cars.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Frazer made genuinely new post-war cars, while most automakers released redesigned prewar models. They looked good, very clean, with modest horizontal grilles, and little decorative chrome or sculptured sheet metal. Learn how this helped Frazer get started.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The Graham brothers originally built trucks for Dodge before buying their own company. The Grahams prospered with cars as quickly as they had with trucks. Learn how they went on to produce classic if ill-fated cars.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Studebaker started in 1852 with covered wagons and horse-drawn vehicles. In 1902, Studebaker began building automobiles. Learn about the history of Studebaker and its demise in the 1960s.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Eagle was formed by Chrysler from the defunct American Motors Corporation. Chrysler inherited the right to use the Eagle name on their cars after buying AMC. Learn why Chrysler bought the name from Renault and what they did with it.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The Reo Motor Car Company was created in 1904 out of an argument at Olds Motor Works. Reo fielded one-, two-, four-, and six-cylinder cars. Learn all about Reo which stopped making cars in 1936.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Rambler cars got their start as a successful compact model put out by Nash in 1950. Rambler sold more than 30,000 1958 Rambler Americans. Learn all about Rambler which closed shop in the late '60s.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide