Collectible and Classic Cars

Founded by James Ward Packard in 1989, Packard was once a leader among automakers, but changing tastes and poor business decisions doomed the brand. Learn more about Packard cars.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Prosperity seemed endless in 1928, when the fast-rising new Chrysler Corporation purchased Dodge and issued its first DeSoto. These good times were short-lived, but the DeSoto would be one of the few pre-Depression "expansion" models to survive.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Terraplane cars which grew out of the successful Essex Terraplane made by Hudson were built from 1934 to 1938. They were a tremendous boost to parent company Hudson's bottom line. Learn all about Terraplane cars.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Checker is best known for specially designing taxicabs and airport limousines. They later built cars like the Superba and Marathon for the public. Find out more about Checker cars.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Preston Tucker's plan for a wholly new car was too ambitious to succeed. The 1948 Tucker Torpedo was remarkably innovative, but only 50 cars were ever produced. Learn about the brief heyday of the Tucker Torpedo.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Avanti splintered off from the Studebaker name in 1965 and since that time has gone through a series of owners. Avanti II gained success by being hand-built for each customer. Learn about the history of Avanti.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The cars built by the Duesenberg brothers are still considered among the finest ever made. With their vast experience and growing reputation in racing, the Duesenbergs built their first road car. Learn more about the fascinating run of the Duesenberg.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The 1930 Austin American Roadster was more of a novelty than transportation. American Austin made midget cars more than a foot shorter than the VW Beetle. Learn why even a starring movie role couldn't sell American Austins.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Roy S. Evans bought American Austin for a mere $5,000 and renamed it American Bantam. American Bantam produced small cars from 1936 up until 1941. Learn why American Bantam didn't succeed beyond World War II.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The Ford Thunderbird is a luxurious sport vehicle built as a response to the Chevrolet Corvette. The T-Bird retained its appeal through decades of changing styles and tastes. Learn about the history of the Ford Thunderbird.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The 1930-1939 Cadillac models established Cadillac as a leader in luxury automobile design. From the Cadillac Sixteen in 1930 to the classic 1938 Cadillac Sixty Special, learn how Cadillac became a giant among luxury automakers.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The 1940-1949 Cadillacs showcased important engineering developments and beautiful designs. Learn about features like the eggcrate grille, bullet-shape fenders, fastback roofline, the hallmark tailfin and the overhead-valve V-8 engine that were rolled out in the 1940s.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The 1950-1959 Cadillacs reflected the prosperity and ambition of the era. Cadillacs of the 1950s were finned, chromed, and loaded with features inspired by the jet age.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The Mustang II was reasonably popular in its time, but history has pushed it to the bottom of fans’ consciousness. Find out how an energy crisis and government regulations broke this pony car.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Mustang began a second revolution with the sophisticated "New Breed" of 1979. It was a new kind of Ford pony car but was every inch a Mustang. Learn more about the 1979-1981 Ford Mustang.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

In 1969 and 1970 the Mustang had it all -- except buyers. Learn all about the personalities, the updated designs and the rocky road for 1969 and 1970 Ford Mustangs.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Joe Oros oversaw designs for nearly every Ford vehicle for a dozen years, but his biggest success was a rush job: the Ford Mustang. Read in his own words how the winning design came together.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Gale Halderman was instrumental in the creation of the first Ford Mustang, sketching the final prototype and overseeing the production of a full-scale model. Read his first-hand account of the process.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Carroll Shelby was as temperamental as his customized Mustangs were powerful in the 1960s. See how his supercharged cars were a hit for Ford and how he then broke away from the company.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

It was the newest thing in showrooms and American culture and everyone seemed enthralled by it -- except for a couple of reviewers. Learn how the 1965 and 1966 Ford Mustang became such hot sellers.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

It was a long journey from the idea of a sleek American sports car to the first Ford Mustang. Learn about the many dead ends and how worried Ford execs settled on the right formula.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The 1969 Dodge Charger presented perhaps the widest array of choices in the history of the nameplate. There was a base model an available SE (for "Special Edition") option that heaped on more luxuries a hot-performing R/T version and two wild race-bred iterations: the 500 and the Daytona.

Many fans watched "The Dukes of Hazzard" TV show to see a character that never earned a salary -- the General Lee. Recently, the Dukes' 1969 Dodge Charger starred its first feature film, and it ain't just whistlin' Dixie.

By Ed Grabianowski