Category Archives: History

The Last Ringmeisters: the Fastest Race Ever Held On The Nürburgring

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Raphael Orlove

The 1983 1000 Kilometers of the Nürburgring was the last time prototypes raced Germany’s legendary 12.9-mile circuit. This hour-long video covers that event, ultimately the fastest race ever held on the Nordschleife.

Posted in History, What Fast Looks Like | Leave a comment

Meet The Ford GT40’s Forgotten Stepsister

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Raphael Orlove

The Ford GT40, with its four consecutive wins at Le Mans, is one of the most famous racing cars of all time. The man who helped design the GT40, the man who brought home the last two Le Mans wins … Continue reading →

Posted in Editorials, History, What Fast Looks Like | 2 Comments

Autofrei Verlag: From Nightclubs to Retirement Homes

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Raphael Orlove

If I’m going to spend my day reading up on the inane and somewhat trivial development of Scion from a much-touted youth brand to a car bought principally by the elderly, why not get published? Moreover, if I spend my … Continue reading →

Posted in Autofrei Verlag, Fascination of the Boring, History | Leave a comment

Richard Arbib’s The History of Automobile Styling

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Raphael Orlove

Richard Arbib, a prominent stylist for GM, Packard, and AMC, taught a beginners course on automotive styling to returning GIs at the Detroit Institute of Automobile Styling from ’45-’49. The following text, “The History of Automobile Styling”, was written by Arbib, … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Quotations | 2 Comments

Tadanori Yokoo’s 1968 Mazda Cosmo Brochure

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Raphael Orlove

Japanese pop artist Tadanori Yokoo penned the sales brochure for the 1968 Mazda 110s, also known as the Cosmo, and here it is in all of its pop art majesty.

Posted in History, Quotations, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Berlin By Car

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Raphael Orlove

From the stoic, neoclassical columns of the Museum Insel to the graffiti-covered TOAD factories in Friedrichshain, Berlin puts a lot of its history on display. New waves of architectural expression flow through the city with every political Wende, cultural movement, … Continue reading →

Posted in Berlin, History, Pictures | 2 Comments

Autofrei Verlag, Pt.2: Von IFA Zum Mercedes

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Raphael Orlove

Coming to a bookstore near you!* It reads “From IFA (East Germany’s state-controlled work-truck manufacturer) to Mercedes: Automobile Manufacturing in Brandenburg (the state surrounding Berlin) through the Fall of Communism” Mensch u. Buch Verlag is a publishing house I like in … Continue reading →

Posted in Autofrei Verlag, Berlin, History | 1 Comment

Damn You Grandpa Car: 1983 Mercedes-Benz SEC

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Raphael Orlove

Mercedes-Benz, you were a top of the line personal luxury status symbol, and I want you, you unattainable piece of crap.

Posted in History, NYC, Pictures | 2 Comments

1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 454

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Raphael Orlove

One of the most common ways to define a car is by its country of origin, and the world readily acknowledges that American cars, Japanese cars, German cars, Korean cars are categories defined by the national home of a particular … Continue reading →