Joe Louis & his 1935 Buick
Early Automotive Advertising: The early 1900’s were the beginning years for African Americans and automobile advertising. When the Motorcar became part of everyday transportation for Americans, many African Americans were featured in spark plug, tire ads, and other rare advertising to promote the automobile. The Patterson-Greenfield Automobile Company featured its 1922-25 advertisements for the Greenfield...
Rosie the Riveter -Women in the War
Due to the war of 1940s, many women began working at Ford, GM, and Chrysler factories. The name “Rosie the Riveter” became most closely associated with another real woman, Rose Will Monroe, who was born during 1920 in Pulaski County, Kentucky, who later moved to Michigan during World War II. She worked as a riveter...
Walt Prey – legendary pinstriper and custom painter
Walter Michael Prey (February 12, 1947 – December 24, 2011) was a legendary pinstriper and custom painter. He painted and striped a lot of cars during his long career, but his most known creation, and his claim to fame is without doubt Jesse Valadez’ 1964 Chevrolet Impala, The Gypsy Rose. Walt with one of his...
Forward Look Speedster
Way back when, some of the most exciting two-seat “dream cars” were styled by Mopar’s designers, engineered at Highland Park, then entrusted to Ghia in Italy for fabrication. You’ve probably seen them—the K-310, the Firearrows, the Diablo and the XN-R. What if there was an Imperial two-seater made back then, hand-crafted with flamboyant styling atop...
A Special Imperial Collection
In 1960, Chrysler and dress designer Mr. Jules Francois Crahay created a style for women that was featured at Saks Fifth Avenue – New York and Neiman -Marcus stores called “The Imperial Collection”. It was an important new presentation of automotive excellence and the best of French fashion designs. Designer Crahay who was very knowledgeable...
Making History at the Auto Show
The inaugural Detroit Auto Show, sponsored by the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA), was held in December 1907. The show was at Beller’s Beer Garden in Riverside Park on Jefferson Avenue in conjunction with hunting and fishing accessories show. Back in 1907, it only cost 50 cents to attend the show and a total of...
Ron Aguirre ~ X-Sonic
1956 Chevrolet Corvette designed and fabricated by Krankers of San Bernardino member Ron Aguirre of Rialto, California. Ron’s wild custom Corvette, known as the X-Sonic, is acknowledged as the first car ever using hydraulics to raise and lower the front suspension and the first show car featuring a bubble top plastic roof. Ron bought the...
