The original era of muscle cars began in the 1960s, peaked around 1970, and quickly faded a few years later as emission controls set in. In more recent years we’ve seen the second era of muscle cars, but the number of models involved is far less than before. Notably, there … Read more
The 1980s can be defined in one word: us. For that’s the decade when Americans began to cast off the memory of the Watergate scandal and the lost Vietnam War of the 1970s. Consumerism, especially materialism, was in vogue and global trade brought the first cars from Yugoslavia, Brazil and … Read more
It was during the 1970s when automakers from Japan began to find a market among the big American cars of that era. As Toyota, Honda and Datsun (later Nissan) products began to take hold, American car manufacturers responded by producing several smaller models to counter the overseas invasion. Unfortunately, many … Read more
The auto industry continues to evolve and consolidate, casting off brands or seeing the demise of entire automakers including Saab. In the United States, we have seen the death of several car brands in recent years including Mercury, Pontiac, and Plymouth. Hundreds of brands have come and gone down through … Read more
America and Chevrolet in 1969 Probably the most significant event of 1969 was the July 20th lunar landing of the Apollo 11 spacecraft. The galactic mission showcased America’s tech prowess in an age when the space program’s computers had less power than the device you hold in your hands today. … Read more
23rd Annual Triangle British Classic Car Show Auto shows are held ‘year round, especially in warmer climates where cold and snow are not much of a factor. In the southeast, including the Carolinas, May begins a stretch of shows lasting into early fall. Thus, if you enjoy classic cars, then … Read more
Stray Cats and a classic car show. Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of summer for some parts of the country, but here in the Southeast, it means something else: the start of the college football season! It is also one of the best weekends of the year for … Read more
Capital City Cruisers hosts their 12th annual event. Weeks of above normal rainfall in the Carolinas means one thing: if you have plans in place, then know for certain that they’re subject to change. Moreover, if those plans involve hosting a car show with scores of classic and antique cars … Read more
American Children’s Home 20th Annual Show-Off Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show What could be better than a gathering of cars, trucks and motorcycles? Not much, unless that function benefits a nonprofit, as it did at a recent event held in Lexington, North Carolina. Indeed, the campus of the American Children’s … Read more
2018 Piedmont Classic Chevy Club Car Show As an automotive writer, most of my focus is on what’s new and upcoming, thus the “auto trends” moniker. But I also know that the industry has a rich history spanning nearly 150 years. Keeping an eye on the past while looking toward … Read more
Updated April 9, 2018, to include Day No. 4 photos. Charlotte Motor Speedway’s AutoFair is a classic car extravaganza. The twice-annual Charlotte AutoFair never disappoints, even when the weather is less than cooperative. Rainy skies and falling temperatures ruled Day No. 3 of the Spring 2018 Charlotte AutoFair, keeping crowds … Read more
This unique exposition is set to end on January 15, 2017. The North Carolina Museum of Art has done it again. For only the second time, the state art museum in Raleigh is offering an exhibit of cars, this one featuring Art Deco designs from the 1930s and 1940s. Curated … Read more
It’s a wrap for the 2015 edition of the Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance. This year’s show was the largest one yet with 280 vehicles judged across 13 categories. Porsche Row at the 2015 Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance. The third annual Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance has concluded and with it came yet another successful … Read more
What do you call a gathering of automotive enthusiasts that meets early on a Saturday morning to show off their rides? Well, if they’re drinking coffee while on site, there is a very good chance that you stumbled upon a Cars and Coffee event. Enthusiasts gather at a Cars Coffee … Read more
Anyone that has followed Auto Trends for some time knows that we look backward as well as forward. Not just to the new, upcoming and futuristic models, but at the antiques and classics that have shaped the auto industry for more than a century. Throw out information about a classic … Read more
Third Saturday meetings at the Raleigh Grande. Cars and Coffee has come back to Raleigh, NC. This past Saturday the inaugural meet up of the *new* Cars and Coffee Raleigh was held and judging by the amount of coffee consumed and the cars on hand, future gatherings may soon fill … Read more
A monthly gathering of car enthusiasts in Cumberland County, NC. A rare Fisker Karma makes a Cars and Coffee appearance. The Fisker’s owner plans to convert the car to a gasoline-only model when the EV system dies. What a difference a day makes. Friday was wet and cold, with snow … Read more
With storms looming and winter just around the corner, it’s time to store your classic car for the cold months ahead. Classic cars require a little extra care when it comes to winter storage, and while it might be a time-consuming process, the steps are important to help ensure optimal … Read more
The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) has an extensive permanent collection of American, European and African art, and has had several noteworthy exhibits down through the years including Rembrandt, Rodin and Rockwell. Beginning on Oct. 12, 2013, and running through Jan. 20, 2014, an exhibit of 22 Porsche models … Read more
The fall edition of the Charlotte Autofair is now over, what its organizers and supporters consider a success. As mentioned on these pages previously, the fall show is smaller than the spring show, but its still features thousands of vendors, multiple car clubs and special events that pull in visitors … Read more
The Spring 2013 edition of the Food Lion AutoFair at the Charlotte Motor Speedway officially comes to a close today. The past few days have been beautiful and comfortable, with Carolina blue sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s. That’s a far cry from the 40-degree temperatures on opening day … Read more
At the Charlotte Food Lion AutoFair this weekend, you can take in hundreds of classic cars, including many that are available for immediate purchase. Some are sold directly by the owners to private buyers, serious individuals that will slap down cash on the spot, while still others are hawked at … Read more
The Charlotte Motor Speedway gets all the attention for hosting the Coca-Cola 600 and the Bank of America 500 motor sport events, and justifiably so. These two annual NASCAR races are the biggest ones on this North Carolina racetracks calendar, but when it comes to attendance numbers the semiyearly Food … Read more
Many of us know one person who goes well beyond being the atypical weekend mechanic. This individual not only works on cars, but lives them, eagerly finding and passionately restoring a classic car to its former glory or maintaining at least one such model. His main ride may be something newer, … Read more
Automotive design has had its shining moments, something we still see today in select Italian sports cars, German luxury sedans and, if I daresay, in America’s current drove of pony cars. There was a season from the late 1960s to the early 1990s, when most cars were predictable and uninspiring, … Read more