Bisa Nitip Bisa Dititp: A look back at some California classics

Thursday, September 7, 2023

A look back at some California classics

Scenes from an early Classic car dealer

These days, you might see Jay Leno driving a Full Classic through the middle of Burbank, Calif., but there's a history of spotting great cars in that city that predates the famous comedian and car collector.

From 1949 to 1955, Lynn Mayfield operated Mayfield Car Co. at 100 North Hollywood Way in Burbank. From a small office at the corner of North Hollywood Way and Olive Boulevard, beneath two giant signs — one featuring a giant cut-out of a Kissel Goldbug speedster, the other a cut out of a phaeton — Mayfield displayed "special interest cars." These cars parked beneath circus-like "Antique and Classic Cars" signs were the type that would make many of today's concours fields envious. Parked behind the sidewalk along North Hollywood Way, Mayfield might have a Ruxton, a duPont, a Stutz, Cadillacs, Auburns, Lincoln V-12s, Packards, Rolls-Royces, Pierce-Arrows — maybe all at once.

Maserati A6GCS/53 Frua Spider crowned 'Best in Show' at Concours of Elegance 2023

One of the premier shows in the UK, The Concours of Elegance, concluded on September 3rd. Top honors went to an impressive 1955 Maserati A6GCS/53 Frua Spider.

London, UK - The Concours of Elegance, presented by A. Lange & Söhne, concluded September 3rd, held over three days at Hampton Court Palace in west London. The Best in Show winner – uniquely chosen by the Concours car owners themselves – was the 1955 Maserati A6GCS/53 Frua Spider - a masterpiece of Italian design, making its debut appearance on British soil.

Dodge ramming since 1931

The history behind the "Ram" of Dodge.

A year before the October 1929 stock market crash, the '20s were still roaring and so was Walter Chrysler. Before 1928 was over, he was offered — and accepted — the opportunity to buy Dodge Brothers, which he had attempted to purchase two years earlier. Dodge Brothers started manufacturing automobiles in 1914 and built the company up to second place in the industry by 1920, which was the year that both brothers died. Without their leadership, business fell off, and in 1925, the two Dodge brothers' widows sold the company to a New York banking firm. Three years later, when the company was sold to Chrysler — at a $24 million profit.

Dodge cars had always been identified by an emblem featuring intertwined triangles, which closely resembled the six-point Star of David, a Jewish symbol, although the Dodge brothers were not of that faith. One of many tasks on Walter Chrysler's to-do list was to develop new identity symbols for Dodge and the other two new cars under the corporate banner.