http://audamotive.com Jim Koscs: Super-Versatile Automotive Writer Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:08:12 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The Avanti’s story is as unique as the design that came out of Raymond Loewy’s studio in Palm Springs, Calif. nearly 50 years ago. Here are some tidbits: Celebrity Owners The Studebaker Avanti was a favorite with the rich and famous. Owners included Johnny Carson, Frank Sinatra, Ricky Nelson, Rod Serling, Sandy ... http://audamotive.com/the-almost-immortal-avanti/ I've seen plenty of photos of '63 Corvettes, and I've seen plenty at car shows and occasionally on the road. But seeing the '63 Sting Ray in the January 2010 issue of Motor Trend ("Archive" feature on last page) for some reason took me back to the day in spring ... http://audamotive.com/the-day-mom-got-shot/ Why does Bob Lutz insist on comparing GM vehicles to those of his former employer, BMW? In the Sept. 21 issue of Automotive News, he says this about the new GMC Terrain, a "truckier" looking version of the Chevy Equinox crossover SUV: "We will run Terrain competitive ads against the BMW ... http://audamotive.com/lutz-traversing-risky-terrain/ The story of how GM went from resisting the government for 50 years to begging it for a $50 billion bailout loan would be a great text book. But for most of us, Paul Wolfe's 190 words are sufficient. Paul Wolfe Ideas.com  "Two-toned Splendor" http://audamotive.com/gms-decline-in-under-200-words/ I hope you got a chance to read about Marty Schorr's Iso Grifo in the July issue of my Wheel People e-newsletter. One fact I left out of the story that will certainly enhance the car's provenance: Although Schorr found the car at Malcolm Konner Chevrolet in Paramus, N.J., he ... http://audamotive.com/more-on-the-grifo/ Phil D'Alesandro's Corvair, featured in the May issue of my Wheel People e-newsletter is really something to see in person. Here, some photos Phil shot on the parking deck of his Bronx, N.Y. apartment building over 40 years ago. I wish GM would offer this blue on the new ... http://audamotive.com/more-corvair-pix/ If you have not read about the FinnJet in my WheelPeople e-newsletter, click on the April 2009 link under "Previous Issues" in the sidebar. Here are the photos in larger format. The detail on this Art Car is amazing. All photos by Elle Schorr. [caption id="attachment_591" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Two 1980s ... http://audamotive.com/finnjet-in-photos/ [caption id="attachment_568" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Jensen Interceptor (foreground); Jensen FF (background)"][/caption] The March issue of my Wheel People newsletter profiled an example of brand loyalty that any carmaker might envy. Here's the story, including larger and additional photos. Mike Lotwis broke a 35-year streak last year when he purchased his company car, ... http://audamotive.com/one-brand-man/ Author's note: I met the artist Bob Mittenmaier last spring at a relative's 90th birthday party. Years before that, the relative, my wife's Uncle Joe, had told me about his friend "who does paintings of Ferraris." Bob and I finally got to sit down for lunch in January this year. ... http://audamotive.com/a-ferrari-painters-story/ Where would we be without “bland” cars? Probably out of a job. One statistic stands high above the carnage of 2008: the midsize sedan – the “bland” sedan -- proved the customer favorite once again, as it has for what … 30 years? The Toyota Camry smashed all competitors with 436,000 sales, ... http://audamotive.com/the-truth-about-%e2%80%9cbland%e2%80%9d-cars/