MOTORing through time

As the leader in motorsports news, MoToR covers the results of the annual Glidden Tour, the French Grand Prix and several other motoring events. This year's American Automobile Association-sponsored Glidden event covers the distance from Erie, PA, to New York City in five daily stages. In the end, 23 of the 56 entries turn in perfect scores, resulting in a five-way tie for the Hower Trophy. To the dismay of the French racing fans, German driver Christian Lautenschlager in a Mercedes wins the 1908 French Grand Prix. A progress report on the nearly completed New York to Paris Race details the mishaps and delays as the leaders approach St. Petersburg, Russia.

Most RecentAuto Articles

50 Years Ago: August 1954

The public demand for power-operated accessories is peaking. This month's issue includes a profit-making guide to installing Bendix power brake kits on customers' vehicles without adding shop space or purchasing expensive tools or equipment. Another technical article offers tips and directions for replacing the panoramic windshields found on the new GM models, while another deals with troubleshooting coaxial power steering problems that may occur on the new 1954 Chrysler vehicles. More technical help is offered in an article on profitable clutch work for the latest clutch designs.

90 Years Ago: August 1912

In response to requests from readers, MoToR prints an updated version of 'The Engine Trouble Chart." The two-page chart lists the most probable causes of stalling, missing and loss of power in gasoline engines. The chart helps mechanics identify the symptom exhibited by the engine and follow a flow of possible causes. After a mechanic repairs the problem, he runs the engine to determine whether the corrective action taken is successful. The popular chart was first printed in March of 1909, and later in September of 1911. Between those two runs, a special edition of more than 20,000 copies was also run to satisfy reader demand.

40 Years Ago: August 1965

MOTOR offers a peek at the 1966 models coming out of Detroit. The first front-drive car since the 1937 Cord will be built by Oldsmobile. Known as the Toronado, the six-passenger two-door hardtop will feature a transmission positioned beside the engine, chain driven by the torque converter. Chrysler is planning to build its biggest engine yet-a 440-cu.-in. engine based on the 413-cu.-in. version. It will produce 375 hp and be optional on Dodge and Plymouth models, along with a "street" version of the 426-cu.-in. hemispherical-head powerplant. The "Hemi." as it is known, will use two 4-barrel carbs atop a special intake manifold to produce 425 hp.

80 Years Ago: August 1925

The first rear-engine car in nearly 20 years hits the American market. The unique design of the julian 6, built by the julian Brown Development Corp. of Syracuse, New York, incorporates a 60-hp. six-cylinder, air-cooled radial engine mounted horizontally under the rear deck. The clutch, transmission and differential are located underneath the engine, with the rear wheels driven by axle shafts with universal joints. Four forward and two reverse speeds are provided by a sliding gear and planetary gearing, located within the flywheel. The frame consists of a 4 1/2-inch main tube with smaller diameter cross tubes at each end on which the body is mounted.

30 Years Ago: August 1972

The cover pictures the actual toolbox made by Walter P. Chrysler when he was a young engineer working in railroad engine shops. he also made many of the more than 60 tools in the box when he couldn't find suitable ones or afford to buy them. As a young man, he fell in love with a Locomobile, which he purchased to learn all about it. Five years later, Chrysler became the president of Buick, then later went to the Maxwell Company, which became the Chrysler Corp. Complete plans for building a replica of Walter P. Chrysler's famous toolbox are included in the issue.

70 Years Ago: August 1934

Streamlining challenges the automotive industry to reevaluate the types of engines it uses to fit functional powerplants into the lowered hood lines of modern car designs. "New Engines For New Cars?" is a digest of a paper delivered to the Society of Automotive Engineers. The article states that traditional upright inline engines are too tall and long to be used in the new lowered frontal lines or in rear-drive applications. The paper asserts the best option for front-drive applications is a form of flat horizontally opposed transverse-mounted powerplant Radial aircraft-style engines are the best answer for rear-drive vehicles, the article says.

20 Years Ago: August 1982

"The Blind Teaching The BHnd" tells the story of a sightless transmission repair instructor who teaches visually impaired students trans rebuilding. Derome Defoe, an instructor at the Chrysler-operated MoTech Training School in Detroit, requires students to remove, rebuild and replace three different makes -a Chrysler 727. GM Turbo Hydra-Matic and Ford C6. The vehicle is then road-tested by a sighted instructor, who critiques the work. If it isn't right, the student must remove the transmission and repair the problem. After completing the course, students are tested for proficiency to pass the Michigan state mechanic's licensing exam and certification.