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Known affectionately as the “Bugeye” in the US and “Frog-Eye” in the UK, the Mark I Austin-Healey Sprite was an entry level British sports car introduced in 1958. Designers Donald Healey and Leonard Lord saw a chance to fill a gap in the market below the larger and more expensive MGA. Instead of a traditional […]

Marian Kotlicki, an airplane mechanic and an aviation enthusiast who lived in Poland, owned five cars in his lifetime. He built each one himself. His creations ranged from a three-wheeler that used an airplane canopy and a single cylinder Ilo engine from a German Tempo-Wagen, to a proper four-wheeled car based on the frame of

Fabryka Samochodów Małolitrażowych, or FSM (translated as Small Displacement Car Factory), was established in Poland in 1971 as a joint venture between Fiat and Polish automobile parts manufacturer FSO. The new factory opened in Tychy, Poland, to build the 126p, the then-new Polish version of Fiat’s venerable 126. In 1987, FSM introduced the BIS variant

During Japan’s “Bubble Economy” (1986-1991), the nation’s car manufacturers enjoyed a bit of freedom in their car designs. Cars designed for smaller and smaller niche markets were financially feasible during this period. Nowhere was this more evident than in the kei class, or “light car”, segment.Suzuki Motor Corporation began designing a mid-engine sports coupe in

When Henry Ford introduced his new low-priced Model T in 1908, he could not have conceived what impact the humble “T” would have on the world. Before the Model T, most people had not traveled outside their hometown. By making cars available to the masses, this newfound mobility would soon alter American’s living patterns, their

By 1993, Volkswagen’s North American sales had dropped to a mere 50,000 total units. Two VW designers, J Mays and Freeman Thomas, believed the key to future success was to resurrect the Beetle. At the 1994 Detroit Auto Show, the Concept 1 was unveiled to great public fanfare, with consumers already putting in orders for

The idea of Volvo building a sports car in the 1950’s seemed unlikely to most. Volvos have been safe family cars since the beginning. But after Volvo vice-president Assar Gabrielsson visited GM in 1953 and saw the new Chevrolet Corvette production line in Flint, Michigan, he realized sports cars influenced by European designs were becoming

BMW’s Bavaria model was a US-only model, derived from Europe’s 2500/2800/3000/3300 series of sedans. Known as the E3 among aficionados, it shared everything under the skin with the E9 Coupe, which many consider BMW’s most beautiful design. It was called Bavaria here in order for BMW to reinforce to the US market that they were

Danish-born American automotive designer Henrik Fisker is best known for designing luxury cars such the BMW Z8, the Aston Martin DB9, and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. In 2005, Fisker teamed up with colleague Bernhard Koehler, to start a new luxury car design firm, Fisker Coachbuild. Two years later, Fisker Automotive was established to produce