Car Nation

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1978 Ford LTD four-door pillared hardtop owned by Gregg D. Merksamer

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING At almost 19 feet long and over 4,200 lbs., the 1978 LTD was Ford’s top-of-the-line luxury model and it marked the company’s 75th anniversary. Merksamer’s ride accentuates its length and heft with an unusual factory green color combination that would do itself proud at any St....

Saturday, Mar. 2: 35th Annual Indoor Automotive Parts & Auto Related Collectibles Flea Market & Car Corral hosted by Vanderbilt Cup Region AACA; 9 a.m.-2 p.m., $2 admission donation; The Frank Brush Barn at Smithtown Historical Society, 211 Middle Country Rd., Smithtown.  ...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1940 LaSalle Series 52 sedan owned by Andrew Zizolfo

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING While 1940 was the LaSalle’s final year, it did not go out with a whimper. Built since 1927 as a “junior Cadillac,” these cars held their own in the luxury field, with advanced engineering, solid build quality and an emphasis on selling style along with substance. “Back in the late 1920s and...

Sunday, Feb. 24: 14th Heated Indoor Automotive Swap Meet, Car Corral & Flea Market hosted by Peconic Bay Region AACA; 9 a.m.-4 p.m., spectators $3; Southold Town Recreation Center, Peconic La., Peconic; info: www.pbraaca.org . . .

Thursday, Feb. 28: ‘The Long Island Motor Parkway: A Trip Back in Time’ presentation sponsored by LI Motor Parkway Preservation Society ; 7:30 p.m., admission...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1968 Dodge Super Bee coupe owned by Frank Damiani

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING While the Dodge and Plymouth divisions were both part of Chrysler Corp., they still became intense rivals in the muscle car wars of the ‘60s and ‘70s. “The 1968 Super Bee was introduced to compete against the popular Plymouth Road Runner with the same premise of high performance at an affordable...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1948 Navy Jeep owned by Paul Dooling

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING When the first prototype of the Jeep (slang for the military’s “general purpose vehicle,” or “GP”) rolled out of the factory more than 72 years ago, it would be the beginning of a remarkable story. More than a million of the lightweight, rough-terrain vehicles would be produced during World War II alone. They...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1966 Dodge Coronet 500 sedan owned by Andrew N. Vourlos

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING While sedans of the ‘60s have been gaining collector interest as prices rise for more preferred convertibles or coupes, there’s a whole lot more to the story behind Vourlos’ Coronet. It’s been part of his family for over 46 years. “It was our primary car, serving as a daily driver and vacation...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNERS 1969 Hurst Super Stock AMX owned by Westbury Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING When American Motors (AMC) and performance tuner Hurst crafted this limited-edition factory dragster, they made racing history and began a special family history for the Sporns of Long Island. The late Charlotte and Leon Sporn, owners of Westbury Rambler at the time, were urged...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1940 Buick Roadmaster convertible sedan owned by Walt Gosden

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING If well-off Americans wanted a 1940 car with understated grace and elegance, they could bypass the flashy Cadillacs or Packards and turn to the mighty Buick Roadmaster. Gosden’s convertible sedan, with its 320-cubic-inch “Fireball” engine and 4,200-lb. heft, marked the second-to-last...

While televisions, phones and other gizmos and gadgets dominate the headlines at the Consumer Electronics Show, the annual Las Vegas trade show that this year featured about 3,100 global technology companies showing off their latest products to more than 150,000 attendees, the automobile industry also gets a wave of new innovations.

From race-winning hybrid concepts and an electric Rolls Royce,...