College Cars: 1954 Kaiser Darrin

This is College Cars, another look into the automobile collection of the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Today we're looking at a 1954 Kaiser Darrin roadster.

I have long had a soft spot for the Kaiser Darrin, a fiberglass roadster that was built in small numbers for only one year and primarily because Henry Kaiser's wife liked the concept. Its claim to fame is the way its doors slide into the front fenders rather than hinge outward. The convertible roof is adjustable to have only its front section slide back like a targa top to let the sun in, or be lowered completely. It's no performance car, a Henry J chassis offering only 90 horsepower from a Willys-built six. But you have to admit it's interesting to look at. Cool fact: the last 100 or so Darrins got Cadillac V8s good for 300-plus horses. Now there's your sports car. Shame it was too little, too late.
Near as I can find, this car was purchased at the RM Auctions 2011 Amelia Island event, for $170,500. If this is in fact that vehicle, it was the 20th car built in a series of 435.

College Cars: 1959 Edsel Corsair Convertible

This is College Cars, another look into the automobile collection of the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Today we're looking at a 1959 Edsel Corsair.

We all know the story of the Edsel and how it became one of the auto industry's biggest flops. In retrospect, it's hardly the worst car ever made and quite frankly I love them. Perhaps its two greatest flaws were being built on the same assembly line as Fords (causing quality to suffer due to confusion or parts shortage) and daring to be different with a vertical grille that in some ways harks back to the cars of the 1930s. But the public today remembers Edsel mostly as a punchline. I don't think that's fair.
The 1959 Corsair convertible is a rare animal, with only 1,343 built. As the Academy likes to show off their recent additions at the San Francisco International Auto Show every year, and this one appeared at the 2011 show, I assume that it is the multiple award-winning car that sold at Gooding & Company's auction at Amelia Island in 2010, for $99,000. Perhaps the most fascinating detail about this car is its history, as it was built for the 1959 American National Exhibition in Moscow, complete with a metric speedometer. A Soviet official tried to buy the car and, when denied by a Ford PR man, blocked the rep's return visa to the U.S. until a sufficient bribe was placed. After its tour of duty in the Soviet Union, the car at some point ended up in a German museum and later made its way back to the States. It bounced from collector to auction house and back before it ended up in the hands of the Academy of Art. It still has the box of Russian documentation and original spare parts in the trunk from 1959.
As an editorial note, I really don't think the continental kit helps this car at all. Perhaps a rare option or period addition? As huge as the Corsair already is, I'd much prefer it without the big extension. Still an amazing car though.

The Valet Stand: Ferrari 456M GT

Welcome to The Valet Stand, where we look at some of the best cars I've found parked in front of the lobby at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. Today's feature is a Ferrari 456M GT, photographed in late winter 2011.

The 456 was a family car among Ferraris, a 4-seat grand tourer with a V12 in the front. The 456 enjoyed a long production run from 1992 to 2003. I've always seen it as a more relaxed Ferrari, available with either a six-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Yes, a Ferrari available with a full automatic transmission. And that same Ferrari could do 188 mph so quit whining. Think about the fact that this was the last Ferrari ever to use pop-up headlights, a feature no longer available on anything. This is a 456M, the post-1998 refresh of the 456 line. Despite being made for another five years, only 1,338 456Ms were built, of which 688 were manual GTs and another 650 were automatic GTAs.

The Valet Stand: Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

Welcome to The Valet Stand, where we look at some of the best cars I've found parked in front of the lobby at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. Today's feature is a UK-spec Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe that was in town for a Rolls-Royce press event in fall 2008.

The Valet Stand: Ferrari F430 Spider

Welcome to The Valet Stand, a new feature that looks at some of the best cars I've photographed in front of the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. I like the St. Regis for its modern, photogenic lobby exterior and frequently wealthy clientele. We begin with a triple-black 2008 Ferrari F430 Spider.
Note the Rolls-Royce sign -- the St. Regis is sometimes used for manufacturer press events and one was held in 2008 to introduce the expanded Phantom range to journalists.

Import Odd Couple: Fiat 500 and Nissan S-Cargo

Parking Lot Photo Shoot: 1969 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV