Automobiles - General

Today, much of the world is bound in a marriage of convenience to cars, trucks and SUVs in a way that is every bit as real as Americans' never-ending love affair with the automobile. Vehicles have the inherent ability to reflect not only national moods, but individual style and personal preference. For some, drivability is paramount; for others appearance is everything.

Each type of automobile has a personality distinctly its own, with shifting anatomies and sensibilities. The stance and growl of a souped-up muscle car can exude confidence, while the utilitarian minivan compliments suburban surroundings.

Those who came of age during the rise of Toyota and Honda or at the mainstreaming of BMW and Mercedes may be unaware of how Chevrolet and Ford shaped popular culture in an era when American wheels dominated the road.

At their core, automobiles are about more than brand, shape, style, size, or even technological prowess because speak to their owners on an intimate level. Today, there is something for everyone. Old-school roadsters and sedans remain as popular as ever, while sales of newly minted pickups and crossovers have reached unseen heights. Diesel-powered vehicles left their noisy, smoky past in the dust, and futuristic green hybrids are seen in almost every neighborhood.

For enthusiasts and collectors of classic Chevys, vintage Porsches, quirky Citroëns and long-gone Packards to those in the market for gently-used, late-model cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles, auctions are well worth a look.