2003
BMW started out as a builder of aircraft engines, then motorcycles and finally cars. Its aircraft engines set speed records in the '30's and its sports cars were stylish, elegant and fast. Today, it's clear that this company has carved out a place among the builders of unique and fast vehicles that many say deserve to be called, "The Ultimate Driving Machines."
Thu, Jan 1, 2004
One of the most legendary sports cars ever created - Porsche - has become the worldwide benchmark of sports car performance and styling. No matter where they're driven, all Porsches share a common legacy of automotive innovation. A legacy that began with the company's namesake, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, in the early days of the 20th Century.
Thu, Jan 8, 2004
Explorers have always sought out the extremes on earth. They seek that which has never been done, whether to climb the tallest mountain or to walk where no one has ever been before. This is Land Rover's territory and for over 50 years these rugged vehicles have helped to peel away the mysteries of our planet.
Thu, Jan 29, 2004
Chevrolet's fiberglass two seater was the first, mass- produced, American sports car, but it almost shifted itself right out of production. . But over the years, the Corvette has evolved from a cute looking roadster to the menacing Sting Ray and now to one of the world's sleekest, sexiest and fastest high-tech sports cars.
Thu, Feb 5, 2004
While tinkering in their German workshops, Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler gave the world the first automobiles powered by an internal combustion engine. Over one hundred years later the company bearing their name is still considered to be among the most innovative automobile manufacturers in the world.
Thu, Feb 26, 2004
Enzo Ferrari's greatest desire was to become a racecar driver. Through sheer dint of character he succeeded and eventually gave birth to the most formidable racing machines ever produced. We'll follow the incredible story of Enzo Ferrari and his company into the present and see his namesake car, the Ferrari Enzo.
Fri, Oct 22, 2004
No one would have predicted that tractor manufacturer David Brown could transform a bankrupt Aston into a car line that was universally praised as being, "pleasing to the eye, beautifully finished and comfortable with all the performance anyone could want." His cars became racing legends - challenging Ferraris on the track in the 1950's and ferrying the upper crust around town.
Fri, Oct 29, 2004
Being enviro-friendly doesn't mean you can't have fun. We'll take a ride in an electric sports car that goes from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds and tear up the track with legendary racecar builder, Carroll Shelby, as he puts his hydrogen powered Cobra through its paces. BMW, GM, Ford, Toyota and the US Government are all working to create cars that will drive us into the future. This show traverses the many divergent routes to global energy independence and a healthier environment while taking rides in clean vehicles that people will want to drive.
Fri, Nov 5, 2004
The stylish and fast 1963 Avanti was the last ditch hope for Studebaker. The automaker was on the verge of bankruptcy. It needed a hot seller to remain in business. Studebaker's president called in famed designer Raymond Loewy and within weeks the automaker had a car. Although the $5000 fiberglass Avanti was just too expensive for most car buyers and it didn't save Studebaker --- the Avanti would live on. Over the next three decades, Avanti lovers would try to keep the dream alive, buying the company and making changes here and there to the timeless design. But in 1991, it was the end of the line for the Avanti.
Fri, Dec 3, 2004
The Morgan is a design that holds firmly to its ancestry - simple yet sporty, but no longer inexpensive. The Morgan got its start as the Morgan three-wheeler that was produced from the early 1900's to 1951. The Roadster is still handmade and only ten cars are built each week at the Morgan factory in Malvern Link, England. All Morgans are pre-sold and buyers are often put on a six year waiting list.
Fri, Dec 17, 2004
When Ferruccio Lamborghini finally returned to his hometown from the World War II, he brought with him scraps of leftover engines and began to convert them into much needed tractors for farming. From then on whatever Lamborghini touched turned to gold. He became a rich man and could indulge his love for fast cars. It wasn't long before he became the visionary manufacturer of one of the most avant-garde automobile in the world - Lamborghini.
Fri, Dec 24, 2004
In 1914 just after World War I, Alfieri Maserati took his patented automotive spark plug and started building racecars in the heart of Bologna. Using war surplus parts and machinery, he began what would become the proud trident trademark of Maserati and a tradition of thoroughbred Italian sports cars.
Mon, Apr 4, 2005
Come with us as we drive through mansion gates, discover secret auto collections, roam exclusive auto gatherings, race high dollar classics and hobnob with the owners of the world's most exclusive automobiles. Find out what it's like to drive the world's fastest, most expensive, desirable and exotic collector automobiles.
Mon, Apr 11, 2005
Starting in the 1990's Sport Utility Vehicles took over the streets of America. Women didn't want to be "soccer moms" and abandoned their minivans in droves. Men wanted a car that could go anywhere even if they only drove it to the office. Some people accused their owners of harming the planet but no car company could survive without an SUV in its lineup.
Mon, Apr 18, 2005
Edsel, Corvair, Hudson, Studebaker, Hupmobile, Crosley, Maxwell and more - these are the Orphan cars. Many of these "orphan cars" had unusual design and engineering features. They were created by people willing to go out on a limb. Unfortunately, the limb broke. But there are dedicated people who savor these marques and have turned these underdogs into show winners.
Mon, May 9, 2005
This fast paced program documents the ancient search for a better way to fight fires. A fire company in Historic Williamsburg, Virginia reenacts and brings to life the bucket brigades and the first fire pumper used in the colonies. The audience will see how difficult a task fire fighting was for the founders of the country. While everyone agreed that fire fighting was important we'll find out how political bosses, bent on preserving their jobs, tried to interfere with the purchase of better fire trucks.
Mon, May 16, 2005
New York City's finest. LA's new centurions. Even Mayberry's, Sheriff Andy have relied on one common tool, the Police Car. It is the most often used weapon in an officer's crime fighting arsenal. More than the gun. More than the billy club. The Police Car is the one tool that continually makes the difference in the struggle against crime. While it's taken for granted today, the development of the Police Car has been a constant race to stay ahead of the technology and hardware of the crooks.
Mon, May 23, 2005
The story of the development of the ambulance is intertwined with warfare. From the days of the Roman legions to today's far-flung military there has been a pressing need to quickly move the wounded from the battlefield. While most of us take for granted the EMS vans that patrol our streets, without the foresight of those driven by the horrors of war we would not have these modern ambulances racing to our doors.
Mon, May 30, 2005
The Meyers Manx sprang from the soul of a free spirited Californian who loved the beach and always wanted to have fun. It was an inexpensive, go anywhere car that immediately clicked with a generation of like-minded people. Bruce Meyers created a legend but has had to fight to keep his vision alive.
Mon, Jun 13, 2005
This fast paced, tire squealing, high octane program will race to discover the essence of the sports car as we take a look at the origins of the world's most beguiling examples. We'll travel back to the beginnings of the automotive adventure and see the cars that royalty raced. We'll encounter princes, kings, dukes and wealthy commoners whose auto tastes set the tone for the first sports cars and see how national differences created some of the world's most exciting autos. We'll take some of these fabulous machines out for a drive while we try to discover the essence of a sports car.
Mon, Jun 20, 2005
It was a time when the finest automobiles in the world were built - the era of the custom-bodied, luxury car. Some feel that this 20 year period from about 1920 to roughly 1940 was an Olympian Age of automotive design. We'll see how these wonderful machines were built; find out who bought them and why they stopped. Along the way we will see what it takes to return a classic car to its original glory.