How The Automobile Changed Southern California

Los Angeles Times Special Commemorative Edition looks at how cars have defined the culture and identity of Southern California.

1 minute read

June 22, 2006, 2:00 PM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


Features 21 articles on topics such as smog, Mulholland Drive, unique Southern California cars, and even people who won't drive. Includes a multimedia gallery.

"The weekly auto review takes a giddy spin down the streets of Pasadena in the world's first vehicle -- and reflects on an era when wheels like these first touched the pavement."

"This siren's song to the flatlands of L.A. lures artists, racers and lovers to its precipitous turns and turnouts. Fifty-five miles long, Mulholland Drive reaches above the smog, down to the beach and cuts Los Angeles in two."

"Like it or not, smog is one of the defining features of Los Angeles. And like the ocean or the mountains, it shows no sign of ever going away."

"With winding scenic paths, standstill freeway jams and a vast desert beckoning just beyond, Southern California was designed for motorcycles -- and vice versa."

"I'M an English guy who's been in L.A. for 16 years. I work here. My children were born here. And still I don't drive. Some people find this … puzzling."

Wednesday, June 21, 2006 in The Los Angeles Times

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