History/buyer’s guide originally published in European Car, August 1996 Anyone partial to European mobiles was all the more frustrated by the new Ford Sierra XR-4i. The Sierra debuted in 1983, replacing the Cortina and Taunus , and the XR-4i was its high-performance variant. Reports filtered back to the states about the fast and funky new […]
2007 Saturn Sky Red Line: Raisins in the Sky
Contemporary review originally published in CarBuzzard September 9, 2007; republished by the author Do you know what it’s like to sit down to a warm wedge of homemade apple pie like grandma used to make, if grandma was the kind of grandma that frozen pies picture on the outside of box without matching grandma’s best […]
Volkswagen Corrado G60 and SLC: The short run of a German sprinter
History/driving impressions originally published in Sport Compact Car, August 1999 Volkswagen called it the Corrado, allegedly from the Spanish correr, to sprint or run. And the new coupe, having its debut in the fall of 1989 as a 1990 model, had the no waste, and just put the leftovers in the trash bin. It followed […]
Henry’s Revolution: The Model T put the nation on wheels and changed it forever
Originally published in Motor Trend Presents 100 years of the Automobile in America (1995); republished by the author Henry Ford stands with the Model T Set the handbrake, open the throttle lever slightly, set the ignition timing lever at “full retard,” and close the carburetor choke by pulling a wire protruding through the radiator. Then, […]
1983 Volvo Limited Edition 240 Turbo, the “Flat Hood”
History originally published in the Illustrated Volvo Buyer’s Guide, 1983, by John Matras; republished by the author The 1983 Volvo Limited Edition 240 Turbo is called the “Flat Hood” because it has a flat hood. If politics makes strange bedfellows – keep your prurient thoughts to yourself – then racing makes unusual variants available to […]
1970 Opel GT 1.9: Mini-Vette?
History/driving impressions originally published in Special Interest Autos, June 1997; republished by the author Compare the front clip of any production Opel GT with a ‘68 Chevrolet Corvette and you will understand why Car and Driver called the German sports car a “teeny-bopper Corvette.” The same blade bumper runs across the front edge of the […]
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