History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek March 28, 1988, republished by the author The banjo-strung Blumel’s Brooklands steering wheel is close, good for huddling for warmth, but it still leaves my elbow in the chill autumn morning air and my upright posture would be more appropriate in a front row church pew than at the […]
Vauxhall 30/98: The beginning of the end of an era of sportsters
Original history/driving impressions originally published in Motor Trend’s Sports Cars of the World-1990, republished by the author “Only $2,575,291.” That’s how much GM paid for all of Vauxhall in 1925, according to Alfred P. Sloan in his book, My Years With General Motors. Small stuff for GM, “only a kind of experiment in overseas manufacturing.” […]
Rock ‘n’ roll: Mazda MX-5 Miata versus Lotus Elan
Comparison review republished by the author; originally published in Motor Trend’s 1990 Sports Cars of the World They don’t make rock ‘n’ roll like they used to. My almost-a-teenager daughter disagrees with me, of course, because that’s her job. What does she know? The Sixtiess were the golden years of rock, just as they were […]
Ford Model T sprint car: The red, white and blue roots of American racing
History/driving impressions republished by the author; originally published in AutoWeek February 24, 1986 The front wheels are dancing over the dirt, bumping, shaking and bouncing like Lula, the Snake Girl and Queen of the Midway, and there is more fight in the steering wheel then in a bar in a bad part of town. I […]
1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega: Great Expectations never realized
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek January 19, 1987 Oft expectation fails, and most oft there where it most promises. –William Shakespeare, All’s Well That Ends Well How odd that the Bard of Avon, writing at the beginning of the 17th century, should so aptly describe the 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega. Expectations great and otherwise […]
1992 Eagle Talon TSi AWD: Now all the grip with twice the grins
Contemporary review originally published in Road & Track Special Sports & GT Cars 1992 If two years seems like a short lifecycle, that only shows you how tough the competition is. Though major re-skins used to be an annual affair for American car builders, that was a long time ago. It’s almost a surprise, then, […]
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