History originally published in AutoWeek May 2, 1983 Ah, the clarity of hindsight. The perfect 20/20, read-the-union-bug-at-the-bottom-of-the-eye-chart ability to see what should have been seen, do what should have been done, especially when time has blurred a few inconsequential/important details. Take, for example, the 1953-54 Corvette. It’s obvious by now that the Corvette should have […]
2011 Aston Martin Rapide: No cape necessary
Contemporary review originally published in Examiner.com on March 1, 2011 The key looks like a crystal wrapped in an Aston Martin logo, like something used to open Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. Fitted into an opening on the dash–a square peg into a square hole–the Aston Martin Rapide draws it in. But solitude? Not necessarily. The […]
Excalibur SS Series 1: In the beginning, it was a sports car
History originally published in AutoWeek, April 6, 1985 All right, let’s have a show of hands. Who thinks that Excalibur is a sports car? Ha, just as I thought. It’s unanimous, except for that guy with the toupee that ties under the chin. And in this case it’s the majority that’s right, because lately Excaliburs […]
The celebrated Lola T-163 of Munster, Indiana
History originally published in AutoWeek January 21, 1985 It’s madness. Adrenaline is surging like water from a big Seagraves pumper at a five-alarm fire. Scrunched into the right-hand driver’s seat, too small for me with a winter coat on, I’m blipping the throttle to keep the Chevy engine from loading up too badly in the […]
Dodge Diamante: “Chrysler Corvette” never got beyond Mopar show car
History originally published in AutoWeek September 11, 1989 To have worked for Dodge in the ‘60s and to have the Hemi, and then look at the Corvette and just know that given half the chance—a quarter of the chance—that you could do that too, how that must have stung. If Bill Brownlie’s memories were anything […]
Lamborghini Espada: Two-plus-two equals success
History originally published in AutoWeek, February 2, 1987 For the large automobile manufacturer, the launching of each new model represents a risk of manageable proportions. Even a Vega or Edsel can be survived. Not so the smaller manufacture. On the slippery slope of automotive commerce, it must continually find a foothold or go slithering into […]
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