Review originally published in Road & Track Car Buyer’s Guide 1997 Once destined to replace the Mustang as a properly down-sized, front-drive import-pretender, the Ford Probe instead became an in-house alternative to the rear-drive ponycar. Where the Mustang is bold, the Probe exhibits finesse. Where the Mustang is raucous, the Probe is harmonious. Where the […]
Ferrari Dino 206 GT, 246 GT and 246 GTS, scorned no more: Put down by purists when new, Ferrari Dinos are finally gaining respect – and value
Feature originally published in AutoWeek November 24, 1986 The Dino, finally, has arrived. Criticized at the time of its introduction for being too slow, too small and having too few cylinders, it wasn’t considered a true Ferrari. Real Ferraris have 12 cylinders, the purists said. Real Ferraris didn’t have engine castings and wheels with the […]
1992-1996 Mazda MX-3 GS: Do the math
History/driving impressions originally published in Sport Compact Car February 2002 Do the math. MX-5 plus RX-7 divided by two equals MX-3. Well, the Mazda MX-3 sporty coupe isn’t an exact cross between the Miata sports car in the third generation RX-7, but the genetic link is obvious. This little screamer, what Car and Driver called […]
1999 Isuzu VehiCross: Going far out
Contemporary test originally published in Road & Track’s Open Road Winter 1998/1999\ Keep the lava field but draw in a chromium bikini-clad warrior woman toting a laser gun set to stun. By all rights, illustrations accompanying this article should not be photographs but cartoons. Not Roger Rabbit, but the futuristic bizarre world of Japanimation. That’s […]
1998 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4: Survival of the nifty
Contemporary review originally published in 1998 Road & Track Sports & GT Cars Not long ago car market was awash in Japanese high-performance cars and coupes. Buoyed by Japan’s bubble economy, it was a sine qua non for that country’s carmakers to have a high-powered 2-seat or 2+2 flagship to carry its corporate honor. But […]
1988-89 Chevrolet Beretta GTU: One hit racetrack wonder
Originally published in Sport Compact Car March 2001 In 1988 Chevrolet went racing in the IMSA GTU class and that, simply, is the reason for the 1988-89 Chevrolet Beretta GTU. Of course, the reason Chevrolet racing is, simply enough, marketing. It certainly has paid off grandly for anyone associated with NASCAR, despite the fact that […]
What They’re Saying