History originally published in AutoWeek November 11, 1985 Jackie Stewart has the voice of the veterinarian. With aged-in-an-oak-cask Scottish brogue, he could anesthetize a horse or soothe a savage house cat just by speaking. It’s difficult to reconcile this voice and the subject, his one season in the L&M Lola T260, one of the most […]
Ferrari Mondial t Cabriolet Valeo: Now available with the Valeo electronic clutch
Originally published in the 1991 Road & Track Ferrari Special. Suspicion in Maranello is that, with no automatic transmission in the Ferrari line, the market for Ferraris may be limited. Not that it should matter, some say. Those who can’t use three pedals and a shift lever aren’t Ferrari people anyway. Nevertheless, the solution proposed, […]
1959 Talbot Lago America: Last of a proud race
History/driving imressions originally published in AutoWeek October 20, 1986 Grand routier. It has that certain sound even on paper, without even being spoken. There can be no doubt that it is French, nor of its meaning, even for someone who doesn’t know the language and even if there is no direct translation into English. This […]
1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS-6: Heavy breathing in the aviary
Cars 1996 Contemporary review originally published in Road & Track Sports & GT 1996 We know, as you do, that the pony car concept is 30 years old. The layout, front engine with live rear axle, is primitive and has more technical shortcomings than D.C. Has lobbyists. GM’s small-block V-8 is – ready for this? […]
Robert Valpey’s Allard J2: The first Cad-Allard
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek September 2, 1985 When Sidney Allard introduced the Allard J2 in 1949, it was to be powered by war surplus Mercury flathead V-8s. It wasn’t a bad engine as flatheads go, producing 110 bhp and certainly better than the flathead English Ford Pivot V-8 of the J1 of 1946-47, […]
1969 Dodge Charger 500: Or is it Charger 392?
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek April 15, 1985 The year was 1968. Both the Dodge Charger and the Ford Fairlane had been freshly rebodied. The Chargers swoopy new styling replaced the angular tacked-on fastback of its original incarnation, while the Fairlane got a fastback version to go along with the formal notchback sedans. It […]
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