Hit enter to search or ESC to close

Home
The Cars:
The Make
- Abarth
  - AC
  - Acura
  - Alfa Romeo
  - Alvis
  - American Motors
  - Arnolt
  - Asardo
  - Aston Martin
  - Audi
  - Austin
  - Austin-Healey
  - Berkeley
  - Bentley
  - Bristol
  - BMW
- Bugatti
  - Buick
  - Cadillac
  - Callaway
  - Chevrolet
  - Citroen
  - Cord
  - Crosley
  - Cunningham
  - Chrysler
  - DAF
  - Daimler
  - DeTomaso
  - Deutch-Bonnet
  - Dellow
  - Dodge
- Duesenberg
  - Dual-Ghia
  - Excalibur
  - Eagle
  - Evans
  - Fiat
  - Ferrari
  - Ford
  - Ginetta
  - Holden
  - Honda
  - Hyundai
  - Intermeccanica
  - Iso
  - Isuzu
  - Jaguar
- Jeep
  - Jensen
  - Kaiser
  - Kibler
  - Kurtis-Kraft
  - Land Rover
  - Lancia
  - Lincoln
  - Lola
  - Lotus
  - Lamborghini
  - Maserati
  - Matra
  - Mazda
  - Mercury
  - Mercedes-Benz
- Mitsubishi
  - Merkur
  - MG
  - Nash
  - NSU
  - Nissan-Datsun
  - Opel
  - Oldsmobile
  - Porsche
  - Packard
  - Pontiac
  - Plymouth
  - Packard
  - Renault
  - Rolls-Royce
  - Rotus
  - Saturn
- Saab
  - Shelby
  - Simca
  - Simplex
  - Singer
  - Special Editions
  - Subaru
  - Sunbeam
  - Suzuki
  - Subaru
  - Toyota
  - Triumph
  - Vauxhall
  - Volkswagen
  - Volvo
  - Winton
  - Yugo
The Motor
- 1-cyl
- I-2
- H-2
- I-4
- I-6
- V-8
- V-10
- V-12
- 2-stroke
- Rotary
The Year
- 1900-1920
- 1921-1940
- 1941-1950
- 1951-1960
- 1961-1970
- 1971-1980
- 1981-1990
- 1991-2000
- 2001-2010
- 2011-2020
The Country
- Australia
- England
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Yugoslavia
Other Stuff

Chevrolet

The Sting Ray: King Corvette (1963-1967 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray)

1961-1970 Chevrolet USA V-8

The Sting Ray: King Corvette (1963-1967 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray)

“Collectorfile” originally published in AutoWeek June 17, 1991; republished by the author What a year 1963 was for the Corvette: a new body style, including…

JmatrasApril 4, 2025

1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega: Great Expectations never realized

1971-1980 Chevrolet I-4 USA

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…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1988-89 Chevrolet Beretta GTU: One hit racetrack wonder

1981-1990 Chevrolet USA V-6

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…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

2005 Chevrolet Classic: You can’t buy a Classic day in paradise, but you can rent it.

2001-2010 Chevrolet I-4 USA

2005 Chevrolet Classic: You can’t buy a Classic day in paradise, but you can rent it.

Contemporary review originally published in CarBuzzard August 6, 2005 You can’t buy a Classic day in paradise, but you can rent it. You can rent…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

2008 Chevrolet C4500 Kodiak Pickup: Big Bear

2001-2010 Chevrolet USA V-8

2008 Chevrolet C4500 Kodiak Pickup: Big Bear

Contemporary review originally published in CarBuzzard.com November 5, 2007 If the difference between men and boys is the size of their toys, well, we’re not…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

’54 Corvette: Chevrolet’s flawed fiberglass flyer

1951-1960 Chevrolet I-6 USA

’54 Corvette: Chevrolet’s flawed fiberglass flyer

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,…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1967 Chevrolet Corvette L89: Ed Cole’s 427cu in stormer

1961-1970 Chevrolet USA V-8

1967 Chevrolet Corvette L89: Ed Cole’s 427cu in stormer

Originally published in AutoWeek February 3, 1986 If this were 1967 and you were able to ask Ed Cole, then general manager of General Motors,…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

What’s Hot
Random Picks
Discover More

Find A Make

The Cars
The Make
- Abarth
- AC
- Acura
- Alfa Romeo
- Alvis
- American Motors
- Arnolt
- Asardo
- Aston Martin
- Audi
- Austin
- Austin-Healey
- Bentley
- Berkeley
- BMW
- Bristol
- Bugatti
- Buick
- Cadillac
- Callaway
- Chevrolet
- Chrysler
- Citroen
- Cord
- Crosley
- Cunningham
- DAF
- Daimler
- Dellow
- DeTomaso
- Deutch-Bonnet
- Dodge
- Dual-Ghia
- Duesenberg
- Eagle
- Evans
- Excalibur
- Ferrari
- Fiat
- Ford
- Ginetta
- Holden
- Honda
- Hyundai
- Intermeccanica
- Iso
- Isuzu
- Jaguar
- Jeep
- Jensen
- Kaiser
- Kibler
- Kurtis-Kraft
- Land Rover
- Lamborghini
- Lancia
- Lincoln
- Lola
- Lotus
- Maserati
- Matra
- Mazda
- Mercedes-Benz
- Mercury
- Merkur
- Mitsubishi
- MG
- Nash
- Nissan-Datsun
- NSU
- Oldsmobile
- Opel
- Packard
- Peugeot
- Plymouth
- Pontiac
- Porsche
- Renault
- Rolls-Royce
- Rotus
- Saab
- Saturn
- Shelby
- Simca
- Simplex
- Singer
- Special Editions
- Subaru
- Sunbeam
- Suzuki
- Toyota
- Triumph
- Vauxhall
- Volkswagen
- Volvo
- Winton
- Yugo
The Country
- Australia
- England
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- USA
- Yugoslavia
The Year
- 1900-1920
- 1921-1940
- 1941-1950
- 1951-1960
- 1961-1970
- 1971-1980
- 1981-1990
- 1991-2000
- 2001-2010
- 2011-2020
The Motor
- 1-cyl
- I-2
- H-2
- I-4
- I-6
- V-8
- V-10
- V-12
- 2-stroke
- Rotary

Follow Me

Do you enjoy reading these articles about exotic, unusual and/or important automobiles? Then sign up for my weekly email newsletter to be notified when new articles are published!

I’m John Matras, and during a career of freelance auto writing, I’d heard that request too many times to ignore.

Quick Link

Home
About
Legal Disclaimers
Contact

Useful links

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions

Gallery

Close Menu

Home
The Cars:
The Make
- Abarth
  - AC
  - Acura
  - Alfa Romeo
  - Alvis
  - American Motors
  - Arnolt
  - Asardo
  - Aston Martin
  - Audi
  - Austin
  - Austin-Healey
  - Berkeley
  - Bentley
  - Bristol
  - BMW
- Bugatti
  - Buick
  - Cadillac
  - Callaway
  - Chevrolet
  - Citroen
  - Cord
  - Crosley
  - Cunningham
  - Chrysler
  - DAF
  - Daimler
  - DeTomaso
  - Deutch-Bonnet
  - Dellow
  - Dodge
- Duesenberg
  - Dual-Ghia
  - Excalibur
  - Eagle
  - Evans
  - Fiat
  - Ferrari
  - Ford
  - Ginetta
  - Holden
  - Honda
  - Hyundai
  - Intermeccanica
  - Iso
  - Isuzu
  - Jaguar
- Jeep
  - Jensen
  - Kaiser
  - Kibler
  - Kurtis-Kraft
  - Land Rover
  - Lancia
  - Lincoln
  - Lola
  - Lotus
  - Lamborghini
  - Maserati
  - Matra
  - Mazda
  - Mercury
  - Mercedes-Benz
- Mitsubishi
  - Merkur
  - MG
  - Nash
  - NSU
  - Nissan-Datsun
  - Opel
  - Oldsmobile
  - Porsche
  - Packard
  - Pontiac
  - Plymouth
  - Packard
  - Renault
  - Rolls-Royce
  - Rotus
  - Saturn
- Saab
  - Shelby
  - Simca
  - Simplex
  - Singer
  - Special Editions
  - Subaru
  - Sunbeam
  - Suzuki
  - Subaru
  - Toyota
  - Triumph
  - Vauxhall
  - Volkswagen
  - Volvo
  - Winton
  - Yugo
The Motor
- 1-cyl
- I-2
- H-2
- I-4
- I-6
- V-8
- V-10
- V-12
- 2-stroke
- Rotary
The Year
- 1900-1920
- 1921-1940
- 1941-1950
- 1951-1960
- 1961-1970
- 1971-1980
- 1981-1990
- 1991-2000
- 2001-2010
- 2011-2020
The Country
- Australia
- England
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Yugoslavia
Other Stuff

Our Spring Sale Has Started

What’s Hot

All 1-3 2-stroke 1-cyl 1900-1920 1921-1940 1941-1950 1951-1960 1961-1970 1971-1980 1981-1990 1991-2000 2-stroke 2001-2010 2011-2020 4-inline Abarth AC Acura Alfa Romeo Allard Alvis American Motors Arnolt Asardo Aston Martin Audi Austin Austin-Healey Australia Bentley Berkeley BMW Brewster Bristol Bugatti Buick Cadillac Callaway Chevrolet Chrysler Citroen Cord Crosley Cunningham Curtis-Wright DAF Daimler Dellow DeTomaso Deutch-Bonnet Dodge Dual-Ghia Duesenberg Eagle England Evans Excalibur Ferrari Fiat Ford France Germany Ghia-Aigle Ginetta H-12 H-2 H-4 H-6 Holden Honda Hyundai I-2 I-3 I-4 I-4 diesel I-5 I-6 I-8 Intermeccanica Iso Isuzu Italy Jaguar Japan Jeep Jensen Kaiser Kibler Korea Kurtis-Kraft Lamborghini Lancia Land Rover Lincoln Lola Lotus Maserati Matra Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercury Merkur Meskowski MG Mitsubishi Morgan Nash Netherlands newpost Nissan-Datsun NSU Oldsmobile Opel Other Stuff Packard Peugeot Plymouth Pontiac Porsche Renault Rolls-Royce Rotary Rotus Saab Saturn Shelby Simca Simplex Singer Special Editions Subaru Sunbeam Suzuki Sweden Switzerland Talbot Toyota Triumph Turner Uncategorized USA V-10 V-12 V-2 V-4 V-6 V-8 Vauxhall Volkswagen Volvo W-12 Winton Yugo Yugoslavia

2007 Saturn Sky Red Line: Raisins in the Sky

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…

Ferrari 250 GTO: Star-crossed racer’s day in the sun ends in the pits

Ferrari 250 GTO: Star-crossed racer’s day in the sun ends in the pits

History originally published in Road & Track Specials Ferrari 1990; republished by the author Embedded in a sandbank at the end of the Mulsanne straight…

The Big Three-0: Range Rover has [30th] birthday, and Brits celebrate en masse

The Big Three-0: Range Rover has [30th] birthday, and Brits celebrate en masse

Event report originally published in AutoWeek on October 16, 2000; republished by the author Thirty years to the day, Range Rover enthusiasts gathered at the…

Supercharging to the Rescue: 1994 Toyota Previa S/C

Supercharging to the Rescue: 1994 Toyota Previa S/C

Contemporary new product report/review originally published in Popular Science April 1994; republished by the author It seemed that Toyota had painted itself into a corner.…

Find A Make

1954 Volkswagen-Okrasa Cabrio: A rare survivor of the hot-rodded Beetles of the 50s

1954 Volkswagen-Okrasa Cabrio: A rare survivor of the hot-rodded Beetles of the 50s

History originally published in AutoWeek June 19, 1989 We have become so accustomed to the radically modified VW – it approaches minor religion status in…

Maserati Ghibli Spider: Driving under the Influence.

Maserati Ghibli Spider: Driving under the Influence.

Originally published in AutoWeek October 18, 1982 Maserati Ghibli Spider, photos by John Matras. Summer nights are special magic, a sorcery that suspends time and…

Evans Series 1: A Georgia-built supercar takes on the world

Evans Series 1: A Georgia-built supercar takes on the world

Originally published in Road & Track’s Exotic Car Quarterly, Fall 1990 Evans Series 1; John Matras photos Is this how Colin Chapman started out? Did…

Daimler SP250: One out of three wasn’t enough

Daimler SP250: One out of three wasn’t enough

Originally published in AutoWeek March 7, 1983 I may get some argument on this, but I believe automobiles can be – and are – evaluated…

1949 Maserati A6/1500: Lusty little coupe became Italian firm’s benchmark car

1949 Maserati A6/1500: Lusty little coupe became Italian firm’s benchmark car

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek January 7, 1991; republished by the author. Two years after the end of World War II, with most of…

1978 Dodge Warlock: Playing with Adult Toys

1978 Dodge Warlock: Playing with Adult Toys

History originally published in AutoWeek October 29, 1978 Dodge advertised “Adult Toys” in the late 70s. To Dodge dealers, this meant trucks: 4x4 Ramcharger SUVs…

The Monster: Saab goes double or nothing

The Monster: Saab goes double or nothing

History originally published in AutoWeek July 19, 1999; republished by the author It looks so innocent, like any other Saab 93 there in the Saab…

1997 Acura NSX

1997 Acura NSX

Originally published in The Complete Road & Track ’97 Car Buyer’s Guide; republished by the author Back in the mid-60’s, a serious sports car had…

1951 Dellow Mk I: Sports car evolved from traditional British “trials” racers

1951 Dellow Mk I: Sports car evolved from traditional British “trials” racers

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek December 13, 1993; republished by the author If you can think of history as waves of rising and falling…

Abarth Scorpione SS: It carries a sting behind it

Abarth Scorpione SS: It carries a sting behind it

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek September 16, 1985 Tim Ritter was right. The interior does not suffer gladly the intrusion of large adults. It’s…

Lamborghini 400GT 2+2: Simply That Good

Lamborghini 400GT 2+2: Simply That Good

Originally published in AutoWeek July 1, 1986 Smoother than prom night velvet, slicker than satin sheets, more exotic than a night in Bangkok, that’s the…

Dancing With Valves: Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo versus Isuzu Impulse RS

Dancing With Valves: Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo versus Isuzu Impulse RS

Comparison review originally published in the Road & Track Performance Cars 1991; republished by author Some people might not consider the Isuzu Impulse RS versus…

Bristol 408: Superb Performance Plus Individuality

Bristol 408: Superb Performance Plus Individuality

History originally published in AutoWeek, December 27, 1982 For some, a Rolls is to ostentatious. For some, a jaguar is too common and flashy. Mercedes…

1967-73 Saab 96 Sport & Rally: Swedes maximize potency of “stunt plane for the road”

1967-73 Saab 96 Sport & Rally: Swedes maximize potency of “stunt plane for the road”

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek July 22, 1991 Eager and alert and minus only wings, tail structure and propeller, this Saab 96 resembles a…

Citroen 2CV long-term test: Zero to 60 in a new, pre-‘ 68 Deux Chevaux

New-car review originally published an AutoWeek June 10, 1985 I know why celebrities wear dark glasses: Being noticed has its advantages, but after a while…

Berkeley: Tiny but not insignificant

Berkeley: Tiny but not insignificant

History/driving impressions republished by the author, originally published in AutoWeek October 6, 1986 Well-known late-night comedian: “This car is really small.” Audience: “How small is…

1951 Mercedes-Benz 170S Cabriolet: Playing survivor

1951 Mercedes-Benz 170S Cabriolet: Playing survivor

History originally published in AutoWeek September 24, 2001 Allied bombing had done its best to destroy the ability of the Third Reich to wage war.…

Alfa Giulia Spider: Simpatico never was more Italian

Alfa Giulia Spider: Simpatico never was more Italian

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek March 11, 1985 There is something there that loves an Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider. There is an aura, a…

MGA Twin Cam: Perfect for the Perfectionist

MGA Twin Cam: Perfect for the Perfectionist

Originally published in AutoWeek December 13, 1982 1959 MGA Twin Cam; photos by John Matras Pity the poor MGA Twin Cam. Imagine: four years, count…

BMW 1600-2 Cabriolet: Blue-sky Never

BMW 1600-2 Cabriolet: Blue-sky Never

Originally published in AutoWeek April 5, 1983 BMW 1600-2 Cabriolet; Photo by John Matras It drives BMW owners wild. It makes ‘em crazy. To be…

Random Picks

1976 Lancia Scorpion: In Search of a Stinger

1976 Lancia Scorpion: In Search of a Stinger

Originally published in European Car, August 1994 1976 Lancia Beta Scorpion, photos by John Matras What a concept. The country that gave us the Fiat…

Fairlane Fantasy: 1970 Ford Fairlane 429 Super Cobra Jet

Fairlane Fantasy: 1970 Ford Fairlane 429 Super Cobra Jet

Feature originally published in Popular Cars August 1983 One of the most persistent and surely universal automotive fantasies is the finding of some rare and…

1938 Alfa Romeo 8C2900 B: Champ of the Mille Miglia

1938 Alfa Romeo 8C2900 B: Champ of the Mille Miglia

History originally published in AutoWeek July 18, 1983 Wedged in the passenger seat as Bill Serri works the Alfa, cutting crisp vintage holes through the…

1971-73 Plymouth Cricket: On a Sticky Wicket

1971-73 Plymouth Cricket: On a Sticky Wicket

Originally published in Sport Compact Car, September, 1996 1972 Plymouth Cricket; Chrysler Corp. photos The Plymouth Cricket is largely forgotten today, but in 1971, it…

1987 Renault GTA: Just one year

1987 Renault GTA: Just one year

The Renault Alliance was dull. Born in France as the Renault 9 in 1981 and built beginning in 1982 in Kenosha, Wis. by American Motors…

1983 Ferrari BB512i: “In the clearing stands a Boxer…” – A supercar champ

1983 Ferrari BB512i: “In the clearing stands a Boxer…” – A supercar champ

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek October 19, 1992 Not for its tough guy mien was this heavyweight contender dubbed Boxer. It was for the…

1954 Volkswagen-Okrasa Cabrio: A rare survivor of the hot-rodded Beetles of the 50s

1954 Volkswagen-Okrasa Cabrio: A rare survivor of the hot-rodded Beetles of the 50s

History originally published in AutoWeek June 19, 1989 We have become so accustomed to the radically modified VW – it approaches minor religion status in…

Kaz’s DAFs

Kaz’s DAFs

Vintage Stuff feature originally published in Automobile August 1992 The electronic continuously variable transmission (ECVT) on today’s Subarus first appeared in the Sixties on Dutch…

1995 Toyota MR2

1995 Toyota MR2

Contemporary new-car review originally published in Road & Track 1995 Buyers Guide Following is a list of affordable mid-engine sports cars: Toyota MR2. Yes, that’s…

2005 Chevrolet Classic: You can’t buy a Classic day in paradise, but you can rent it.

2005 Chevrolet Classic: You can’t buy a Classic day in paradise, but you can rent it.

Contemporary review originally published in CarBuzzard August 6, 2005 You can’t buy a Classic day in paradise, but you can rent it. You can rent…

Evans Series 1: A Georgia-built supercar takes on the world

Evans Series 1: A Georgia-built supercar takes on the world

Originally published in Road & Track’s Exotic Car Quarterly, Fall 1990 Evans Series 1; John Matras photos Is this how Colin Chapman started out? Did…

Mazda Cosmo Sport: RX-7’s honorable ancestor

Mazda Cosmo Sport: RX-7’s honorable ancestor

History originally published in AutoWeek May 7, 1984 The thrill was back, they told us, and how right they were. Emissions controls, beginning in the…

1992-1994 Acura Vigor: Silent Running

1992-1994 Acura Vigor: Silent Running

History/driving impressions originally published in Sport Compact Car, October 2000; republished by the author It’s as if Acura had tossed a stone in a pond…

Boom Box or Sports Car: Nissan Pulsar NX Sportbak

Boom Box or Sports Car: Nissan Pulsar NX Sportbak

Contemporary review originally published in Corridor Today February 12, 1988 Okay, Nissan, we’re on to you. This isn’t a car. It is really the world’s…

Supercharging to the Rescue: 1994 Toyota Previa S/C

Supercharging to the Rescue: 1994 Toyota Previa S/C

Contemporary new product report/review originally published in Popular Science April 1994; republished by the author It seemed that Toyota had painted itself into a corner.…

1967 Jensen FF: American push, British pull

1967 Jensen FF: American push, British pull

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek August 9, 1982 Do something, I thought. But no, the Jensen FF belied its four-wheel-drive and behaved like a…

1967 DAF 55

1967 DAF 55

History/driving impression originally published in Sport Compact Car March 2000; republished by the author The Amsterdam Automobile Show in early 1958 was an unlikely venue…

Saab 93B: The Saab America loved first

Saab 93B: The Saab America loved first

History/driving impressions originally published in European Car August 1995; republished by the author The first Saab to come to America, at least officially, was a…

1982 Lancia Zagato: A car we should have loved more

1982 Lancia Zagato: A car we should have loved more

History originally published in AutoWeek June 26, 2000 You should have regrets, America. But Italy, it’s partly your fault as well. A car with pretty,…

1988-89 Chevrolet Beretta GTU: One hit racetrack wonder

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…

Chevrolet

Find A Make

Follow Me

Subscribe

Quick Link

Useful links

Gallery