1921-1940 Archives - A Career of Great Car Articles by John Matras

1900-1920 1921-1940 Ford I-4

Henry’s Revolution: The Model T put the nation on wheels and changed it forever

Originally published in Motor Trend Presents 100 years of the Automobile in America (1995); republished by the author Henry Ford stands with the Model…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1921-1940 Duesenberg I-8 USA

1928-36 Duesenberg J/SJ: Driving Miss Doozy

History/owner’s guide (CollectorFILE) originally published in AutoWeek April 18, 1994; republished by the author “It’s a doozy.” The phrases entered the American lexicon to the…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1921-1940 Ford I-4 USA

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…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1921-1940 England I-6 Rolls-Royce

Rules-Royce “Silver Ghost”: R-R’s 40 – 50 HP: Before there was the name, there was quality

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek March 14, 1988 What a name! It has magic to it, that certain…rightness. Righteousness, even as good as the…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1921-1940 BMW Germany I-6

The BMW 328 Mille Miglia prototype looked like a winner

History originally published in AutoWeek December 16, 1985 This is a shape, profoundly sensual, utterly female. It is sublime in efficiency, knowledgeable of what must…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1921-1940 I-6 Nash USA

1929 Nash Model 461 Cabriolet: “The Car with the Twin-Ignition Motor”

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek December 24, 2001 Harold Metzger gently chided me for having chirp the tires of his 29 – Cabriolet. “Well,…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1921-1940 I-4 Sweden Volvo

1927 Volvo PV4: The first boxy Volvo

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek April 1, 2002 Volvo’s first sedan was immediately disowned by Helmer MasOlle. The landscape and portrait painter – and…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1921-1940 England I-6 Jaguar

Jaguar SS 100: It takes a rare kind of loyalty

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek February 11, 1985 In Syracuse, New York, halfway up the hill in a quiet neighborhood of older homes, is…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1921-1940 Italy Lancia V-4

Lancia Lambda: Sometimes one head is better than two

History originally published in AutoWeek February 28, 1985 Idling on the gravel drive, it’s utterly Palladian radiator reflecting the lowering rays the autumn sun, the…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1921-1940 Bentley England I-4

Kermit the Bentley: It’s not easy being green

History originally published in AutoWeek December 10, 1984 “Back in the mid-1950s a young man in England named Collin Hiley was apprenticed to Rolls-Royce Aero…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1921-1940

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