aerodynamics Archives - America's Car Blog By John Matras

Volvo 122-S and 123GT, Sporty Volvos: Did You Say Peppy, or Preppy?

History originally published in AutoWeek, January 9, 1984 By some strange twist of circumstances, the automobiles produced by one Swedish manufacturer have come to represent…

The First Off Roaders: Did these folks have the roughest of all off-road conditions?

History originally published in Pickup Van & 4WD September 1981 “it is particularly important that the tires be a very large section, generally much larger…

Plymouth Prowler: Matinee’ Idol

Originally published in Road & Track Sport and GT Cars 2000 2000 Plymouth Prowler in Prowler Silver; Photograph DaimlerChrysler Corp. Celebrity status carries a terrible…

Jaguar Mk V: Cat with a hot landau roof

History/driving impressions originally published August 13, 1984 There is no better way to pave one’s own road to the automotive scrapheap of history than to…

America’s first rotary: Curtis-Wright Mustang

History originally published in AutoWeek June 4, 1984 A little-known chapter in American automotive history began in 1958 in a small white building on the…

Ferrari 250GT Spyder California: A Ferrari for the Club, even if the Club is LeMans

Originally published in AutoWeek August 12, 1985 They don’t build elegant race cars anymore. Sophisticated lines don’t mesh with the crunch and thrust of modern…

Saab Sonett II: Different strokes from Swedish folks

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek June 9, 1986 Bound in this white plastic projectile I dance on the offset pedals and coax the stubborn…

Ferrari 330 GTC: A sexy, sophisticated 12-cylinder grand touring car

History originally published in AutoWeek December 21, 1987 In the early autumn when the wind begins to blow and the leaves began to scurry before…

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…

1984 Lamborghini Jalpa P350: Mimran had a little Lambo

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek August 12, 1996 Ain’t no substitute for cubic inches. No matter how many camshafts you have, adding cubes is…

1960 Mazda R360

History originally published in Sport Compact Car October 1996; republished by the author. No matter how fine you hone your products, if the market has…

Cobra 289: Born to run

History/driving report originally published in Special Interest Autos August 1990 Timing is everything, or at least as important as talent or skill. Being there at…

1959 Toyopet Crown Custom: Toyota’s initial U.S. failure a lesson for later success

History originally published in AutoWeek August 3, 1992 Who would have believed that Toyota, maker of the 1959 Toyopet Crown, would have become the international…

Bahn-bound Buick: Bulgari takes on the Bavarians in a ’70 Skylark GS-455

Originally published in AutoWeek November 26, 2001 Warning: BMWs and Mercedes drivers on the autobahn, you’re about to experience “Detroit iron” in a way you…

BMW Isetta 300: A Perfect Pick for the Pygmies

Originally published in Autoweek, June 20, 1983 BMW Isetta 300; Photos by John Matras The first problem is getting in. Sure, the door opens with…

’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,…

Meskowski dirt car: AJ Foyt’s training wheels

History originally published in AutoWeek July 30, 1984 Highway 51 rides the backbone of America. The southern end is anchored at New Orleans, the other…

2009 Pontiac G8 GXP: Buy one now

Contemporary review originally published in Examiner.com April 22, 2009 Buy a 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP now. Then thirty years from now when everyone glides silently…

The First Automobile Race in America: Chicago, November 28, 1895

Originally published in Automobile, February, 1991; republished by the author “As impassable as the alleys of Stamboul; as filthy and mucky as the roads of…

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…

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1969 Dodge Charger 500: Or is it Charger 392?

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Volvo 122-S and 123GT, Sporty Volvos: Did You Say Peppy, or Preppy?

The First Off Roaders: Did these folks have the roughest of all off-road conditions?

Plymouth Prowler: Matinee’ Idol

Jaguar Mk V: Cat with a hot landau roof

America’s first rotary: Curtis-Wright Mustang

Ferrari 250GT Spyder California: A Ferrari for the Club, even if the Club is LeMans

Saab Sonett II: Different strokes from Swedish folks

Ferrari 330 GTC: A sexy, sophisticated 12-cylinder grand touring car

1928-36 Duesenberg J/SJ: Driving Miss Doozy

1984 Lamborghini Jalpa P350: Mimran had a little Lambo

1960 Mazda R360

Cobra 289: Born to run

1959 Toyopet Crown Custom: Toyota’s initial U.S. failure a lesson for later success

Bahn-bound Buick: Bulgari takes on the Bavarians in a ’70 Skylark GS-455

BMW Isetta 300: A Perfect Pick for the Pygmies

’54 Corvette: Chevrolet’s flawed fiberglass flyer

Meskowski dirt car: AJ Foyt’s training wheels

2009 Pontiac G8 GXP: Buy one now

The First Automobile Race in America: Chicago, November 28, 1895

The BMW 328 Mille Miglia prototype looked like a winner

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