competition Archives - America's Car Blog By John Matras

1981-1990 Audi Germany I-5

1984 Audi Sport Quattro: Ingolstad’s civilized rally car proves a “Thriller B”

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek April 26, 1993; republished by the author Audi excised 12.6 inches from the wheelbase of the standard Quattro coupe…

JmatrasApril 4, 2025

1900-1920 Buick I-4 USA

1913 Zinn-Buick racer: Re-bodied Model 24 roadster lays claim to longevity

History originally published in AutoWeek March 13, 1989; republished by the author Zinn – Eugene “Huey” Zinn, that is – doesn’t exactly spring to mind…

JmatrasApril 4, 2025

1981-1990 I-4 Sweden Volvo

1983 Volvo Limited Edition 240 Turbo, the “Flat Hood”

History originally published in the Illustrated Volvo Buyer’s Guide, 1983, by John Matras; republished by the author The 1983 Volvo Limited Edition 240 Turbo is…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1971-1980 BMW Germany I-6

BMW “Batmobile” 3.0 CSL: Lapping Lime Rock in a LeMans-winning race car

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek June 22, 1987; republished by the author. BMW "Batmobile" 3.0 CSL driven by Richard Conway, photo by John Matras…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1900-1920 USA

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…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1961-1970 Ferrari Italy V-12

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…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1971-1980 BMW Germany I-6

BMW 3.0 CSiL: The Homologator

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek May 5, 1986; republished by the author. When the final history of the Nurburgring is written, when the last…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1961-1970 Italy Lancia V-4

Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF: Lancia’s great rally champion

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek December 2, 1985 The little car growls over the upgrade, barking at the up shifts, snapping at the down,…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1921-1940 Alfa Romeo I-8

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…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

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