Preview originally published in European car, November 1996; republished by the author coup de main: a sudden action undertaken to surprise an enemy coupe from Volvo, noun: a surprising action undertaken to please everyone but the competition After years – decades even – of utilitarian sedans and wagons, Volvo is cutting loose and bringing out […]
1969 AMC Javelin SST 290: American Motors fields pony car-era bruiser-cruiser
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek October 22, 1990; republished by the author Growing up in the ‘60s, you were a Ford guy, a Chevy guy, or maybe – if you are real free thinker – a Chrysler guy. But nobody was an American Motors guy – or at least would admit to it very […]
1976 Mazda Cosmo: A hit in Japan, but an energy-crisis miss in the States
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek April 11, 1994; republished by the author The Mazda Cosmo should have been a runaway success. After all, it was a car that Toyo Kogyo, as the Hiroshima-based Mazda was then known, specifically designed for the U.S. market and it arrived as car buyers were thinking “downsize.” Yet the […]
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 93. It was an unusual addition to the automotive landscape. To a continent rife with aircraft-inspired automobiles came a truly aerodynamic automobile, and one made by an aircraft manufacturer, no […]
1968 Lamborgini Islero: Unloved styling marked “The Forgotten Lamborghini”
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek October 23, 1989; republished by the author The Lamborghini Islero has been called “The Forgotten Lamborghini,” which shouldn’t particularly surprise anyone. For it went mostly unnoticed when it was new. Born in the shadow of the Espada and sharing the showroom floor with it and the fabulous Miura, it’s […]
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 a never-before coupe version, a new frame, new front suspension, new independent rear suspension. It’s no wonder the St. Louis plant went on double shifts as sales topped 20,000 for […]
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