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 large adults who suffer. Those of us with more modest proportions are merely constrained to one position. There is no room to shift about, to spread out. Leaning forward – […]
Volvos 480ES: The Immigrant that wasn’t
History originally published in Sport Compact Car, December 1997 Of all the “could’ve beens,” perhaps the saddest ever is the Volvo 480 Turbo. Volvo hadn’t built a sports car since the demise of the 1800ES after the 1973 model year. The five mph bumper rule that came into full effect in 1974 would have required […]
1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS-6: Heavy breathing in the aviary
Cars 1996 Contemporary review originally published in Road & Track Sports & GT 1996 We know, as you do, that the pony car concept is 30 years old. The layout, front engine with live rear axle, is primitive and has more technical shortcomings than D.C. Has lobbyists. GM’s small-block V-8 is – ready for this? […]
Ferrari 275 GTB/6C: The V-12 with a sound that stirs
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek October 21, 1985 Just the sound of the starter says this is going to be something special, that high-pitched whine that’s a cross between an air wrench and a dentist’s drill. So characteristic of a Ferrari. Then the engine catches. No matter how many times you’ve heard it, is […]
2016 Ford Shelby GT350R Mustang track drive review: Flat-plane geometry and monster brakes
Car review originally published in CarBuzzard May 21, 2016 There’s a sort of chicane, and the 2016 Shelby GT350R Mustang tags the curbing on the right and then the left and then there’s a straight ahead. Put the hammer down. There’s a slight rise so the next corner can’t be seen, but it’s a left […]
1958 Dual-Ghia 400 Prototype: This show car reached the road, but not production
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek May 5, 1995 When Eugene Casaroll, owner of Dual Motors, decided to go into the car business, he wanted to make sure his cars wound up in the hands of all the right people. He reportedly used the Social Register to screen the 100 buyers of his first Dual-Ghia, […]
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