History originally published in AutoWeek October 15, 1990 Charles Deutsch was the designer and Rene Bonnet made the engines go faster, together these two Frenchmen built cars. The cars they built were built to win races. And win races they did. A never more than semi-formal alliance that began when Bonnet started a Citroen agency […]
Intermeccanica Italia: Italian-American with an identity crisis
History originally published in AutoWeek April 2, 1984 I was skirting the Virginia shore of the Potomac River on the downstream side of Washington, DC, the Italia’s chino-creased fenders framing the asphalt and vintage geometry of the George Washington Parkway, when the Mustang appeared in my peripheral vision, coming in from an entrance on the […]
1933 Rolls-Royce Park Ward Coupe: Right drive, left entry
History originally published in AutoWeek June 25, 1984 Rolls-Royce has never been predisposed to produce a range of vehicles designed and priced for a variety of pocketbooks. One was expected to aspire to the same standards as that great perfectionist, Henry Royce, and if not, well, there were lesser motorcars. Rolls built, in fact, only […]
Matra-Simca Bagheera: Matra à trois
History originally published in AutoWeek March 19,1984 In the lexicon of animal names written upon the fenders and flanks of automobiles, rarely is there a creature overlooked. Those omitted – the slug, the sloth, and the bandicoot – have been done so purposely. That which the human eye finds ugly and obnoxious will not, with […]
Tweaking the Knows: Strosek Porsche 911
Strosek’s subtle styling, exhaust growl will resonate among the cognoscenti Contemporary review originally published in Autoweek December 2, 1991 It is, Fred Opert opines, what Porsche should have done when it revised the 911 for 1990. “It” being a restyle like the one German designer Vittorio Strosek is marketing in America through Fred Opert Racing. […]
1977 Porsche 924: New appreciation for the Porsche they loved to hate
History originally published in AutoWeek August 19, 1991 It’s the Porsche everyone loves to hate. By what’s been said and written about the original Porsche 924, one would think it had square wheels, power by Vegematic and styling only a Kommissar could love. Even with the enthusiastic cooperation of the Porsche Club of America, it […]
What They’re Saying