dickie seat Archives - America's Car Blog By John Matras

1963 Citroen ID-19: Smooth as cheese & crackers, but not our can of soup

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek October 17, 1994; republished by author “Je me suis inspire d’un oiseau aquatique.” Well, it does look a little…

A pair of Porsches: Super-90 and Carrera 2

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek June 23, 1986 This isn’t a history of Porsche. It isn’t history of the 356 or even the 356B.…

1992-1994 Acura Vigor: Silent Running

History/driving impressions originally published in Sport Compact Car, October 2000; republished by the author It’s as if Acura had tossed a stone in a pond…

1993 Jaguar XJR-S: Delicious decadence

Contemporary review originally published in Road & Track Sport and GT Cars 1993 The six-cylinder XJS makes sense, but I have to admit I was…

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…

Sixty-Three and Counting (Mac McGrady’s Nash-Healeys)

His addiction began in 1953, explains Leonard Nelson “Mac” McGrady. As a son of an automobile dealer, McGrady had seen many cars, but when he…

Rules-Royce “Silver Ghost”: R-R’s 40 – 50 HP: Before there was the name, there was quality

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek March 14, 1988 What a name! It has magic to it, that certain…rightness. Righteousness, even as good as the…

MGA Twin Cam: Perfect for the Perfectionist

Originally published in AutoWeek December 13, 1982 1959 MGA Twin Cam; photos by John Matras Pity the poor MGA Twin Cam. Imagine: four years, count…

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…

Callaway’s LM—as in “Le Mans”

News report originally published in Car and Driver October 1995 Here’s the deal—bring an LT1 Corvette and at least $80,000 to Old Lyme, Connecticut, and…

Singer Roadster: The Last Aria of a Dying Diva

Originally published in AutoWeek in August 8, 1983. It must’ve been rather bleak at Singer Motors as 1956 approached. The Birmingham firm predated the automobile…

1953 Bristol 404: Brit car is a rarity, and yet it’s a stereotype

History/driving impressions republished by the author; originally published in AutoWeek March 20, 1995 It helps to imagine a British movie of the early ‘50s, one…

Lotus 23: Choice of Champions

Originally published in AutoWeek September 17, 1984 Spectators at the 1962 Nurburgring 1000 could scarcely believe their eyes. A little Lotus from the under-two-liter class…

1990 Saab 9000 2.3: John Matras traveled to the deep South – Talladega – to test the new engine from the far north

Contemporary review originally published in VW & Porsche and European Automobiles in August 1990 Talladega’s Turn One rises ahead like a 40-footer at the Banzai…

1988-89 Chevrolet Beretta GTU: One hit racetrack wonder

Originally published in Sport Compact Car March 2001 In 1988 Chevrolet went racing in the IMSA GTU class and that, simply, is the reason for…

Suzuki X-90: Don’t ask Y

Review originally published in Road & Track Truck & Van ’98 Buyer’s Guide; republished by the author It doesn’t take more than one look the…

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…

Jaguar Mk IX: Great Britain’s Grandest Cat

Originally published in AutoWeek, November 1, 1982 1961 Jaguar Mk IX; John Matras photo. It seems rudely out of place. There, surrounded by the Edwardian…

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,…

Triumph 2000 roadster: It was anything but a Triumph

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek June 17, 1985 If ever there was an automobile company with a death wish, it was Triumph. Seldom has…

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Triumph 2000 roadster: It was anything but a Triumph

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1963 Citroen ID-19: Smooth as cheese & crackers, but not our can of soup

A pair of Porsches: Super-90 and Carrera 2

1992-1994 Acura Vigor: Silent Running

1993 Jaguar XJR-S: Delicious decadence

1969 AMC Javelin SST 290: American Motors fields pony car-era bruiser-cruiser

Sixty-Three and Counting (Mac McGrady’s Nash-Healeys)

Rules-Royce “Silver Ghost”: R-R’s 40 – 50 HP: Before there was the name, there was quality

MGA Twin Cam: Perfect for the Perfectionist

2009 Pontiac G8 GXP: Buy one now

Callaway’s LM—as in “Le Mans”

Singer Roadster: The Last Aria of a Dying Diva

1953 Bristol 404: Brit car is a rarity, and yet it’s a stereotype

Lotus 23: Choice of Champions

1990 Saab 9000 2.3: John Matras traveled to the deep South – Talladega – to test the new engine from the far north

1988-89 Chevrolet Beretta GTU: One hit racetrack wonder

Suzuki X-90: Don’t ask Y

The BMW 328 Mille Miglia prototype looked like a winner

Jaguar Mk IX: Great Britain’s Grandest Cat

Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF: Lancia’s great rally champion

Triumph 2000 roadster: It was anything but a Triumph

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