History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek February 9, 1989 Certainly “turbo” was the most overused automotive term of the 1980s, misapplied to everything from computers to washing machines. But at least when it came to automobiles, if it said “turbo” on the outside, there was probably a turbocharger on the inside. Unfortunately there was no […]
1969 Dodge Charger 500: Or is it Charger 392?
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek April 15, 1985 The year was 1968. Both the Dodge Charger and the Ford Fairlane had been freshly rebodied. The Chargers swoopy new styling replaced the angular tacked-on fastback of its original incarnation, while the Fairlane got a fastback version to go along with the formal notchback sedans. It […]
What’s New… Dodge Omni GLH Turbo
Contemporary review originally published in AutoWeek February 11, 1985 When I was a boy, my grandfather would stop his Chevy pickup on East Texas prairie at the telltale sign of a pair of ears above the tall dry grass. With a “Yonder, Pardner,” I’d be dispatch in pursuit, always in vain. With casual contempt, the […]
Armed and Crazy
Feature originally published in Truckin’ March 1983 The energy crisis, while also affecting things like the price of home heating oil, along with the dual whammy of smog regs and increased insurance costs emasculated performance cars, created the custom van craze. Some of the most fuel-thirsty vehicles available were heavily adorned with, well, everything including […]
Gang of Four: Lotus Evora S meets Porsche Cayman R meets Mustang Boss 302 meets Dodge Challenger SRT8 392
Contemporary comparison review originally published in CarBuzzard Sept 24, 2011 No matter what anyone says, you can compare apples to oranges. And you can also compare a 2012 Lotus Evora S to a 2012 Porsche Cayman R to a 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 to a 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8. At least we will after […]
Dodge Diamante: “Chrysler Corvette” never got beyond Mopar show car
History originally published in AutoWeek September 11, 1989 To have worked for Dodge in the ‘60s and to have the Hemi, and then look at the Corvette and just know that given half the chance—a quarter of the chance—that you could do that too, how that must have stung. If Bill Brownlie’s memories were anything […]
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