Germany Archives - A Career of Great Car Articles by John Matras

1971-1980 BMW Germany I-4

BMW 2002 Cabrio: Taking the lid off a beefier Bimmer

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek November 19, 1984; republished by the author Putting the top down. It’s a delight, it’s a fascination, it’s a…

JmatrasApril 4, 2025

1981-1990 Audi Germany I-5

1984 Audi Sport Quattro: Ingolstad’s civilized rally car proves a “Thriller B”

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek April 26, 1993; republished by the author Audi excised 12.6 inches from the wheelbase of the standard Quattro coupe…

JmatrasApril 4, 2025

1951-1960 Germany H-4 Volkswagen

1954 Volkswagen-Okrasa Cabrio: A rare survivor of the hot-rodded Beetles of the 50s

History originally published in AutoWeek June 19, 1989 We have become so accustomed to the radically modified VW – it approaches minor religion status in…

JmatrasApril 4, 2025

1961-1970 1971-1980 Germany I-4 Opel

1970 Opel GT 1.9: Mini-Vette?

History/driving impressions originally published in Special Interest Autos, June 1997; republished by the author Compare the front clip of any production Opel GT with a…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1991-2000 Germany I-4 V-6 Volkswagen

Volkswagen Corrado G60 and SLC: The short run of a German sprinter

History/driving impressions originally published in Sport Compact Car, August 1999 Volkswagen called it the Corrado, allegedly from the Spanish correr, to sprint or run. And…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1971-1980 BMW Germany I-6

BMW 3.0 CSiL: The Homologator

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek May 5, 1986; republished by the author. When the final history of the Nurburgring is written, when the last…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

2001-2010 Audi Germany V-8

2007 Audi RS4: Outrunning noise

New car review originally published in CarBuzzard.com December 5, 2006 To the teenager with the slammed and primered Honda at the Sheetz gas station in…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1991-2000 Germany H-6 Porsche

The Beddors’ Ruf Carrera 4 turbo EKS Porsche live up to the description “Ultimate”: A Matter of-Fact

Contemporary review/driving impressions originally published in European Car February 1993 Lettered on the rear of the white Porsche is the word “Ultimate.” Rather heady and,…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1951-1960 BMW Germany V-8

Social climber: The BMW 507 was upwardly mobile

History originally published in AutoWeek October 24, 1983 The BMW 507 is a beautiful car. It is well-proportioned, refined and visually harmonious. It is a…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025