high-performance Archives - America's Car Blog By John Matras

1961-1970 Alfa Romeo Italy V-8

1968 Alfa Romeo T33 Stradale: Dancing-in-the-street version of a prototype

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek February 1, 1999; republished by the author Like a persistent back-seat driver, the 2.0-liter V8 yammers incessantly. Sucking air…

JmatrasApril 4, 2025

1951-1960 1961-1970 Asardo USA V-8

Asardo 3500 GM-S: Dream car went from ’59 N.Y. show to GM V-8 power

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek April 30, 1990; republished by the author Dreams are wisps of fantasy, but to the true believer they’re as…

JmatrasApril 4, 2025

1961-1970 1971-1980 Saab Sweden V-4

1967-73 Saab 96 Sport & Rally: Swedes maximize potency of “stunt plane for the road”

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek July 22, 1991 Eager and alert and minus only wings, tail structure and propeller, this Saab 96 resembles a…

JmatrasApril 4, 2025

1961-1970 Dodge USA V-8

1969 Dodge Dart GTS 383: A high-water mark of straight-line performance

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek January 15, 1990; republished by the author Crank the steering wheel around at least a couple of times, gingerly…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1971-1980 Dodge USA V-8

1978 Dodge Li’l Red Truck: A red-hot hauler

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek March 2, 1987 Overlap, overlap, overlap, the V-8 whispers, telling secrets about its camshaft, gently rocking the truck with…

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

1961-1970 Ford Shelby USA V-8

Shelby GT350H: Let Hertz put you in the (race) driver’s seat

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek January 25, 1988. “Business travelers who want a change in pace in motoring… Sports car owners away from home……

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

2011-2020 Ford USA V-8

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…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

1961-1970 Buick USA V-8

Bahn-bound Buick: Bulgari takes on the Bavarians in a ’70 Skylark GS-455

Originally published in AutoWeek November 26, 2001 Warning: BMWs and Mercedes drivers on the autobahn, you’re about to experience “Detroit iron” in a way you…

JmatrasApril 3, 2025

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