I-6 Archives - America's Car Blog By John Matras

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…

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Diesel racer

Review originally published in Examiner.com May 2010 Race on Sunday, sell on Monday. That's been the motto of many auto manufacturers since the dawn of…

1968 Lamborgini Islero: Unloved styling marked “The Forgotten Lamborghini”

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek October 23, 1989; republished by the author The Lamborghini Islero has been called “The Forgotten Lamborghini,” which shouldn’t particularly…

Maserati Ghibli Spider: Driving under the Influence.

Originally published in AutoWeek October 18, 1982 Maserati Ghibli Spider, photos by John Matras. Summer nights are special magic, a sorcery that suspends time and…

Honda S800: Honda’s first sports coupe preceded the Prelude by 14 years

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek October 19, 1987 Singing through traffic like haiku on wheels, we are a blur of rpm and red and…

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…

Mercedes-Benz 300SL: The class of ‘54

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek October 15, 1984 At 90 mph on the sparsely traveled two-lane highway, the big Mercedes is at ease, loping…

2005 Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG: The fast and the seniorious

Review originally published in CarBuzzard 2005 One would like to think that the Mercedes-Benz AMG C55 is the fast and the furious for grownups. Sorta…

1959 Deutsch-Bonnet HBR5: Frenchmen team for Panhard-powered bulbous bullet

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…

Lamborghini Urraco: Flawed but not forgotten

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek August 11, 1986 I was told to look for the Urraco. The airport at Savannah, Ga., is small and,…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale: Special Indeed

Originally published in Autoweek, September 13, 1982 Walk around the car. Watch the light work on it, cascade over the body like the ripples of…

1949 Maserati A6/1500: Lusty little coupe became Italian firm’s benchmark car

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek January 7, 1991; republished by the author. Two years after the end of World War II, with most of…

1983 Volvo Limited Edition 240 Turbo, the “Flat Hood”

History originally published in the Illustrated Volvo Buyer’s Guide, 1983, by John Matras; republished by the author The 1983 Volvo Limited Edition 240 Turbo is…

Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder: The Spyder inside the Daytona

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek December 29, 1986 It shouldn’t have existed, the Daytona Spyder. At least it shouldn’t have been what it was.…

Abarth Scorpione SS: It carries a sting behind it

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek September 16, 1985 Tim Ritter was right. The interior does not suffer gladly the intrusion of large adults. It’s…

The celebrated Lola T-163 of Munster, Indiana

History originally published in AutoWeek January 21, 1985 It’s madness. Adrenaline is surging like water from a big Seagraves pumper at a five-alarm fire. Scrunched…

Hot Foot at Talladega: Record setting in the Saab 900

Event report riginally published in Automobile Quarterly Volume 36, Number 3; May 1997 “For my next act, I will set myself on fire.” So said…

Porsche 904/6: Don’t call it a conversion

History originally published in AutoWeek December 31, 1984 Henry Payne’s Lincolnesque frame slouches in the fiberglass driver’s seat, the steering wheel down between his knees,…

Kibler Aircar

Originally published in Automobile, February 1988 Behind John Kibler’s head is a 400-cubic-inch V-8 rescued from a 1971 Chevy Kingswood station wagon. Its roar, however,…

1973 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe: What’s not to like

Feature originally published in European Car July 1994 Double overhead cams, tidy handling, Italian style: what’s not to like? Well, how about emissions controls as…

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

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Diesel racer

1968 Lamborgini Islero: Unloved styling marked “The Forgotten Lamborghini”

Maserati Ghibli Spider: Driving under the Influence.

Honda S800: Honda’s first sports coupe preceded the Prelude by 14 years

MGA Twin Cam: Perfect for the Perfectionist

Mercedes-Benz 300SL: The class of ‘54

2005 Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG: The fast and the seniorious

1959 Deutsch-Bonnet HBR5: Frenchmen team for Panhard-powered bulbous bullet

Lamborghini Urraco: Flawed but not forgotten

Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale: Special Indeed

1949 Maserati A6/1500: Lusty little coupe became Italian firm’s benchmark car

1983 Volvo Limited Edition 240 Turbo, the “Flat Hood”

Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder: The Spyder inside the Daytona

Abarth Scorpione SS: It carries a sting behind it

The celebrated Lola T-163 of Munster, Indiana

Hot Foot at Talladega: Record setting in the Saab 900

Porsche 904/6: Don’t call it a conversion

Kibler Aircar

1973 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe: What’s not to like

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