Mille Miglia Archives - A Career of Great Car Articles by John Matras

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…

1976 Triumph TR6: Symbolizing the twilight of the British sports car’s reign

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek July 18, 1994. The hood is narrow, much more so from the driver’s seat them when viewed from outside.…

1965-1968 Datsun Silvia

History originally published in Sport Compact Car December 1996 The Datsun 240Z is famous for its design, but nothing comes out of nowhere and that’s…

Fulfilling Francophiles: Peugeot’s gone, but French eccentricity lives on in a Citroen XM gray market

Originally published in AutoWeek, October 26, 1992 Citroen XM; photos by John Matras Unique is an overworked and often improperly used word, so we won’t…

1913 Zinn-Buick racer: Re-bodied Model 24 roadster lays claim to longevity

History originally published in AutoWeek March 13, 1989; republished by the author Zinn – Eugene “Huey” Zinn, that is – doesn’t exactly spring to mind…

Maserati Bora: Manly, yes, but she’ll like it, too

History originally published in AutoWeek August 29, 1983 It’s a bullet, big bore and Magnum-packed, a missile, ICBM for the Interstate, pregnant with malice. It…

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…

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…

1975 Ferrari 308GT4: The new Ferrari designed for a new era

I have a secret, but I'll tell you because we're old friends and I know I can trust you. Ready? O.K. The Ferrari 308GT4 is…

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…

1967 Chevrolet Corvette L89: Ed Cole’s 427cu in stormer

Originally published in AutoWeek February 3, 1986 If this were 1967 and you were able to ask Ed Cole, then general manager of General Motors,…

Kaz’s DAFs

Vintage Stuff feature originally published in Automobile August 1992 The electronic continuously variable transmission (ECVT) on today’s Subarus first appeared in the Sixties on Dutch…

Volvo 122-S and 123GT, Sporty Volvos: Did You Say Peppy, or Preppy?

History originally published in AutoWeek, January 9, 1984 By some strange twist of circumstances, the automobiles produced by one Swedish manufacturer have come to represent…

1938 Alfa Romeo 8C2900 B: Champ of the Mille Miglia

History originally published in AutoWeek July 18, 1983 Wedged in the passenger seat as Bill Serri works the Alfa, cutting crisp vintage holes through the…

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…

1985 Maserati Quattroporte: Italian definition of a four-door makes a statement

History/driving impression originally published in AutoWeek November 12, 1990; republished by the author English is an efficient and purposeful language, but Italian is more exquisite…

1953 Arnolt-Aston Martin: “Wacky” Arnolt’s wonderful roadster boasts looks, pedigree

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek August 8, 1988. Republished by the author. One need not look any further for the origin of the Arnolt-Bristol…

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…

Jackie Stewart remembers his time in a Lola T260

History originally published in AutoWeek November 11, 1985 Jackie Stewart has the voice of the veterinarian. With aged-in-an-oak-cask Scottish brogue, he could anesthetize a horse…

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…

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