Park Ward Archives - America's Car Blog By John Matras

The First Automobile Race in America: Chicago, November 28, 1895

Originally published in Automobile, February, 1991; republished by the author “As impassable as the alleys of Stamboul; as filthy and mucky as the roads of…

2005 Chevrolet Classic: You can’t buy a Classic day in paradise, but you can rent it.

Contemporary review originally published in CarBuzzard August 6, 2005 You can’t buy a Classic day in paradise, but you can rent it. You can rent…

Ferrari Mondial t Cabriolet Valeo: Now available with the Valeo electronic clutch

Originally published in the 1991 Road & Track Ferrari Special. Suspicion in Maranello is that, with no automatic transmission in the Ferrari line, the market…

Is Today’s Jeep Still a Jeep? The 1991 Jeep Wrangler doesn’t forget 1941 Jeep MB war vet ancestor. That’s good and bad.

Contemporary review/history originally published in AutoWeek April 22, 1991 So the Jeep is 50 years old. For a motor vehicle, or for just about anything…

Lancia Lambda: Sometimes one head is better than two

History originally published in AutoWeek February 28, 1985 Idling on the gravel drive, it’s utterly Palladian radiator reflecting the lowering rays the autumn sun, the…

BMW 1600-2 Cabriolet: Blue-sky Never

Originally published in AutoWeek April 5, 1983 BMW 1600-2 Cabriolet; Photo by John Matras It drives BMW owners wild. It makes ‘em crazy. To be…

1966 427 Cobra: More powerful than a locomotive, yet well-mannered at rest

History originally published in Autoweek February 8, 1988 I had watched the morning mist rise and seen the sun come up, casting first light and…

1958 Golden Austin-Healey 100-6

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek July 14, 1986 Have you ever held a steering wheel of solid ivory? Have you ever sat in bucket…

Holden Monaro GTS: Very American, very GM-like, yet very different as well

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek October 26, 1987; republished by the author The blokes put Australia in the right place: On the other side…

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…

Robert Valpey’s Allard J2: The first Cad-Allard

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek September 2, 1985 When Sidney Allard introduced the Allard J2 in 1949, it was to be powered by war…

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…

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…

Lamborghini Espada: Two-plus-two equals success

History originally published in AutoWeek, February 2, 1987 For the large automobile manufacturer, the launching of each new model represents a risk of manageable proportions.…

2008 Chevrolet C4500 Kodiak Pickup: Big Bear

Contemporary review originally published in CarBuzzard.com November 5, 2007 If the difference between men and boys is the size of their toys, well, we’re not…

Arnolt-MG: Wacky’s Small Wonder

History originally published in Sport Compact Car. February 1998 Stanley H. Arnolt Jr wasn’t a big man, but to casual acquaintances, he seemed taller than…

1960 Plymouth Fury: The tale (fin) of the 1950s

History/driving impessions originally published AutoWeek September 27. 1999; republished by the author If there is a single icon for the automotive 1950s, it’s the tailfin.…

2002 Volkswagen 1L Concept: Thin Car Travels Far, Volkswagen’s canoe-skinny mini could do New York to D.C. on 1 gallon of gas

Feature originally published in Popular Science August at 2002, republished by author To listen to automakers snipe about tightening fuel economy standards, you’d think it…

Triumph 2000 roadster: It was anything but a Triumph

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek June 17, 1985 If ever there was an automobile company with a death wish, it was Triumph. Seldom has…

Is the 2016 Buick Avista concept the next Pontiac Firebird?

News report originally published in CarBuzzard on January 15, 2016 If Hal Needham made a movie with the Buick Avista in a starring role—a Smokey…

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1933 Rolls-Royce Park Ward Coupe: Right drive, left entry

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The First Automobile Race in America: Chicago, November 28, 1895

2005 Chevrolet Classic: You can’t buy a Classic day in paradise, but you can rent it.

Ferrari Mondial t Cabriolet Valeo: Now available with the Valeo electronic clutch

Is Today’s Jeep Still a Jeep? The 1991 Jeep Wrangler doesn’t forget 1941 Jeep MB war vet ancestor. That’s good and bad.

Lancia Lambda: Sometimes one head is better than two

BMW 1600-2 Cabriolet: Blue-sky Never

1966 427 Cobra: More powerful than a locomotive, yet well-mannered at rest

1958 Golden Austin-Healey 100-6

Holden Monaro GTS: Very American, very GM-like, yet very different as well

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

Robert Valpey’s Allard J2: The first Cad-Allard

What’s New… Dodge Omni GLH Turbo

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Diesel racer

Lamborghini Espada: Two-plus-two equals success

2008 Chevrolet C4500 Kodiak Pickup: Big Bear

Arnolt-MG: Wacky’s Small Wonder

1960 Plymouth Fury: The tale (fin) of the 1950s

2002 Volkswagen 1L Concept: Thin Car Travels Far, Volkswagen’s canoe-skinny mini could do New York to D.C. on 1 gallon of gas

Triumph 2000 roadster: It was anything but a Triumph

Is the 2016 Buick Avista concept the next Pontiac Firebird?

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1956 Lancia Aurelia Spyder: Simple, golden

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1960 Plymouth Fury: The tale (fin) of the 1950s

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