rally Archives - America's Car Blog By John Matras

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…

Renault 8 Gordini: Semi-rhapsody in blue

History originally published in AutoWeek April 16, 1984 Saying “Gordini” in France is like saying “Shelby” in America. Not only do both names mean automotive…

Supercharging to the Rescue: 1994 Toyota Previa S/C

Contemporary new product report/review originally published in Popular Science April 1994; republished by the author It seemed that Toyota had painted itself into a corner.…

AC Aceca Bristol: Predecessor of the “Snake”

Originally published in AutoWeek November 15, 1982 AC Aceca Bristol; photos by John Matras AC was on a roll. Its roadster, the AC Ace, had…

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…

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…

1999 Isuzu VehiCross: Going far out

Contemporary test originally published in Road & Track’s Open Road Winter 1998/1999 Keep the lava field but draw in a chromium bikini-clad warrior woman toting…

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,…

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…

Trouble Afoot

Feature about how I lost my driver's license (and more) due to epilepsy, originally published in AutoWeek June 26, 1995 Can I go home now?…

1928-36 Duesenberg J/SJ: Driving Miss Doozy

History/owner’s guide (CollectorFILE) originally published in AutoWeek April 18, 1994; republished by the author “It’s a doozy.” The phrases entered the American lexicon to the…

Ghia-Aigle Grand Sport Coupe: A bit of coachbuilding whimsy from the prosaic Swiss

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek December 12. 1988 Every Italian with a hammer and a tree stump is a body man, and in Italy…

1994 Suzuki Samurai: The cute brute

Feature/review originally published in Road & Track Complete Sport-Utility, Pickup & Van Buyers Guide 1994 So it looks like an oversized Lego project. That’s half…

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…

Innocents Abroad: Phil Stiles and George Schrafft and the Crosley Le Mans

History originally published in Automobile Magazine, June 1993 No one had expected this much of the first timers at Le Mans, not even the entrants…

1942-43 M4A3 Medium Tank: As a Yank Tank, Sherman’s strength was in numbers

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek August 24, 1994 Five seconds. That’s how much time a GI had to exit a burning Sherman tank, if…

1959 Toyopet Crown Custom: Toyota’s initial U.S. failure a lesson for later success

History originally published in AutoWeek August 3, 1992 Who would have believed that Toyota, maker of the 1959 Toyopet Crown, would have become the international…

1970 Opel Kadett Rallye 1.9: Imported Sizzle

History originally published in AutoWeek August 5, 2002 The Opel Kadett was advertised as the “Mini-Brute,” and one could hardly argue with the first half…

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…

Alfa Romeo GTA: Less is more

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek April 14, 1986 There is not much to the interior of an Alfa Romeo GTA. Memory fails all but…

rally

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

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

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

Renault 8 Gordini: Semi-rhapsody in blue

Supercharging to the Rescue: 1994 Toyota Previa S/C

AC Aceca Bristol: Predecessor of the “Snake”

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

BMW 2002 Cabrio: Taking the lid off a beefier Bimmer

1999 Isuzu VehiCross: Going far out

Kibler Aircar

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

Trouble Afoot

1928-36 Duesenberg J/SJ: Driving Miss Doozy

Ghia-Aigle Grand Sport Coupe: A bit of coachbuilding whimsy from the prosaic Swiss

1994 Suzuki Samurai: The cute brute

Lancia Lambda: Sometimes one head is better than two

Innocents Abroad: Phil Stiles and George Schrafft and the Crosley Le Mans

1942-43 M4A3 Medium Tank: As a Yank Tank, Sherman’s strength was in numbers

1959 Toyopet Crown Custom: Toyota’s initial U.S. failure a lesson for later success

1970 Opel Kadett Rallye 1.9: Imported Sizzle

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

Alfa Romeo GTA: Less is more

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