stock car Archives - America's Car Blog By John Matras

Review: 1994 Toyota Supra

Review originally published in Road and Track Specials 1994 Buyers Guide You can see it in their eyes, from the round-eyed wonder of little boys,…

Volvo P1900 1956-1957: Volvo’s first sports car

History originally published is Illustrated Volvo Buyer’s Guide (1993) by John Matras It left as quickly as it had, leaving hardly a ripple to mark…

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…

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…

The Monster: Saab goes double or nothing

History originally published in AutoWeek July 19, 1999; republished by the author It looks so innocent, like any other Saab 93 there in the Saab…

1953 Bristol 404: Brit car is a rarity, and yet it’s a stereotype

History/driving impressions republished by the author; originally published in AutoWeek March 20, 1995 It helps to imagine a British movie of the early ‘50s, one…

1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS-6: Heavy breathing in the aviary

Cars 1996 Contemporary review originally published in Road & Track Sports & GT 1996 We know, as you do, that the pony car concept is…

Alfa Giulia Spider: Simpatico never was more Italian

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek March 11, 1985 There is something there that loves an Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider. There is an aura, a…

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…

1975 Toyota Corolla Deluxe: The first “new Beetle”

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek April 24, 1999; republished by the author Something amazing happened in 1975. For the first time in two decades,…

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…

Volvos 480ES: The Immigrant that wasn’t

History originally published in Sport Compact Car, December 1997 Of all the “could’ve beens,” perhaps the saddest ever is the Volvo 480 Turbo. Volvo hadn’t…

1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega: Great Expectations never realized

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek January 19, 1987 Oft expectation fails, and most oft there where it most promises. --William Shakespeare, All’s Well That…

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…

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…

1991-’92 Dodge Spirit R/T: Delightfully Wicked

Originally published in Examiner.com January 5, 2010 1991 Dodge Spirit R/T; Dodge photo There's something delightfully wicked about a mundane four-door family sedan being muscled…

The First Off Roaders: Did these folks have the roughest of all off-road conditions?

History originally published in Pickup Van & 4WD September 1981 “it is particularly important that the tires be a very large section, generally much larger…

1956 Morgan Plus-4: Old-fashioned at birth, it was a winner right out of the box

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek March 28, 1988, republished by the author The banjo-strung Blumel’s Brooklands steering wheel is close, good for huddling for…

2006 Bentley Continental GT: W.O.’s long legs

Contemporary review originally published in CarBuzzard published March 9, 2006 One might think W.O. Bentley would be proud of the 2006 Bentley Continental GT. It…

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…

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‘57 Ford Stocker: NASCAR veteran runs again

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Review: 1994 Toyota Supra

Volvo P1900 1956-1957: Volvo’s first sports car

2007 Audi RS4: Outrunning noise

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

The Monster: Saab goes double or nothing

1953 Bristol 404: Brit car is a rarity, and yet it’s a stereotype

1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS-6: Heavy breathing in the aviary

Alfa Giulia Spider: Simpatico never was more Italian

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

1975 Toyota Corolla Deluxe: The first “new Beetle”

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

Volvos 480ES: The Immigrant that wasn’t

1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega: Great Expectations never realized

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

BMW 2002 Cabrio: Taking the lid off a beefier Bimmer

1991-’92 Dodge Spirit R/T: Delightfully Wicked

The First Off Roaders: Did these folks have the roughest of all off-road conditions?

1956 Morgan Plus-4: Old-fashioned at birth, it was a winner right out of the box

2006 Bentley Continental GT: W.O.’s long legs

Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale: Special Indeed

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