Strada Archives - A Career of Great Car Articles by John Matras

1973 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham: Gas crisis! What gas crisis?

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek December 3, 2001; republished by the author You could play tennis on the poop deck of this thing. And…

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,…

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…

1977 Porsche 924: New appreciation for the Porsche they loved to hate

History originally published in AutoWeek August 19, 1991 It’s the Porsche everyone loves to hate. By what’s been said and written about the original Porsche…

Renault 8 Gordini: Semi-rhapsody in blue

Saying “Gordini” in France is like saying “Shelby” in America. Not only do both names mean automotive performance, but if you don’t stretch the analogy…

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…

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…

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…

Boom Box or Sports Car: Nissan Pulsar NX Sportbak

Contemporary review originally published in Corridor Today February 12, 1988 Okay, Nissan, we’re on to you. This isn’t a car. It is really the world’s…

BMW Isetta 300: A Perfect Pick for the Pygmies

Originally published in Autoweek, June 20, 1983 BMW Isetta 300; Photos by John Matras The first problem is getting in. Sure, the door opens with…

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…

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…

Intermeccanica Italia: Italian-American with an identity crisis

History originally published in AutoWeek April 2, 1984 I was skirting the Virginia shore of the Potomac River on the downstream side of Washington, DC,…

BMW “Batmobile” 3.0 CSL: Lapping Lime Rock in a LeMans-winning race car

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek June 22, 1987; republished by the author. BMW "Batmobile" 3.0 CSL driven by Richard Conway, photo by John Matras…

1950 Saab 92: Simple two-stroke served as bridge from aircraft to cars

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek August 23, 1993 Whirring like an Evinrude, the little Saab gathers up velocity hand over hand. There’s no tachometer,…

1990 Saab 9000 2.3: John Matras traveled to the deep South – Talladega – to test the new engine from the far north

Contemporary review originally published in VW & Porsche and European Automobiles in August 1990 Talladega’s Turn One rises ahead like a 40-footer at the Banzai…

Ferrari Testa Rossa TR250: What but lust and desire can a redhead inspire?

History originally published in AutoWeek January 30, 1984 Let’s talk desire. Let’s talk lust. Let’s talk Testa Rossa. Ferrari Testa Rossa, of course, for no…

Lotus 47: Hard to get in, easy to go fast

History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek November 12, 1984 Down the hill and out of the right-hand turn, down the straight. Building revs and shift.…

1993 Jaguar XJR-S: Delicious decadence

Contemporary review originally published in Road & Track Sport and GT Cars 1993 The six-cylinder XJS makes sense, but I have to admit I was…

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…

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