BMW Isetta 300: A Perfect Pick for the Pygmies
BMW Isetta 300; Photos by John Matras The first problem with the BMW Isetta 300 is getting in. Sure, the door opens with a twist of the handle, but it’s on the front of the car. I can’t just slide…
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Bentley Continental R-Type: The Rolls-Royce of Bentleys
Originally published in AutoWeek July 22, 1985 1954 Bentley Continental R-Type; photos by John Matras When I was boy, a visit at Uncle Henry’s was always special. Uncle Henry, you see, had every copy of Mechanix Illustrated ever printed—or so…
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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 out and loaded for bear. It’s the automotive concealed weapon, the shoulder holster under a…
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MGA Twin Cam: Perfect for the Perfectionist
1959 MGA Twin Cam; photos by John Matras Pity the poor MGA Twin Cam. Imagine: four years, count ‘em, four years in development, and on the market for less than two. And despite a successful record in amateur racing and…
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1989 Mazda RX-7 Infini IV: The Orient Express
1989 Mazda RX-7 Infini IV; photos by John Matras The first Infini was a 1987 Mazda 323. But it was more than an ordinary 323, more than the turbocharged 323 GT already on the market in Japan, even more than…
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Maserati Ghibli Spider: Driving under the Influence.
Originally published in AutoWeek October 18, 1982 Maserati Ghibli Spider, photos by John Matras. Summer nights are special magic, a sorcery that suspends time and makes déjà vu the common experience. A web of warmth and darkness and fantasy. The…
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1976 Lancia Scorpion: In Search of a Stinger
1976 Lancia Beta Scorpion, photos by John Matras What a concept. The country that gave us the Fiat X1/9 – which Road & Track magazine called “the best handling car in the world” – a big brother, a mid-engined sports…
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1965 Matra-Bonnet Djet: The first mid-engine production car
1965 Matra-Bonnet Djet, photos by John Matras. Europa. Miura. Mangusta. Dino. Stratos. Pantera. Countach. Boxer. Bora. Esprit. M1. 308. Mondial. Testarossa. Compile a list of favorite enthusiast cars and often as not you’ll find the engine is in the middle….
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Evans Series 1: A Georgia-built supercar takes on the world
Evans Series 1; John Matras photos Is this how Colin Chapman started out? Did Ferry Porsche spend most of his time meeting government regulations? Would Enzo Ferrari have succeeded if he had to deal with government regulations stacked ten phonebooks…
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1971-1980 | Alfa Romeo | I-4 | Italy
1971 Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato: Senior approves
Originally published in AutoWeek, August 30, 1982 1971 Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato; photos by John Matras Lippity clip. Lip. Clip. The Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato skips down Penny Grove Road, an ancient wooded path paved only as an afterthought. It’s…
