Old School Economy: Chevy Chevette (1976-1987)
In some ways, the Chevy Chevette had a lot in common with a new Mercedes - or similar high-end luxury car.
It wasn’t, for openers, front-wheel-drive. Like the Benz, the 'Vette was...
Automotive Icon: De Tomaso Pantera, 1971-1993
Say Pantera - and most people think '70s. Maybe '80s.
Not 1993.
But they made them all the way into the early Clinton years. Not many. But as late as '93, you could still buy...
Old Muscle Ruled . . . When New Cars Sucked
Muscle cars - the original-era muscle cars from the '60s and '70s - don't seem to be as popular now as they were when I was in high school and college...
Economic Obsolescence
Several of the most successful car (and engine) designs were successful because they were around for a long time. The original VW Beetle is an example and so is the small...
Retro Review: 1998-2004 Nissan Frontier
It’s not yet a “classic,” but the ’98-2004 Nissan Frontier (and other same-era compact trucks like the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger/Mazda B series) looks pretty good in the rearview.
And in...
Good Names… Bad Cars
The good thing about a bad car name is you've got no expectations. Not much to live up to - and so, little to disappoint you.
Achieva, for instance.
But wasting a good...
Cars That Broke Bad (Or just Broke)
Automotive good ideas gone bad range far and wide - whether it's a classic fail like the exploding Pintos of the early '70s - or a late-model train wreck like the Pontiac Aztek.
Here...
Muscle Memory
It was forty years ago that America turned 200 - and Pontiac, 50.
1976 was a special year for both.
And for the Trans-Am, which by 1976 had become Pontiac's signature muscle car.
The...
Old School vs. New-ish
My friend Jeff just got his 2002 Trans-Am back - after much engine work - and is somewhat disappointed. The car sounds tough. Slightly choppy idle and booming voice under way,...
They’re Heavy… But Fragile
New cars are very good at meeting Uncle’s crash test requirements - but even minor impacts can and do cause a lot of very expensive damage.
Despite the fact that most new...