1976–1980 Dodge Aspen R/T and Plymouth Volaré Road Runner
A reeling and soon-to-be bankrupt Chrysler Corp. produced one of the most pathetic paper-tiger muscle cars ever in the embarrassing 1976to 1980 Dodge Aspen R/T and the Aspen’s sister car, the...
The Lesser Known Kaw
I used to own an odd little dual sport called the Sherpa Sherpa and - as often happens with odd little things one gets to like - I stupidly sold it...
Return of the Beetle – Mark I
I've begun to notice a fair number of old (Mark I) Beetles on the road. The original ones. Last sold here (new) in the late '70s. Not at car shows (or...
Classic Cars and The Smog Police
It's been more than 40 years since the federal Clean Air Act went into effect, which among other things means there are quite a few "antique" and "classic" vehicles (usually...
The Stinker: 1978–1985 Cadillac Seville Diesel
As the second energy crisis in a decade kidney-punched an inflation-addled nation, several automakers began to eye the diesel engine as a way to attract customers interested in high-mileage vehicles. The...
In the Rearview Mirror: 1977-81 Z28 Camaro
The smart athlete retires gracefully, at his peak - before he starts to slip and give off that “has-been” stink. To their credit, that’s what Chevrolet managers did when they discontinued...
The last real Trans Am – and the end for Pontiac
Let's dial back the clock a quarter century and return to the early days of the Reagan Era - when Pontiac made a last-ditch effort to keep the Trans-Am from becoming...
Almost Fast: 1983-1988 Monte Carlo SS
If you were a kid in high school (or college) during the '80s - and into fast cars - you probably remember the last full-frame, rear-drive/live axle, carbureted, cast-iron pushrod V-8...
Retro Review: 1980-’81 Z28 Camaro
Arguably, the best second-generation Z28s were the first - and the last.
While the Z's sister car - Pontiac's Trans-Am - rose to the occasion several times during the lowest points of...
Conspiracy . . . or Merely Convenient?
Many new cars are optimized for ethanol - "flex-fuel" compatible is how it's usually described. The problem, of course, is that a majority of cars in service are not optimized for...