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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
Good Luck Finding Performance Tires for Your Classic Muscle Car
If you own a '60s or '70s-era muscle car, you've probably become aware of an ironic problem: It is virtually impossible to find high-performance tires for these high-performance beasts.
The BF Goodrich...
Another Measure of How We’ve Been Gypped (and Fooled)
Before I write a new car review, I like to do some background research - which helps provide context and hopefully makes the published review informative. Well, I found some interesting...
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...