NASH-HEALEY: FIRST AMERICAN SPORTS CAR

Posted on November 25, 2019November 25, 2019 by MartynL

The early 1950s Nash-Healey was the first post-war production two-seat sporty car from a major American automaker. Before there was a Corvette, there was the two-place Nash-Healey produced and marketed for the American market between 1951 and 1954 by Nash-Kelvinator Corporation It utilized the then-new Nash Ambassador powertrain and a European chassis and body, and served as a halo vehicle to promote sales of traditional Nash models. The NASH-HEALEY: FIRST AMERICAN SPORTS CAR was the byproduct o...

‘17 FIAT 124 SPIDER: CLASSICAL GAS!

Posted on December 31, 2016May 15, 2017 by MartynL

It’s what happens when you take a Mazda Miata and add a little Italian brio, blogs Road Test Editor, Howard Walker. Ready for a little Italian conversation class? Start by repeating after me: Bella piccolo macchina. Now say it with feeling, and maybe with an Italian-style shrug of the shoulders and upturned palms. The literal translation is ‘beautiful little machine’. And it’s also exactly how you’d describe Fiat’s new magnifico 124 Spider two-seater. Bella indeed. You might have heard about...

JAGUAR F-TYPE SVR: A RIGHT, PROPER SUPERCAR!

Posted on January 27, 2016May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Capable of accelerating to 200 mph, the new F-TYPE SVR is the first Jaguar to wear the SVR badge and has been developed to exploit the two-seat aluminum sports car’s full potential while retaining its day-to-day usability. The new ‘17 Jaguar F-TYPE SVR will make its global debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show on March 1, 2016 and will go on sale in summer-2016. Lighter, faster and more powerful, the new F-TYPE SVR takes performance, dynamics and driver involvement to a new level yet retains ...

’16 MERCEDES-AMG GT S: FLIGHT OF THE SILVER ARROW!

Posted on December 3, 2015May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Mercedes-Benz throws down the gauntlet to Porsche’s 911 with its breathtaking new AMG GT S super-coupe. Road Test Editor Howard Walker takes it for a spin. There’s driving. And then there’s driving! The kind of driving that gets your heart pounding like a supercharged jackhammer. Driving that has high-octane adrenaline fire-hosing through your veins. The kind of driving that has you shrieking like a sugar-rushed five-year-old riding Space Mountain for the first time. To e...

MAZDA MIATA: TWO-SEAT ROADSTER FOR VERY LITTLE MONEY!

Posted on November 27, 2015May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Stephen Cox blogs about enjoying top-down motoring without spending a lot of money. You shouldn't spend your life wondering what it's like to own a small, fun sports car. With some careful shopping and a little homework you can get a fantastic pre-owned roadster for virtually nothing. No, it won't be a Ferrari. It won't even be a Porsche. But if you want the joy of true motoring, you can have it easily and at a ridiculously low cost. There are a number of cars that fit the bill nicely. We'l...

’15 NISSAN 370Z: BUTTON-DOWN SPORTS CAR!

Posted on March 29, 2015May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Dan Scanlan road tests the 370Z NISMO and delivers the good news…and bad! It was a good news/bad news kind of test. First, I got a ‘15 Nissan 370Z NISMO Coupe the same day that they released info on the new NISMO Roadster Concept before its debut at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show. The radical roadster is no surprise since the current iteration of the iconic Z dates back to 2009, and the test coupe looked and drove like the roadster will if it’s made. The bad news? Yutaka “Mr. K” Katayama, once he...

MERCEDES-AMG GT S: IN-HOUSE ROCKET!

Posted on January 26, 2015May 15, 2017 by MartynL

S is for screaming: O to 60 mph in under-four-seconds and all the luxury of a Mercedes-Benz. The second sports car developed entirely in-house by Mercedes-AMG, the GT has everything you would expect from an authentic Mercedes-AMG - from the characteristic styling and thoroughbred motorsport technology to the optimum weight distribution. Starting at an MSRP of $129,900 plus $925 destination/delivery charge, the AMG GT S features a long list of standard features. Included are Nappa Leat...

‘14 JAGUAR F-TYPE S: SOUND & THE FURY!

Posted on June 14, 2014May 15, 2017 by MartynL

‘Jaguar was once known for brilliant two-seat roadsters like the epic E-Type. They are again thanks to the F-TYPE S, a leaper for all seasons,’ blogs Dan Scanlan. Called one of the 100 most beautiful cars in the world, the E-Type’s grace was matched by the pace of its 3.8-liter inline six with 265 horsepower. Later it received a V-12. But when the last version of the bullet-shaped roadster once called “the greatest crumpet-catcher known to man” was laid to rest in 1975 that was the last gre...

HOW TO CHOOSE A PROFESSIONAL RESTORER: NATURAL SELECTION!

Posted on January 23, 2014May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Jim Resnick blogs about what you have to know when choosing a restorer for your classic, vintage sports car or muscle car. It is difficult enough boiling down your classic car obsession to a manageable, affordable group of cars. But it is just as time-intensive when you need to find the most capable and conscientious professional shop to take on your restoration work. To that end, Jim Resnick attended the Russo and Steele Auctions hosted The Art of Vintage Restoration seminar during Arizona...

PORSCHE 550 SPYDER: AMAZING STREET/RACER!

Posted on August 20, 2013May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Stephen Cox blogs about Porsche’s multi-million-dollar spectacular Spyder. I confess that I am a muscle car guy.Can't help it. I grew up cruising Mustangs and Torino's on Saturday night and Sundays at the strip. But after watching Mecum Auctions sell Porsche 550-0077, right, for over 3.7 million dollars at Monterey last weekend, I couldn't help but be impressed with the little machine. The 550 was Porsche's first race-specific design. Introduced in Paris in 1953, the 550 was famously mo...