Ford Pantera – The American-Powered Italian Muscle Car The Ford Pantera represented a unique collaborative project between Ford and Italian sports car builder De Tomaso in the early 1970s. Ford saw an opportunity to bring a European flair to the American muscle car market. By powering a De Tomaso-built Italian body with Ford’s Cleveland V8s,…
Toyota Trueno AE86 – The Quintessential Drift Machine The Toyota AE86 Trueno is an iconic Japanese sports coupe from the 1980s famous for its nimble handling and drift racing prowess. Part of the Corolla Levin/Sprinter Trueno family, the lightweight AE86 utilized a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout for ideal balance. Although powered by only a small inline-4,…
Opel Kadett – Europe’s Everyman Car for Generations The Opel Kadett was one of Germany’s most successful mass-market automobiles throughout the 20th century. Manufactured from 1937 to 1993, the Kadett earned a reputation as an affordable, durable family vehicle for the European middle class. Across ten model generations spanning five decades, nearly 10 million Kadetts…
Ferrari 328 – Evolution of the 308 Platform The Ferrari 328 built upon the successful 308/328 GTB and GTS models by bringing additional power, handling, and refinement to Ferrari’s V8-powered 2-seat sports car. Produced from 1985 to 1989, the 328 represented an evolution of the popular 308 rather than a full redesign. Upgrades focused on…
VW Squareback – The Stylish VW Station Wagon The VW Squareback holds a special place in automotive history as an exceptionally sleek and practical evolution of the venerable VW Beetle. Introduced for the 1962 model year, the Squareback paired the Beetle’s rear-engine layout with an expansive yet stylish station wagon body. Its airy greenhouse, fold-down…
Lancia Delta – The Championship Rally Hatchback The Lancia Delta garnered fame and success through the 1980s as both a dominant force in the World Rally Championship competition and a mass-produced performance hatchback for the street. Introduced in 1979, the Delta heroically upheld Lancia’s racing legacy by securing six constructors’ titles. Yet it also popularized…
Datsun 280ZX – The Sophisticated Second-Generation Z The Datsun 280ZX marked the second generation of Nissan’s famed Z sports car when it debuted in 1979. With an emphasis on style, luxury and grand touring abilities, the 280ZX represented a more refined take on the concept versus its predecessor, the Datsun 240Z. But a switch to…
1970 Ford Mustang – Restyling and Performance for a New Decade The 1970 model year brought significant changes to the Ford Mustang lineup, aimed at keeping it fresh against new competition entering the pony car ranks. An extensive restyle gave the Mustang a larger yet more contemporary appearance. Under the skin, chassis refinements improved handling…