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Category Archives: Classic Bits

LOTUS SPORTS AND 26 YEARS LATER PART 1

“AN IMPRACTICAL, HIGHLY DESIRABLE COMBINATION,” R&T wrote in September 1957. And October 1983’s Peter Egan wrote about “Crate Expectations.”  Curiously these were very similar cars: The 1957 Lotus Sports was … Continue reading →

March 24, 2024 · Leave a comment

POM’S ANALYSIS OF THE 1951 FERRARI 4 1/2-LITRE GRAND PRIX CAR PART 2

YESTERDAY I MARVELED AT Laurence Pomeroy’s untranslated Latin in The Grand Prix Car Volume Two. It’s always refreshing to read someone who assumes you’re smarter than you are (because it … Continue reading →

March 17, 2024 · 2 Comments

POM’S ANALYSIS OF THE 1951 FERRARI 4 1/2-LITRE GRAND PRIX CAR PART 1

IMAGINE A SEGMENT OF FORMULA 1: DRIVE TO SURVIVE opening with commentary “Ehue! fugaces, Postume, Postume, Labuntur Anni.…”  Image from Netflx. Thanks, Google Translate: “Alas! fleeting, posthumous, posthumous, the years … Continue reading →

March 16, 2024 · 1 Comment

THE AC ACECA—A BRITISH SPECIALIST’S GT 

“GRAN TURISMO,” R&T WROTE IN 1958, “is spelled the same way in England. Having previously tested the AC Ace open roadster in its two optional engine versions (R&T , October … Continue reading →

March 13, 2024 · 2 Comments

FERRARI GROWL FROM A TINY TIGER—THE 1958 FIAT-ABARTH 750

“UNDOUBTEDLY A FAVORITE SPORT of Fiat-Abarth owners will be VW-baiting,” R&T said in June 1958. “Even our somewhat jaded test crew got a tremendous kick out of driving the Fiat-Abarth … Continue reading →

March 5, 2024 · 1 Comment

LOTUS ELITE PART 2

IN PART 1 YESTERDAY, we learned about the Lotus Elite’s innovative use of fiber-reinforced plastic in structural applications. Today, we’ll continue with R&T’s April 1963 evaluation of the Elite and … Continue reading →

February 24, 2024 · 2 Comments

LOTUS ELITE PART 1

“TO THE HARD-CORE ENTHUSIAST,” the Lotus ad copy reads, “any twisty stretch of road holds a downright hypnotic challenge to send it in screaming: red line it on the straight, … Continue reading →

February 23, 2024 · 8 Comments

1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD—WHAT’LL SHE DO? PART 2

R&T’s ROAD TEST OF THE FIRST-GENERATION Ford Thunderbird emphasized testing methodology as opposed to a review of the car itself. Here in Part 2 the testers share hints on optimizing … Continue reading →

February 15, 2024 · Leave a comment

1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD—WHAT’LL SHE DO? PART 1

R&T WROTE IN MARCH 1955, “With all the interest in the new Thunderbird ‘personal car,’ the performance claims of overly enthusiastic salesmen can perhaps be excused. In a quick survey … Continue reading →

February 14, 2024 · 1 Comment

ALLARD K3—GRENDEL’S SOPHISTICATED BROTHER?

TO GET A SENSE FOR THE K3’S RELATIONSHIP to Grendel, check out “Allard Palm Beach—Grendel’s Kid Sister,” appearing only three months before this particular R&T road test.  This and other … Continue reading →

February 9, 2024 · 1 Comment