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Curbside Classics Archives
European Brands 1970s Archive
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![(first posted 4/25/2016) In the early 1970s, Volvo really started hitting its stride in the U.S. market. In addition to the brand’s burgeoning reputation for safety, the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/RT0471Volvo142EMainImage.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Road Test: 1971 Volvo 142E Automatic – Road Test Magazine Summarizes A Solid Swede")
Vintage Road Test: 1971 Volvo 142E Automatic – Road Test Magazine Summarizes A Solid Swede
Posted on May 30, 2025 | 33 Comments(first posted 4/25/2016) In the early 1970s, Volvo really started hitting its stride in the U.S. market. In addition to the brand’s burgeoning reputation for safety, the […] -
![(first posted 4/24/2016) As Triumph descended into British Leyland Hell in the late 1960s, its product development became convoluted to say the least. One result was the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/RT0471TriumphStagMainImage.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: 1971 Triumph Stag – Road Test Magazine Tries To Understand An Odd Buck")
Vintage Review: 1971 Triumph Stag – Road Test Magazine Tries To Understand An Odd Buck
Posted on April 29, 2025 | 37 Comments(first posted 4/24/2016) As Triumph descended into British Leyland Hell in the late 1960s, its product development became convoluted to say the least. One result was the […] -
![Although it had no equivalent in the U.S. VW line until 1983, I daresay most American enthusiasts are familiar with the original Volkswagen Golf GTI, the trend-setting “hot hatch” that […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AMS-1976-15-Volkswagen-Golf-GTI-road-test-1.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage AMS Review: 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI — VW Hot Hatch Changes The Game, But Americans Don’t Get It")
Vintage AMS Review: 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI — VW Hot Hatch Changes The Game, But Americans Don’t Get It
Posted on March 24, 2025 | 29 CommentsAlthough it had no equivalent in the U.S. VW line until 1983, I daresay most American enthusiasts are familiar with the original Volkswagen Golf GTI, the trend-setting “hot hatch” that […] -
![(first posted 11/19/2018) The Silver Shadow, which arrived in 1965, was the most radically-changed RR ever. It abandoned the classic design language and traditional BOF construction for […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/scans0002.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Road Test: 1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow LWB Saloon – A House or a RR?")
Vintage R&T Road Test: 1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow LWB Saloon – A House or a RR?
Posted on November 18, 2024 | 61 Comments(first posted 11/19/2018) The Silver Shadow, which arrived in 1965, was the most radically-changed RR ever. It abandoned the classic design language and traditional BOF construction for […] -
![(first posted 11/15/2018) Let’s follow up our look at that Fiat X1/9 with its big brother (or sister, depending), the Lancia Scorpion (Monte Carlo in Europe). […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/scans0007.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: Lancia Scorpio (Monte Carlo) – “…a Scorpion without its stinger”")
Vintage R&T Review: Lancia Scorpio (Monte Carlo) – “…a Scorpion without its stinger”
Posted on November 15, 2024 | 35 Comments(first posted 11/15/2018) Let’s follow up our look at that Fiat X1/9 with its big brother (or sister, depending), the Lancia Scorpion (Monte Carlo in Europe). […] -
![(first posted 11/10/2018) Here’s the final installment of Road and Track’s long term test of a first year 1975 Rabbit. The plan was to test it only […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/scans0018.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage 48,000 Mile Test: 1976 VW Rabbit – How VW Handed Over The US Import Market to the Japanese")
Vintage 48,000 Mile Test: 1976 VW Rabbit – How VW Handed Over The US Import Market to the Japanese
Posted on November 14, 2024 | 66 Comments(first posted 11/10/2018) Here’s the final installment of Road and Track’s long term test of a first year 1975 Rabbit. The plan was to test it only […] -
![(first posted 11/11/2018) Here’s something a bit different. Road and Track drove a Lada 1500 in the UK due to the expectation that it “… is […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/scans0016.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1975 Lada 1500 – “…soon to be imported to the US”")
Vintage R&T Review: 1975 Lada 1500 – “…soon to be imported to the US”
Posted on November 11, 2024 | 67 Comments(first posted 11/11/2018) Here’s something a bit different. Road and Track drove a Lada 1500 in the UK due to the expectation that it “… is […] -
![(first posted 9/4/2018) Pity poor Fiat. The 128 was a game changing car when it came out in 1969; its space efficiency and driving dynamics put it heads and […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/scans0005.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Road & Track Review: 1976 Fiat 128 3P – Lots of Good Qualities; Not a Lot of Sales")
Vintage Road & Track Review: 1976 Fiat 128 3P – Lots of Good Qualities; Not a Lot of Sales
Posted on September 4, 2024 | 44 Comments(first posted 9/4/2018) Pity poor Fiat. The 128 was a game changing car when it came out in 1969; its space efficiency and driving dynamics put it heads and […] -
![This vintage R&T review is being posted in 2018, 47 years after this review was originally written. Grasp that, 47 years, almost 50 years, almost half a century from the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/CCI08072018_0031.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T $3500 GT Comparison Test, July 1971: Opel GT & Datsun 240Z — When the Land Of The Rising Sun Eclipsed The Old European Order.")
Vintage R&T $3500 GT Comparison Test, July 1971: Opel GT & Datsun 240Z — When the Land Of The Rising Sun Eclipsed The Old European Order.
Posted on August 10, 2024 | 24 CommentsThis vintage R&T review is being posted in 2018, 47 years after this review was originally written. Grasp that, 47 years, almost 50 years, almost half a century from the […] -
![(first posted 8/3/2018) Steve Cropley was originally employed as a writer/editor of the Australian Auto Magazine, “Wheels”, before emigrating to the UK where he became editor of British Auto […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/CCI08032018_0056.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review & Curbside Classic: 1990 Ferrari Boxer — Steve Cropley drives 1974 365 GT4 BB — The Boxer… Plus a Boxer CC Caught in The Wild in Ohio")
Vintage Review & Curbside Classic: 1990 Ferrari Boxer — Steve Cropley drives 1974 365 GT4 BB — The Boxer… Plus a Boxer CC Caught in The Wild in Ohio
Posted on August 4, 2024 | 15 Comments(first posted 8/3/2018) Steve Cropley was originally employed as a writer/editor of the Australian Auto Magazine, “Wheels”, before emigrating to the UK where he became editor of British Auto […] -
![(first posted 8/2/2018) When the weakening dollar made the German Opel 1900/Manta too expensive to import anymore, GM looked to its affiliate in Japan for the replacement. The […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/CC-248-011-1200.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "1976 Vintage R&T Review: Buick Opel by Isuzu – Once You Get Past the Name It’s Not a Bad Car")
1976 Vintage R&T Review: Buick Opel by Isuzu – Once You Get Past the Name It’s Not a Bad Car
Posted on August 2, 2024 | 47 Comments(first posted 8/2/2018) When the weakening dollar made the German Opel 1900/Manta too expensive to import anymore, GM looked to its affiliate in Japan for the replacement. The […] -
![(first posted 7/28/2018) Time to crack open the next Road and Track of my huge stack that a reader sent me a couple of years ago. We’re now into […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/scans0001.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "1976 Vintage R&T Comparison: Porsche 924 vs Datsun 280Z vs Alfetta GT")
1976 Vintage R&T Comparison: Porsche 924 vs Datsun 280Z vs Alfetta GT
Posted on August 1, 2024 | 25 Comments(first posted 7/28/2018) Time to crack open the next Road and Track of my huge stack that a reader sent me a couple of years ago. We’re now into […] -
![(first posted 7/26/2018) Lancia’s renewed effort in the US market with its new Fiat-based cars was a mixed blessing. They were stylish, and had lovely interiors. And they had […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Chrysler-1961-concpet0007.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Intro: 1976 Lancia Beta HPE and Scorpion – Now Federalized")
Vintage R&T Intro: 1976 Lancia Beta HPE and Scorpion – Now Federalized
Posted on July 26, 2024 | 23 Comments(first posted 7/26/2018) Lancia’s renewed effort in the US market with its new Fiat-based cars was a mixed blessing. They were stylish, and had lovely interiors. And they had […] -
![The MG Midget and its sibling Austin Healey Sprite had once been popular low-end sports cars in the second half of the great sports car boom era (1949-1969), but by […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Chrysler-1961-concpet0010.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1976 MG Midget Mark IV – It’s Showing Its Age…”")
Vintage R&T Review: 1976 MG Midget Mark IV – It’s Showing Its Age…”
Posted on July 18, 2024 | 28 CommentsThe MG Midget and its sibling Austin Healey Sprite had once been popular low-end sports cars in the second half of the great sports car boom era (1949-1969), but by […] -
![(first posted 7/2/2018) To say that the all-new VW Rabbit (Golf Mk1) arrived half-baked is stating the obvious. After building essentially the same cars for some 30 years, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Chrysler-1961-concpet0013.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1975 VW Rabbit 36,000 Mile Long-Term Test Update – Serious Teething Pains")
Vintage R&T Review: 1975 VW Rabbit 36,000 Mile Long-Term Test Update – Serious Teething Pains
Posted on July 2, 2024 | 56 Comments(first posted 7/2/2018) To say that the all-new VW Rabbit (Golf Mk1) arrived half-baked is stating the obvious. After building essentially the same cars for some 30 years, […]
