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Curbside Classics Archives
European Brands 1970s Archive
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Vintage R&T Review: 1974 Saab 99 Wagonback – The First Hatchback Saab
Posted on March 15, 2024 | 35 Comments(first posted 3/15/2018) It’s almost hard to imagine a time before there was a Saab hatchback, as that body style became so deeply enmeshed with that brand for so […] -
Vintage R&T Review: 1974 Renault 17 Gordini Coupe-Convertible
Posted on March 14, 2024 | 35 Comments(first posted 3/14/2018) The R 17 was definitely one of the more exotic cars in the US at the time. And the coupe-convertible version, with its giant sunroof, […] -
Vintage R&T Review: 1974 Porsche 911, 911S and Carrera 2.7 Liter – No Malaise For Porsche
Posted on March 12, 2024 | 23 Comments(first posted 3/12/2018) Not all the car makers succumbed to mid-70s “malaise”. Porsche resisted with all possible measures, and managed to keep improving the performance of their […] -
Vintage R&T Review: 1974 Fiat Sport Coupe 1800 – “A Larger Engine Keeps It Lively”
Posted on March 4, 2024 | 31 Comments(first posted 3/4/2018) We covered the original Fiat Sport Coupe (AC) here in rather considerable detail. It was face-lifted twice and received several bumps in engine size and […] -
Vintage R&T Review: 1974 Fiat X1/9 – “A Pleasant Surprise”
Posted on March 1, 2024 | 36 Comments(first posted 3/1/2018) “Pleasant” is a bit mild of a word when I think of the X1/9. But then my exposure to it was not exactly with a […] -
Road & Track Vintage Review: Dino 308 GT4 – One of the Most Controversial Ferraris Ever
Posted on February 20, 2024 | 14 Comments(first posted 2/20/2018) Here’s an appropriate follow up to the Dino 246 GT we saw the other day. The 308 GT4, whether sporting Dino or Ferrari badges (after […] -
Road & Track Vintage Comparison: Six Compact Wagons – 1974 AMC Sportabout, Mazda RX-4, Peugeot 504, Toyota Mk II, Volvo 145, VW 412
Posted on February 8, 2024 | 52 Comments(first posted 2/8/2018) R&T takes a look at alternatives to the typical large American station wagon. Sadly, there’s no FWD wagon to add a bit of counterpoint to […] -
Road & Track 1974 Vintage Review: Five Exotic Open Sports Cars – Corvette, Porsche 911, Dino 246GTS, Mercedes 450SL and Jaguar E-Type V12
Posted on February 7, 2024 | 38 Comments(first posted 2/7/2018. Updated to correct year; all were 1974 MY cars except for the Dino, which was a 1973) Road and Track puts five of the most desirable […] -
Vintage R&T Comparison: 1971 Capri 2000, Toyota Celica ST, and Opel Rallye 1900 – Sport Coupes For The ’70s
Posted on February 7, 2024 | 31 CommentsThe landscape was changing as the 1970s started, and the Muscle Car Boom had passed its climax. With that, a new generation of more fuel-efficient and nimbler vehicles would gain […] -
Road & Track 1975 Vintage Review: Sports Sedans vs Sports Cars – Triumph Spitfire vs Chevrolet Vega; Fiat X1/9 vs VW Dasher; Jensen-Healey vs BMW 2002tii
Posted on February 6, 2024 | 29 Comments(first posted 2/6/2018) It may seem like some rather unlikely pairings, especially the first one, but R&T decided to pit sporty sedans with sports cars in three price classes. And […] -
Road & Track 1975 Buyer’s Guide – Imports and Domestic Compacts
Posted on February 5, 2024 | 54 Comments(first posted 2/5/2018) Among the treasure trove of hundreds of vintage R&T magazines a CC reader sent me about a year ago or so is this Buyer’s Guide from 1975. […] -
Vintage Review: 1977 Mercedes-Benz 280E – Teutonic Triumph
Posted on January 5, 2024 | 109 Comments(first posted 1/4/2018) This is it. This is the generation of sedans that firmly cemented Mercedes-Benz’s hold on the American luxury market. Fully redesigned and reengineered, the “volume series” […] -
Vintage R&T Review: 1971 Volkswagen 411 (Type 4) – Old Habits Die Hard
Posted on September 7, 2023 | 39 CommentsOld habits are hard to break. How else to explain VW’s 1969 411? After being poorly received in Europe, it took the 411 two years to reach US shores. And […] -
Vintage R&T Review: Fiat 131
Posted on August 22, 2023 | 37 Comments(first posted 6/1/2017) Road and Track tests the new Fiat 131 Mirafiore (“Brava”), which replaced the 124. Although the 131 was very successful in Europe and other locales, it […] -
R&T Vintage Review: Lancia Beta Montecarlo – Lost In Translation
Posted on August 7, 2023 | 48 Comments(first posted 7/7/2017) One of the more readily forgotten chapters of the 70s was Lancia’s push for a share of the lower-premium import market. Lancias had of course […]