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 July 1976, and the main article is a comparison of the Porsche 924 with the Datsun 280Z and Alfetta GT. You probbaly won’t be too shocked at the outcome, but it makes for good reading to get there.
Maybe missing page № 2?
I remember this from when I was a teen. I really would have picked the 280-Z as the best because of its comparatively torque-y six and zero to 60 times, lower sticker price and reputation for reliability, as well as the quiet ride.
Yeah, none of the three would have been a paragon of trouble-free motoring (and this was the seventies, too) so, in the interest of maintaining at least some funds in one’s bank account, I’d have chosen the Z-car on that basis, alone.
How did a Vega Cosworth page end up here?
Thought the same thing.
Just a mistake. Honestly, I didn’t mind reading about the Cosworth, either, since it kind of fits in with the sporting nature of the other cars.
924 – “Reseda Green Metallic”? I think so.
So ’70s and boy do I like it now. Anything German and green from the ’70s is good.
….
That Sonderklasse is ideal. There were some nice greens on the VW Scirocco too.
I remember that issue – it was one of the things that made me decide that a used Opel by Isuzu might not be such a bad car.
Having owned a 280Z, I think it would be a toss-up between the Porsche and the Nissan. The Nissan would slightly edge the Porsche due to the torquier/more powerful(?) engine. Yet, I think I would always regret not picking the Porsche.
The Alfa? Absolutely gorgeous, but so fragile.
Porsche and Alfa are completely different from the Datsun 6cyl. Testing a 6-cyl, 2.7 litre vs two 2.0Litre shoe boxes does not make much sense. However I would have preferred the Porsche over the others, just because of best rust prevention. Very few things are more annoying like a rusting sports car. There is a good reason why those Porsches are still around, while Datsuns and Alfas have long vanished.
I had a 77 JDM Fairlady with the 2.0 version of the L series six – it was just a great car. I bought it used from a friend and it had maybe 60K miles on it, but it never failed to start and never had a major repair. And it was a blast to drive – the six had great torque and a nice rumbly nature. I doubt the other two in this test would get beyond 60K without some expensive repair.
Funny. This was the first car magazine I ever had. That, and a copy of Hot Rod. Mom thought they would be a nice surprise and brought them home grocery shopping. Thanks, really.
Give me the 280Z hands down.
Yep- knowing what we know now, there was only one correct answer. The Alfa carried the name and the natural Italian unreliability. The Porsche wasn’t a Porsche at all, but an Audi with a big price tag. The Nissan didn’t have the name, but by gosh it had the goods.
Say what you will about Jeremy Clarkson, he hit the starter smack on the solenoid when he said:
Alfa Romeo: as good as an automobile can be, briefly.
Still, a DOHC hemi-headed fuel injected all-aluminum engine (with replaceable steel sleeves) along with a five-speed transaxle, and four-wheel discs where the others still used rear drums – in 1976.
Really fun to drive, and with the V-6 still pretty competitive in vintage racing today. Brilliant, exciting cars.
Their only real flaw was that (as several of my friends found out) one morning you might find the car gone with only a reddish pool of iron oxide as a clue to what had happened.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uQJ8WrKnLUs
Please post page 2 and also the remainder of the Cosworth Vega test, please
Page two has been added.
Which Cosworth Vega test? Can you please link to it?
I have no link, the 4th picture is a scan from a Cosworth Vega Road test, I think it’s from the 1976 Sports & GT issue.
I see; I never posted the Cosworth Vega.
This one was all mixed up; it’s fixed now. And I will post the Cosworth Vega right away. Next day or so.