History of the cars
After months, even years of having the “next thrilling chapter in the Subaru WRX STI story” dangled before us, to have a modern motoring icon cut down so abruptly is a shock. And the WRX STI is – was – an icon, no question. DRIVEN TO EXTINCTIONSUBARU WRX STI FOREST FLYER FELLED TO SAVE… THE FORESTS?In 1998, Australia got its first proper look at the WRX STi (lower case i back then). Compared to the WRX, the STi copped forged pistons for its turbocharged 2.
The life and times of the second-generation BMW 3-Series, a car which single-handedly invented the market we named after it. Words: Andrew Everett 40 YEARS OF BMW’S E30 3-SERIES FACTS, FIGURES, HISTORYIt has been said of late that BMW as a company is in a tailspin, caught off-guard by Tesla and begging the question what exactly is a BMW these days and what exactly does it do?
Events bringing Ferry Porsche and his four sons together became rarer as the years passed. Yet for his 80th birthday in September 1989, most of the family and a few close friends descended on Zell am See, the traditional Porsche home south of Salzburg. In the foreground, beside the Panamericana that the company had presented to Ferry for the occasion are Hans-Peter, Gerd, Butzi and Wolfgang. It’s said that Ferry disliked the “beach buggy” Panamericana intensely.
Familiar from generations of Hollywood movies, the diving bonnet was actually created in central London © THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SCIENCE MUSEUM There’s no historical record of deep water diving activity around Denmark Street in London’s Soho. In the 20th Century it became known as Britain’s ‘Tin Pan Alley’, and a blue plaque commemorates the fact, but more observant passers-by will notice high on the face of no.
Bentley’s late 20th century rebirth may have started with turbocharging, but it took an even more significant step forward with the distinctive-looking Continental R and T models. WORDS: RICHARD GUNN PHOTOGRAPHY: KELSEY ARCHIVE/RICHARD GUNN Throughout the 1980s the Bentley marque, for so long overshadowed by its Rolls Royce parent, enjoyed an unprecedented revival.
First owned by a general in the Bulgarian People’s Army, this Volga is now bringing some Cold War intrigue to the streets of Cambridge. WORDS: ANDREW ROBERTS PICTURES: MATT RICHARDSON THE GENERAL’S MOTOR A slice of Soviet bureaucracy, Kiril Vitanov’s Volga is arguably the most Communist entity in Cambridge since the spy ring. Some cars inspire respect. A few that shall remain nameless inspire apathy, but a 1969 Volga has the power to evoke awe, especially when photographed in Cambridge.
How Ford’s personally augured vehicle prospered in the Mustang’s shadow. Words: David Osborne. THE STORY OF FORD’S EVERYMAN COUPE Facts, figures and history on the car which brought the Mustang magic to Europe. FORD CAPRI (1969-1986) THE MARKETPLACE / THE CARS / THE BEGINNING To understand the significance of the Capri one must first appreciate the impact of the Mustang and the precedent it set within Ford.
This issue, we are digging out trivia on the car which really put momentum behind Saab’s push upmarket – the 99 that they built from 1968 to 1987. Report: Simon Goldsworthy. Top Ten Trivia This issue we look at the gamechanging 99 (and 900) from Saab To really understand what a major role the Saab 99 played in the Swedish company’s development, we will have to take a few moments to whizz over their history.
The Porsche 959 A 200mph car that was easy to drive? Porsche invented the 21st century supercar in 1985 The Porsche 959 was the first modern supercar. It was the fastest production road car of its day and the first to approach 200mph in top speed (the claimed 197mph was independently verified). But that’s not why we’re celebrating it. Rather, it was a fast car that was easy to drive. Before its launch in 1985, powerful sports cars required skill, strength and occasionally heroics.
Even under German ownership, Škoda always felt like Volkswagen’s slightly eccentric Czech cousin. The range included dull but worthy vehicles – the kind of things driven by non-car people – but there was always an oddball or two. The likes of the Felicia Fun, Fabia vRS diesel and Yeti must have been conceived over a liquid lunch of Pilsner and debauchery. In 2006, Škoda unveiled the Joyster concept, which always sounded like something you’d find in an Ann Summers catalogue. Allegedly.
Porsche engineering top brass was not as might be expected at Le Mans or any other major race, but a
This gathering of Porsche engineering top brass was not as might be expected at Le Mans or any other major race, but a purely internal get-together. The venue is the Weissach test track on a summer morning in 1984 and the initiative came from Helmuth Bott who was keen to settle an argument about whether Porsche’s current Group C car, the 956, was as fast as the 917/30 Turbo of the previous decade.
Supplied new to Africa’s youngest monarch in 1986, this low-mileage Double-Six Series 3 has a unique royal history. Words & Photography Craig Cheetham. History Fit for a king DAIMLER DOUBLE-SIX S3 The remarkable story of a recently repatriated Daimler Double-Six Series 3 that was previously owned by the King of Swaziland Daimler Double-Six Series 3 might not be the obvious choice of car for an 18-year-old, but then, the Crown Prince Makhosetive of Swaziland was no ordinary teenager.
Over the years, I have come to realise just how important photography has been on my career. Car design is a very public art and it’s through photography that most people first saw the cars I created. Looking back, it was the photographs of my homemade Plaster of Paris car that helped me to get into the Royal College of Art in 1975.
In the third instalment of this series, we take an in-depth look at the saloon that Volkswagen inherited and then continued to develop through its first decade of Bentley ownership. Words: Richard Gunn. Photography: Kelsey Archive.
One of BL’s ‘nearly’ cars, the Triumph Stag offered a taste of the exotic even the Germans struggled to match but was a victim of the corporation’s other problems. Words: Paul Wager. The car which gained an unfortunate nickname back in the day but which is now one of our most-preserved classics. It’s a paradox, the Triumph Stag.