Launched in 1974, the Golf represented a complete break with Volkswagen tradition, yet it would prove as big a sales success as its Beetle predecessor. In GTi form, the Golf has become one of the great icons of modern motoring, giving rise to an entirely new class of sporting saloon - the 'hot hatch' - in the process. First seen at the Frankfurt Mo..
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class or G-Wagon, short for Geländewagen (cross-country vehicle), is characterised by its boxy styling and body-on-frame construction. It uses three fully locking differentials, one of the few vehicles to have such a feature. The G-Class is still in production and is one of the longest produced Mercedes-Benz vehicles in their hi..
When the MGA arrived in 1955, it must have come as quite a shock to MG aficionados who had become accustomed to the pre-war look of the company's sports cars. It was a complete departure in styling and its beautiful, streamlined body was right up to the minute in terms of appearance. It was powered by a new engine; MG had decided that the old XPAG ..
The Ford Escort RS Turbo was based on the three-door Ford Escort saloon and was supplied in a Diamond White body colour only. The engine fitted to the RS Turbo was a 1600 CVH unit modified to suit the higher loads and the application of a turbocharger. Computerised fuel injection and engine management incorporating turbocharger boost control were a..
Unveiled in June 1995 for the 1996 model year, the fourth and final series of the Silver Spirit and Silver Spur were heavily revised and improved by Rolls-Royce. However, the new cars were simply known as New Silver Spirit and New Silver Spur as the IV suffix was a symbol of death in some Far Eastern regions. As before, the Silver Spur was the long..
The Ford GT40 is synonymous with Le Mans but was first seen at the Nurburgring in May 1964. Two unsuccessful years followed until in 1966 the GT40 took 1st, 2nd and 3rd places at Le Mans in its Mk. II form. In 1967 a new Mk. III road version was built which differed from the previous road and race cars. The two square headlights were replaced with ..
The Porsche 944 S2 was introduced in 1989, powered by a 208hp normally aspirated, dual overhead cam 16 valve 3.0 L version of the 944 S engine. The largest production 4 cylinder engine of its time, it featured a bore of 104 mm (4.1 in) and a stroke of 88 mm (3.5 in). The 944 S2 also received a revised gearbox to better suit the 3.0 litre engine. Th..
Unveiled at the March 1989 Geneva Motor Show, the new Mercedes-Benz R129 Series SL range was beautifully engineered. Based around a two-door monocoque bodyshell, its sophisticated, all-round independent suspension (double-wishbone front/five-link rear) was augmented by a host of active and passive safety features including electronic stability cont..
Successor to the race proven E9 3.0CS/CSi, the BMW 6-Series was introduced in August 1976, it utilised a modified version of the 5-Series saloon platform equipped with all-round independent suspension and powerful disc brakes. A natural rival to the 928 and XJS, the four-seater 6-Series proved more capacious than the Porsche and sportier than the J..
From 1990 to 1995, Mercedes-Benz sold a high-performance version of the W124, the Mercedes-Benz 500E. It was created in close co-operation with Porsche; each one being hand-built by Porsche and transported back and forth between the Mercedes-Benz plant and Porsche's Rössle-Bau plant in Zuffenhausen, Germany during assembly, with a full 18 days bein..