Author: Jeff Zurschmeide

Jeff is a lifelong automobile enthusiast with a penchant for sports and racing cars. He has raced SCCA, local circle track, and stage rally as a co-driver. He makes his living as a freelance automotive journalist and is the author of six books on automotive topics. As a rule, he practices catch-and-release fishing when it comes to collectible automobiles, trying to leave each one in better condition than he found it. Enduring passions include his MGA and Austin Mini, and his 1969 Corvette. He recently purchased a 1920 Ford Model T Touring because “you just have to have one of these once in your life.”
2011 BMW 1M Coupe

2011 BMW 1M Coupe

Developed by BMW Motorsport and announced in December 2010, the 1M coupe used a tuned version of the N54 twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six engine producing 335 hp, which was delivered to the road via a 6-speed manual gearbox and electronic limited-slip differential. With its front-engine/rear-drive layout, traditional sports-car handling and colossal […]

1963 Studebaker Avanti R2

Very rare factory 4-speed supercharged Avanti R2 Sold new in Berkeley, CA, later a resident of Tucson, AZ, where it was acquired by Colin Comer Copy of the original build sheet Matching engine, chassis and body numbers Original 289/290-horsepower V8 engine Original Paxton centrifugal supercharger Original Borg-Warner T10 4-speed manual […]

A Cheap, Fast, Fun Alfa Romeo

Picture a sunny summer afternoon on the Pacific Coast Highway north of Santa Cruz, CA. It’s the late 1980s, and two new sport sedans are cruising to the spot where a passing lane opens up. The challenge is to be ahead of the other car by the end of that […]

1993 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo II

First seen at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1979, the Lancia Delta Integrale is best known for its domination of the World Rally Championship in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The first Evoluzione cars were built at the end of 1991 and carried on through 1992. Arriving in June […]

1966 Volkswagen Type 2 21-Window Samba Bus

Presented here is a 1966 Volkswagen Type 2 21-Window Samba fitted with the M164 sliding-door option from new. Only available on the 21-window Deluxe Samba model during production years 1966–67, the M164 sliding-door addition represented an expensive option and consequently, not many non-commercial customers ticked this box, meaning this model […]

1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille

390-ci V8 engine Automatic transmission Complete body-off restoration Power antenna, seats, windows, steering and brakes Two-tone black-and-white interior Clock and radio Factory air conditioning Fender skirts Wide whitewall tires with factory wheel covers

Better — and Uglier — Than the Original

Pity the second-generation Mazda RX-7. The FC, as it’s known to rotary cognoscenti, has always trailed its older brothers in desirability — if not in performance. And while that’s not strictly fair, it has kept prices attractively low on a car that has a lot of enjoyment potential. Mazda brought […]

1969 AMC AMX

390-ci V8 engine 4-speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter Carter AFB Competition Series 4-bbl carburetor MSD ignition Power steering Power brakes Factory wheels with beauty rings Pioneer AM/FM/cassette AMX# 13555 Air-conditioning delete

One Fun Econo-Box

When Honda brought the first Civic subcompact to America in the middle of 1972, the car was not very well received. Honda’s previous cars had been far too small and idiosyncratic for the American buyer, and early Civics had a tendency to rust so badly that the U.S. government forced […]