In the 80’s, racing games were in their infancy, from polygonal cockpit views, to top-down racers, I’ve been there, done that and grown out of the T-shirt. The young gamers of today are currently being treated to multi-million pound titles containing all manner of real-world cars, fully licensed and supported by the manufacturers. Lifelike graphics and sound in full 360 degrees 4K resolution.

Back in the day, things weren’t quite as polished, many games had vehicles created purely for that release, some of them becoming more renowned than others. I’m quite sure that some publishers just flat out ignored possible legal kickbacks until car manufacturers realized how much they could coin in. Hop in and take a drive through memory lane and recall some of the best fictional and non-fictional motors in video game history.

First on the list has to be the infamous Outrun and its iconic Ferrari Testarossa spider. In essence, a driving game in which you can drive for as long as you have the money, kind of like real life in fact. It’s you, the drop-top Ferrari, and a blonde passenger, against time on a backdrop of sunsets and beaches. It has unwittingly become a massive influence on the often cool and casual style of the synthwave scene. Not only a great looking title in the arcades but paired with the original soundtrack that could be selected on the radio, it has acquired a cult following.

For someone who lives in a country with at least eight different types of rain and roads that remain the width of horse and cart, the equivalent Outrun game from the UK would be hooning a Jaguar E type around country lanes avoiding tractors and manure, with the windscreen wipers on full chat.

In a similar time and a game much in the same style, S.C.I or Special Criminal investigation was undoubtedly one of my favorite finds in the arcades. I remember back in school we were heading over to Isle Of Wight by ferry and instead of being left to soak in the journey and explore the craft, perhaps, we were being forced to do some sort of activity involving pen and paper. I managed to sneak off without being noticed in the large front lounge where I found a pristine and fully working S.C.I machine.

I’m pretty sure my souvenir and/or food money, were all consumed by the machine that day, nevertheless, I walked away with the top score and found my classmates again. I never knew that one day I would own the car I thought was so cool at the time. The Nissan 300ZX was certainly built for speed and road holding but with its targa roof, this meant that as an undercover cop you could stand up and fire a gun at a fleeing criminal until they stopped moving.

Speaking of the Isle Of Wight, this was the home of Carmageddon, a game with such notoriety it probably made the film Death Race more popular than it already wasn’t.

Adorning the front cover is a maniacal looking bald chap gripping the wheel with one hand, setting the mood for what’s to come, no police, no rules just out and out carnage. In the game you begin and choose either a male or female driver. Max Damage or Die Anna, as if the game’s premise wasn’t controversial enough already. The car in question is the Red Eagle, a concept from the UK based Stainless Games, its simplicity at its best.

A red powerful sports car with a serrated blade running down the middle like a Mohican of death. Whether it be cows, pensioners, or businessmen, the red eagle was a great place to start your journey into a death race. The car felt heavy and powerful as you tore around the city, attempting to either win the race or run over every pedestrian on the track (yes that was one of the objectives).

Continuing the PC titles, Interstate ‘76 was for me one of the coolest open-world vehicular combat games. In it, you play the part of Groove Champion, a tanned, blonde, handlebar mustache in flares. He inherits the Picard Piranha from his sister who is shot in cold blood in the beginning of the game’s story. Based on the Plymouth Barracuda, it was a hit with a young enthusiast like me but this particular car had armor plating and mounted armaments. A low rumbling V8, striking paint job, and armed to the teeth, it made for some great battles. Interstate ‘76 was like Mad Max 2 without the bondage gear, Fast and Furious but with better acting.

You cruise around early on learning the ropes of car combat with Taurus, your mentor, who drives an absolute barge of a car he likes to call Eloise. I paired the game up with my flight stick utilizing all of the buttons and the “Hat stick” on the top to be able to switch views, giving the ability to drive and shoot out of the window simultaneously. This was at a time where Grand Theft Auto was still from the bird’s eye perspective, so for the time, it was a very immersive game. All in all, you spent quite a lot of time inside that car, you could swap it for something else if you wanted to later on but the Piranha was everything I’d need.

Interstate ’82 did indeed feature a plethora of vehicles including a Delorean but the game was stripped down in favor of a more arcade feel, much like Twisted Metal.

The time of the movie car chase it seems is almost up. We’ll look back all starry-eyed in the future, as cool cats adorning driving gloves battled it out on the streets, shifting gears and making corners look like works of art. Which for me is why the Driver series was such a joy to experience. You play the part of Tanner, an undercover cop who drives a car which very much resembles a black 70’s Buick Skylark. All you need to know about the spec is that its rear wheel drive, the handling is akin to that of a boat, it has shed loads of torque and a rumbling V8.

For anyone old enough to remember the golden era of the car chase, you needed some, if not all of the following; A powerful car, driven by said protagonist, narrow yet good looking streets, boxes and other smashable objects, pursuing cop cars or a menacing looking chase car and finally, pedestrians looking on in terror.

Driver had it all and the physics were good fun, tires squealing, cornering sideways and cops crashing left right and center.

Whether some of these vehicles take you back to fond gaming memories, or you’ve just discovered something you didn’t know existed, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading.

Let me know what vehicles you would have included in the comments below!

The closet I’ve got to owning a movie car was driving the Jeep Cherokee XJ. Made famous by the Fratelli family in the 80’s hit The Goonies. Mama Fratelli is not only the getaway driver but a straight up badass too. She casually nibbles on a cracker whilst her son fires shots at the local police force, after having just broken out of jail.

Chunk eventually stumbles on the Jeep later in the movie and notices the bullet holes in the back from the chase. My dad owned one of these wagons and I had a blast around town a few times, enjoying bucket loads of torque and the rumble of the lazy V8. There’s something about the large armchair like seats, the big controls and the abundance of space. When you drive a big Jeep in the UK it feels bigger than it is because our towns and villages are much smaller than the grand United States. You feel powerful, you feel safe.

One thing is clear about these vehicles, they are up for an adventure. Big enough to throw your BMX in the back, your dog or a couple of henchmen perhaps.

This month’s entry is something a little different, the team at NRW had a suggestion made by a diehard fan who stated that some of his favourite cars had already had a mention but what about the coolest retro off roaders?!

Specifically he asked for a mention of the all American Jeep Wrangler YJ body. But whether it is a YJ or a CJ model, you’ll recognise the body style from the many hundreds of appearances in Hollywood movies, even TV series.

”The Wrangler is arguably an indirect progression from the World War II Willys MB through the Willys civilian Jeeps (Jeep CJ) of the mid-1940s through 1980s that were produced by Kaiser-Jeep and by American Motors Corporation (AMC). Neither AMC nor Chrysler (after it purchased AMC in 1987) have claimed that the Wrangler was a direct descendant of the original military model.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger drove a Jeep Wrangler in the opening scenes of Raw Deal in which he chases down a phoney motorcycle cop through the country, eventually stopping said motorcycle by igniting a fuel soaked portion of road with a cigar, briefly setting him on fire before making his arrest.

You may remember the famous Jeep launch from the intro to the A-team, or more famously the Jeep that Marty McFly hooked onto whilst skateboarding in Back to the Future.

Without doubt one of the baddest 4×4’s was Marty’s truck. The Toyota SR5 specifically, commonly known as the Hilux, has become a legend, but not just because it was waxed up by Biff and driven by our favourite time bandit. The trusty pickup is a global phenomenon, not always for the most favourable reasons, as it is a common sight in the hands of terrorists gangs and lawless rebels. Marty’s truck in particular was allegedly stolen from the US of A and wound up being driven by a Mexican drug gang. But before Spielberg caught inspiration and made BTTF 4, sending Doc and Mr McFly to their untimely deaths fighting drug lords, enthusiasts painstakingly (and thankfully!) restored the truck to its former glory.

Speaking of cool black 4×4’s, some of you may remember as far back as the 1980’s Michael Douglas hit, Romancing the stone. Effectively an action film in which Mr Douglas drags his female co-star through perilous jungle settings avoiding torture and execution, whilst simultaneously keeping her shirt wet and at one point taking a life threatening ride in a modified Ford Bronco.

Funnily enough Michael and crew were being shot at by soldiers driving Jeep Wranglers, who end up crashing into a ravine after a pretty death defying stunt. As a kid I guess there was something infinitely cool about a black V8 truck getting down and dirty in an escape from militant rebels.

There is perhaps nothing more American than a two tone monster truck with an eagle painted on the bonnet, just like the one relentlessly destroyed in The Fall Guy. This GMC truck would put KITT to shame and didn’t even need a turbo boost button to do it, just a baseball cap, a ton of testosterone, and a lead foot. Personified in Colt Seavers.

Colt’s truck was a GMC K-2500 Wideside with all the chrome a man needs. Sadly, even with the magical editing studios of Hollywood, it was quite obvious the same truck wasn’t used for some of the ridiculous jumps seen in the show…still, seeing it actually perform the stunts for real was pretty rad.

Lee Majors, perhaps more famously known for his role as the Six Million Dollar man, went on to marry Farrah Fawcett. He is a certified American legend and no doubt has a the Star Spangled Banner as his doorbell.

In the states I imagine some would argue they loved their trucks more than their cars, and looking back through their automotive history it’s easy to see why that would be a strong debate.

Retro 4×4’s of bullbars and chrome certainly appeal to me but I couldn’t justify single figure MPG and wheels from a tractor.

If you really are a car or truck nerd, check out the automotive equivalent of IMDB…quite aptly called IMCDB.

The Nissan Leaf for example depreciates faster than a Bosendorfer Piano in the hands of blind removal men. My friend gleefully explained that his twelve thousand pound, second hand leaf didn’t cost him a penny to get to the Cotswolds from his apartment in the toxic hell that is London. Driving a Nissan leaf in London to combat pollution is like spitting in a volcano to extinguish it.

Today for a fraction of the price of the Nissan’s rolling tablet, you could drive an older car, maintain it yourself, care about your driving ability and stop yourself entering a life of celibacy. You could buy a Porsche 944.

Porsche engineers took an axe to the gorgeous five litre V8 from the 928, chopped it in half, and added counter-rotating balance shafts for the vibration. It drove better than a 924, stopped well and looked even better. The 944 is my current retro motor and in all honesty I really have fallen for the old girl. Brought to life by the Dutch automobile designer Harm Lagaay (responsible for the 924, 968, and 933, to name a few) he took the 924 and gave it brutal good looks. Handsome yet sexy, stylish but not excessive. What you have here is a real drivers’ car, at home on your local roads but capable of having fun on the track. Modified, the Porsche 944 can be an incredible machine, proving itself internationally in both amateur and professional racing.

There was the standard 944, the turbo, then came the S and finally the S2. Each time, Porsche made improvements, more power, both stopping and pulling, and adding to that power steering and ABS. The final revision S2 was capable of 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 150mph. With handling to match the performance figures, it goes down as one of the most memorable porkers of all time.

My car is a 1984 2.5 LUX, a non power steering, non turbo, square dash model in solid black. When you walk around you’ll first note it’s pretty perfect proportions, gorgeously elegant hips at the rear, the now iconic front end with pop up’s and the period alloys from Porsche sit the car nicely on the ground. As you step closer the soft yet noticeable aroma of fuel & oil mix and for any car fan, it’s enough to make you want to get in and drive for hours.

The body was made at Audi in Neckarsulm, and the engine was manufactured at the Porsche factory in Zuffenhausen. Inside the basic model has everything a driver needs, I recognised some of the controls on the test drive from the VW Scirocco and that isn’t a bad thing. Functional, hardwearing and thankfully they don’t look out of place in the Porsche interior.

Porsche is a part of German history we can appreciate, cars so good in fact, that we can forgive them for their earliest ventures and humbly acknowledge that although we (The British) never like to give up, we can’t build and maintain a motor company for shit. We do however, produce some of the world’s best racing drivers and this can be attributed to the fact we enjoy making roads through our country that look like Korean missile launches. Blind, twisty country roads full of tractors, wildlife and fallen foliage. By the time you’re old enough to drive you’ll have been a passenger long enough to hone your reaction times and understand racing lines.

The 944, thanks to its gearing and near perfect weight distribution (50.7% front/49.3% rear), means that it is at home on both the highways and the byways. There’s good visibility too, with the long sloping rear window and a decent seating position for the windscreen, she’s a joy to drive confidently. I especially like the huge sunroof which is powered to tilt up, this gives you an awesome soundtrack without having to endure the wind rush. Whether it’s solely because the car is as old as me, or the rumours are true, the aerodynamics of the rear end of the 944 appear to bring exhaust gases rolling back towards you, even at speed. I’m hoping it is only an airflow issue and not a leak but legend has it the rear lower diffusers on the 944 were in fact an attempt by Porsche to rectify the issue.

That being said, the mix of octane and your personal choice of fragrance only serves to combine into the classic musk of a race driver and if it was good enough for James Hunt…

I often talk about these cars as if they are one of life’s best kept secrets, like mixing cereals or walking out without paying; but in reality it can be a hardship. A labour of love which has brought me to this point now. I wouldn’t recommend a Porsche 944 for your first classic car, or if you are of a nervous disposition, especially one over thirty years on from conception. Every time you turn that key in the morning and stare at the gauges, it is akin to watching the reels of a gambling machine spin uncontrollably for a few seconds before choosing your fate. Is it going to be triple sevens? Or a couple of cherries? A new oil leak or a fire? Ok fires are pretty rare but you have to bear in mind that the future of cars looks to be riding atop of explosive lithium cells and we’re also going to have enough wind farms to blow the UK closer to Europe. Things could be worse.

When a recent diagnostics was run on my 944 and then test driven, the owner of the garage described my Porsche as “Charming”. Like an ex celebrity from the TV show gladiators, her prime might have been many moons ago but everyone has to respect the impact she made at the time and lasting impression on people who watched and admired.

And that’s it, my personal retro car journey thus far, from my first love to my new lust. Next month I’ll be writing about either something from my wish list, or it could be a surprise!

The 80’s ended long ago, leaving in its wake some of the greatest cars of all time, the best cartoons and TV series, the last genres of music to ever be created along with some rad clothing. Today all we see is rehashing of the music, the films, the clothes and the cars but we’ll never truly get it back. The 90’s bathed in the majesty of the glory days, polishing some of the designs and remixing the music but everyone needed a lot of drugs to get over it. Driving an 80’s classic car does however, bring you a little closer to the magic.

Having completely fallen in love with the design of the Fairlady Z, I wanted to explore more into why this series had become legendary. Nissan kicked off the 1980’s with marketing slogans as cheesy as film tag lines and the Nissan 300zx Z31. With that iconic Z style long bonnet, housing a new V6 turbo charged block, gorgeously angular lines and of course, pop up lights. The Nissan/Datsun Z series had brought many a driver thousands of smiles per hour in the past, a useable, heavily modifiable car, the home grown Japanese tuners love them. Search for “Modified Nissan Z31” and you’ll see anything from murdered out stealth wagons to a Z that resembles a spaceship.

The famed 280zx which came before, had been immortalised as “Streak” from the cartoon series Transformers, confirming its place in the automotive hall of fame. It was time to showcase what Nissan were really capable of.

At the top of the tree would have to be the Shiro special, at the time this was the fastest car out of Japan, clocked at a genuine 153mph by Motor Trend with the limiter off. There was no digital dash as with other high end models but it certainly had more grunt. The three stage moon glow pearl paint and graphite trim is a sight to behold. For you avid retro gamers out there, you’ll recognise the rear end from some of the Chase HQ style titles and later on, it was featured in some Playstation era releases like Gran Turismo. My car in particular was the three litre turbo manual, in a gorgeous metallic blue with matching interior.

I felt at home once again in the soft velour interior, the mixed blue tones complimented the orange glow of the analogue style dash. Night driving was always a pleasure in a Z, looking over at the warm glowing gauges and down to the pop up lights. It was love at first sight and reminiscent of those eccentric, exotic designs caricatured in the Manga films I used to watch as a kid. Nissan had been perfecting the DNA of the Z for some time and what they had achieved here was something exceptional.

You felt sure footed with the five transmission, although sat in the traditional lower position, rather than the slightly raised drivers position in the later Z32, it was perfect for the rest of the cockpit and felt on point. The V6 was as smooth as silk, even coupled with the single Garrett turbo, it was difficult not to open it up and enjoy the pull and the gentle hiss from the front end. But you don’t have to be fast with looks like these, the 300zx has always been a head turner and with its targa roof and long sloping front end, it was difficult not to look twice.

Top of the range and anniversary models had more tricks up its sleeve than Uri Geller. The suspension was adjustable three ways, there was cruise control, air con, fully electric seats, digital dash, voice warnings, G-force, compass readouts and more.

The car overall is heavy but that only serves to give a much smoother ride than some lighter sports GT’s of the time. I think what you have to admire about Nissan is their boldness with the Z series, unlike Porsche who just make their cars wider and quicker. Nissan have expressed a confidence unmatched by many manufacturers with the Fairlady. The Z31 to Z owners of the past probably wouldn’t be blown away by the performance until the the awesome Z32 from ‘89 but attend a classic car show and you’ll probably have the only Z31, it really feels as though it’s in a class of it’s own.

Who would have thought that the movie Turbo Kid would be the most accurate representation of our future world, where by people will have to cycle everywhere in search of supplies. It all makes sense now, once they’ve cut off the supply of fossil fuels and we transition to the silent electric transport of the future, they have control of the juice on a switch. Game over guys, you better go buy the best BMX you can find, you’re gonna need it.

Again I had been seduced by speed. The BMW 520i was a solid car, reliable, cheap to run but i’m late for everything and so, i needed a faster car.

As my passion for anything with wheels from the 80’s grew, I found myself expanding my knowledge of parts and maintenance and decided to take on something a little more exotic.

I looked to some of my childhood memories for inspiration. I recalled how much I adored the Chase HQ series of video games, my first experience of this genre however was Battle Out Run on the SEGA Master System. Simply put, in this title, you drive the renowned Ferrari Testarossa at high speed across the states and literally ram criminals cars until they give up or die. Strangely Mr.T made an appearance in a what looked like a Porsche 911.

This genre became very popular as you can imagine. The lineup of cars were always the coolest picks from the era and for me, the Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo from the Chase HQ series was one of the coolest cars of all time.

The 300zx had proven itself in Japan, actually Z cars had proven themselves time and time again. Initially taking inspiration from the US, they created a sleek series of sports cars reminiscent of some of America’s greats. The Datsun/Nissan designs had huge front ends which was an American tradition, presumably a handy design intent for throwing all sorts of engines in and still having room for things you might have forgotten in the first place.

With the arrival of the Fairlady 300ZX (Z32), Nissan utilised the Cray-II supercomputer and with it, they designed a car that actually housed engine and running gear with only inches to spare. Proportionality near perfect design and aerodynamics that would make a mustang look like a Volvo, Nissan had produced a world beater. My particular Z was the naturally aspirated form and the only thing that remained unchanged from the previous generation 300ZX is the 3.0-liter V6 engine, now with dual overhead camshafts (DOHC), variable valve timing (VVT) and producing a rated 222 hp and 198 lb·ft of torque. This was more than enough for me because with any less MPG I’d be choosing between food or fuel.

The twin turbo model was good for 300 hp along with 283 lb·ft of torque. 0-60 mph in less than 6.5 seconds and it had a governed top speed of 155 mph (249 km/h).

Driving the Z today you can never quite get over just how well it sits on the road, in a word, planted. With a wide wheelbase, low centre of gravity with a silky smooth engine and box, it’s a bit of a time machine. Controls inside are all centred around the driver, everything you need at your fingertips, a bit like an arcade machine. Super car like dials, electric bucket seats and aesthetically pleasing controls finish off the low and well balanced interior.

The Fairlady has a great presence on the road and it should seeing as though it was virtually used to chase criminals. Ironically my Z was used in a scene for the upcoming feature of Retro Grade Future which I can, hand on heart, say will be on par with a one off Baywatch/Knight Rider crossover where Pamela Anderson and the David Hasslehoff hunt sharks off the coast of California using KITT’s laser beam.

To quote from Wikipedia; “Nissan aired a commercial during Super Bowl XXIV in 1990 advertising the new Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo. The 60-second commercial was directed by Ridley Scott and only aired once. Executives at Nissan pulled the commercial after the initial airing when they became concerned the commercial would promote street racing since the commercial features the 300ZX being faster than a sport bike, a formula one car and a fighter jet”

I’m sure Americans wouldn’t believe the Fairlady was capable of mach one…would they? If you wanted a commercial with a little more realism, perhaps one of the greatest Sci-Fi directors of our time wasn’t exactly the ideal option. Mind you I’ve seen older commercials of American cars cornering at high speed, so they are no strangers to fiction.

One day I would love to experience the twin turbo version of the Z and it’s four wheel steering, I’ve been told that battling on the highways of Japan, the 300zx was something you didn’t want to see in your rearview mirror. At high speed, the 300zx can change lanes like a Tron bike, making over takes on the narrow sections of Tokyo’s finest, a walk in the park. Having said that, once it’s past you it’s a good job the back end looks so good because you’ll probably spend a lot of time looking at it.

I personally believe the Nissan Fairlady 300zx Z32 is without doubt one of the best looking cars ever built. Long before a tuner trend kicked off when Paul Walker ruined a Toyota Supra and beat a car from the 70’s, I was firing a Bazooka out of the targa top roof of the 300zx, saving damsels in distress.

It was certainly a pleasure to own and drive one of Japan’s finest road warriors, my curiosity deepened about the Z’s legacy, which will continue in next month’s instalment here at NRW.

It’s the age old question. What car can I buy for the least amount of money with the most amount of speed? My prayers were answered by Germany once again when I stumbled upon the Opel brand and found that their old luxury motors were selling for peanuts in the market place.
I remember seeing the Vauxhall/Opel Senator dressed in police uniform, here in the UK as a kid. If you were a would be thief and you had one of these on your tail, you’d better have a lead foot or balls of steel if you wanted to out run that interceptor.

Trying to follow GM’s global branding is like trying to follow a stabbed cat. One thing to mention now is that in the UK, Opel was often re-branded as Vauxhall with a few exceptions. The car I had found was a 1983 Opel Monza 3.0L E.
Mine was the A2 model, the original ‘A1’ Monza arrived on the scene back in 1978 and was direct competition to the BMW’s and Mercedes of the same class. Looks wise I think the Monza stood up but the first Monza spec and materials had a lot to be desired. Utilizing parts from earlier Opel models like the Rekord, the cloth seats and mountains of plastic, failed to impress the world market.
When the A2 model came out in the 80’s, it had undergone some plastic surgery. Improved lines, as well as having less chrome and more power. Popularity grew for this niche luxury coupe. Germany’s love of David Hasslehoff perhaps inspired the full 80’s package in the GSE model, complete with Recaro seats, on-board computer, digital dash, minus Mr Feeny.

I purchased the Monza from a man who resided in a large caravan who said things like “I got dokments” and “It’s got spenchsions”. He wore shiny black shoes, faded pale blue jeans, a worn out stripy shirt and a casual blazer. Now you’re probably thinking I’m nuts for driving 80’s cars as daily rides anyway but perhaps even more mental for buying a car from a gypsy, with a ten year olds vocabulary.
When I sat in the car, I felt like a pilot of a passenger jet, minus the depression and the hangover. The seat was oversized, spongy and soft, it went well with the even larger dashboard, full of large switches and buttons and dials. The blue velour reminded me of the Mazda and that was only going to be a good thing. Leathers alright if you’re a lizard but for me, it would be velour every time. It remains a fairly normal temperature no matter what the season and in this car, the royal blue of the cloth really set off the interior against the black.

The Monza is a long car, a little over fifteen feet long, so it has quite a presence on the road. It’s deceptive ‘fastback’ look caught me off guard a number of times. I went on a date with a girl who said “Park it in front of the house, there is space”, yeah, if by space you mean the tiny British, Morris Minor sized parking spaces of the 50’s. The car caused pedestrians to walk on the road briefly to get around.
I just loved the look of the fastback coupe though, the over sized tail end and long bonnet was something of a rarity in the UK. Back in its day, this was the kind of car your managing director would pull up in, exiting whilst chatting away on an early mobile phone about business and then later he’d leave you at the car park in plume of smoke in an effortlessly powerful event.

Opels cast iron, three litre, six cylinder lump started first time with no hesitation, the lovely deep roar from the front end and the burbling exhaust notes harmonized quickly to the tune of something quite dignified. This would be my first automatic, obviously a manual would have been preferable…I did really want the famous GSE model but again, this was what I could get with the budget. During the test drive she purred along beautifully, the interior smelt a bit ‘horsey’ for sure and there were cobwebs in the back but I could see the potential. The engine had been rebuilt professionally at some point, I think the mileage of the chassis would have put Neil Armstrong to shame but the work had been put into the car and she held up well.
Excited, nervous but happy enough, I sat with the guy in his fibreglass home whilst he tried to remember how to spell and fill out the appropriate forms.

Driving the Monza for the first time at night was a fairly terrifying experience, butterflies once  again, because I had no idea if the old girl would get me home or not. Once out on the open road, I left the little rural village, flicked on the full beam and cruised all the way back.
Surprisingly the car didn’t miss a beat, only catching me off guard with this strange experience of a car without a clutch. I quite liked it. The steering wheel felt too large at first, like steering a ship, but once I had gotten used to not having to move my hands to change gear, the power steering was a joy. The last stretch of road was the motorway and this is where the car comes into its own, cruising at the speed limit only required an ounce of foot pressure and you’re left to enjoy the low rumble of the strong engine and gearbox, sat in an armchair.

The following day I gave it the once over and checked the fluid levels were correct, before heading out for a decent drive in the sun.
What the Monza lacked in refinements it made up for in comfort and performance. Sure, the three speed Borgwarner gearbox isn’t exactly intelligent or refined but it does the job. Handling wise the Monza will surprise you, the back end never wallows or drifts, the old school heavy duty brakes are more than enough to halt progress quickly and the torque was something that always brought a smile to my face. Even though this car was released the year i was born, I once saw off a Mercedes sport, fifteen years it’s junior, licking 130mph before running out of road.

The heater matrix had packed in, and for the majority of winter I had to drive to work with gloves and a scarf added to my layers, with the windows down to stop them steaming up. I spent roughly twenty four hours over two days installing the new one, once the weather was bearable to work in it.

Sometimes owning a classic car like this is a little like spinning plates but the reward from the blood sweat and tears are some great driving experiences.

I didn’t care that i had acquired the less refined luxury coupe from this era, it looked great from all angles, inside and out. If you park up your car and you don’t look back at it when you walk away, you’ve purchased the wrong car.
The big bad Opel was rare back in the day, so you can imagine how rare it is today. She had already been saved once, engine rebuilt and bodywork stitched up. I did what I could to keep it together but in the end I had to part ways and again, sold it to someone who would give it a good home.

There are people who like 80’s cars and there are people who are wrong. For me personally, not only for their build quality, the ability to maintain them and the rad styling but the fact driving meant something more back then. Car’s were more often the stars of a show, or an extension of the heroes and characters we loved.  The Duke brothers wouldn’t have been half as cool, out running cops whilst smuggling drugs, had they been hopping fences on foot. Today, regular cars are wheeled out in commercials with anything from gunships to fighter jets, with explosions and computer generated effects, to try and impress you but how disappointed are you are when a car rolls over the horizon resembling a stylish breadbin.

My Scriocco was sold but I still had my Kawasaki, so i could take a bit of time choosing my next car. Everyday i set my filters, scrolling through page after page of retro cars. After a week of hard searching on most sale sites, i was about to give up…when my next car suddenly appeared. I’d never seen one of these before and trust me, I could tell you most cars of this era from the headlight alone. Enter, the Mazda 626 ‘Montrose’.

Known to the Japanese market as the Capella, it is more commonly known as the 626, even today. Born originally to compete with the Honda Accord and the Nissan Bluebird, i believe it was superior, just look at it!  My particular model was the Montrose, named in honour of a dealership in Montrose. A rear wheel drive, four cylinder, two litre affair with pillar-less doors, electric windows and blue velor interior.

For some of you readers, this car was perhaps a common sight at one time but on my little island, I don’t think many made it over. As far as I’m aware I had one of only a handful left here in the UK.  When I saw the front end, it reminded me of a retro cop car you’d see in a foreign movie, executing a massive power slide whilst chasing a guy on a dirt bike or something. As far as I can tell, we missed out on many of the great 80’s cars for a multitude of reasons. We’re on an island for one, It’s always raining, so expect rust, and lastly, the French were overrunning us with their farm vehicles. So, with the most important issues addressed, I promptly organised a trip to go and throw money at the man selling it. I boarded the train and with some time to kill, i ran some searches for parts on my phone. Thankfully, a lot of the service parts were still available. Being such a simple machine meant no electronics to fry and most things were accessible with a standard tool kit. As for body work and such like, i’d have more luck finding Bigfoot. I love rare metal and this car was definitely going to require some TLC to keep her running.

I arrived on time and met the guy selling the car at his house, admittedly the car had some work done to it already but that wasn’t a bad thing. The seller wasn’t the guy who partially restored it.

The story goes that the old guy who had owned this for quite some time, sadly passed away. The old Mazda was pulled out of storage and was looking suitably tired. A mechanic came to the rescue, bought the car and set to work on the engine first. Valve clearances, timing, plugs, oil, filters etc. He removed the old Mazda wheels quicker than a prom dress and, in my own opinion, i loved his five spoke replacements. I sat in the car with the seller, it was obvious the interior hadn’t had such special treatment, the old boy was obviously a smoker, a deep musty tobacco aged smell rose from the cloth.  To start the car, the guy turned and reached behind me, pressing a fuel pump button hidden in the carpet (another addition from the mechanic). With the fuel primed, he turned the key and she purred into life. The engine, once warmed ticked over very nicely, no smoke, no knocks…I couldn’t get over the styling of the car, i was so happy it ran well. We took a little tour around the block and the car certainly turned some heads, when we arrived back where we left off, I reached into my pocket and gladly handed over the cash.

I was understandably nervous during the trip home, this car was older than me and i had absolutely no history on paper, only the story that was told by the car itself. There was no overheating, no electrical fires, nothing fell off, nothing. The solid retro steering wheel felt good in my hands, the recirculating ball steering system was a welcomed addition after many thousands of miles in my VW. The gearbox was solid and precise, like something you’d pull out of something exotic, Italian maybe. The two litre engine was certainly enough and the sound of the carburettor and aftermarket airfilter sang a great tune.

At the time Mazda’s advertising slogan was “The more you look, the more you like” and nothing could be closer to the truth with this Mazda. I didn’t do much with car apart from maintain it and clean it up inside and out, bringing out the lovely light blue velour cloth and matching blue carpet. I really felt a coastal theme coming on due to the cars popular locations around the globe and decided to stick a hula girl on the dash to keep me company…this was also a nod to my favorite game at the time, Far Cry 3, set in the islands between the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Driving the Mazda was so much fun through the summers, with the windows down and the cool air circulating around the interior. Everything was just right, from the placement of the high quality switches and dials, to the seats which sat on bed springs. The car drives faultlessly and it was also my first introduction to rear wheel drive. I never got into any real trouble with it because there was only just enough power but it was nice spinning up the correct wheels out of a corner or driveway.

The Mazda was eventually sold to a loving enthusiast who certainly wouldn’t be taking it through the harsh British winters but will garage it and restore it fully, eventually. I was sad to see her go but content in the knowledge this rare automobile from Hiroshima Japan will live on.

Thanks for reading and now enjoy a short video i made of the 626.

Born November in the year 1983, myself, like many other children of the greatest era of all time, spent countless hours perched in front of a twenty something inch CRT television and watched in awe as David Hasselhoff ran over bad guys in a talking Pontiac Trans AM, wearing a pink shirt, medallion and flared trousers. We watched in amazement as B.A Baracus handbrake turned around state troopers in a V8 day wagon, carrying mentally disturbed soldiers of fortune. Jessie Mach caught some serious air on his lethal 300mph turbo bike and well, the rest is history.
I’ve never really owned a car less than thirty years old in the decade of driving so far. Restoring and maintaining my own cars, (namely through lack of funds) because I’m passionate about keeping these machines and the era alive.

So stick on some synthwave, grab a can of your favourite soda and come join me in discovering and learning all about why we love this rare metal from the 1980’s.

Being that in the UK the legal age to drive is seventeen, I reached this milestone in the new millennium. So I had some catching up to do. But before all of this, I had been riding motorcycles around for at least a decade. As a youngster I witnessed John Conner escaping the clutches of the evil T1000, listening to guns and roses on a Honda CR in Terminator 2 Judgement Day. I knew from that moment, I needed wheels, just in case robots with knives for arms try to take over the world. Of course.

After completing the riding missions required to obtain a licence, I rode dirt bikes on the road almost everyday for many years. The sweet smell of two stroke in the air always takes me back. Eventually though the winters here in the UK made me reconsider two wheels and acquire four. Enter, my first car.

Buying an 80’s Volkswagen Scirocco after the year 2000 is like whipping out an abacus in a class of calculators. On paper it’s design is pretty rad looking but in reality it’s a pedestrian nightmare. Shaped perfectly to injury anything, even at low speeds, almost all of it is steel and everything is ‘edgy’. With aerodynamics akin to something you’d find on the battlefield, it was no Ferrari but what it lacked in aerophysics, it made up for in character.

To quote from Wikipedia;
“A hot new car from Volkswagen. As fast and powerful as the desert wind it’s named after.” A Volkswagen brochure for the second generation Scirocco states: “Named after a fierce desert wind, the Scirocco’s front wheel drive and transverse engine contribute to its tracking ability at all speeds.”

At the time I still had a motorcycle, a Kawasaki Ninja…so I was looking for something cheap, cool and reliable. After searching high and low for the newest car for least amount of money, my heart skipped a beat when I laid eyes once again on the Scirocco. Trawling through countless modern city cars was fairly depressing. The Scirocco was a distant memory for me when my dad had a choice between that and the Vauxhall Cavalier SRI. I loved both but in the end he bought the Vauxhall, as it had four doors and better visibility.

I paid £480 for the Volkswagen, by today’s money here in England that’ll get you a loaf of bread and a pint of milk.

The Scirocco was redesigned in the early 80’s after being released in 1974, as the must have sports hatchback. It had already had countless packages and colour schemes, being that it was sold in Europe, Asia and the USA. Big bumpers, chrome bumpers, side skirts, speed stripes and more.
To me it always looked like a compact Delorean and there’s actually a valid reason for that. The man who has touched many automotive designs over the course of recent history is Giogetto Giugiaro. The Giugiaro legend needs recognition at this point. If there is a man who thinks he has more reason to have his face on a bank note, I’d like to meet him and tell him he’s wrong.
Remember that Seiko watch that Ripley wears in Alien? No, you don’t but Giugiaro does because he designed it.

Ferrari, Lamborghini, BMW, not forgetting pretty much every Volkswagon that meant something in the 70’s. From cars to firearms, camera bodies to timepieces, this living etch-a-sketch has taught many of us how to do cool. It was only a few years ago that he retired, leaving in his wake, timeless images and innovations that continue to influence and inspire us lovers of radical design.

Returning to my humble white Scirocco, it had a 1.6L carbureted engine, the four cylinders were certainly enough to make good progress and the long fifth gear (labelled ‘E’ for economy I think) was really useful for motorway mileage.
I needed comfy and this little VW was built for just that. The build quality of the car overall was great, simple to work on, easy to drive…ok so it has no power steering but that is a great workout! (As Arnie would say). Sure, the brakes would probably spook an ex Nam vet but this car isn’t about speed, it’s about style and function of design.

Once i got my head around the basics of maintenance, i set about removing and replacing all of the speakers, which had pretty much turned into something resembling brown baking parchment by this time.
Cruising in a Scirocco with period correct tracks blasting out, was a dream come true. Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Martika, Dire Straits…all of which complemented the drive, the cheap electronics and musty retro aroma from the interior.

I spent a long time in those pinstriped cloth seats. When i bought the car, she had travelled 82,000 miles (130,000Km) since 1988 and I almost doubled this mileage by the time i sold it on. If you’re an enthusiast like me and even for most first time drivers, your first car will always bring you some joy and some headaches but ultimately it’s what gave you some real freedom.
No one cares if you own a new Scirocco but if you drive a retro model, other retro VW owners will wave or give you the thumbs up. Strangers will come and tell you that their uncle had one or that they had one when they were ‘cool’. At that point the correct response is “Wrong stranger, it’s STILL cool!”

Be sure to keep an eye out for the next instalment, where I will be recounting the purchase of my second car which was as rare as hens teeth and cooler than a kid with a Nintendo Power Glove.

BMW is loved throughout the automotive world. However everyone, even those that don’t care about cars, know their biggest weakness: Stylistically thinking inside the box. 

You see, for decades, BMW has played by the rules. They are masters at taking something and making it smooth, luxurious, streamlined, and balanced. Thats how they got the moniker “The Ultimate Driving Machine” They have a wagon, an SUV, a coupe, a cross-over, and of course, plenty of sedans. If they ever wanted a sports car, they would take one of these frames, upgrade the suspension, brakes, and give it a killer engine and transmission. 

But, as stated before, this approach lacks dramatic styling. It leaves the driver with nothing more than an upgraded version of what already exists. 

If BWM breaks the mold every once in a while, the M1 was designed to decimate it. 

Lamborghini and BMW decided to come together to make a super car that they could share together. Similar to today’s Subaru BRZ and Scion FRS. The famed Italian designer of the DeLorean DMC-12 and Lotus Esprit, Gioregetto Giugiaro, took the 1972 BMW Turbo as a platform and went from there. Although breaking new ground, the M1 still has styling nods that you see in an every day BMW. The front bumper facade and grille for example, is a flattened version of what you might see in other BMWs. Even the rear lights have those signature Bimmer touches. Despite all of that, it is completely in its own class. If no logos were present, one would probably not even think it was German. Updating the styling dramatically, the Italians were also in charge of the frame and handling itself. However, the partnership fell though, as Lamborghini didn’t have as much money to put into the project. 

BMW took over and also hired a few disgruntled Italians to come work for them in the process. Vowing to take the car from concept to production, BMW placed one of their famous straight six cylinder engines into this lightweight mid-engine platform. Although only a 6 cylinder, BMW placed 4 valves per cylinder, giving it 273hp. Not bad for a 6 cylinder from the late 70s. The non-street legal version produced by BMW turbocharged the same vehicle to a outstanding 850hp. 

So why haven’t you seen these around or in music videos and bedroom wall posters? Well, BMW only made 433 commercially available. They do exist, but like the Vector, are extremely rare and expensive. 

The average model auctions now for well over $500,000. For $150,000 you can get BMWs insanely fast and hip successor model, the new BMW i8. As for this author, if I was a multimillionaire, I would stick with the M1. It’s got a style and charm unique and all its own. Thats not something you can say for a lot of Bimmers.

Do you ever watch Japanese Anime and see the guy jump into a mech suit? The suit conforms to his body and plugs in mechanically to his biological tendencies? His physical hands and legs control the state of the art machine, but his mind controls the nuances, reactions, and timing. Do you ever wonder what its like to feel like that hero? I say to you, wonder no more. 

As digital and analog worlds combined in the 80s, the technology bled into other aspects of life, including the automotive world. 

As with most of our 80’s cars, the Oil Embargo was still on the mind of manufacturers. Toyota wanted to create something fun to drive while still being economically feasible. Toyota theorized that a mid engine layout would add a sporty feel, while giving balance for increased gas mileage. The SA-X was developed and then debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show as the SV-3. As the car was in test production, Toyota brought in famed Lotus engineer Roger Becker to help with the handling. The end result was the 1985 Toyota MR2.

And what a result it was. For the fraction of the cost, the common man can experience mid engine handling with sporty performance. The MR2 was extremely well received and made Car & Driver as well as Road & Track top 10 list for years. It also won Motor Trend’s Import Car of the Year. 

Superior handling even by todays standards make this car an instant and famous classic. Sitting in the cockpit with the front lights popped up show you just how short the hood is, and where the road actual meets the vehicle. The natural low profile of the car only adds to this euphoria. As driver and engine sit right next to one another in perfect harmony, the car becomes the ultimate extension of ones physical and mental capabilities. 

Although only 112 HP in the states, the lightweight frame and mid engine could get the car from 0-60 in the 8 second range. Much faster than even some of the American V8’s of the day. One upping the V8’s again, the MR2 attained 40mpg. However, 112 HP is hardly super car territory. So in 1988, Toyota introduced the supercharged version. The lightweight frame now had 145 HP and could do 0-60 in 6.5 seconds. 

For the looks of the car, little is known about the design aspect. All we know for now is that it was a team at Toyota in charge of the striking lines and aggressive look of the car. Clearly, it was inspired by Italian and British exotics of the day. Some even say that the first MR2 looks like a Lamborghini….. if they made a $10,000 model. 

MR2’s are still plentiful today. For a few grand, you could get one in more than great shape. This author should know, he’s owned 3 MR2’s himself. If you want all the retro looks, with the feel of something totally new, plug into this 

Put in your quarters, and use the wheel to choose your car. Use the gas pedal to confirm your choice. Lets see… Jeep, Mustang, Beetle…. OH! A fancy Italian looking sports car! Let’s go with that one, it has to be the best, and probably only for professionals. 

In the world of Italian Exotic cars, there are plenty that get attention, but only few that people actually recognize from memory. Today, we are talking about the king of the dream, the Ferrari Testarossa.

In the 80’s Ferrari was looking to improve upon its Berlinetta Boxer. They wanted to make it bigger, better, faster… and most of all, they wanted to release it to the US, as the BB never made it to American soil. In doing so, they took a famous Ferrari name (the 1957 Testa Rossa) and made two words one. 

The old BB was known for overheating, so much so that the interior itself would feel like sitting a furnace. To remedy this, Ferrari added a whopping 3 different radiators to keep it cool. Extra space was needed for this and the old BB was a little cramped to begin with so they essentially had to redesign a car from the ground up. 

Little did they know, they would be creating an icon at the same time. 

Ferrari used a F12 (flat 12) cylinder as opposed to a V12. The flat orientation of the engine provides a naturally lower center of gravity. The 4.9 liter produced a impressive 390 HP. Zero to 60 in 5.2 seconds, and a quarter mile in 13.5 seconds. Not bad considering the many many mundane options of the 1980’s. 

The Pininfarina design caught the eye of not only would be customers, but the hearts of Americans as it speed along high speed pop culture. 

The Testarossa began is insane popularity on the hit show Miami Vice. This relationship of man and car continued on throughout the years as many prominent celebrities bought and owned Testarossa’s. You can also find the Testarossa on the cover art of much of Kavinskys Outrun album. 

From SEGA’s Out Run to Midway’s Cruis’n USA, the Testarossa was specifically featured in over 33 video games. It was included in even far more video games as a caricature, without licensing agreements. However, there is no mistaking the low profile and side strakes. 

In TV, music, video games, and real life, the Testarossa will always live on in the psyche of every retro head out there. With $150,00 or so, like Billy Ocean, you can get out of your dreams and get into this car. 

OK so back in March, we got a good look at an American attempt to capture the hearts of exotic buyers: The Vector W2. We all know that didn’t turn out so profitable or become the everyday symbol of an American supercar they were hoping for.

Maybe it was too much, too soon? People didn’t readily have $150,000 to spend, or really need the 600HP.  The dream may have ended for Vector, but the American mid-engine would stay alive, via a very different turn. 

In the late 70’s and early 80’s, GM started looking into a Corvette stable-mate. The only problem was, they were dealing with the now infamous Oil Crisis. Gone were the days of massive engines and raw horsepower. Now, everyone needed fuel economy and proper emissions. Suddenly GM found itself in the middle of trying to please government officials and buyers at the same time. 

Their answer was one single latin word: Fiero.

If the Fiero was to be a food dish for the consumers taste, the recipe would be; dramatic styling, nimble frame, and a mid-ship engine. A two seater with a beefy 2.5L four cylinder engine that had amazing exotic sports car looks, with an astounding potential of 40MPG on the freeway. 

With the foundational backing of a major world company like GM, and a price tag of just $13,499 its no wonder the Fiero spread like fire and wedged in its way to become a piece of Americana. 

The sales figures and success of the brand would have makers like Vector spinning in its grave! Even Hall & Oates approved!

But alas, not all was well in paradise. The Fiero was meant to live up to emission and fuel economy standards, not to sucker punch Italians on the track. Many felt the car was all show and no go. Even the exquisite handling people would come to expect from a mid-engine car; was just not there. 

Yes, unfortunately, there were some unhealthy ingredients in this recipe too. The ever penny pinching GM took parts and suspension from the Chevette and Citation to build the Fiero. Neither car was ever in the hall of fame for anything noteworthy, so those parts continued to drag down the Fiero. The fuel economy too, had a downside. To attain such MPG, it came at the sacrifice of power. 

The car was still a success, and GM was determined to keep the customers happy. In 1985, they outsold the Toyota MR2 in America by more than double. It was time to walk the walk so they added a V6 option. Later, they upgraded the handling and suspension. A turbo version was also in the works. 

But just as Vector W2 suffered from being too much, too soon; the Pontiac Fiero suffered from a case of too little, too late. 

The final curtain call for this gorgeous 2 seater was in 1988. Today the Fiero lives on as an icon in style and charisma. Many clubs and forums are dedicated to restoring this car to its former glory and then some. There are also more kit cars made from Fiero’s than any other frame available, save it be the Volkswagen Beetle. 

Luckily this day in age, they can be found and bought, as there are plenty available. And the entry cost of even a well taken care of model shouldn’t break the bank. If there’s room in your heart, or your garage, a Fiero is waiting to be your sunset escape.