Rare Rides: The 1997 Tatra 700, One Last Hurrah

Rare Rides featured exactly one Tatra automobile previously, and it was the grandfather of today’s subject. While today’s blue beauty doesn’t have the state authority and terrorist provenance of the black Tatra displayed on these pages before, it’s important for a different reason: It was the last attempt Tatra made to sell a passenger car.

Read more
Rare Rides: The 1971 Tatra 2-603 II, East Germany's Stasi Transport

Today’s Rare Ride has a checkered history, as it served as quiet shuttle for secret police and terrorist spies alike. Let’s find out more about this rear-engine Czechoslovakian V8 luxury car.

Read more
Rare Rides: This Skoda 120 From 1985 is Red, Like the Communism That Built It
Late last week, on our Rare Rides entry for the Renault Alliance GTA, commenter scott25 alerted me to a Skoda he spotted on Kijiji (which is what eBay is called in Canada or something). As most people in North America have likely never seen a Skoda, this odd little sedan should do nicely as today’s Rare Ride.Come along, comrades.
Read more
Trackday Diaries: Have to See a Man About a Dog.

“Say, Rodney,” I inquired via phone, “I wonder if you might be interested in helping me look at a Town Car in Pataskala for a guy in Czechoslovakia.”

I wonder,” Rodney responded, “if you might be interested in bringing a pair of motherf**king McChicken sandwiches over to where I’m staying at so that it might lubricate my willingness to perform this inspection. And remember, I said two McChickens, you cheap cracker.”

Read more
What Kind of Person Would Sell a Communist Car?

At the height of the Second Red Scare, a Southern California man named Willy Witkins imported and sold East German Wartburgs and Škodas. The hate mail came rolling in.

Read more
  • 3-On-The-Tree I was never a fan of the newer dodge products but it’s still a shame that all the OEM’s are moving away from V8’s to turbo V6 and V4’s all in the name of emissions and better mpg.
  • FreedMike I like the idea of EVs, but the idea that they're going to achieve 100% market penetration was a fantasy to begin with. Also worth noting; Cadillac is on track to sell well over 20,000 Lyriqs this year. Not too shabby. https://www.coxautoinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Q1-2024-Kelley-Blue-Book-Electric-Vehicle-Sales-Report.pdf
  • MaintenanceCosts This engine is a lot less interesting in a nearly-6000-pound Durango than in a 4400-pound Charger. I’ve never understood why this gen of Durango weighs in as heavy as a Wagoneer.
  • Aja8888 I knew this would happen sooner or later. Others will follow.
  • ToolGuy I read in TTAC that EVs are useless and dead, just sayin.