Unfortunately, owing to poor trading conditions caused by a global economic recession, over the winter of 1991-1992 BMW elected to abandon its plans for an M1 successor after Ital Design had…
Read MoreAs a consequence of an exclusivity agreement for production models signed by Ferrari and Pininfarina in late 1952, other Italian coachbuilders rarely got a look in when it came to creating…
Read MoreBy the early 1990s, Porsche’s sales had tumbled to a fraction of their mid 1980s peak. A perfect storm of unfavourable exchange rates, outdated models and a tarnished image was compounded by a…
Read MoreZagato’s first collaboration with Automobili Lamborghini happened in a semi-official capacity during 1965. At the time, Ferruccio Lamborghini’s auto maker had just got up to speed with production of…
Read MoreSoon after the SZ had been launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1989, Alfa Romeo turned their attention to creating a more conventionally styled flagship that could be sold in greater…
Read MoreIn 1993, Ferdinand Piech became Chairman of the Volkswagen Group. Volkswagen had already taken control of Audi in 1965 and SEAT in 1986. In 1994, soon after Piech’s arrival, the Volkswagen Group…
Read MoreThanks principally to the iconic Quattro, Audi began to transform their image from builder of pedestrian utility vehicles to prestige brand. As the 1990s dawned, machinery that bore the famous…
Read MoreBy the early 1990s, Audi were faced with the dilemma of how to replace their flagship Quattro. Since its introduction at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1980, the Quattro had transformed…
Read MoreFollowing the 1955 Le Mans disaster, when Pierre Levegh’s 300 SLR crashed into the crowd killing 83 spectators, Mercedes-Benz withdrew from motor racing. Aside from the odd long-distance…
Read MoreJust a few weeks after work had started on a successor for the Jalpa, Automobili Lamborghini was sold to Chrysler. The company had been saved from bankruptcy in 1980 by Swiss industrialists…
Read MoreAlthough the E26 M1 ultimately received critical acclaim on account of its styling, build quality, driving dynamics and overall performance, BMW’s first attempt at creating a mid-engined two-seat…
Read MoreRomano Artioli’s dream of a revived Bugatti brand ended in September 1995 when the firm closed its doors and filed for bankruptcy. Artioli had built a state-of-the-art factory in Campogalliano, eight…
Read MoreBy the early 1980s, BMW’s bankruptcy fears of around 25 years prior had long been forgotten as the Munich firm transformed itself into an industrial powerhouse admired the world over. However, one…
Read MoreIn early, 1989 Bugatti took delivery of the first prototype chassis for their new EB110 supercar. Manufactured by Aerospatiale in France, chassis 110-0000 was one of five prototype monocoques…
Read MoreThe late 1980s saw several manufacturers try to muscle in on the booming premium car market. New firms like Cizeta and MCA were established while major companies including McLaren and Yamaha…
Read MoreAfter Maserati was acquired by Alessandro de Tomaso in 1975, the company (backed by substantial government investment) began to move away from its traditional line of exclusive high performance…
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