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Classic Car Showcase

• Barracudas Incarnate

  Thomas Wolfe’s novel, “You Can’t Go Home Again,” lamented a changing America and the impossibility of revisiting one’s roots. That doesn’t keep people from trying anyway, especially when it comes to c... Read More

• Ride of the Phaeton

  A common joke among hot rodders is that there are at least 10 times as many ’32 Fords on the road today than there were when the car was new. Actually, there are probably way more than that number, if... Read More

• Manx Mania

  What sand-encrusted off-roader hasn't heard of Bruce Meyers, the Mac Daddy of all dune buggies? His Manx is arguably one of the most significant vehicles of the last century, not only for its... Read More

• Great American Designers

  Every mass-production car manufacturer has an army of stylists sculpting new models to match an image that hopefully will appeal to the public. There is simply too much that has to be designed for... Read More

• Independent Rear Suspension Install

  In Ford's four decades of producing Mustangs, nearly all of them have come equipped with a live-axle rear end. Not that there's anything wrong with a straight axle—it's sturdy, inexpensive, and... Read More

• Shelby's Racers

  Since the early 1960s, Carroll Shelby has built some of the fastest, most outrageous automobiles ever to hit the streets. Yet the real reason he's a household name today is that he backed up his... Read More

• Restoring a Rare '32 Nash, Part 1

  Certain types of resto projects have become so common that aftermarket companies now make specific replacement parts for them. The '32 Ford, '57 Chevy, and early Camaros and Mustangs are obvious... Read More

• Affordable Corvettes

  One of the reasons Corvettes are so popular is that they've always been medium-priced sports cars with high-end performance. For instance, a new 2005 model costs about the same as a BMW Z4 or a... Read More

• Trans-Am Racers: 1973-1995

  The Trans-Am series has been around for 39 years, and seems to be poised to continue for 39 more. In our first installment, we revisited the glory years of the series from 1966 to 1972, and gave some... Read More

• Trans-Am Racers: 1966-1972

  Until the mid-1960s, road racing in America had been the province of European sports cars and the Corvette. They were nimble, sophisticated and attractive, with brakes that would slam you against the... Read More

• The Evolution of the Pickup Truck

  Some say Gottlieb Daimler's 1896 "vehicle no. 42," which looked like a horse-drawn wagon without the horses, was the first truck. Daimler claimed its four-horsepower, 1.1-liter, two-cylinder engine... Read More

• Affordable Exotics: Porsches

  In this series, Affordable Exotics, we'll be focusing on, well, exotic cars, but not those that are made of "unobtanium." Instead, we'll draw attention to high-performance machines that regular folks... Read More

• A True Roll Model, Part 2

  Among Oldsmobile's many vehicles, there was definitely one car that earned its own page in automotive history, and that was the Toronado. The first U.S.-built, "modern-day" car to offer front wheel... Read More

• A True Roll Model, Part 1

  According to authors Al Ries and Laura Ries, there are "22 Immutable Laws of Branding." Number 21 is the Law of Mortality, which states that "no brand will live forever. Euthanasia is often the best... Read More

• The Murphy Auto Museum

  Certainly if you are a car lover you have fantasized about amassing your own collection of fine automobiles. Well...if you had the means to create the assemblage of some of your favorite cars, what... Read More

• Musclecar Heaven

  If you are a child of the '60s or '70s (or even an adult from that era), you likely have some great memories of a time when horsepower and passion ruled the roads. One such child is Steve Barcak. A... Read More

• The Mini Evolution

  The new MINI has grabbed attention all over the world for its clever styling, excellent handling and reasonable ergonomics for such a small car. All of which sounds familiar to longtime fans who... Read More

• Hummer History

  Even though the Jeep was the motorized symbol of the American army during WWII and the Korean War, by the 1970s it had become obsolete. The military needed a new general-purpose vehicle efficient at... Read More

• Cat's Meow

  It's hard to imagine a car today having the kind of impact on modern culture that the XKE had in the early 1960s. It was a wild and free time—mini skirts, French bikinis, Andy Warhol and the... Read More

• Engine Rebuild and Refurbish

  Anybody who's done a comprehensive resto project knows that it doesn't always follow a straight line, nor a precise timetable. You might thrash on it for several weekends in a row and then let it sit... Read More

• Running Gear Resto

  Nobody ever claimed that a 1965 GTO was a great handling car. Powerful and impressive, and smooth riding, too, but the chassis lumbered around corners and lacked sufficient braking power by today's... Read More

• The True High Rollers

  Las Vegas has been remade so many times, regular visitors need a scorecard or a nav system to keep track of everything going on. Look overhead these days and a sleek new monorail glides ever so... Read More

• The Advanced Avanti

  The trend-setting Avanti was not only the product of the foremost industrial designer in American history, but also from an automobile company that seemingly couldn't do anything right. The designer... Read More

• Preserving a 1975 Porsche 914

  Scenario: A 1975 Porsche 914 sits in your garage, the product of true impulse buying. The boxy little two-seater with its mid-mounted air-cooled 4-cylinder engine is a true European sports car... Read More

• Mopar Muscle

  When Chrysler Corporation fans think about power, the first thing that comes to mind is the Hemi. Which is a pity, really, since Chrysler has made dozens of great engines without those famed... Read More

• Collectible Sports Cars-Activities

  In the first two parts of this series we covered some of the better classic sports cars on the market, and explained how to check their condition prior to purchase. If everything has gone according... Read More

• Highlights in the History of the Pontiac GTO

  The GTO was born in 1964 as a result of Pontiac being forced out of active participation in racing. They needed a news-making product. It was created by the simple installation of a 389 cu. in. V-8... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1964-1966 Honda S600

  Honda's 2004 S2000 benefits from a displacement increase to 2.2-liters. This uncompromising sports roadster zips to 60 mph in well under six seconds, nudges the 150-mph mark and cheerfully revs past... Read More

• The Immortal Corvette: 1997-2003

  The groundwork for the 1997 C-5 (fifth generation) Corvette was laid in 1989 when the Corvette design team began thinking of ways to make a more rigid Corvette. The 1986 convertible looked great, but... Read More

• Ford Mustang: 1994-2004

  The all-new 1993 Chevy Camaro really got Ford's attention. It was fast, attractive and aggressively priced to take on the Mustang. Although the 1993 Mustang was a competent performer, the styling was... Read More

• Ford Mustang: 1979-1993

  Hard-core Mustang enthusiasts tend to think of the Mustang II era as the "dark ages" of Mustang history. Slow, gaudy and sloppily assembled, it did not live up to the image set by the earlier cars.... Read More

• Ford Mustang: 1974-1978

  By the end of 1973, the once-mighty Mustang was on the ropes. The ponycar segment was crowded with rivals from General Motors, American Motors, Chrysler and even Mercury. Also, with increased gas... Read More

• The Immortal Corvette: 1984-1996

  The all-new 1984 Corvette came at a painful time for General Motors. GM had been hemorrhaging red ink for some time and was reluctant to spend money on a re-design when the old Corvette was still... Read More

• The Immortal Corvette: 1968-1982

  Corvette enthusiasts were expecting something big in 1968. The Sting Ray had been exciting and much-loved, but there were rumors of a mid-engine monster that would put the Cobras to shame. Instead,... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1957-59 Dodge Sweptside D100

  To qualify as "modern classics," we choose vehicles, which are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars or trucks many people would love to... Read More

• Ford Mustang: 1967-1973

  From 1964 to 1966 the Mustang fired up the ponycar fad and blasted sales records for a new car introduction. Except for a weak challenge from the first-generation Barracuda, the Mustang had the... Read More

• Ford Mustang: 1964-1966

  In 1964 the American car scene didn't have too many stars. The expensive Corvette held sway at Chevrolet, but the much-hyped Corvair had more potential than performance. The lovely Avanti had... Read More

• The Immortal Corvette: 1963-1967

  In the first part of this series, we covered the birth of the Corvette, and the changes made from the 1953 to '62 models. Here, we'll tell the story of the Sting Rays that followed. By 1961, the... Read More

• The Immortal Corvette: 1953-1962

  It's hard to imagine the American automotive scene without the Corvette. The Vette has sold by the tens of thousands, won hundreds of races, starred in the television show Route 66 and was hailed by... Read More

• History of the Z-Car

  As anyone who has seen "The Fast and Furious" movies knows, Japanese cars are now in the front lines of the performance wars. Super Supras, hellacious Hondas and massaged Mazdas are routinely running... Read More

• Bye Bye Beetle

  An automotive legend passed into history on July 30, 2003 when the last original-design Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the assembly line in Puebla, Mexico. After nearly 70 years and over 21.5 million... Read More

• Modern Classic: Lamborghini 350 GT

  To qualify as "modern classics," we choose vehicles, which are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars many people would love to have:... Read More

• One Grand Sport

  Corvette enthusiasts already know the story of the Grand Sport, but it's worth retelling. Back in the Sixties, the Ford-powered Shelby Cobra was just beginning to dominate road-course racing. In... Read More

• Cobra Day @ The Pete

  It all started on January 11, 1923 in Leesburg, Texas. That was the day one of the world's greatest racers and automotive entrepreneurs was born, Carroll Hall Shelby.... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1957 BMW Isetta 300

  To qualify as "modern classics," we choose vehicles, which are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars many people would love to have:... Read More

• GTO Upholstery Resto

  We've already covered several aspects of the "restification" of this particular '65 Pontiac GTO, from suspension mods to bodywork; but, before we get into the interior (literally), we should step... Read More

• Rolls-Royce: A Century of Elegance

  They are not the fastest, or the best handling, or the most technologically advanced cars in the world. Yet, almost every modern-day king and queen has been chauffeured in them. Movie stars are... Read More

• Driving the Porsche 917K

  How often do you get a chance to climb into the cockpit of a Porsche racecar and run a few hot laps? And in a historically significant one no less, a breakthrough design that changed the image of... Read More

• Modern Classic: Nash Metropolitan

  To qualify as "modern classics," we choose vehicles, which are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars many people would love to have:... Read More

• Modern Classic: Vincent Black Shadow

  To qualify as "modern classics," we choose vehicles, which are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars many people would love to have:... Read More

• Modern Classic: Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

  To qualify as a "modern classic," we choose vehicles, which are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars many people would love to have:... Read More

• Mustang GT350 Restomod 4

  Having covered the mods on the drivetrain, chassis, and interior of Dan Holm's GT350-style conversion of a '67 Mustang, it's time to take a look at the tweaking directed at the exhaust system. As... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible

  To qualify as a "modern classic," we choose vehicles that are comparatively affordable now, and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars many people would love to have:... Read More

• Bringing a 1966 GTO Back to Life

  Pontiac historians are well aware that the original GeeTO Tigers were part and parcel of a grand marketing scheme designed in the mid 1960s by Jim Wangers, co-creator of the GTO and former Pontiac... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1953 Sunbeam Alpine Sports

  To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• Mustang GT350 Restomod 3

  As mentioned in our initial installment, the Shelby GT350 wasn't named for its engine size, as is typical for many cars. Instead, back in 1965 Carroll Shelby had grown weary in a lengthy meeting... Read More

• Mustang GT350 Restomod 2

  In the first article about this GT350 lookalike, we covered how to modify a 1965 Mustang so the chassis performs as well or better than the original Shelby. Now we move on to the drivetrain, from the... Read More

• Mustang GT350 Restomod 1

  Actually, the car shown here is not an authentic Shelby GT350, but a re-creation like so many thousands of others produced over the years. In comparison to the paltry number of original GT350s... Read More

• Corvette Resto: The Body

  For the final installment on the restoration of the '64 Corvette Coupe owned by Milton Lewis, we get into an area that most auto enthusiasts may not be familiar with: fiberglass bodywork. Maybe you... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1962 BMW 1500

  To qualify as a "modern classics," vehicles are chosen based upon comparative affordability now and that we think will increase in value over time. They are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• Corvette Restoration: The Chassis

  In our first installment about the restoration of a classic Corvette, we introduced you to Milton Lewis and his silver-blue '64 Coupe. We covered a bit about the history of the car, the engine, and... Read More

• Corvette Restoration: The Engine

  When it comes to restoring a classic Corvette, making it "better than new" is not always the best approach, at least if you plan on entering a competition for the NCRS (National Corvette Restoration... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1955-58 Porsche Speedster

  Porsche's beloved Speedster started life as a "stripper." New York Dealer/entrepreneur Max Hoffman convinced Ferry Porsche there was a market for a low-priced roadster that could easily be converted... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1967-74 Saab Sonett

  To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• 1969 Camaro Z/28 Identification

  The Chevrolet Z/28 is genuinely a legend in its own time. Conceived by Chevrolet engineer Vince Piggins, the car was Chevy's entry into the new Trans-Am racing series in the mid-Sixties. Battling... Read More

• Modern Classic: Fiat 124

  To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• Modern Classic: Camaro Z28

  To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now which we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• Custom Car Culture

  Whether you call them Customs or Kustoms, these unique and unusual vehicles have carved out a colorful and fascinating niche in the hot rod arena since their roots in the 1940s. Today, they're more... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1955-62 MGA

  To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1949-51 Mercury Coupe

  To qualify as "modern classics," we've chosen vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• Hurst Wheels

  In January of 1965, a press conference was held in Los Angeles announcing the introduction of the all-new Hurst automotive wheels. George Hurst, the manufacturer of the famous Hurst shifters, and,... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1982 DeLorean DMC-12

  To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1955-63 Mercedes-Benz 190SL

  To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1956 DeSoto Adventurer

  To qualify as a "modern classic," we've chosen vehicles that are comparatively affordable now that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars many people would love to... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1969 Triumph TR6

  To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• Modern Classic: Volvo PV544

  To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1956 Plymouth Fury Special 8

  To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1976 Porsche 912E

  To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1949-53 MG TD

  To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• Modern Classic: 1962-'70 Datsun Roadsters

  To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have:... Read More

• Modern Classic: '64 Pontiac GTO

  Editor's Note: Ken Gross is a well-known and respected automotive journalist whose expertise extends from new cars to vintage hot rods. He may be best known for his knowledge of classic cars and as... Read More

• Modern Classic: '73-'76 Lamborghini Espada III

  Editor's Note: Ken Gross is a well-known and respected automotive journalist whose expertise extends from new cars to vintage hot rods. He may be best known for his knowledge of classic cars. We... Read More

• Hot Rods Today

  Today, the term "hot rod" has many a different interpretation. Let's call those interpretations "factions." And within each faction, there are subcategories.... Read More

• The Story of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth

  Few car cult figures are as renowned as Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. Born in Beverly Hills in 1932, Roth came of age in post-war Southern California, the cultural epicenter of hot rodding. During the 1960s,... Read More

• In Memory of John DeLorean

  John DeLorean was the best automobile man I ever worked with.... Read More

• Total Package GT 350 Set To Kill

  The 1965 Shelby GT 350 was a trick ride right out of the box. You've read about them, seen them, heard the rollicking idle sing from the pipes like so much adolescent thunder. Lots of GT 350s were... Read More

• In Your DreamZ

  Looking back at the Datsun 240Z, its place in sports car history as a genuine classic collectible is clear. Yet the benefit of 20/20 hindsight has also motivated a number of Z-car owners to rewrite... Read More

• Camaro: 35 Years of Performance

  Camaro Gen III arrived with great fanfare for 1982. In Z28 form, it graced the covers of nearly every auto magazine, paced that year's Indy 500 and was named Motor Trend's Car of the Year. "Our... Read More

• Camaro: 35 Years of Performance

  Summer, 1964. GM Design Vice President William L. "Bill" Mitchell is holding forth to a group of young engineers. "When will GM have an answer for the Mustang," he is asked.... Read More

• Ragen '40 Ford

  Rock stars don't always live on the road, but some have a love for it, especially if they own one really righteous street rod, like guitar bassist Michael Anthony of the rock group Van Halen. He... Read More

• Reworking a Ranger

  Even though Ford's F-150 full-size gets all the attention as the number one selling vehicle in America for the last 20 years, its smaller sibling the Ranger is no wallflower in the truck popularity... Read More

• Wrangler Wrangler

  Looking at the storied history of the Jeep, this versatile vehicle has been modified in more ways than its designers ever thought possible. From its initial conception as a WWII scout vehicle to... Read More

• Coddington's Boydster II

  Boyd Coddington is known for creating an astounding range of celebrity hot rods, such as Led Zephyr, Che'Zoom, and CadZZilla owned by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Yet, how many people ever get to... Read More

• Billy Gibbons' Slampala

  If you were a rock star, what kind of car would you drive? Anyone you want! And that's exactly the choice of Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, "that little ol' band from Texas." Seen in his music videos and... Read More

• Lightning Strikes Thunderbird

  No Thunderbird enthusiast will ever forget that famous scene in "American Graffiti" where a mysterious, platinum blonde Suzanne Somers coyly smiled from behind the wheel of a porthole T-Bird. It's... Read More

• Chris Titus Talks Cars

  Chris Titus, star of the Fox TV series that bears his name, is a case of art imitating life—and vice versa. The premise of his manic, whacked-out show revolves around his real-life passion for... Read More

• Anatomy of the Musclecar

  Editor's Note: Co-creator of the Pontiac GTO and several other Pontiac specialty cars, Jim Wangers, also known as the "Godfather of the GTO," helped establish the "musclecar" of the Sixties to its... Read More