While almost everyone relates a Jeep CJ-5 to fun, it’s not on anybody’s bingo card to relate it to good fuel mileage. Nevertheless, that’s what Jeep did in their commercials in 1980, bragging that the CJ offered “21 MPG.”… more»
Cottage Convertible: 1991 Dodge Shadow
Is this just not the perkiest convertible you could buy right now under $5,000? The Dodge Shadow is one of America’s great, cheap summer runabouts, a vehicle segment I opine about often that simply doesn’t exist anymore. I’m no… more»
Roadster Project: 1987 Ford Mustang ASC/McLaren
The Ford Mustang ASC/McLaren remains one of those unusual collector cars that is both entirely appealing due to its usability and affordable running gear, but also sort of a question mark. In the case of the car shown here,… more»
• For Sale • 5 Comments
31k Original Miles: 1979 Ford Pinto Runabout
I acknowledge that the 1979 Ford Pinto Runabout is unlikely to appear on many people’s list of the ten most popular classics in automotive history. However, most readers will agree that even the most mundane vehicles can draw attention… more»
• For Sale • 6 Comments
Rust-Free Drop-Top: 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 XL Convertible
This 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 XL Convertible is a stunning classic with no apparent needs. Its presentation is first-rate, while its mechanical specifications should provide an effortless driving experience. However, for those seeking more power, the seller provides an… more»
• For Sale • 3 Comments
Malaise Era Survivor! 1977 Dodge Aspen Special Edition
The mid 1970s brought a gas crisis and a deluge of regulations, whipsawing domestic auto makers already struggling with import competition. Corporate managements responded by hastily devising emissions controls, strangling performance to boost fuel economy, and downsizing across product… more»
• For Sale • 8 Comments
350/3-Speed: 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS
This 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS proves that there are promising project candidates hidden in barns and sheds across the country. It features its original drivetrain and is a rock-solid survivor with an unusual interior feature. Its needs are essentially… more»
• For Sale • 8 Comments
Numbers Matching: 1973 Plymouth Road Runner
The second generation of the Plymouth Road Runner (1971-74) saw a decline in performance compared to the first batch (1968-70). But it was an industry-wide thing as engines were being detuned for lower emissions. By 1973, a 318 V8… more»
• For Sale • 17 Comments
1 of 2,061: 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega
The 1970s Chevy Vega is a largely forgettable car. Unless you happen to have a 1975-76 Cosworth Vega, which had a performance DOHC head. And while more than two million Vegas were produced from 1971 to 1977, only 3,500… more»
• For Sale • 12 Comments
Last Big Drop-Top: 1975 Pontiac Grand Ville
From 1971 to 1975, the Grand Ville was the top-of-the-line full-size Pontiac. It had temporarily replaced the Bonneville, which would re-emerge at the top later. The 1975 model year marked the end of all big GM convertibles, except for… more»
• For Sale • 15 Comments
Sport Sedan Project: 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle
From its introduction in 1964, the Chevelle quickly became Chevrolet’s second-best-selling line of automobiles. And held on to that spot for many years to come. That included the Malibu Sport Sedan, which was Chevy-speak for a 4-door hardtop. This… more»
• For Sale • 11 Comments
Restored Rokon: 1964 Rokon Trail-Breaker 2×2
We’ve seen 18 examples of the very unusual Rokon motorcycle here on Barn Finds over the last decade. Oddly enough, I’ve written about all of them, and here is #19! One of the motorcycles was a rear-drive only RT-140,… more»
• For Sale • 8 Comments
25k Mile No-Reserve Rolls: 1976 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
In the mid-1960’s I owned a Rolls-Royce Phantom V. What a car. It was champagne in color with a white inerior. Oh, and one other detail: it was the first Matchbox car that I purchased. Even though I was… more»
• For Sale • 10 Comments
Highly Original Cruiser: 1983 Dodge Conversion Van
One of the fads in automotive history I wish would make a comeback is the van craze, which started to become noteworthy in the early seventies and flourished until around the mid-eighties. Customizing a van was once considered a… more»
• For Sale • 7 Comments
58K Miles: 1968 Buick Special Deluxe Sedan
I’ve seen the argument that the Buick Special was the beginning of the end for the “Sloan Ladder,” which promised a car for every purse and purpose. As the happy owner of a ’53 Special myself, I’d hate to… more»
• For Sale • 5 Comments
Project Pedal Car: 1960s Garton “Tin Lizzie”
Pedal cars date back to about the time cars were first invented, sometime in the 1890s. The first of their ilk were built with wood bodies and steel underpinnings, often by bicycle manufacturers. Most were chain drive, and like… more»
