Fintail Project: 1964 Mercedes-Benz 190c

I am eternally envious of those forward thinkers who can measure their land in acres. As a city dweller myself, I have to get a little creative with storage; I’m doing better than most, but life is still a… more»

Four-Speed Short Bed: 1969 Ford F-100 Ranger

The archetypal hero of literature and cinema is the strong, silent type, but that motif perhaps shouldn’t extend to salesmanship. This is the exact text of the craigslist ad for this ’69 Ford: “1969 ford ranger f100 asking 15,000… more»

Drive or Restore?: 1970 Chevrolet Suburban

Suburban fans among our readers might already know that you couldn’t buy a four-door Chevy Suburban until the Squarebody was introduced in 1973, and Chevy seemed to understand that a three-door wagon was a deficiency, because only the Panel… more»

351 Cleveland/Three-Speed: 1970 Ford Fairlane 500 Wagon

In the car world, it’s sometimes hard to know when another car person is pulling your leg. I glaze over and start looking for the exits when I hear someone exaggerating horsepower numbers or talking about their mom’s ’62… more»

One Family Owned: 1966 Pontiac Catalina Convertible

I’m happy to be non-denominational in my love of old cars. My collection includes at least one car from each of the Big Three, and I can honestly say that I’m not a Ford guy, a GM guy, or… more»

Runs and Drives Great! 1985 Plymouth Reliant

It just occurred to me that the name “Reliant” as used on the Plymouth K-Car sends the wrong message. It sounds like “reliable,” which was most likely Chrysler’s intention, but it actually means “to rely on someone.” Therefore, Chrysler inadvertently implied… more»

Runs and Drives: 1959 Sunbeam Rapier Convertible

Sunbeam was a long-lived British marque that was bought up by the Rootes Group in 1934 before eventually finding its way under the Chrysler Europe banner (of all things). They made cool little cars such as the Alpine, the… more»

“True Survivor”: 1963 Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass

The early 1960s were an interesting time for General Motors engineering, and much of their most offbeat ideas were centered around their new compacts: The Corvair, Tempest’s “rope drive,” the aluminum V8, the Buick V6 and Pontiac’s “half a… more»

Everything Works: 1965 Ford F-100

Borrowing a truck to move is so time-honored that it’s a cliche; buying a truck to move is a power play. That’s apparently what the greater-Denver-area owner of this ’65 Ford did, and now he no longer needs it (apparently,… more»

Rust-Free 1967 AMC Ambassador Hardtop

It’s always good fun to attend a car show in a longtime manufacturing town. In Flint, there will be more Buicks than you’ve ever seen in one place in your life. It’s the same with Dearborn and Fords; Lansing… more»

Runs Great! 1983 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Brougham Diesel

Oldsmobile had a long history as General Motors’ engineering division, thanks in part to the first HydraMatic in 1940, the Rocket V8 in 1949, and the front-drive Toronado in 1966. Unfortunately, as any car person knows, the teething pains… more»

84k Miles: 1995 Chevrolet S10

In the 1990s, Chevrolet practically handed out S10s for free. I remember radio ads offering leases for under $100 a month, and I guffawed that “there are hidden fees!” until several people I knew actually leased them for that… more»

Updated Engine? 1949 Willys Jeepster

If you’re a fan of the “Glam Rock” band T. Rex, you know what song’s in my head right now, and you’re welcome…it’s probably now in yours. For those who don’t know T. Rex from a Brontosaurus, I’m talking… more»

41k-Mile 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora

In the spring of 1994, Oldsmobile unveiled its new Aurora as a 1995 model, and hindsight alone informs us that it was Oldsmobile’s last really splashy introduction. Who would have guessed that Oldsmobile would be gone a mere decade… more»

California Clean: 1968 Triumph GT6 Mark I

I’ve always had a thing for Triumphs, although I’ve never been lucky enough (yet) to own one. But I have a story with one, literally. Toward the end of my undergraduate experience, I was taking a creative writing class,… more»

No Reserve: 2001 Jeep Cherokee Limited

Writing for Barn Finds, I’m given the opportunity to learn more about cars and trucks that have heretofore blended into the background of my life, and one of them is pictured above. The Jeep is comparatively newer than the collectible… more»

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