Driver-Quality Cruiser: 1961 Chevrolet Corvette

The first generation (aka C1) of the Chevy Corvette would continue to soldier on in 1961, not due for replacement until the Sting Ray era that would begin in 1963. The most noticeable changes for ’61 were in the… more»

Matching Numbers Project: 1970 Plymouth Road Runner

The Road Runner was introduced in 1968 as Plymouth’s budget-minded, mid-size muscle car. It would be an immediate hit, thanks to aggressive marketing which included a tie-in to the cartoon character of the same name. 1970 models would be… more»

Nicest One Left? 1987 Buick Skyhawk

Buick used the Skyhawk nameplate on two occasions in the 1970s and 1980s. First, as a rear-wheel-drive subcompact based on the Chevy Monza, and the second as a front-wheel-drive variant of Chevrolet’s Cavalier. It was part of GM’s shift… more»

Original Everything: 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T

The 1960s were a wonderful time to be a young driver just starting out. Muscle cars were plentiful and Chrysler had their share, notably with hot products like the Plymouth Road Runner and Dodge Super Bee. But some forget… more»

Revived Barn Find: 1967 Buick Riviera GS

Buick expanded its lineup in 1963 to include a “personal luxury car,” the new Riviera. The car may have been cooked up in response to the success Ford was having with the Thunderbird once they added a back seat… more»

Estate Sale: 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

Chevrolet redesigned its cars in 1955 and brought back the V8 engine. The styling and the newly found power boost would enable the GM division to sell more than 4.5 million cars over the next three years. The Bel… more»

One-Year Wonder: 1977 Pontiac Can Am

The Pontiac Can Am was something of a cross between the LeMans and the Grand Am and was produced for only one model year. Along the lines of other company products, the car took its name from the racing… more»

Overhead Camshaft: 1969 Pontiac Firebird

The first-generation Pontiac Firebird’s standard engine (an inline-6) differed from its contemporary – the Camaro – over at Chevrolet. It deployed a motor with an overhead camshaft that was decidedly perkier than the Chevy and the “leader of the… more»

29k Mile Survivor: 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

In the wake of higher fuel prices in the mid-1970s, car manufacturers began to “right-size” (or downsize) their products. In the case of General Motors, it began with its full-size models in 1977 and the intermediates would follow a… more»

“The Judge” Project: 1969 Pontiac GTO

Once the leader of the pack in the 1960s muscle car movement, demand for the Pontiac GTO started to decline in the late 1960s. The competition was fierce, and Pontiac began to look for ways to entice more buyers… more»

Low-Mile Big Block: 1978 Chrysler Newport 440

It’s no secret that Chrysler Corporation was in financial hot water in the 1970s. And it didn’t help that they were still building huge cars whose demand had slipped after the OPEC oil embargo of 1973. But the end… more»

Sunburned Pony: 1966 Ford Mustang

  Ford’s new “pony car” was just hitting its stride in 1966. More than 600,000 Mustangs were built that year before demand tapered off from 1967-on as competitors entered the marketplace. This 1966 Mustang coupe is being offered by… more»

Potential GTO Clone? 1965 Pontiac Tempest

Pontiac launched the Tempest as its first compact in 1961. Along with the Buick and Oldsmobile division compacts, the Tempest moved up to mid-size status in 1964, the year the now-famous GTO muscle car would also be launched. Changes… more»

Battered Bandit! 1977 Pontiac Trans Am

The last week of May 1977 was a big week for young movie-goers. Both Star Wars and Smokey and the Bandit were released in theaters almost on the same day. I don’t remember which one I stood in line… more»

1 of 5,000: 1959 Auto Union 1000 Sp

The Auto Union 1000 Sp was an interesting sports car built by Germany’s Auto Union beginning in 1958. Just 5,000 coupes and 1,640 convertibles were produced through 1965, taking many of their styling hints from the 1st-generation Ford Thunderbird…. more»

Award Winner! 1961 Pontiac Ventura

Between 1960 and 1970, the Ventura was an upscale version of the Catalina, perhaps like the Impala was a tier above the Bel Air. Mechanically they were mostly the same car, but the Ventura was packaged to appeal more… more»

Barn Finds