Barn Find Pony Car: 1973 Ford Mustang

By 1973, the Ford Mustang had been in production for nearly 10 years. It created a market niche for so-called “pony cars” that every mainstream automaker got into by the end of the 1960s. This ‘73 edition is one… more»

Rotisserie Project: 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle

The second generation of the mid-size Chevelle was wrapping up in the 1972 model year. And out of 415,000 built that season (including the El Camino), more than 207,000 were Malibu Sport Coupes, clearly the most popular model and… more»

Stored 40 Years: 1971 Datsun 240Z

In the early 1970s, Nissan beat the European sports car builders at their own game. They introduced the Z-series of little runabouts that were both reasonably priced and dependable (compared to the English autos which could be finicky). Importation… more»

Turnpike Cruiser: 1972 Mercury Marquis Brougham

The 1972 Mercury Marquis Brougham was a big, powerful, luxurious car that was as close to a Lincoln Continental as you could buy with a Mercury badge on it. Though a mere three inches shorter than the Lincoln, the… more»

Former Movie Prop: 1958 Edsel Pacer

The Edsel was Ford Motor Company’s biggest product miscue of the 1950s, perhaps of all-time. It was launched during a period of economic uncertainty and the buying public didn’t respond positively. Sales were far below expectations and Ford pulled… more»

Almost Finished: 1971 Lotus Europa 2

The Lotus Europa was an English-built mid-engine GT sports car. Several variants were produced between 1966-75, including this Series 2 edition from 1971. This version was completely restored three years ago but the reassembly process wasn’t quite completed. The… more»

2 For 1: Pair of 1967 Pontiacs

Both the LeMans and GTO were part of Pontiac’s mid-size line-up for 1967. The former was the upscale version of the Tempest and the GTO – now a series of its own – covered the performance end of the… more»

37 Year Barn Find! 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

Given the popularity today of the Tri-Five Chevies of 1955-57, it might surprise you to learn that the biggest selling models were the 4-door sedans. 56,000 150s, 274,00 210s, and 264,000 Bel Airs were built in 1957 alone. So,… more»

Storage Shed Find: 1971 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser

The Vista Cruiser was the cool mid-size station wagon built by Oldsmobile that had the raised rear “Vista” roof and skylights. Production ran in this format from 1964-72 across two generations, designed and trimmed along the lines of the… more»

Tri-Five Project: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

The Tri-Five Chevies of 1955-57 were quite popular then and now. With more than 4.5 million units built across three model years, they’re not hard to find today, depending on the condition. The Bel Air Sport Coupe was the… more»

Bronco Fighter: 1972 Jeep Commando

Originally the Kaiser Jeepster Commando, this early SUV was in production from 1966-73. It competed against the International Scout, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Ford Bronco. Beginning in 1970, the Commando was a product of American Motors, including this ’72… more»

Wrecked 283 V8: 1960 Chevrolet Corvette

Considering the popularity of these cars today, it’s hard to believe the Corvette was a late bloomer in the 1950s. After less than 5,000 units were built from 1953-55, the Chevy sports car was in danger of cancellation. But… more»

396 V8 Project: 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu

Chevrolet added a mid-size model in 1964 called the Chevelle. It was sandwiched between the compact Chevy II and the full-size Impala et al. It was a huge success, and the first generation ran through 1967. The Malibu was… more»

1 of 68: 1969 Plymouth ‘Cuda 340

The 1969 model year would be the last time the Barracuda shared its platform with the Valiant compact (actually it was the other way around). Though it would grow in popularity the following year, the ‘Cuda 340 saw a… more»

Japanese Survivor: 1968 Toyota Corona Mark II

Toyota Motor Sales USA set up shop in California in 1957. As their network grew slowly in the U.S., the Corona would be introduced eight years later. It was designed with American drivers in mind and would quickly become… more»

1 of 1: 1969 Ford Mustang Fastback S-Code

The Ford Mustang was in its fifth full year of production in 1969. The car received its most extensive restyle that year, but it was still clearly a Mustang in appearance. Out of 300,000 Mustangs built for 1969, just… more»

Barn Finds