Semi-Survivor? 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS

The Super Sport was introduced as an option on the Impala in 1961. It was a performance automobile that sold in small numbers (less than 500) until Chevrolet had a change in strategy. Said change was to focus on… more»

Refurbished Daily Driver: 1976 Chevrolet Nova

The popular Chevy Nova got its final redesign in 1975 which would carry the car through the balance of the decade. It would be replaced in 1980 by the front-wheel-drive Citation which was not an improvement (in some people’s… more»

32k Mile Survivor? 1968 Jeep Jeepster Commando

Launched in 1966, the Jeepster Commando SUV was designed to compete with the likes of the Ford Bronco and International Scout. It did fairly well until after Jeep was acquired from Kaiser by American Motors, but demand began to… more»

1 of 1580: 1973 Lotus Europa TC (Twin Cam)

The Lotus Europa was an English-built, GT-style, mid-engine sports car produced from 1966 to 1975. It found some limited success in the U.S. until it became too difficult to meet changing U.S. safety standards. This variant from 1975 is… more»

Hideaway Hardtop Project: 1958 Ford Fairlane Skyliner

One of the most interesting cars of the late 1950s was the Ford Skyliner. It was the first mass-produced, U.S.-built automobile to have a retractable roof which Ford marketed as the “Hideaway Hardtop.” It was technically complicated but sold… more»

Real Super Sport Project: 1972 Chevrolet Nova

Horsepower ratings were in decline in 1972, but not all of that was because of tightening emissions controls. The industry changed its reporting measures to be in SAE net terms. So, the L48 350 cubic inch V8 which was… more»

8k Mile French Survivor: 1968 Simca 1100 SCV

The Simca 1100 Series was one of France’s biggest-selling autos, accounting for sales of two million units between 1967 and 1982. But not that many made their way to the U.S., sold through Plymouth’s network of dealers. This nice… more»

Small-Block V8: 1979 Chevrolet Monza

Chevrolet first used the Monza nameplate as the more upscale version of its Corvair compact in the 1960s. They resurrected the moniker in 1975 and applied it to a sporty subcompact rooted in the ill-fated Vega. Although available as… more»

5,000-lb. Survivor: 1976 Cadillac Coupe De Ville

The OPEC oil embargo of 1973 left most car buyers scrambling for more fuel-efficient alternatives. I say most because Cadillac was the exception. In 1976, they set a sales record of more than 309,000 automobiles, beating their own 1973… more»

Drop-Top Pony Project: 1965 Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang was introduced at the New York World’s Fair in April 1964. Two and a half years later, the company had built more than 1.2 million of them, making it one of the most successful automobile launches… more»

Twin-Stick 8-Speed: 1981 Dodge Colt

In the 1970s, Ford and Chevrolet countered the small car “invasion” led by Volkswagen by developing new products of their own. That led to the Pinto and Vega which combined for five million cars that decade. Chrysler went the… more»

27k Mile Survivor: 1974 Buick Electra 225

Beginning in 1959 and lasting through the 1980s, the Electra was Buick’s largest and most luxurious automobile. The tag 225 was added to the name to indicate that the car was at least 225 inches long (231 by 1974)…. more»

Cheap Wheels: 1978 Buick Skylark Custom

From its first outing as a top-of-the-line convertible in 1953, the Skylark name represented a range of Buick products over the years. In the late 1970s, it was a compact car, based on the X-body platform spawned by the… more»

One Owner: 1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 350

As the muscle car movement of the 1960s moved forward, Detroit manufacturers found new success with compact performance cars. Because they were lighter than the mid-size competitors, they could move fast without needing monster engines. Such was the case… more»

Real or Clone? Complicated 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350-R

While Mustangs were as plentiful as Carter’s peanuts in 1965, the high-performance Shelby Mustangs were built for a limited crowd. 562 of them were GT350s while another three dozen were GT350-Rs for SCCA Trans Am racing (which it won… more»

Travelette: 1973 International Harvester 1210

International Harvester is perhaps best known for its farm equipment, but they were also in the truck business for a time. They were always overshadowed by the “ Big 3” Detroit automakers but did accomplish at least one first:… more»

Barn Finds