From its conception in 1955, the Ford Thunderbird was a personal luxury car that had a long run in dealer showrooms. It shed its 2-seat configuration in 1958 and would carry at least four passengers in the future (until… more»
• For Sale • 5 Comments
Did It Sell? Rare 1972 Pontiac Catalina Convertible
The Catalina was Pontiac’s bread-and-butter car for four decades (through the 1950s and into the early 1980s). It might be considered the GM division’s equivalent of the Chevy Impala. With a redesign in 1971, the Catalina sported an all-new… more»
• For Sale • 9 Comments
Older Hatchback Restoration: 1974 Ford Pinto
Even before gas prices began to rise in the 1970s, American car builders realized that smaller might be better. The imports – led by the VW Beetle – were cutting into sales, so GM and Ford responded in 1971… more»
• For Sale • 3 Comments
Turbocharged Project: 1980 Pontiac Trans Am
One of the most famous movie cars of the 1970s was the black Pontiac Trans Am, driven by Burt Reynolds in the 1977 hit flick, Smokey and the Bandit. As a result, Trans Am sales went through the roof… more»
• For Sale • 46 Comments
Super Sleeper? 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Oldsmobile had a major hit on their hands when they launched the Cutlass Supreme in 1966. A 2-door hardtop at first, the Supreme would go on to become one of Oldsmobile’s best sellers – and the best seller in… more»
• For Sale • 24 Comments
1 of 86 Foxbody Customs: 1991 Mitsuoka Dore
Have you ever heard of the Mitsuoka Dore? Well, neither did I before now. Turns out it’s something of a kit car based on the Ford Foxbody Mustang but built in Japan rather than California or Florida. It has… more»
• For Sale • 12 Comments
Rolling Land Yacht: 1960 Imperial by Chrysler
For many moons, the Imperial was Chrysler Corporation’s top-of-the-line automobile. But the powers that be thought the Chrysler brand detracted from Imperial sales against Cadillac and Lincoln, so they positioned it as a brand of its own in 1955…. more»
• For Sale • 22 Comments
Estate Sale Find: 1968 AMC Javelin SST
American Motors joined the “pony car” movement in 1968 and fielded Javelins through 1974. Based initially on the Rambler American platform, the Javelin saw production of 55,000 units in the first year, with the SST model being the fancier… more»
• For Sale • 5 Comments
Rebuilt Nailhead V8: 1965 Buick Riviera
Buick rolled out the Riviera in 1963 as a personal luxury car much like the Ford Thunderbird. It remained a fixture in the GM division’s lineup through the end of the century (oddly except for 1994). The seller’s 1965… more»
• For Sale • 7 Comments
1 of 531: 1978 Dodge Aspen Super Coupe
The Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volare combination replaced the Dodge Dart/Plymouth Valiant duo. Launched in 1976, they were gone in 1980 when Chrysler began going the front-wheel-drive route. A rare option on both was the Super Coupe, only offered in 1978,… more»
• For Sale • 11 Comments
Barn-Bound 35 Years: 1959 Chevrolet El Camino
Chevrolet launched the El Camino in 1959 in response to Ford’s Ranchero which came about two years earlier. Technically a utility pickup or “Ute,” the El Camino was based on Chevy’s 2-door station wagon. It was only around for… more»
• For Sale • 24 Comments
Rare Kit Car: 1969 Behrens Convertible
I thought this car looked familiar. Unless it has a twin, it appeared here on Barn Finds more than three years ago. Either it didn’t sell then or was sold and is on the market again, but its location… more»
• For Sale • 30 Comments
The Original Pony Car: 1966 Plymouth Barracuda
Most folks credit the Ford Mustang for starting the “pony car” market, with that nickname bestowed in the Mustang’s honor. But the Plymouth Barracuda hit the market 17 days before the Ford in April 1964. Sales of the Mopar… more»
• For Sale • 60 Comments
Nicest One Left? 1974 Ford Pinto Survivor
Chevrolet and Ford fielded entries in the subcompact market for the first time in 1971. Ford’s contender against the VW Beetle and other imports was the Pinto, which was in production for a full decade. The changes were few… more»
• For Sale • 29 Comments
44k-Mile Award Winner: 1979 Chevrolet Caprice
The Chevy Caprice, along with the rest of General Motors’ full-size cars, were downsized in 1977. The goal was to reduce weight so they could run on smaller engines and be more fuel-efficient. The resulting product was even roomier… more»
• For Sale • 8 Comments
Thinning the Herd: 1965 Pontiac GTO
After a surprisingly popular launch in 1964, the GTO returned in 1965 with stacked headlights like the full-size cars offered by Pontiac. Muscle car mania was now “fully on” and GTO sales more than doubled from 32,000 to 75,000… more»
