American LaFrance was a U.S. manufacturer of fire prevention and recovery apparatus, which included fire trucks like this cab-over from 1963. The company’s roots date to 1873 and the final remnants of the firm disappeared in 2014. We don’t… more»
Barn Finds
• For Sale • 7 Comments
Forest Find: 1971 Ford Torino GT Project
The Torino nameplate debuted in 1968 as the top level of the mid-size Ford Fairlane lineup. By 1971, it was the primary torchbearer and the Fairlane name disappeared into the history books. The GT was the sporty model, available… more»
• For Sale • 21 Comments
351 V8: 1970 Mercury Cougar Mystery
By 1967, FOMOCO had two entries in the new “pony car” market, the Ford Mustang which started the craze, and the Mercury Cougar. The Cougar was a little larger and better equipped than your average Mustang, so it was… more»
• For Sale • 11 Comments
Stored For 35 Years: 1954 Ford Crestline Skyliner
Hiding in this barn is one of the more interesting cars from the 1950s. Ford wanted to create a light and airy vehicle, releasing the Skyliner in 1954. Our feature car has spent the last thirty-five years in this… more»
• For Sale • 16 Comments
Woodie Drop-Top: 1984 Chrysler LeBaron
The 1980s Chrysler LeBaron was based on the company’s new K-Car platform. And the lineup included a convertible, the first U.S. production drop-top since the Cadillac Eldorado in 1976. A special “woodie” version called the Town & Country was… more»
• For Sale • 8 Comments
Recently Revived: 1985 Buick Grand National
If you ask anyone who lived through it, they will confirm that The Malaise Era was one of the most miserable times in automotive history. Cars built during that time gained weight and lost engine power, and many vehicles… more»
• For Sale • 6 Comments
Storage Unit Rescue: 1957 MG MGA
No matter which version of the story Cinderella you read or watch, the core of it is that of inner beauty shining through despite obstacles. You could say that the story of this MG MGA is similar to that… more»
• For Sale • 12 Comments
Bullet Bird Project: 1963 Ford Thunderbird
The third generation of the Ford Thunderbird was in production from 1961 to 1963. They seemed to run in three-year cycles (1955-57, 1958-60, 1961-63, 1964-66). Personal luxury cars were still evolving with competitors like Buick joining the field in… more»
• For Sale • 16 Comments
Ran When Parked: 1960 Chevrolet Corvair 700
Chevrolet entered the compact car market in 1960 in an unconventional way (for U.S. automakers at the time). The new Corvair had a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine along the same lines as that of the VW Beetle which was beginning… more»
• For Sale • 11 Comments
Parked Since ’70: 1956 Lincoln Premiere
When I first saw the listing for this 1956 Lincoln Premier, which is mislabeled as a 1956 Lincoln Continental, I thought, “OK, another Continental Mark II.” Nope, this one’s a Premiere four-door sedan, one of 19K assembled 68 long… more»
• For Sale • 16 Comments
Rare Acapulco Edition? 1974 Volkswagen Thing
The VW Thing (technically the Type 181) was a military-style vehicle that most closely resembled the Jeep. But it was a rear-wheel drive “fun-mobile” that used the same rear-mounted engine as the VW Beetle. They were only sold in… more»
• For Sale • 11 Comments
Buried Alive! 1970 Plymouth Road Runner
The Plymouth Road Runner was a popular muscle car in the late 1960s. Conceived to be a more budget-conscious entry, it debuted in 1968 with sales peaking in 1969. The 1970 edition was the last of the first generation… more»
• For Sale • 21 Comments
Turbo-Jet Surprise! 1967 Chevrolet Caprice
The muscle car movement of the mid-1960s was largely focused on mid-size automobiles like the Chevelle SS 396 and the Pontiac GTO. But a sleeper in the group was the new Chevy Caprice which could be ordered with a… more»
• For Sale • 11 Comments
One-Owner Muscle Project: 1974 Plymouth Road Runner
The dynamics of the muscle car market changed from the 1960s to the 1970s. To gauge the impact all you have to look at Plymouth Road Runner sales. From a peak of 82,300 units in 1969, output fell to… more»
• For Sale • 6 Comments
V8 Drop-Top Project: 1980 Triumph TR8
Triumph launched the new TR7 in 1975 as “the shape of things to come” due to its wedge-shaped body. Less known today is the TR8, a V8 version using a Buick-derived engine from Rover. It was in production for… more»
• For Sale • 11 Comments
Quirky French Classic: 1947 Renault Juvaquatre
One of the key attractions of the classic world is that it offers something to satisfy every taste. Some enthusiasts follow the well-trodden path by parking a muscle or pony car in their garage, while others march to the… more»
