Project Cars

South Bend’s Last Stand: 1964 Studebaker Commander

The handwriting was on the wall for Studebaker in late 1963 when they ceased automobile production in the U.S. (South Bend, Indiana). For the next 2 ½ years, output was focused solely on operations in Hamilton, Ontario until Studebaker… more»

400-Equipped: 1974 Pontiac Firebird

There are countless reasons why a classic might hit the market, but the saddest is undoubtedly when its devoted owner passes away. That is the story behind this 1974 Pontiac Firebird, a car featuring an upgraded V8 under the… more»

The Outlaw Package: 1974 International Scout II

Back in the ’60s and ’70s, International was pretty smart in marketing its Scout line. Small SUVs like the Scout weren’t regularly restyled, so International released “Doll-Up” Scouts, special editions to keep people coming into showrooms. Dodge recently used… more»

Snowbound Project: 1970 Dodge Challenger

This 1970 Dodge Challenger has been looking for someone to save it for at least 18 months. We last saw it in August 2023, but the surroundings and photographs have changed, leading us to believe it has been flipped… more»

One Year Wonder: 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air

The Chevrolet Bel Air was overshadowed from within during the 1958 model year. That was when the Impala was born as a special edition and then became the company’s product leader in 1959. The ‘58s are known for being… more»

Same Owner 15 Years: 1968 Pontiac GTO Project

General Motors redesigned its mid-size cars in 1968, including the Pontiac GTO. That helped give the car a shot in the sales arm, and that model year would deliver the vehicle’s second-highest production figures. This ’68 GTO looks like… more»

Restored Frame: 1967 Chevrolet Impala Project

Chevrolet sold over one million Impalas in 1965, a record never bested. The 1967 models were based on the same platform/design as the ‘65s and saw about 650,000 assemblies, which wasn’t too shabby on their merit. The seller has… more»

Emberglo Project: 1966 Ford Thunderbird

One of my favorite Thunderbirds is the 1965 Special Landau, which wore Ford’s new “Emberglo” paint. Emberglo was clearly a ripoff of Chrysler’s “Turbine Bronze,” but Ford must have felt that Chrysler had one coming; after all, the Turbine… more»

Jack Tant Built 360: 1966 Plymouth Fury III Convertible

The Plymouth Fury was considered more of a luxury offering than a racer, but I guess that didn’t matter to the seller of this 1966 Plymouth Fury III.  This one’s got an engine built by Jack Tant, a mechanic… more»

Restoration Redo Project: 1960 Ford Thunderbird

Purists were upset when Ford changed the concept of the 1955-57 Thunderbird from a 2-seater to a 4-seater in the personal luxury car market. That set the stage for a plethora of competitors to come forward in the 1960s… more»

Great Starting Point? Cheap 1950 Ford Sedan

One of the most enjoyable avenues in the classic car scene is buying a model that is not highly desirable and driving the wheels off without worrying about devaluing a more expensive model. The 49-51 shoebox Ford is a… more»

Pretty Solid Project: 1961 Mercury Monterey Convertible

American automotive history is littered with the demoted nameplate. The swanky Bel Air became predominately a fleet model by the late 1960s. The Impala was demoted by the Caprice, the Galaxie 500 by the LTD, and the Mercury Monterey… more»

Pink Project: 1973 Plymouth Cuda

In 1970, the Plymouth Barracuda was riding high with its best sales numbers in years based on a new platform. Less than five years later, it was gone, a victim of changing market conditions and demand. This 1973 edition… more»

Fuel Injected 383: 1969 Dodge Charger

The seller of this 1969 Dodge Charger says it’s already gotten a restoration at some point in the past, but from the looks of things, I’m guessing that was several years and quite a few miles ago.  While this… more»

Stalled Project: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS

The Chevrolet Camaro closed out its first generation in style. Built from 1967 to 1969, the ’69 Camaros were the best-selling trio but had help due to a 15-month production cycle (Gen 2 Camaros were delayed in getting ready)…. more»

V8 “Ute” Project: 1964 Ford Ranchero

After three years as a full-size pickup, the Ford Ranchero was a compact “Ute” (utility vehicle) from 1960 to 1965. During that period, it was based on the successful Falcon, one of many cars that the Falcon would spawn… more»

Barn Finds