Project Cars

Stalled for 41 Years: 1962 Chevrolet Corvette

The first generation of the Chevy Corvette (C1) ended in 1962. It had been in play since the first Corvette was sold in 1953. The cars were little changed in the final C1 year, yet sales would reach a… more»

Parked for 5 Years: 1977 Lotus Esprit S1

Colin Chapman was a lateral thinker whose innovative ideas forever changed the world of motorsport. He knew cars with modest engine power could offer excellent performance if every excess ounce was pruned away, coining the iconic phrase, “simplify and… more»

Left Hand Drive: 1939 Ford Thames Panel Van

When was the last time you spied one of these, a 1939 Ford Thames panel van? Maybe never, right? This one’s an export model as it is equipped with left-hand drive – not exactly what one would expect from… more»

American Gullwing! Fiberfab Banshee/Caribee

In the 1960s and 1970s, the automotive world had a love/hate relationship with kit cars. On the one hand, the varied body kits offered dreamers the chance to build an exotic-looking car with their custom touches. On the other… more»

BF Auction: 1972 Jaguar XJ6

Jaguar introduced its iconic XJ6 to the waiting world in 1968, with Series 1 cars remaining on sale until 1973. It produced its latest model in short and long-wheelbase form, with our feature 1972 XJ6 the former. It recently… more»

413 Cross-Ram: 1961 Chrysler 300G Hardtop

Fins may have begun fading into history when this 1961 Chrysler 300G emerged from the factory, but it still carries the hallmarks of Virgil Exner’s iconic “forward look” styling. Exner’s philosophy defined American automotive design during the 1950s, forcing… more»

Field Find: Diamond T, Federal, International!

If you’re ready to buy a vintage truck, don’t miss this field in New Underwood, South Dakota. It’s the equivalent of a shopping mall for 40’s and 50’s commercial tractors with the occasional pickup thrown in. This Federal (maybe… more»

Two Cars = One Price: 1963 Studebaker Avanti Project

I remember going into a grocery store years ago and seeing a sales poster with a large, bold, all-caps BOGO headline. I thought it was the name of a new energy drink or something, but, duh, it was an… more»

Stored 26 Years! 1975 Bricklin SV-1

The Bricklin SV-1 (short for Safety Vehicle 1) was a short-lived effort to produce an economic sports car with gullwing doors. It was the brainchild of businessman Malcolm Bricklin, whose previous automotive claim to fame was the importation of… more»

Offers Considered: 1956 Continental Mark II

Halo models are not a new phenomenon, and are almost as old as the automotive industry itself. However, halo marques are less prevalent, and typically occupy the upper end of the market to entice “Joe Average” into a showroom… more»

Certified and Registered: 1953 MiG-15UTI

I always admire a seller with a candid approach, and that is undoubtedly the case with the owner and this 1953 MiG-15UTI. He doesn’t have to sell this fighter, and categorically won’t hand it to someone inexperienced. He acknowledges… more»

350/4-Speed: 1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

The 1979 model year was a banner one for the Chevrolet Camaro. Not only did the badge set a new sales record, but the total of 282,571 cars has never been surpassed. The company was marking time with updates… more»

Yard Find Econobox: 1973 Ford Pinto

U.S. automakers started to join the subcompact race in 1971. Chevrolet came out with the Vega while Ford’s new entry was the Pinto. Influenced by Ford’s counterparts in Europe, the Pinto would be the more successful of the two… more»

Junk In The Trunk: 1983 Honda Motocompo

I don’t know if I would normally refer to this 1983 Honda Motocompo as a scooter as I think of scooters as step-through motorcycles. I don’t know if I’d refer to it as a motorcycle either, and a mini-bike… more»

1 of 435: 1954 Kaiser Darrin Project Drop-Top

Small European sports cars were starting to catch fire in the early 1950s, leading Chevrolet to pioneer the Corvette as an American-made alternative. Fledging independent manufacturer Kaiser-Frazer also got into the act with the Kaiser Darrin, the second of… more»

Cheap Running Project: 1977 AMC Pacer Wagon

Growing up near an AMC dealership in the seventies and having a father who enjoyed rooting for the underdogs, it wasn’t surprising when he eventually drove home behind the wheel of one of their products, though it did little… more»

Barn Finds