Project Cars

Silver Jade and Ivy Gold! 1969 Ford Mustang

With a forward-tilted snout, long hood, and a short fastback rear, the redesigned 1969 Mustang looked ready to leap down the road. This 1969 Ford Mustang in Denver, Colorado, has served one owner since 1974 and recently enjoyed a… more»

Swan Song Project: 1979 Chevrolet Nova

The popular Chevy Nova compact wound down in 1979 after 18 years. The successful rear-wheel-drive car was scheduled to be replaced in 1980 by the front-wheel-drive Citation (which turned out not to be a huge step forward). The seller… more»

Running Project: 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Oldsmobile introduced the Cutlass Supreme in 1966 as a personal luxury car based on the existing mid-size platform. Over the next 20 years, it would become one of Olds’ best-selling cars and a leader in its market niche. We’re… more»

Unfinished Project: 1978 Porsche 911SC Targa

As much as I am a fan of the Porsche 911, it still boggles my mind a bit to see both the prices and condition of cars that come up for sale. The market has softened a bit for… more»

No Reserve: 1925 Ford Model T Truck

When I look at classics like this 1925 Ford Model T Truck, I wonder whether I will look as good when I have one hundred years under my belt. This centenarian shows promise as a project candidate, appearing solid… more»

Twofer Projects: Pair of 1970s Datsun 240Z

Known as the Fairlady Z in Japan, the Datsun 240Z (and its successors) became a popular alternative to British sports cars. Powered by a 2.4-liter 6-banger, the 240Z helped put Nissan on the map in the U.S. from 1970… more»

Back Yard Find: 1979 Pontiac Firebird Formula

The second generation of the Pontiac Firebird enjoyed a 12-year run from 1970 to 1981. Four models were offered, including the “base” Firebird, Esprit, Formula, and Trans Am. The Formula was a performance edition, overshadowed by the glitzier Trans… more»

Fantastic Colors: 1982 Ford Mustang GT

Sometimes, you see a car with an aftermarket paint job and it draws a groan. This is understandable – quality can vary greatly from paint shop to paint shop, and for all you know, the guy did it in… more»

First-Year Barn Find: 1967 Pontiac Firebird

The 1967 model year was a good one for pony cars. The Mustang was refreshed, the gorgeous Cougar released, the Barracuda restyled, and General Motors got in the act with their new Camaro and Firebird. If I were pony… more»

Engine Swap Candidate? 1993 Ford Mustang LX

The notchback-bodied Ford Mustang is one of the more desirable configurations of the Fox chassis out there, and combined with a period-correct color like the teal paint this one wears, it’s hard not to see this as a perfect… more»

Supercharged Rarity: 1963 Studebaker Avanti R2

You don’t just casually refer to a car as the “fastest production vehicle in the world.” That’s the kind of claim almost everyone will expect you to back up. And while the Studebaker-built Avanti didn’t exactly have the appearance… more»

Easy Project: Gen III Hemi-Powered 1969 Dodge Charger

The 1969 Charger pictured above, which is now for sale on eBay in Loveland, Ohio, looks for all the world like a mildly modified stocker, with a breathed-upon 318 and a slight rake to complement its Torq-Thrust wheels. Nope…. more»

Mechanic’s Special: 1965 Chevrolet Corvair

The Corvair was Chevrolet’s first foray into the compact car space. They took an unorthodox path in emulating the VW Beetle by designing a vehicle with an air-cooled, rear-mounted engine. The auto was in production from 1960 to 1969,… more»

BF Auction: No Reserve 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV

I’m sad to say that the heyday of local vintage road racing seems to have passed in my home state of Michigan, but it’s still popular at venues such as Goodwood and Laguna Seca (both of which are a… more»

Sitting 40 Years: 1973 Dodge Charger SE 440

The seller of this 1973 Dodge Charger SE describes this car as one heck of a barn find, and for ’73 standards, I have to agree that this is just about as fine as B-Bodies could be had for… more»

Stored For Decades: 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger

Dodge redesigned its compact Dart in 1967. Though it sold well enough, “boring” might have been a word used by young people to describe the car. So, to draw in the youth market, the Swinger was born in 1969… more»

Barn Finds