Project Cars

Abandoned Project: 1970 Ford Torino GT Sportsroof

Packed with new parts and rebuilt components, then sold for health reasons before the job was completed, this 1970 Ford Torino GT is a sad testament to the rigors of restoration. It’s not unusual to spend years of your… more»

Numbers Matching 409! 1963 Chevrolet Impala SS

If you were to create a list of iconic automobiles of the 1960s, would the Chevrolet Impala Super Sport make the list? Especially one with the 409 cubic inch V8 engine, like in this 1963 edition? The engine and… more»

No Reserve: 1979 Pontiac Trans Am 4-speed

Pontiac built and sold the most Trans Ams in history in 1979. However, most cars were equipped with the L80 403 cubic inch Oldsmobile V8 that came with an automatic transmission only. This was not a bad engine but… more»

Highly Original: 1966 Dodge Charger

The year 1966 was where the fun began for Dodge’s legendary muscle car, at least one of them anyway, as that’s when the new Charger model debuted. However, during the earlier days, it was considered more of a luxurious… more»

Barn Find 1.6-Liter: 1971 Ford Capri

Once Ford’s Mustang hit the roads, European fans began clamoring for a right-sized version in their own market. Ford responded by crafting a sleek, long-hood/short-deck four-seater based on the well-loved Cortina. To name the car, Ford leaned on another… more»

Updated 455: 1980 Pontiac Trans Am Indy Pace Car

Being chosen to supply the Official Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500 is a rare honor that fell to the 1980 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am. The company followed the traditional path of leveraging the resulting significant public exposure by… more»

What’s It Worth? 1959 Chevrolet Impala

The Impala was promoted to series status in 1959 after being introduced as a high-end hardtop and convertible in the Bel Air. The 1959-60 Chevies marked an era of perhaps the “highest styled” of the cars, with batwings as… more»

Garage Discovery: 1954 Ford Mainline

The 1954 model year was a big one for Ford as it finally retired its flathead V8 in favor of a new overhead-head engine. But the cars themselves were largely restyled versions of what you could buy in 1952-53…. more»

Ram Air III? 1969 Pontiac GTO 400 4-Speed

More than five years after its introduction, the Pontiac GTO was still a frontrunner in the mid-size muscle car market. However, sales were on the decline by 1969 as every competitor had their own version of the genre, so… more»

Pontiac Trans Am Stash for Sale!

There comes the point when many of us have to cry “Uncle!” on a project or set of projects and agree that it’s time to sell. Now, there are plenty more who never come to that point, and we… more»

400/4-Speed: 1967 Pontiac GTO

Some classics set my mind racing, and such is the case with this 1967 Pontiac GTO. It requires total restoration, but I have been considering how I’d tackle the build if it were parked in my workshop, whether there… more»

Arctic Top! 1972 Jeep CJ-5

Somewhere between a farm tractor and today’s Jeep Wrangler, the Jeep CJ5 offers go-anywhere capabilities in a (theoretically) road-legal utility vehicle. This 1972 Jeep CJ5 in San Antonio, Texas recently swallowed a claimed $1200 in parts and runs and… more»

LS Candidate? 1979 Chevrolet Monza 2+2 Hatchback

Some cars from the 1970s don’t immediately spring to mind when contemplating a potential project candidate. However, this 1979 Chevrolet Monza 2+2 Hatchback deserves consideration because it is undeniably cheap. The photos suggest it is rock-solid, and while its… more»

Easy Project : 1970 Ford Mustang Barn Find

When the subject turns to 1970 Ford Mustangs, we tend to see more Fastbacks than Hardtops crossing our desks at Barn Finds. This is surprising because the Hardtop sold in greater numbers than all derivatives of the Fastback combined…. more»

Right at Home on a Trailer: 1986 Zastava Yugo

How horrid is the Yugo? One measure of its popularity is the Yugo Club Facebook page: last post in 2023, and all of 370 followers. Rack that up against total production from 1980 to 2008 of almost 795,000 copies,… more»

See the Sights: 1971 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser

The station wagon was killed by the minivan – true or false? Like so many things in life, it’s a gray area. The advent of the minivan most certainly defeated many a wagon sale. But the real answer derives… more»

Barn Finds