mod@tech

For a long time, any General Motors performance car after 1970 was looked down upon due to its lowered compression. Pontiac especially suffered from this because, if you look at the 1971-72 GTO Endura nose, it simply lacks the grace of the ‘70’s—that’s two scarlet letters.

But people started coming around to what great vehicles the high-performance 1971-72 Pontiacs were. It started with Dan Jensen’s T-37 powered by a 455 HO in the 1980s. Then others with similar cars were compelled to race—and beat—more substantial high-compression machinery. By the 2000s, GTO godfather Jim Wangers was singing the praises of the 455 HO, even claiming it was Pontiac’s best. Huh?

Talk with Pontiac folks today and they may have a slight difference of opinion, but all will agree that the 1971-72 455 HO is a fantastic street engine. To those who are not familiar, the 455 HO was an upgrade from 1970’s engine due to the round-port heads from the Ram Air IV, which made it a better, faster engine despite the ’70 having high compression. It comes off as counter-intuitive, but it’s true, plus the 455 HO was a stepping stone that lead to the Super Duty 455 for 1973-74.

Join Muscle Car Campy as he shows us the charms of Rob Timken’s unrestored 1972 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Equipped with the standard 455 HO and a four-speed, this racing-inspired pony car was arguably the fastest American car that year, plus the model would reach even greater heights later in the decade thanks to a certain movie. If you dig this video, be sure to look for your favorite car in other Muscle Car Campy videos.

We’ve made it to the weekend! It’s time for another installment of Car Connections, a game in which I take three words from the Random Word Generator and somehow link them to automobiles.

Today’s words, spine, birthday, and ghostwriter, were more difficult than I thought they would be, especially the last one. This is going to be a little clunky, but I’ll get the job done.

Spine: The 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe I tested several years ago had such a harsh suspension that I thought my spine was going to shatter. Next!

Birthday: Two years ago, Bugatti released the Chiron Super Sport 57 One of One, which was—as its name states—a one-off. If its color looks familiar, that’s because it was inspired by the paint on the Type 57SC Atlantic that the One of One owner saw on display in the Mullin Automotive Museum. What’s the connection to birthday? The lucky lady received the bespoke Chiron Super Sport as a 70th birthday present from her husband.

Ghostwriter: This was a tough one. Follow me on this winding path. After novelist V.C. Andrews died in 1986, a ghostwriter began writing books under her name. Hmmm . . . Andrews. Andrew McCarthy was in “Weekend at Bernie’s.” Bernie . . . as in Bernie Taupin. He writes lyrics for Sir Elton John, a legend who’s owned various Bentleys, including a 1956 S1 Continental Sport Saloon and a 1975 Corniche Convertible.

Whew! I’m tired from all that stretching!

How would you associate these words with cars? Tell us in the Comments section below. And be sure to share your ideas for random words to use in a future installment of Car Connections.

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this restored 1966 Ford Bronco pickup, which is powered by a 170ci inline-six mated to a three-speed manual transmission and dual-range transfer case. Finished in blue and white over a new tan leather interior, this American classic is now offered by the selling dealer in Oregon with a clear title.

In its brochure for the 1966 Bronco, Ford identified this body style as the Sports Utility, which came with “a short steel roof, metal side doors and roll-up windows to provide complete weather protection.” If you ask me, it looks a lot like a pickup. Whatever you call this version of the Bronco, it doesn’t change the fact that it has been refinished in a combination of blue for the body and white for the grille and top during the restoration process.

Exterior features include chrome bumpers, uncut fenders, fold-down windshield, removable roof panel, bed-mounted spare wheel/tire, bed liner, and single exhaust outlet.

This Bronco gallops over roads and trails on a set of 15-inch chrome wheels equipped with manual locking front hubs and 235/75 Primewell PA100 raised-white-letter radials.

The cabin was recently furnished with new tan leather upholstery featuring diamond-quilted inserts, matching door panels, and tan carpet. Other features include a center console with cup holders, column-mounted transmission shifter, AM/FM/cassette radio, and center tunnel-mounted transfer case shifter.

Instrumentation consists of a 100-mph speedometer and gauges for the alternator, fuel level, temperature, and oil pressure. The odometer shows 66,458 miles, but this Bronco is mileage-exempt, according to its title.

Under the hood is a 170ci inline-six that was factory-rated at 105 gross horsepower and 158 lb-ft of torque. It’s connected to a single-barrel carburetor, three-speed manual gearbox, and dual-range transfer case.

A set of 4.11:1 gears transmit the engine’s power to the rear wheels. Manual drum brakes reign this horse in.

If you want to saddle up this 1966 Ford Bronco pickup, do it now before the auction ends on Friday, December 12, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

The automotive design community lost a legend earlier this year on April 25, 2025. Bill Porter had a 39-year career with the GM Design Center, and one of his creations was the second-generation Pontiac Firebird. The Pick of the Day is one such car, a 1980 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Ridgeville, Ohio.

“It has one older repaint, and the paint shows really nice,” the listing says. “It has the aftermarket T-tops from Cars and Concepts.”

The Firebird was produced from 1967 to 2002 alongside its F-body sibling, the Chevrolet Camaro. The units produced from 1970 through 1981 fell into the second generation, which was borne as one of Porter’s many creations. His career history with GM was storied: he started out with the organization as an intern on the design team in 1957 and was hired full-time about a year later. Over his near-four-decade career, Porter created many significant designs, among them, the 1961 Corvette Mako Shark concept car, 1968 Pontiac GTO, and others. One of his more recent designs was for the 1995 Buick Riviera, a car that to many has aged well, even 30 years later.

This Trans Am’s white exterior is accented with blue decals, and features include quad headlights, color-keyed urethane bumpers, vented fenders, sport side mirrors, rear spoiler, and a set of 15-inch “Snowflake” aluminum wheels wrapped in new BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires.

The listing provides some of this car’s additional specifics: it was manufactured at Norwood, Ohio, with features including power steering and power brakes (discs up front and drums in the rear). Inside, the car was equipped with vinyl bucket seats, a floor-mounted shifter, an engine-turned aluminum dash bezel, and full gauges. The listing adds, “It has the Formula steering wheel with the tilt option.”

While some second-gen Trans Ams came with turbocharged power for 1980, this car has the naturally aspirated version of the 4.9-liter (301ci V8), which was rated at 155 horsepower. A three-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels. The odometer reads about 8,900 miles, which the seller asserts comes out to 108,900 actual miles.

A walk-around video has been provided showing the exterior of the car and calling attention to some of its small cosmetic issues. It’s a handsome car throughout, and Bill Palmer’s creative spirit is alive and well with this clean Trans Am!

The asking price is $34,800.

Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com

Picture your favorite sandwich. You don’t have to think hard to envision it because it’s such a familiar combination to you—the bread you choose, the toppings you prefer, the condiments that make it just right. Now imagine trying to eat that while wearing boxing gloves. In a way, that’s how my week with the 2025 Volvo EX30 Ultra went. Its combination of small dimensions and big power was nothing new, but the way I had to interact with it was alien to me.

People in other parts of the world have been familiar with Volvo’s smallest all-electric SUV for a while, but 2025 marks its first model year in the United States. Prices start at $46,195 for the entry-level Plus variant. My top-trim EX30 Ultra test vehicle came standard with features such as a heat pump, tinted glass panoramic roof, power tailgate, and 12.3-inch touchscreen, as well as a variety of safety and driver assistance technologies. The $500 Climate Package’s heated steering wheel and front seats took the as-tested price up to $48,395. Most importantly, the Ultra model has the all-wheel-drive Twin Motor Performance setup, which consists of dual electric motors that generate 422 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. How fast do those make the EX30 Ultra? Fast enough to reach 60 mph in 3.4 seconds—in other words, the EX30 is the Swedish automaker’s quickest-accelerating vehicle ever.

It was easy to feel that kind of oomph out on the road, especially in the EX30’s Performance All-Wheel Drive mode. With a deep press of the right pedal, I shot forward inside of a retina-searing Moss Yellow laser beam. Power aside, the EX30 didn’t feel like a performance vehicle. Yes, its suspension was firm but, in turns, it didn’t feel athletic or inspire me to pitch the little EV through curves at law-breaking speeds. Blasting up the HOV lane seemed more natural.

If driven sedately, the EX30 is capable of returning 116 MPGe in the city, 100 on the highway, and 109 combined. With its 69.0-kWh battery pack fully charged, it can cover up to 253 miles. Volvo says the EX30’s 153-kW DC fast-charging capability can take the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 26.5 minutes. I plugged into an Electrify America station at 19 percent and boosted it to 90 with 50.32 kWh in 37 minutes.

So far, none of that sounds out of the ordinary, does it? I agree! I’ve seen plenty of brightly colored cars, tested hot hatches, and driven several powerful electric vehicles. Consider all those the ingredients in the sandwich from my earlier analogy—in those ways, the EX30 was familiar to me but, as soon as I sat in and tried to use even basic functions, it was as if I tied on a pair of boxing gloves and tried to pick up the sandwich and take a bite. As you can imagine, it was a frustrating experience. Almost everything—including the speedometer display and the power mirror controls—was on the infotainment system touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard. It took me a few minutes just to learn how to lower the front windows because Volvo installed only two switches, which were controlled by a button that toggled between the first and second rows. Streamlining is great when it makes things easier, rather than less intuitive and natural. Volvo simplified things to the point of complexity. That’s a shame because it partly spoiled the things that were likeable about the EX30.

To learn more about the 2025 Volvo EX30 Ultra, check out my video review below.

Click above and watch our full video review on YouTube!

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Fans of the high-performance persuasion converged on the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, on November 22-23, 2025, for another grand slam Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN). I could use another sports metaphor like “hat trick,” but this event has been killing it for over a decade and there’s nothing in the dictionary (Webster’s, Urban, or otherwise) to describe how MCACN scores and scores again. The Washington Generals they ain’t!

As you may know, there were a host of displays focused on a particular theme. Subsequent articles will hone in on those presentations but, for now, here’s a mix of many other cars that are no less significant.

Several Oldsmobile unveilings included a 1970 Cutlass S W31 and two 4-4-2 W30 convertibles.

Apex Auto Restoration unveiled this 1971 440-6 ‘Cuda and 1970 Hemi GTX.

Ever see a 1963 Buick LeSabre with a 465 Wildcat and a four-speed?

Do you prefer your radical from the factory or from the garage?

Blue Oval Car Barn brought these two 1967 Shelby GT500s, while Magnum Auto Restoration unveiled this 1970 Hemi Dodge Challenger R/T.

This 1971 Pontiac LeMans wagon is one of 16 built with a 455, plus it was factory-equipped with a hood tachometer! Sticker was $5,900.

This 1969 Chevelle SS 396 was built in this unusual triple white combo.

Cousins: Light Pewter 1971 Mustang Boss 351 features a Vermillion interior. The 1969 Intermeccanica Italia is powered by a Boss 302.

1964 version of the same car.

The Pinnacle Shelby & Mustang display featured the creme de la creme of Fords.

Only 12 1965 Chrysler 300-L convertibles were built with a four-speed. To the left is a 1961 300-G.

Fraternal Trans-Am twins: 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A and Plymouth AAR’Cuda.

Sixty 1967 Mercury Cyclones were built with the 427, of which nine were the W-code 410-horse version with a four-barrel.

Two Road Runners with interesting paint combos: a 1968 in special-order “Petty Blue” and a 1969 with two-tone Silver and Black Velvet.

This 1971 Plymouth Hemi’Cuda was originally exported to Kuwait. It’s known as having the longest option list among the 108-plus built.

Black was not a regular-production color for the 1971 Corvette. This special-ordered survivor is powered by an LT-1.

Barrett-Jackson announced today that tickets for the 2026 Columbus Auction are officially on sale. This must-attend automotive lifestyle event will take place at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds June 25-27, 2026.

Tickets start at $20 for adults and $10 for students, with free admission for children age 12 and under, making it an accessible and family-friendly event for automotive fans of all ages. For ticket information, please click here.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Barrett-Jackson experience to Columbus and the Midwest,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “This region has an incredibly passionate automotive community, and we look forward to showcasing an unforgettable lineup of collector cars and creating a world-class event for car fans and families.”

Collectors and car fans can secure their spot to experience an incredible lineup of world-class, collectible and one-of-a-kind vehicles crossing the auction block. Guests can expect all the signature experiences that make Barrett-Jackson a must-attend event. From hundreds of vehicles selling to the highest bidder to heart-pounding Hot Laps and Thrill Rides from the top manufacturers, the excitement never stops. The Ohio event will also feature Barrett-Jackson’s expansive Exhibitor Marketplace, interactive sponsor displays, diverse food and beverage options, celebrity appearances and charity vehicles crossing the block for worthy causes – all coming together to create an unforgettable event that offers something for every member of the family.

Join Barrett-Jackson’s online conversation with #BarrettJackson and #BJAC on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

Do you remember when Mopar legends—’Cudas and Challengers—ruled the street and strip? When bold colors, big power, and once-in-a-lifetime factory builds defined an era? You may think those days are gone. But they’re not.

Because right now, Dream Giveaway is offering a shot at a prize package so exclusive, so impossibly rare, that it feels like fiction. Two Mopars—one from 1970, one from 2023—both in iconic B5 Blue, both nearly impossible to acquire, and both waiting for one winner.

If this story already has your heart racing… enter now.

Grand Prize #1 – 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda 340 Convertible (1 of 1)

If exclusivity is what you crave, this Mopar is the summit.

This pristine 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda 340 Convertible isn’t just rare. It is singular—the only factory-produced example in this exact configuration. A true 1 of 1 Mopar, finished in breathtaking B5 Blue Fire Metallic, equipped with a factory Shaker hood (an almost unheard-of feature on a 340 convertible), and backed by pedigree from the prestigious Lingenfelter Collection.

Convertible Cudas were scarce. Shaker-hood ‘Cudas were scarcer. Combine the two with this paint, this drivetrain, and this documentation, and you get something the Mopar world has only seen once.

There is no other exactly like it. Enter now for the chance to claim the only one, plus something matching to go along with it.

Grand Prize #2 – 2023 Dodge Demon 170 (1 of 10 in B5 Blue/Cloth Seats)

From the rarest Mopar of the past to the most extreme Mopar of the modern era—your second grand prize is a 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, the 1,025-horsepower, supercharged Hellcat-powered factory supercar that ended the HEMI era with a thunderclap.

It is 1 of just 10 produced in B5 Blue with full cloth interior.

Most Demon 170s (aptly named as the E85 fuel it can guzzle down has an alcohol proof of 170) went straight from dealer lots into private collections—many never to be seen again. B5 Blue cars with cloth interiors? They’re almost mythical. And if 93 octane is the best your local gas station offers, don’t fret. This ultimate Dodge Challenger Hellcat can still give you 900 horsepower on 93 octane.

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a future blue-chip collectible that delivers even more thrills than a classic HEMI Challenger, enter now.

Two Ultra-Rare Mopars. One Matching Color. One Winner.

A 1 of 1 vintage Mopar convertible and a 1 of 10 modern Mopar super-weapon. Both in B5 Blue. Both legendary. Both irreplaceable.

This is not just the most exclusive Mopar prize package Dream Giveaway has ever offered—
it may be one of the rarest Mopar pairings ever assembled anywhere.

And Dream Giveaway will include a One-Day Performance Driving School at Radford Racing School and pay out $64,000 in federal prize taxes if you have the winning ticket.

You will never see this pairing offered again. Opportunities like this don’t repeat.

Your chance at two once-in-a-lifetime Mopar dream machines is here. Enter now.

Big jobs require abundant power. If your automotive needs involve hauling, towing, or adventurous off-roading, we’ve found you a rig that will do it all with confidence: Featured on AutoHunter is a low-mileage 2016 Ford F-450 Super Duty Platinum 4×4 Pickup. It is being sold by a dealer in Lynnwood, Washington, with the auction ending Monday, December 8, 2025, at 12:15 p.m. (MST).

The F-450 was built with heavy-duty intentions in mind – its Power Stroke V8 produces a stump-pulling 860 lb-ft of torque. Yet at the same time, when optioned in the right trim, its cabin can offer creature comforts typically reserved for luxury cars: leather upholstery, heated and cooled seats, wood-grain trim, navigation, and dual climate control. Suddenly, putting in a hard day’s work doesn’t mean you have to be exhausted at the end of it all.

This highly optioned “Bronze Fire Metallic” Super Duty dually is an imposing machine, measuring 22 feet long and weighing in at approximately 8,600 pounds (over four tons!). Its exterior equipment includes Fab Fours bumpers, a Warn M15000 winch, LED lighting, aftermarket headlights, a bug guard, power-deploying side steps, and rear mud flaps. In stock form, the truck is rated for towing up to about 31,000 pounds. Considering the fact that an average fifth-wheel trailer weighs about 12,000 pounds, you’ll be hard-pressed to test the truck’s limits when it comes to towing prowess.

Responsible for that capability is a tried and true 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 mated to a SelectShift six-speed automatic transmission and a dual-range transfer case. The odometer of this truck shows just 45,889 miles, putting it in low-mileage territory considering it’s been in service for 10 years. The AutoCheck report shows that it was first registered in Nevada in November 2015 and was subsequently relocated to Washington in 2019.

A lift kit, Dirt Logic shock absorbers, and steering stabilizers provide the ground clearance and handling capabilities that should be expected of a go-anywhere machine. While it might not be the optimal vehicle for an everyday, efficiency-minded commuter, the truck brings the power and capability to get just about any job done. It looks apocalypse-ready, too.

If an adult-sized Tonka truck is on your wish list this holiday season, you’re in luck. I’m just not sure it’s going to fit down anyone’s chimney.

The auction for this 2016 Ford F-450 Platinum Pickup ends Monday, December 8, 2025, at 12:15 p.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery