mod@tech

In that cesspool known as NextDoor.com, I often see people complaining about other drivers. I tend to poo-pooh the poster and commenters because they certainly can’t be perfect like me, the only guy in the state who rides a motorcycle and use turn signals.

For all their concern for proper driving etiquette, I don’t seem to encounter these folks on the roads, as there are plenty of people who don’t use their turn signals. And the latest trend these days (“these days” could be “the past 10 years, for all I know) is for people to signal right when they are entering another lane. I thought the purpose of the turn signal was intention? There is no intention when there is no pause between signal and movement.

Here are other thoughts about turn signals that can make you a better driver:

• Merging: Using your turn signal show you’re planning to turn into my lane, especially if I happen to miss the sign showing an upcoming merge. Most people don’t, but since the signal about communication, why not tell the rest of us on the road?
• Turn lane—headed towards me: Ever try to make a left turn against traffic, only to have to wait for an oncoming car to pass? But then, it seems that oncoming car also wishes to turn in the same direction, but you can’t know because (s)he doesn’t communicate this via turn signal. I am sure you value efficiency while driving, so a signal from an approaching car actually may give you a chance to beat him/her to the punch.
• And what if an oncoming car wants to turn to your right? In case you don’t know, a motorcyclist’s nightmare is when a car turns in front of him or her, leading to a collision. As such, seeing a turn signal as I approach familiarizes me with what I can anticipate in a worst-case scenario. Especially in two-way traffic (versus at an intersection), it’s sometimes difficult to notice a car is positioned to turn while I approach, so that little bit of light makes all the difference.
• Turn lane—same direction: I don’t understand why people turn into a turn lane but only put the turn signal afterwards. Why not do it to show your intention before?

If you haven’t figured it out, these observation aren’t really about a crabby motorcyclist, as they also pertain to your safety. Now, if we could get other motorcyclists to use their turn signals, we’d be all set.

When the Ford Thunderbird debuted in 1955, it was a two-seater with sporty aspirations, but Ford didn’t position the car as a head-to-head competitor for the popular Chevrolet Corvette. Instead, the Thunderbird launched what became known as the “personal luxury” segment.

For a subsequent 11 generations and 50 years (with a short gap from 1998-01), the Thunderbird evolved in size, shape, and powertrain. At one time or another, it grew from two seats to four, then back to two but, along the way, it helped pioneer some of Ford’s engineering innovations. Among them were a “swing-away” steering wheel, a speed-sensitive radio, a manually operated sunroof, and more. 

When the final iteration of the Thunderbird launched in 2002, Ford had tailored it with retro-inspired styling that was designed to appeal to the nostalgic side of people who had owned the Thunderbirds of yesteryear. Unfortunately, sales figures failed to meet expectations, and the car was axed after 2005 without a successor in mind. Some 20 years later, there are rumblings about a future Thunderbird concept, but nothing has ever been confirmed by the manufacturer.

While each Thunderbird generation has a unique story worth sharing, the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction drew our attention to what we’d call the “bookends” of the T-Bird.

In this Interesting Finds, we first look at a 1956 Thunderbird—a second-year model—with a 312ci “Y-block” V8 and a Holley four-barrel carburetor. It is optioned with a continental kit, whitewall tires, and a Town and Country radio. From there, we jump to a 1958 model, which reflected the first of the controversial (yet popular) “Square Bird” generation.

Later in the video, we close things out with a glimpse at how the Thunderbird looked just before it was phased out of production permanently. The final car featured is a 2005 “50^th Anniversary” edition with just 66,000 miles on the odometer—complete with a removable hardtop, which paid homage to the original two-seater.

All five of the cars sold at No Reserve and are no doubt being enjoyed by Thunderbird enthusiasts in their respective new homes. We are confident we’ll see many more T-Birds at the upcoming January auction. Subscribe to the ClassicCars TV YouTube channel for more Interesting Finds.

In the world of classic luxury cars, there are several manufacturers that build amazing vehicles. A classic Cadillac offers the best of American luxury and Mercedes provides the best of Germany’s Teutonic quality. Both are great automakers, but there is a single manufacturer that has set the standard for price-is-no-object luxury cars: Rolls-Royce.

I have driven a number of Rolls-Royce motorcars, from those made in the 1920s up to the latest offerings. Each one truly represented the finest luxury available in its time. What is interesting about Rolls-Royce is that despite the fact that its cars are the most exclusive and expensive luxury vehicles of their respective eras, older ones – specifically, those that are 25-30 years old – can often be bought for very affordable prices. This is amazing for the buyer as long as (s)he understands that servicing a Rolls-Royce – even one with the price of a Toyota Camry – can be expensive. Having owned a few of these cars, I will say that the money spent to keep them in good form is well worth it. There is literally nothing that beats the experience of picking up friends or going to a valet parking stand behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce.

Today’s AutoHunter Spotlight is one of these cars, a 1990 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit II.

The seller describes this Silver Spirit II as one of only 575 built in 1990. It has covered a total of 30K miles from new and appears to be in excellent condition.

This Rolls is powered by a fuel-injected 6.75-liter V8 mated to a three-speed TH400 automatic transmission. The car is finished in Silver Metallic over a gray leather interior, and is offered by the selling dealer with spare rear footrests, floor mats, a battery tender, a clean AutoCheck report, and a clear title.

Based on the fact that this Rolls has had only three owners since 1990 and has covered so few miles, I am guessing that the paint is largely original. The car rides on its original 15-inch wheels and a set of 235/75 Hankook Optimo tires.

The interior of this Silver Spirit features the original gray Connolly leather with red piping, and looks to be in exceptional condition. The same is true for the burl walnut veneer trim, with no cracks to be seen anywhere. This is one of the best Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit IIs I have seen in years. Also note that this car also includes its sheepskin floor mats, something often missing from these cars.

Under the hood is the legendary 6.75-liter Rolls-Royce V8, looking almost as clean as it did when it left the factory. The entire engine compartment looks absolutely perfect and ready to be shown at the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club’s national convention.

As someone who has owned Rolls-Royces from this era, I would ask the seller for the service history and any documentation for it. (S)he states in the listing that the car needs rear struts but that they are going to be replaced. Beyond that, try to get an inspection done. I am guessing everything is working as it should be, but it’s best to be sure as servicing a Rolls is an expensive proposition.

The feeling you get in one of these cars is amazing. No matter how poorly your day might have gone, when you sit behind the wheel of a Rolls like this one and see the Spirit of Ecstasy above the stunning grille, you know everything is going to be alright. If you are interested in this 1990 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit II, you had better act fast because cars this nice are proving to be harder and harder to find. Do not miss out on the opportunity to own a Rolls-Royce as nice as this one. Place your bid before the auction ends on Monday, December 1, 2025, at 11:45 a.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

If you’ve always wanted a Bentley, but you find the prewar/immediate-postwar models to be too dated, and modern Bentleys too flashy and techy, take a look at the era in between. Our Pick of the Day was made in that age of Bentleys and has accrued only 15,768 miles since then. This 1994 Bentley Brooklands is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Sarasota, Florida.

The three-box Bentleys of the 1980s and 1990s show that luxury doesn’t have to be loud. Their conservative lines, perfect proportions, and thick sidewalls give them a stately, confident presence. Those models include the Mulsanne and Eight, and their successor, the Brooklands.

Named after the now-closed British racetrack, the Brooklands was introduced at the 1992 Birmingham International Motor Show as Bentley’s entry-level model for 1993. According to an article on The International Club for Rolls-Royce and Bentley Enthusiasts website, “The new Brooklands was distinguished by a colour-keyed radiator shell, a new front air dam with discreet, square fog lamps, and new alloy wheels.”

Inside, the Brooklands was “exquisitely appointed with pleated leather door trim and a leather-stitched gear selector located in the centre console.”

The 1994 model year brought minor badge and interior changes as well as the Shift Energy Management system, which reduced the 6.75-liter V8’s torque before the four-speed automatic changed gears so that each shift was nice and smooth.

This particular Brooklands is a one-owner Florida car. Given its age and prestige, there’s a good chance it was driven gently by a senior citizen. Whoever was behind the wheel, (s)he looked after this rolling ingot of British luxury. The gray paint appears to be in great shape. The same goes for the Magnolia beige Connolly leather interior with glossy burl wood veneers and blue carpeting.

No matter how sparingly and gingerly a car is driven, time catches up with it (a lesson I learned from my 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt). Fortunately, $15,000 in service was performed within the last two years.

From its design and mileage to its condition and recent service, this 1994 Bentley Brooklands has a lot going for it. If you want it going to your house, it’ll take $44,500 to get it headed your way.

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

Oldsmobile is famous for having the country’s most popular car for much of the decade. Considering the Chevrolet Impala had traditionally been Detroit’s traditional best-seller, this was a profound development. Among Cutlass models, the Cutlass Supreme led the way. How were they as used cars?

The Cutlass series and all other Oldsmobiles are the focus on this continuing serial on the 1970s used car market according to Consumer Guide. Please note the CG rating scale of 5 being Excellent and 1 being Poor.

Oldsmobile
“[The Cutlass is] more popular than its division stablemates largely because of styling, nicer interior appointments, and Oldsmobile’s durability reputation.”

• Cutlass: “No significant problem areas, [though Colonnades] not a paragon of space utilization, but adequate for a typical family.” CG rating: 2-3
• Cutlass (downsized): “Above-average for reliability, except for ’79 V6s, which rate average.” CG rating: 4
• Delta 88/Ninety-Eight: “Main drawbacks here are excess size and weight, which penalize fuel economy and maneuverability. Frequency-of-repair rate lower-than-average except for 1974 models.” CG rating: 3
• Delta 88/Ninety-Eight (downsized): “Many virtues including roomy interior, high ride comfort, big trunk, and low noise levels. Question: wouldn’t a Cutlass fit your needs just as well?” CG rating: 4
• Omega: “While we see no reason to buy the Omega over its cheaper [corporate siblings], we praise Omega’s overall good repair history.” CG rating: 2-3
• Omega (1980): “A fine used car buy for the 1980s.” CG rating: N/A
• Starfire: “The problem in taking a single GM car and spreading it throughout each of the divisions is that when the design is bad, the corporation gets not one black eye but several. This is the case with the Oldsmobile Starfire.” CG rating: 2
• Toronado: “An automobile that has a superior repair record cannot receive a poor used-car rating. But that is the only thing preventing us from ranking the Toronado lowest in the personal luxury class.” CG rating: 2
• Toronado (downsized): “A welcome return to sanity in design, fuel economy, ride, and handling.” CG rating: N/A

There are some colors that just look awful on a vehicle (anything you can call “baby-poop yellow” doesn’t belong on even the lamest of machines). But then there are colors that look great because of the bodywork they cover and the context in which they exist. A great example of this is the brown Ferrari I recently saw.

Back in September, I highlighted a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC4 listed on ClassicCars.com as a Pick of the Day. Even though I was looking at it through a computer screen, I could tell it was a beautiful machine with the right combination of sexy curves and dramatic lines. Earlier this month, I saw another 365 GTC4, but this time it was light brown (Marrone Colorado, if I’m not mistaken) and I was able to admire it up-close. I consider myself fortunate to have had that opportunity because Ferrari only produced approximately 500 of those stunners from 1971 until the autumn of 1972 (unfortunately, I wasn’t able to snap a picture of it).

After I somehow managed to pull my eyes away from the Italian 2+2’s slinky lines, I started thinking more about its earth-tone finish and automotive paint colors in general. The 365 GTC4 would look great in almost any color (except baby-poop yellow, of course), but there was something about its brown paint that made it even more attractive. Yes, it was a nice shade, but I think context had a lot to do with it, too.

First, there was the context of Ferraris and the colors they typically wear. If you happen to spot a Ferrari while you’re out and about, especially one of a certain age, there’s a good chance it’s going to be covered in some shade of red. According to a March 2018 article from Ferrari Magazine, “At its peak in the early 1990s, a remarkable 85 percent of all Ferraris built were painted red. Even today, the figure is 40 percent. There is one shade of red in particular that sears out of Ferrari’s colour swatch catalogue: Rosso Corsa, which translates as ‘Racing Red’.” Marrone Colorado was completely unexpected. It not only made the 365 GTC4 stand out (more than a classic Ferrari already does), but it also made it seem even more exotic.

Then there was the context of brown itself. It’s typically not an exciting, attractive color for cars, particularly those made for high performance. I associate it with ’70s land yachts and ’80s econoboxes. The brown 365 GTC4 I came across was shocking at first, then alluring.

Writing this reminded that the 365 GTC4 wasn’t the first brown Ferrari that wowed me. How could I forget this rare 1985 Ferrari 308 GTSi Quattrovalvole I saw at the 2024 Future Collector Car Show?

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this restored 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Sport Coupe, which is equipped with a 396ci V8 and a three-speed automatic transmission. Features include power steering and power front disc brakes. Finished in yellow metallic over a white vinyl interior, this first-generation Camaro is now offered by the selling dealer in Los Angeles with a clear title.

Originally LeMans Blue, the body was repainted yellow metallic and accented with black nose and side stripes during a nut-and-bolt restoration. Exterior features include replated chrome, an SS-style hood, a driver-side mirror, replacement weatherstripping and window felts, a body-color rear spoiler, and dual exhaust outlets.

Rally wheels look great on Chevy vehicles, especially Camaros. This one has 15-inch Rally wheels wrapped in 205/60 BFGoodrich Radial T/A raised-white-letter tires. If you look through the slots, you’ll see front disc and rear drum brakes, which are connected to a dual-circuit power braking system.

Like the exterior, the interior’s color was changed, going from Parchment to white vinyl. Features include power steering, bucket seats, faux wood trim, a Blaupunkt AM/FM/cassette radio, and a center console with a horseshoe-style automatic shifter.

The gauges keep things simple – there’s a 120-speedometer and a fuel gauge. The odometer shows 45,574 miles.

According to the selling dealer, only 1,000 of those miles have been put on the 350-horsepower 396ci V8 under the hood. The engine is connected to an Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor, Edelbrock intake manifold, and Hooker headers. It sends power to the road through a three-speed automatic.

If this 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Sport Coupe’s bright paint doesn’t draw attention out on the road, the sound of its exhaust will. You’d better pay close attention to your calendar if you want to make this your next car because the auction ends on December 1, 2025, at 2:15 p.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery