Moparts Unlimited of Arizona, a local crowd of Chrysler Corporation collectors dedicated to strutting their Pentastar stuff all around the Grand Canyon State, held its 39th annual H.E.M.I. Show on Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Sponsored by AutoNation Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram North Phoenix, the H.E.M.I. Show’s name may get you wondering what the acronym stands for. Glad you asked! High Energy Mopar Invitational is the answer—now you can move on with your life. For your intrepid reporter, though, he moved around the parking lot scoping out 250 or so automotive treasures from the Highland Park, Michigan company.
And if you’re not in-the-know in the Mopar world, then you may not be aware that the Blake Family are residents of Phoenix. Who are the Blakes? The smartest people in America—folks who snapped up Hemi ragtops when they were somewhat affordable. Today, they have several examples of the Big Kahuna of muscle cars that include at least one 1970 Plymouth Hemi‘Cuda convertible, 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T convertible, and 1971 Plymouth Hemi’Cuda convertible. Two of ‘em showed up at the H.E.M.I. Show. Imagine a local car show with the Holy Grail appearing twice!
Of course, Mopars Unlimited of Arizona is more than just Mopar muscle. Glance at the image gallery below to find more from Chrysler’s proud automotive history.
Texas is such a huge market for trucks that various manufacturers make specific editions of their pickups just for the Lone Star State. Ford has an entire trim level named after the King Ranch in Texas. But Jeep is aware that other states also like trucks. That’s why it came out with the Florida-specific 2024 Gladiator High Tide Edition. Now comes news of the 2025 Gladiator Big Bear Edition designed with Californians in mind.
Paying homage to Big Bear Lake, a mountain lake tourist destination in Southern California, and the California grizzly bear, the Big Bear Edition uses the Sport S trim level as a starting point. In addition to Command-Trac part-time four-wheel drive with 2.72:1 low range gearing, it comes standard with off-road features such as black 17-inch wheels with 32-inch mud-terrain tires and steel rock rails. A removable body-color hardtop, removable roof panels and doors, and a fold-down windshield let in the fresh air and provide better views of the Golden State’s natural beauty. No special-edition Jeep would be complete without the proper identification so the Big Bear gets special hood and tailgate badging.
Inside, there are Black McKinley-trimmed leather seats as well as the comfort of heated front seats and a heated steering wheel and the convenience of adaptive cruise control, a universal garage door opener, and a 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen infotainment system. For those seeking even more outdoor fun, the Uconnect 5 system features AppMarket, which offers adventure apps like Geocaching and The Dyrt. Both rows of passengers are protected by side-curtain airbags.
Jeep will offer the Gladiator Big Bear Edition in seven colors: Black, Bright White, Granite Crystal, Hydro Blue, Firecracker Red, Anvil, and ’41, a shade of green that’s new for 2025. Only 5,000 will be produced, all priced from $46,090 (excluding a $1,995 destination fee). You can find the 2025 Gladiator Big Bear Edition now at California Jeep dealerships. Then it’s just a matter of deciding where to take it in that big, beautiful state—with the roof off, of course.
Plymouth had a problem in its hands when it redesigned its full-size series for 1962. Though interior measurements were on par with Chevrolets and Fords being sold down the street, the trim exterior proportions did not suit the public’s perception that bigger was better. The upside was that, all things being equal, Plymouths performed better than their heavier competitors. Even at the drags, Super Stock 413s gave 409 and 406 racers fits.
Plymouth added several inches to its length to 1963 to help rectify the issue, which helped while it worked on the “true” full-size series that would appear for 1965. Featured on AutoHunter is this 1963 Belvedere two-door sedan, which embodies everything that was impressive about Super Stock Plymouths of the time. Even better, this red-over-red example sports a Keith Black 572ci Hemi, pushbutton 727 TorqueFlite, Dana 60, bucket seats, and more.
Look at this sanitary Mopar! Other than the longitudinal side trim, this Belvedere is completely unadorned—not even side mirrors to distract . . . well, perhaps I spoke too soon because a Hemi-inspired hood scoop has been added. Fifteen-inch American Racing Torq Thrust wheels are wrapped in Hoosier radials, the latter measuring 26 x 7.5 inches up front, 29 x 12.5 out back.
The cabin is furnished in red vinyl, with a pair of bucket seats replacing the original bench. Chrysler’s famous push-button automatic transmission selector is to the left of the steering wheel, while below to the right you’ll find a custom gauge stand. Other features include AM radio, Grant steering wheel, and a removed rear seat but don’t fret, racers—sure, no rear seat means less weight on the driving wheels, but two batteries reside in the trunk to rectify that.
The instrument panel consists of a 120-mph speedometer and gauges for oil pressure, coolant, alternator, and fuel. Also present under the dash and the aforementioned gauge stand are a voltage gauge, 10,000-rpm tachometer, and even more gauges for the oil pressure and coolant. The odometer currently shows 143 miles, which clearly is not a reflection of the actual miles.
The Keith Black Racing Engines Hemi measures 572ci and puts out a dyno-rated 750 horsepower with the assistance of twin 850-cfm four-barrels. Other underhood features include a 4030 racing cam, 10-quart oil pan, and four-inch Doug’s headers. With the TorqueFlite being within arm’s reach, this is among the cars that became known as “Dial-A-Winners.”
That prodigious horsepower is harnessed by a Dana 60 rear axle with 4.10 gears and limited-slip. Of course, this kind of power demands a dual exhaust system.
This Hemi-powered 1963 Plymouth Belvedere two-door sedan a substantial car that will require muscles to drive. Up to the task? Consider this a challenge—just be sure to place your bid before Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 11:45 a.m. (PDT).
To some, the family station wagon is a goofy, unloved relic of their childhood, a reminder of forever-long road trips filled with sibling fights and frequent stops at boring roadside attractions. But to others, that wagon is a time machine that takes them back to fondly remembered times, a member of the family to be preserved and cherished. Care to guess which of those two descriptions fits our Pick of the Day, a one-family-owned 1950 DeSoto Custom Station Wagon posted on ClassicCars.com by a Virginia dealership?
It’s rare enough for a vehicle that was made 75 years ago to be more than a pile of scrap metal in an overgrown field these days. A car that old remaining in the same family that purchased it as a new car during the Truman administration? That’s the automotive equivalent of a unicorn—and this one has a hood ornament for a horn. Granted, this DeSoto wagon was restored at some point in the past, so it had some help staying alive, but that was somewhat offset by being stored for a long time after the owner died. Fortunately, their family held onto this handsome longroof until the selling dealer recently added it to its inventory.
Despite its age, this DeSoto appears to be in great shape. Thank goodness for that. There are a lot of woody wagons out there, but you don’t see DeSoto woodies all that often. Clearly, the combination of a restoration and time away from the elements and the hazards of the road served it well. All the burgundy paint is intact, and the wood trim is in remarkably good condition.
The same goes for the handsome tan vinyl interior, which comes equipped with two rows of bench seating and a rear cargo area floor with wood planks and metal dividers that will make any luggage or gear look more special than it is. However, the dealer notes this beauty will need a brake service to get it back on the road. Some new whitewalls probably wouldn’t hurt, either.
According to the dealer, the Powermaster 236ci inline-six is believed to be original to the car, and it “starts easily and runs smoothly.” A look at the brochure for the 1950 DeSoto lineup shows it was factory-rated at 112 horsepower at 3,600 rpm. The L-head six is connected to what DeSoto called a “Tip-Toe Shift transmission” with Fluid Drive, aka a four-speed semi-automatic.
This DeSoto wagon’s time with its original family has passed, but that means it can join your family now. The adoption fee is $59,900.
This 1934 Ford five-window coupe is a steel-bodied hot rod that was built by the seller and his father around 25 years ago. Fiberglass doors and fenders were installed and it was painted pearl blue, and the 351ci Windsor V8 was rebuilt and installed along with a C5 automatic. Inside, Honda Prelude bucket seats were utilized along with vintage-look gauges, a Lokar shifter, a tilt column, and a Pioneer stereo, and the car rides on a lowered suspension with chromed smoothies, front discs, and a Flaming River Vega steering box. This 1934 hot rod is now offered in with service records and a clean Washington title in the seller’s name.
The steel body was fitted with a Downs Manufacturing fiberglass trunk lid and doors as well as fiberglass fenders, and it was painted pearl blue using BASF Diamont paint. The seller notes blistering around the rear window. The car has a rumble seat and two chromed horns as well as chromed bumpers and Bob Drake headlights.
The car rides on chromed smoothies with a drop front axle, front disc brakes, and a Flaming River Vega steering box.
The seats were sourced from a 1988 Honda Prelude, and the side panels are upholstered to match. A Pioneer stereo was installed under the dashboard, the shifter is from Lokar, and power windows were sourced from Downs Manufacturing.
The steering wheel is mounted on a tilt column, and vintage-look gauges were installed. The fuel-level gauge does not work, and the seller estimates that nearly all of the 73k miles displayed were added since the build.
The 351ci Windsor V8 was purchased as a long block in 1998 and rebuilt in 2000. It has chrome accessories, an Edelbrock intake and Weber carburetor, and ceramic-coated block-hugger headers sourced from Precision Products.
The engine is linked to a C5 automatic that was rebuilt in 2003 and a Cougar-sourced 28-spline rear end. The car has a dual exhaust system as well.
Build records are included with the car.
The seller is unable to locate the serial number on the car.
When I got into my friend Justin’s 2003 Honda Accord recently to take it for a spin, the odometer read 59,030 miles. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve taken that reading at face value – after all, the car looked virtually new both inside and out. And it drove equally well.
But in reality, the car had 1,059,030 miles on it. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that Justin had added a “1” to the instrument cluster at the left side of the odometer. How was such an automotive feat even possible? One million miles comes out to about 40 times around the equator of the earth or traveling to the moon and back twice (and then some).
Justin drove the roughly 1,125 miles from his home in Corpus Christi to mine in Phoenix so we could take our high-mileage V6 coupes out on the town (my 1994 Acura Legend now has just over 595,000 miles on the odometer). Our destination for the day was a restaurant called Horny Toad, located about 30 miles north of Phoenix in Cave Creek. About 10 other Honda/Acura enthusiasts joined for the occasion. Following lunch, Justin and I got together for some Q&A in my garage.
One-Owner History
Justin’s wife bought the Satin Silver EX coupe new off the lot at Pensacola Honda in 2003 with about 10 miles on the odometer. At least initially, the Accord led a somewhat “normal” life in terms of mileage accumulation. But Justin took on a side job of delivering medical supplies and that’s when things started going crazy. There were nights when he would drive a seven-hour route at night after getting home from his day job. His highest-mileage year was in the 140,000-mile range.
Maintenance-wise, the “J30” 3.0-liter V6 remained unmodified and received synthetic oil changes every 15,000 miles or so. The original six-speed manual transmission was replaced with a used unit around 300,000 miles. At 922,000 miles, Justin noticed the car started to shake and had a shop do a full evaluation. He had lost the exhaust valve in the number one cylinder, so the car was essentially running on the remaining five cylinders. “Can I make it to a million on five?” he asked. “I don’t see why not,” the shop told him. And so, he did. He said the car made very little power, and it ran a little rough, but he plugged along and eventually hit the milestone in Tennessee in early 2023 with a few other Honda Accord owners in attendance.
At 1,015,000, the Accord finally received a new “crate” engine. In addition, a mechanical and cosmetic refresh was carried out that included paint, interior and suspension work in addition to many other checklist items. Even the original shift knob and steering wheel were replaced. And of course, since the original odometer froze at 999,999, a new one was installed showing zero miles. The car’s entire lifespan is documented – and the CARFAX report is 16 pages long.
Aside from talking about his car, I wanted to pick Justin’s brain a little about his road-tripping habits. I asked him how he passes the time on longer drives, and he said he listens to SiriusXM and his favorite channel is Octane. His favorite road in the country to drive is Highway 20 running north out of Oak Harbor, Washington, and crossing the Deception Pass bridge.
Connect with Justin
For our readers on the east coast, if you want to get up close and personal to a unique Accord coupe, Justin is planning on showing the car at “H Day” in Maryland the weekend of April 12. The event started in 2002 and now attracts over 1,000 cars each spring.
Regardless of where you’re located, you can follow Justin’s travels on his Instagram as well as his YouTube channel to keep tabs on his ownership experience with the high-mileage Honda.
On January 1, 2003, Rolls-Royce opened the doors to its all-new Goodwood manufacturing facility in southeast England. Set on 42 acres, the limestone and cedar buildings housed an Assembly Hall with floor-to-ceiling windows that provided generous views of Phantom VIIs being made by hand, a Surface Finishing Centre, Bespoke services, and other operations. In January of this year, Rolls-Royce announced it would be allocating £300+ million ($390+ million) to a substantial extension of its Goodwood plant, the biggest investment in the site since it opened. To commemorate the occasion, the ultra-luxury automaker had employees from various departments choose items to put inside a time capsule that will be opened on Rolls-Royce’s 150th anniversary in 2054.
“The capsule’s contents were collated by representatives from each of Rolls-Royce’s Future Talent programmes, including Interns, Graduates and Apprentices,” according to Rolls-Royce. The company has not disclosed what was put inside, only stating that some of the items will be obsolete in 2054 and serve as reminders of the time from which they came while others will still be relevant the day the capsule is opened.
Nobody will have to dig the container up when the big day comes, though. Instead of burying the time capsule, Rolls-Royce put it on display in Goodwood’s reception area. Once the 40,000 square-meter (430,556 square-foot) extension is complete, it will become the new home of the commemorative container of memories and tactile connections to times past.
The Goodwood addition will also enclose a new Exterior Surface Centre (Paint Shop) and provide more room for Bespoke builds, which were at an all-time high in 2024, and the even more challenging and complex Coachbuild projects. Overall, Rolls-Royce did incredibly well last year, delivering 5,712 vehicles (primarily to clients in North America and Europe) and making 2024 its third-best sales year ever.
This news has us wondering what exactly made the cut for the time capsule. Perhaps a jar of Gray Poupon got approval because people still associate it with Rolls-Royce 40 years after the commercials were relevant. Hopefully, traditional buttons and knobs did as well. Why get rid of something that still works? As for items that will be obsolete in 2054, perhaps a key fob is in that group. Or a miniaturized side mirror because external mirrors will probably be replaced by small cameras within the next three decades.
What do you think is inside the Rolls-Royce time capsule? Write your estimations in the comments section below.
The SL has been a Mercedes-Benz icon since the 300 SL “Gullwing” came out in 1954. Over the past 71 years, there have been seven generations of the signature model. Today’s AutoHunter Spotlight car, 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250 SL, comes from a short chapter in that long, illustrious history.
In the early 1960s, Mercedes needed a follow-up to the 300 SL coupe and roadster as well as the four-cylinder 190 SL. Adapting parts from the 220 SE, the automaker created the 230 SL and presented it to the world at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show. According to the automaker, the W113 generation “took its curtailed and reinforced framework from the tailfin sedan including the front and rear axle suspension.” As its name implies, the 230 SL had a 2.3-liter engine that was essentially a bored version of the 220 SE’s straight-six.
Although the second-generation SL borrowed some hardware from one of its corporate siblings, it made a name for itself—literally. The concave shape to its removable hardtop spawned the nickname “Pagoda,” a term still used in reference to this version of the SL. Additional characteristics that distinguished the W113 from its predecessor were its front and rear crumple zones.
Although Mercedes started producing the 250 SL, the replacement for the 230, in 1966, it officially introduced the upgraded model in February 1967. Major updates included a larger 2.5-liter I6 and a reworked braking system with front and rear discs. However, the 250 SL’s newness soon faded as Mercedes rolled out the even more powerful 280 SL as its successor less than a year later, though the 250 continued to be built until 1968.
The 1967 250 SL you see here was put through a restoration that was completed in 2010. It comes finished in the attractive combination of Ivory over a red MB-Tex interior. When the weather gets bad, there are two options for staying dry: a black soft top with a plastic rear window or a body-color hardtop, which comes with its own stand.
Inside the brightly colored interior is an interesting surprise. As expected, there are conveniences such as power steering and brakes, air conditioning, and an AM/FM radio, but look behind the low-back buckets—yes, that’s a third seat.
The VDO instrumentation includes a 7,000-rpm tachometer, 140-mph speedometer, and gauges for the fuel level, oil pressure, and temperature. The odometer has rolled over, so the 46,762 miles shown are actually 146,762 miles.
The selling dealer reports the fuel-injected 2.5-liter I6 under the hood is original to the car. Updates include the replacement of the fuel injection pump and injectors less than 100 miles ago. Although the W113 was available with a four-speed automatic, this one sends its power to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox.
If you place the winning bid for this 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250 SL, you’ll not only get a handsome and tasteful piece of the company’s history, but you’ll also receive plenty of documentation. The selling dealer will send it your way with the original owner’s manuals, data plate, original purchase agreement, original window sticker, and service records. Bid now because the auction ends Tuesday, March 25 at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).
Trivia: What was the first model year that Chevrolet offered concealed headlights in three series? Nineteen sixty-eight. Did you get the correct answer? The Corvette had them standard, and the Camaro and Caprice had them optional. Our Pick of the Day, a 1968 Chevrolet Caprice Estate Wagon, is the first of two instances that a full-size Chevrolet could have hidden headlights. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Quebec, Canada.
Chevrolet’s wagons fluctuated in the 1950-60s—for example, in the exalted model year of 1955, the wagons were tied to the traditional trim levels of 150, 210, and Bel Air, with the unique Nomad being a special Bel Air model beyond the Bel Air wagon. Starting in 1956, the wagons became the 150 Handyman and 210 Handyman (both two-doors), 210 Townsman, and 210 Beauville and Bel Air Beauville.
For 1959, when Chevrolet settled with Biscayne, Bel Air, and Impala models within its full-size series, the corresponding wagons became Brookwood, Parkwood and Kingswood, and Nomad, respectively. Starting in 1961, the mid-level Kingswood was discontinued, leaving the Parkwood among the Brookwood and Nomad wagons. And then, for 1962, wagons lost their specific names, instead returning to conventional series names like Biscayne, Bel Air, and Impala. When the Caprice became a full-line model and top trim level for 1966 (after its 1965 introduction as a four-door hardtop), a Caprice wagon joined the lineup.
Starting in 1969, full-size wagon models returned to using unique names. In this case, Brookwood, Townsman, Kingswood, and Kingswood Estate reflected the respective Biscayne, Bel Air, Impala, and Caprice trim levels.
Of course, 1969 was the second and last instance a full-size Chevy could have hidden headlights—in fact, a 1969 Caprice appeared as our Pick of the Day earlier this week. The 1969s with this option are much more familiar than the ’68, though neither model year with hidden headlights is rare—for 1968, 14,929 Caprices were built with option “T83” compared to 23,797 built for 1969.
This Capri Cream 1968 Chevrolet Caprice Estate Wagon looks fabulous with its hidden headlights, but there’s more than meets the eye thanks to the big-block 427 backed by a four-speed manual. Seller claims the engine is not original, and he’s unsure about the transmission, but we can recognize that this is a fun family hauler with “mild choppy cam, Edelbrock Performer intake, [and] Holley 750cfm carburetor” to give more than the 385 horsepower that an original 427 may offer. Rally wheels with hubcaps ride on BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires. Inside, the tan interior features a full bench seat, column-mounted aftermarket tachometer, clock, and rear-facing third seat.
Yes, this Bow Tie is located near Montreal—somewhat far for many of you—but the dealership has experience with importation and transportation, so there shouldn’t be an issue. But wouldn’t you rather fly your family to Quebec and drive back home in this? For 35,995 American dollars, it would be the trip of a lifetime.
This 1936 Chevrolet two-door sedan street rod was purchased by the seller out of Tennessee in 2021 and it was subsequently repainted metallic blue. Power is from a 454ci V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission, and the interior is trimmed in tan vinyl upholstery. Additional equipment includes a limited-slip rear differential, disc brakes, power steering, and 15″ American Racing alloy wheels. The interior is outfitted with front bucket seats, Vintage Air climate control, power windows, a Lokar floor shifter, and a Kenwood CD stereo. This Chevrolet street rod is now offered with parts records and a clean Florida title in the seller’s name.
The car was repainted in metallic blue under current ownership, and the rear bodywork has been modified. The bumpers and engine cover side panels have been removed, and other exterior details include a split windshield, tinted glass, dual side mirrors, running boards, and flush-mounted taillights. A portion of the exterior photos were taken in 2022 and 2023.
American Racing 15” alloy wheels are mounted with Blacklion front and Cooper Cobra rear tires. The seller tells us that the car is equipped with a front subframe assembly sourced from a Chevrolet Camaro, while other equipment includes power steering and air-adjustable rear shock absorbers. Stopping power is provided by four-wheel disc brakes.
The cabin has been re-trimmed with front bucket seats and a rear bench upholstered in tan vinyl with beige inserts. Additional appointments include tan carpets, power windows, custom door panels, Vintage Air climate control, a floor shifter, and a Kenwood stereo concealed in the glove box. The windshield wiper components have been replaced per the seller. The interior photos were taken in 2022.
The three-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a polished instrument panel that houses a Dolphin GPS speedometer and auxiliary gauges. The car has been driven approximately 650 miles since the completion of the build according to the seller. True mileage is unknown.
The replacement 454ci V8 was installed under prior ownership and is equipped with a four-barrel carburetor, a CVF serpentine accessory drive system, chrome valve covers, and coated headers that feed into a dual exhaust system.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission. The seller tells us that the rear axle assembly was sourced from a Chevrolet Camaro and is equipped with a limited-slip differential. The underside photos in the gallery that show the car on a lift were taken in 2022.
