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Whether you love them or hate them, the truth is that minivans are a major part of automotive history, particularly Chrysler’s 100 years as a manufacturer. Although they’re not as popular as they used to be in the 1980s and 1990s, they’re still available from five manufacturers in America (if you count the all-electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz). As Brandt Rosenbusch, Manager of Historical Services for Stellantis North America, explains in the video below, Chrysler was the first to offer an upscale minivan.

That doesn’t mean it was the first to market, though. Dodge’s Caravan and Plymouth’s Voyager arrived for the 1984 model year in response to a desire for smaller family transportation that could fit in a regular-sized garage. Chrysler’s Town & Country variant arrived in 1990 with standard leather seating, front and rear air conditioning, and V6 power.

A second-generation model followed shortly afterward.

In 1996, the Town & Country was visually overhauled to match the sleeker, cab forward styling of its sedan counterparts.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Stow N’ Go seating (a product of the fourth-generation Town & Country), which allows the second- and third-row seats to be folded flat into the floor for more cargo space. The subsequent generation was the Town & Country’s last, but not the end of the Chrysler minivan. The Pacifica was introduced as a 2017 model and is still available today as a gas-only model and a plug-in hybrid variant.

I can’t speak for any of you out there, but my perception of the minivan has evolved along with the vehicle itself. When I was little kid, I thought conversion vans were the place to be because they were large and felt special, but that may be because the ones I remember had a TV and VCR in them. I didn’t grow up in a minivan family, so I wasn’t familiar with them.

In my teens and 20s, I thought minivans were lame, boring kid-haulers. That changed in my 30s, when I discovered how convenient, feature-rich, and luxurious models such as the Honda Odyssey Elite and Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle Hybrid could be. Now a parent myself, I totally get why people buy minivans. I would have no qualms about getting one as my next vehicle, but sorry, Chrysler—I’d go with the Toyota Sienna Platinum.

When you think of the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, chances are that “Smokey and the Bandit” comes to mind—and for good reason! Behind the Hollywood fame is a muscle car with real substance: killer styling, a functional shaker hood, and a big V8 under the scoop. Nineteen seventy-seven was a record-setting year for the Trans Am, thanks in part to its starring role in “Smokey and the Bandit,” which helped lead to more than 68,000 units being produced. The updated design featured a new slanted front end with quad halogen headlights. This one is a Y82 Special Edition, finished in Starlight Black with gold accents, including the famous “Screaming Chicken” hood decal. Today we’re taking a closer look at one of the most memorable American cars of the ‘70s, which sold at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Auction for $106,700! 

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Today’s AutoHunter Spotlight is this restored 1953 Packard Caribbean convertible. Introduced in 1953, the Caribbean was a semi-custom halo car to help bring attention to the Packard brand, whose reputation had been slipping due to stale styling and lack of V8. Most noticeable were the fully radiused wheel openings and lack of side trim. Power comes from a 327ci “Thunderbolt” straight-eight backed by a two-speed Ultramatic Drive. Features include continental kit, 15-inch wire wheels, power windows, steering, brakes, and top, driver-side mirror, and more. Painted Sahara Sand with a tan top over blue and white interior, this classic chariot is now offered by the selling dealer with a tonneau cover and clear title.

Sahara Beige was one of several limited colors available for the Caribbean. It is complemented by a tan power convertible top. Other features include a continental kit, driver-side mirror, and bright metal wheel openings and belt moldings. Authentic, 15-inch multi-spoke wheels are wrapped in eight-inch American Classic bias-ply wide whitewalls.

The cabin is furnished in blue and white upholstery—Caribbeans had leather, but best to ask the sell how it was reupholstered. Interior features include a column-mounted automatic shifter, power windows, power steering, pushbutton AM radio, and aftermarket under-dash battery shut-off switch.

The instrument panel consists of three dials consisting of a 110-mph speedometer, clock, and gauges for the coolant temperature and fuel. The odometer shows 57,670, though the title reads mileage-exempt.

Powering this classic Packard is an 8.0:1-compression 327ci straight-eight topped by a four-barrel carburetor. Horsepower was originally rated at 180. It is backed by a two-speed Ultramatic Drive transmission.

The undercarriage features power front drum brakes and a single-exit exhaust system.

Packard built only 750 Caribbean convertibles in 1953, quite a respectable number considering the similar Cadillac Eldorado only achieved 532 units. Plus, the ’53 is the only Caribbean that featured radiused rear wheels, which was quite custom and spectacular at the time. Sounds like something that may be hard to resist? Be poised because the AutoHunter auction for this 1953 Packard Caribbean ends on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Before the Tacoma existed, Toyota trucks were simply called “pickups” aside of some regions outside North America, where they went by the name “Hilux.” Toyota pickups of the 1980s became renowned for their ruggedness, reliability, and versatility. Several years ago, I wrote a story about a man who is dedicated to the hobby of restoring 1980s Toyota trucks—in particular, ones that look like the famous black “Back to the Future” movie icon.

Here’s a silver truck from that same era that looks show (or movie)-ready.

The Pick of the Day is a 1988 Toyota SR5 Pickup listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Eagle, Idaho.

“If you’re looking for a pristine example of the legendary Toyota pickup, this is it,” the listing begins. “This 1988 Toyota SR5 Xtracab 4WD is a one-owner, garage-kept, accident-free, and unmolested original truck with just 90,000 original miles. The truck has been babied its entire life and is in excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition.”

The Hilux/pickup had its fifth generation between model years 1984-88. There were some significant milestones during those years, one of which had to with powertrains. The first time you could get a V6 engine in the pickup came in 1986. A magazine advertisement from that timeframe said, “At 145 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque, the Toyota V6 4×4 makes you the king of the mountain. V6 power plus Hi-Trac independent front suspension lets you take on the meanest real estate. Why settle for anything less?”

Power for this truck comes from that heavily promoted fuel-injected 3.0-liter V6 mated to a five-speed manual transmission and dual-range transfer case. The seller says that the engine runs strong without smoke, the transmission shifts smoothly, and the four-wheel-drive system is fully functional. The truck has reportedly been regularly maintained, with available service records backing that up.

The truck has an enthusiast-owned look to it. Upgrades include a sunroof, a color-matched Leer fiberglass shell, and Yakima bike/ski rack. The listing says, “With its low miles, clean title, original equipment, and desirable extras, this truck is ready for its next adventure—or your collection.”

Toyota SR5 pickups enjoy a strong following among enthusiasts and collectors. Personally, I wish I could time-travel back to the 1980s and buy a brand-new one to outfit with KC auxiliary lights just like Marty McFly had. For now, the next best thing might be finding one like this that’s unmodified and ready for many more on- and off-road adventures.

The asking price is $27,000.

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

Plenty of cars have been named after places in California: Catalina, Pacifica, and Santa Cruz are but a few. Some cars have even been named after the state itself. Now, you can add another car to the list as the Chevrolet California Corvette concept has been revealed.

Naming a Corvette after the Golden State may be fraught with issues these days considering California’s propensity for draconian automotive rules, but the 31^st state of the union has been a cultural trend-setter for decades. “Southern California has been at the heart of automotive and design culture for a century, and GM has had a deep design presence here for nearly 40 years. We wanted to ensure that this concept was developed through that SoCal lens, but with a global and futuristic outlook. Duality of purpose is the basis of this concept’s design strategy,” says Brian Smith, design director of GM Advanced Design Pasadena. As such, let’s not get too hot ‘n bothered.

“Our Advanced Design teams are dedicated to shaping the future, driving innovation, and exploring what’s possible,” adds Bryan Nesbitt, vice president of global design. “The California Corvette concept is another example of forward-thinking design. We invited multiple GM studios to envision Corvette-inspired hypercars—the first of which was revealed by our UK studio in March. The California team has now delivered a complementary study that honors Corvette’s legendary performance, while infusing it with their own distinctive vision.”

This hypercar blends “racing-simulator inspiration” with the Corvette cues that you love to love. The proportions are classic Corvette, while the single-piece front-hinged canopy “enables the entire upper shell to be removed, transforming the concept from an agile, slick sports car to a lightweight, open-air track car,” says Smith.

Inside, the California Corvette embraces a minimalist aesthetic—somewhat the antithesis of California’s MO, come to think of it—with performance-focused displays that include an augmented-reality HUD.

Here’s the lowdown on the California Corvette:

Body Structure

• Tunneled underbody with lightweight carbon tub
• Active aero spoiler and air brake
• Large, staggered wheels—21-inch front wheels and 22-inch rear wheels
• Assumed T-shape prismatic battery pack—enabling low seating and better airflow around and through the chassis

Dimensions

• 86 inches (2,184mm) width/182.5 inches (4,669mm) length
• 109 inches (2,767mm) wheelbase