mod@tech

During the early 1970s, Chevrolet promoted its brand with the tagline, “Building a better way to see the U.S.A.” Some advertisements said, “Take to the highways and back roads in a car that’s easy on everything—particularly the upkeep.” Featured on AutoHunter is a Bow Tie from this era, a 1972 Chevrolet Nova two-door Coupe. It is being sold by a dealer in Asheboro, North Carolina, with the auction ending on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. (MST).

Now, five decades after Chevrolet launched its “see the U.S.A.” tagline (truthfully, it was a nod to a campaign from more than 20 years earlier), I can still think of relatively few ways that might be better means of transport for a cross-country tour than behind the wheel of a sporty, classic muscle car. This frame-off-restored Nova might be just the ticket.

The car’s exterior is finished in Candyapple Red, and the dual black stripes provide a bit of contrast and flair to the body. Modeled as a Super Sport tribute, the car has obligatory “SS” badges in the grille and taillight panel. Other features include a Cowl Induction hood, dual side mirrors, tinted windows, chrome brightwork, and a dual exhaust system. Traction comes from 15-inch Rally wheels wrapped in Cooper Cobra Radial G/T tires.

The Nova (previous known as a trim level for the Chevy II) was in its third generation from 1968-72. Thanks to its unibody construction and compact size, it had a strong power-to-weight ratio and was capable of being a formidable performance car on the street or track. Chevrolet generally promoted the car’s low cost of ownership: a magazine advertisement for the 1972 Nova said, “How to see less of your mechanic and more of America.” It went on to say, “When Motor Service and Service Station Management surveyed independent auto mechanics, they rated Nova the car with the least mechanical problems and said it was the easiest to service.”

This Nova’s original 350 engine has been removed, but a replacement small-block has taken its place. This V8 is mated to a three-speed automatic transmission and a 10-bolt rear-end. A few performance upgrades have been integrated into the build, including a Holley 650cfm four-barrel carburetor, Champion aluminum radiator, a speed starter, and an AGM battery.

The selling dealer has posted a video with a virtual tour which showcases the exterior, interior, and trunk. It also demonstrates the Bluetooth audio system, digital gauges, and ambient cabin lighting. What do you think? Seems like a nice cockpit to hang out in for a long U.S.A. driving tour!

The auction for this 1972 Chevrolet Nova 2-Door Coupe ends Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

No automotive enthusiast I know is into cars exclusively. Each of them has at least one other interest (such as watches). Many people are into certain movies or film franchises, which can often guide numerous fantasies and even the purchasing decisions of gearheads. “Back to the Future” is not only an iconic movie by itself, but it’s also well known amongst the car community for popularizing the DeLorean DMC-12, albeit one that was heavily modified into a time machine. Our Pick of the Day is perfect for both fans of the movie and its hero vehicle. This 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 “Back to the Future” time machine replica is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Miami.

It’s safe to say that ever since “Back to the Future” first hit theaters in 1985, people have been creating replicas of its stainless steel-skinned time machine. Building one of those on a limited budget in a garage can end poorly. However, this one is on a completely different level as it was created by Bruce Coulombe of Coulombe Enterprises, a Florida company which has built nearly 70 BTTF time machine replicas.

Just look at the details. According to the selling dealer, “Great lengths were spent achieving a correct representation of the movie down to the correct purple clamps that hold the external wires. Most builders would use black clamps—these are aviation purple clamps use just like in the movie car. It has all-metal aluminum construction for the rear vents, external mesh rails and other parts.”

There’s also a Mr. Fusion device at the back, which Doc Brown used at the end of the first movie/beginning of “Back to the Future Part II” to turn ordinary trash into power.

Inside the cockpit, there are all the buttons and displays that helped send Marty McFly back to 1955. The seller adds, “Fully functional ‘Time Circuits’ can be programmed with any dates/times you like. Real working ‘Plutonium Gauges’ exactly as in the film. The ‘Upper Console’ is mounted to the ceiling, along with many other details in the car that are exact replicas of the parts seen in the film.” In addition, there are plenty of prop replicas that come with the car, including a hoverboard signed by Christopher Lloyd.

No BTTF DeLorean would be complete without a Flux Capacitor. I think you can guess by now that this replica has one. It emits a resonating buzz and, when you put it into “time travel” modes, it even lights up.

Mechanically, this DeLorean did some time-traveling into the future, receiving upgraded front shocks and adjustable rear coilovers. The PRV (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo) 2.85-liter V6 is connected to a five-speed manual gearbox and cooled by an upgraded radiator with dual electric fans.

If you feel that it’s your “density” to buy this 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 “Back to the Future” time machine replica, don’t be timid like the 1955 version of George McFly—act like the more confident 1985 George McFly and go after what you want. You might need to sell a lot of books, though, because it’ll cost you $175,000 to put this creation in your driveway.

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

Just like automatic shifters, two-tone vehicle paint jobs are nothing new, but manufacturers keep coming up with different versions of them.

You can put new vehicles into drive using buttons, a lever, or a dial. If you want something a little more dynamic than one solid color, certain models allow you to select a two-tone color scheme. Some of those are more conventional than others.

The 2025 Ford F-150 King Ranch comes with Marsh Gray lower-body trim, then lets you select from a range of colors for the rest of the truck. If you really want to mix things up, there are options out there. For $68,000, you can add the Ombré by Mulliner finish (which gradually transitions from one color to another) to your Bentley.

In the realm of more affordable vehicles, there’s the Toyota Crown and the Ford Expedition. Toyota’s high-riding, all-wheel-drive hybrid sedan is available in a variety of solid colors, with four that are paired with black for part of the nose, hood, roof, trunk lid, and part of the tail. The blacked-out hood brings the carbon-fiber hoods installed on some modified Asian cars to mind, so it works. The roof does as well, but all that black at the rear throws things off and makes the Crown look a little odd.

Then there’s the 2025 Expedition. I thought the first one I saw out on the road was a police cruiser. Why? Because it was white and the top part of its Ford Split Gate was black. I was surprised to learn that civilians can get theirs like that from the showroom floor. I can’t say I’m a fan because I think the key to an attractive two-tone paint job is flow. If you see a handsome bi-color Chevrolet C10, its two colors are stacked, start at the front, and end at the back. The same goes for ultra-luxury cars such as the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and Rolls-Royce Phantom.

There’s a flow to the Toyota Crown, but all that black pools up in the rear. In a way, the Ford Expedition has a flow: its profile has the roof as the top layer, darkened B-, C-, and D-pillars below that, and the rest of the body at the bottom. But then there’s that seemingly random black liftgate, which makes the vehicle look out of balance.

What do you think? Have automakers gone too far with two-tone? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

It’s time to out myself—I don’t “get” the infatuation with Steve McQueen. I tend not to have adoration for the rich and famous, knowing that they are also going to end up six feet under just like the rest of us. Then again, Steve McQueen was an enthusiast like you and me, had racing experience, and possessed the means to buy and do things we can only dream about.

So, who would be today’s Steve McQueen? I humbly submit a very unexpected human bean.

McQueen’s career came of age in the 1960s, a decade in which it seemed everything accelerated and evolved—not unlike the 1950s, but with much more tension. If the 1950s were wet behind the ears, the 1960s were years of maturation, a moment of maturity before the opportunity to become jaded reared its head. (I wasn’t alive then, but that book on the Punic Wars was written by someone who wasn’t alive then either, so . . . !) Sometimes called the “King of Cool,” McQueen rose in a decade that had many others that could wear that title, such as Michael Caine and Robert Mitchum. Neither of those actors were auto enthusiasts, but James Dean and Paul Newman were, both of whom could also claim the crown.

Over the weekend, while my six-year-old was handling the TV remote control (the dexterity of kids today with modern tech is nothing short of amazing), I happened to catch sight of the thumbnail for Handy Bean and said, “Hey, Dante, want to see the preview of this thing and see if you enjoy it?” To my surprise, my stubborn son said yes, and the preview was good enough for him to view several episodes, which are actually shorts. If you’re familiar with the character Mr. Bean, these clips come off as online how-to demonstrations (like what you’d find on YouTube) but with the hands and first-person perspective of the goofy Mr. Bean. I then was reminded that Rowan Atkinson, the actor who plays Mr. Bean, is an enthusiast with enough funds to buy (and crash) the best street cars in the world. He has also legitimately raced several disparate vehicles.

I’d have to ask my wife for confirmation, but I don’t perceive Atkinson as handsome in the way the previously mentioned actors seem to have been. And certainly Mr. Bean is the antithesis of cool.

I will go out on a limb and call Atkinson “Steve McBean,” the current King of Cool.

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this 1967 Chevrolet C10 custom pickup. It is powered by an LS1 5.7-liter V8 paired with a 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission. Features include power steering, air conditioning, lowered suspension, and tubbed rear-end. Finished in red and white two-tone over a black leather interior, this second-generation C/K pickup is now offered by the selling dealer in Missouri with a clear title.

In October 2025, the body was refinished in red; the roof and rear of the cab, as well as one of the bed’s interior panels, were painted white. In addition, the floor of the bed was fitted with varnished wood planks and stainless steel strips. Other exterior features include chrome bumpers, wheel arch and side trim, dual side mirrors, and a fuel cap behind the driver-side taillight.

A set of 20-inch Raceline Scoundrel wheels, wrapped in 245/35 Lexani LX-Twenty (front) and 29 x 15.00 Mickey Thompson S/R (rear) radials, give this truck an instant custom look.

The cabin is fitted with a black leather bench seat, black door panels, Classic Performance Products tilt steering column, power steering, aftermarket steering wheel, and air conditioning. The Alpine AM/FM/cassette stereo features Jack Daniels knobs and pumps out music through a custom speaker system.

The Dakota Digital gauges include a 160-mph speedometer, 8,000-rpm tachometer, and readouts for the oil pressure, temperature, voltage, and fuel level. The odometer shows 747 miles, but this truck is mileage-exempt, according to its title. 

Thanks to a donor 2002 Chevrolet Camaro, this truck received an LS1 5.7-liter V8 and 4L60E four-speed automatic in 2024. According to the selling dealer, the Camaro had only 20,000 miles on it at the time. The engine has been upgraded with a Texas Speed & Performance camshaft and an aftermarket intake.

There are more updates underneath, such as a lowered suspension, Wilwood power front disc brakes, and tubbed rear end with a 3.73 limited-slip differential, KYB rear shocks, and adjustable Panhard bar. A dual exhaust system with an X-pipe lets out the V8’s roar.

Whether this 1967 Chevrolet C10 custom pickup is on the road or in a parking lot, you can’t miss it. If you want to buy it, don’t miss the deadline to bid on it: the auction ends on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 11:45 a.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

The 1980s are hot! Atari has “recharged” the likes of Asteroids, Centipede, and Missile Command. Visit any airport and you’ll find travelers wearing track suits. The returns of Top Gun and Cobra Kai are notable as well. And all the Gen Xers who didn’t earn enough money working at Babbage’s are now snapping up Monte Carlo SSs, IROC-Zs, and Mustang GTs to relive their high school days. In case you missed out and need to complete your unfinished youth, perhaps our Pick of the Day will do the trick: a 1985 ASC/McLaren 5.0 SC Convertible. It’s listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Salem, Ohio.

As you may know, the Mercury Capri went from being a German pony car to an American pony car starting in 1979. Unlike the Mustang (which was available as a coupe, hatchback and, eventually, a convertible), the Capri was only available as a hatchback. That would change for 1984.

Nine years after the final Mustang convertible, a Detroit entrepreneur named Peter Muscat made a proposal to Ford: Let’s build a two-seat Mustang convertible together! However, with a convertible project set for 1983, Ford was in no need of assistance, but the automaker directed Muscat to the other side of its Dearborn HQ to chat with Mercury. Those running Ford’s corporate cousin were receptive to the proposal, so Muscat coordinated with American Sunroof Company (often referred to as ASC) as a contractor for the conversion. ASC recruited McLaren to help with the suspension and wheels.

The 1984-86 ASC/McLaren Capri was offered in several configurations, but here we are focusing on the 1985 5.0 SC Convertible, which featured a windshield with a steeper rake, custom exterior paint and accents, and a “Euro-style” manual top with Haartz Cambria cloth and a tonneau cover. This custom vehicle rolled on special 15×7-inch cast-aluminum wheels with low-profile BFGoodrich 225/50/15 tires, and McLaren-engineered springs and Carrera 50/50 shocks for better handling and a lowered ride height. Inside, upgrades included special leather Recaro seats with inflatable lumbar support, polished hardwood dashboard appliques, custom console and interior trim with special rear storage compartments, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob, and a 140-mph speedometer. Ford’s trusty and increasingly lusty 302 HO V8 was among the last of the carbureted performance Mustang engines yet mustered 210 horsepower with a five-speed that allowed the pony car to dip into the 14s, though automatics received a tamer fuel-injected job with 180 horses.

Alas, Ford discontinued the Capri pony car for 1987, but the manufacturer was impressed with what Muscat had done, so for 1987, ASC/McLaren switched to the Mustang. That ride lasted through 1990.

This ASC/McLaren Red 1985 ASC/McLaren 5.0 SC Convertible is one of 257 two-seat roadsters convertibles built (of which 100 were this hue with a tan roof). Power comes from the fuel-injected 5.0-liter V8 backed by a four-speed AOD automatic. Note the Desert Sand Recaro leather bucket seats with integrated speakers in the headrests! The seller does not give us many details on this vehicle, but we do know the odometer reads only 81,405 miles. I spy power windows and power door locks, air conditioning, a tachometer, an aftermarket Kenwood stereo/cassette player, and plenty of documentation and paperwork. Do you dig the gold cast aluminum wheels?

There are some folks who were never quite able to shine in high school but got their chance in the reality of college and beyond. However, some folks will always feel something is missing. This is the car for them, a drop-top that finishes the youthful episode that never really felt completed. For $16,900, it’s a recharge a shrink could never offer.

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