Vintage cars hold an undeniable allure, not just as relics of the past, but as harbingers of the future. Some classic models introduced revolutionary technologies and designs that were light years ahead of their era, leaving a lasting impact on automotive history. From groundbreaking aerodynamics to pioneering safety features, these vehicles defied the norms of their time, offering a glimpse into what the future could hold. The stories of these cars remind us that innovation is timeless. Let’s explore 15 vintage cars that not only captured the spirit of their time but also pushed the envelope of what was possible.
For 1973-77, General Motors redesigned its A-body series and promoted them as Colonnades, marketing’s attempt to describe pillared construction with frameless doors and windows after two-plus decades of touting the pillarless hardtop. Below we have four Colonnades that are currently listed for sale on AutoHunter or ClassicCars.com. Can you tell us the year, make, and model of each?
Post your answers in the Comments section below. Hints are available by simply clicking on an image.
Click on a photo to reveal each car
Every Tuesday, you’ll find a new puzzle at The Classic Cars.com Journal. Play previous games for even more enjoyment!
Jay Leno has had several Porsches in his garage over the years. Many of them were his, but a lot of them were brought in by companies such as Singer and Lab Eleven. For a variety of reasons, none were quite like this bb-Auto 1986 Porsche 911.
In the 1970s and ’80s, German tuner BB was known for its customized cars. One of the company’s most famous builds was the “Rainbow Car,” a 1976 Porsche 911 that combined the Targa body style with Turbo power and Polaroid’s color scheme as part of a display at the 1976 Photokina trade show in Cologne, Germany. These days, Galpin Motors has the rights to bb-Auto in North America. To honor BB’s colorful creation, the company has developed a prototype of a 1986 Porsche 911 with a similar color scheme (with painted stripes!), but a very different engine.
As Galpin Motors president Beau Boeckmann explains, under the rear engine cover is a fuel-injected Ed Pink 4.0-liter flat-six. Between the 4.0 and the upgraded G50 five-speed manual gearbox is a lightweight electric motor that instantly adds 150 horsepower, raising the grand total to 550. An Elephant Racing 997 GT3-style adjustable suspension and custom Fuchs-style wheels made by Titan 7 for bb-Auto help all that reach the road or track. When the Brembo discs aren’t needed, a regenerative braking system puts juice back into the lithium-ion battery pack.
The cockpit is colorful in its own way: both Recaro buckets, the rear seats, and the door panel inserts are covered in a vibrant blue upholstery.
Like the Targa, the roof panel is removable, but now it’s transparent glass. Air conditioning keeps things cool while a TV in the dash keeps the shotgun passenger entertained.
What does Leno think of bb-Auto’s retro-inspired 911 build? Are all of the changes too much? Watch the video below to find out.
Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this restored, two-wheel-drive 1987 Chevrolet R10. It is equipped with features such as air conditioning and cruise control. Under the hood is a fuel-injected 5.0-liter V8 connected to a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission. Finished in red and gray two-tone paint over an updated gray cloth interior, this Chevy R/V-series (formerly C/K) pickup is now offered by the Florida selling dealer with the original owner’s manual, CARFAX report, and clear title.
As part of its 2024 body-on restoration, this “Square Body” was refinished in a combination of red and gray paint. Exterior features include chrome bumpers, front bumper guards, fog lights, tonneau cover, hitch receiver, and single exhaust system with dual pipes.
The tires have also been updated to new 235/75 Mesa (front) and Corsa (rear) radials, which surround a set of 15-inch Rally wheels.
The refreshed interior features a gray cloth bench seat plus the convenience of power windows and locks, cruise control, tilt steering column, power steering, air conditioning, and new AM/FM/Bluetooth retro-look stereo with new speakers.
Instrumentation consists of an 85-mph speedometer and gauges for the fuel level, voltage, oil pressure, and temperature. The odometer shows 60,164 miles, though a mileage inconsistency was logged in the CARFAX report in January 2023, the same month a mileage figure of 57,689 was recorded. The title for this truck indicates it’s mileage-exempt.
A fuel-injected 5.0-liter V8 that was factory-rated at 170 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque gets this Chevy down the road. The L03 small-block draws fuel from two gas tanks and delivers its output to the rear wheels through a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission. Power front disc and rear drum brakes help this R10 stop so that it can keep on truckin’.
If you want this updated 1987 Chevrolet R10 pickup for cruising, hauling, or a little of both, bid on it now. The auction for it ends on Friday, July 25 at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
In 1999, GMC introduced Denali, its new top trim level, on the Yukon. It wasn’t long before GMC started offering Denali versions of its other vehicles. Now you can get every model in the GMC lineup (except the Hummer EVs) in Denali trim. But starting in 2022, Denali got one-upped by Denali Ultimate, which is currently available on the Sierra 1500, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL. The newest GMC to get that super-luxury treatment is the 2026 Acadia.
Someone on GMC’s design team must be a Star Wars fan because two of the flagship Acadia’s most distinguishing exterior characteristics are the Vader Chrome grille and GMC logo, which are flanked by LED daytime running lamps with an animated lighting sequence (perhaps one resembling a lightsaber battle?).
The 20-inch wheels get a similar makeover, going from the regular Denali’s Pearl Nickel finish to After Midnight Metallic (does GMC have an Eric Clapton fan on its design team too?). If those clues aren’t enough, GMC also identifies the top Acadia model with exclusive badging.
Inside, GMC sets the Acadia Denali Ultimate apart in two major ways. As you might expect, it comes equipped with more standard features than lesser models. Those make up a long list that includes an eight-inch head-up display, Bose 16-Speaker Performance Series sound system, panoramic sunroof, HD Surround Vision, Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance tech, and performance suspension. A Rear Camera Mirror is also on the list, but it’s now standard on all 2026 Acadias.
The Denali Ultimate’s materials are the second half of the interior upgrades. The Woodland Mahogany massaging front seats are heated and ventilated, and accented with plaited contrast stitching. All three rows get Denali Ultimate badges on their seatbacks along with embossed topographical maps, which extend to the door trim and map pockets. Laser-etched accents give the Paldao wood trim its own texture.
Look for the 2026 Acadia in GMC dealerships in Q3 of this year. Denali Ultimate models should arrive later; expect final pricing and additional info at around that time.
This 1940 Chevrolet pickup was built into a rat rod under prior ownership, and it is powered by a 307ci V8 with triple Stromberg carburetors. Distressed bodywork is accented with pinstripes and a skull motif, and the truck rides on a lowered suspension with an independent front assembly, rear leaf springs, front disc brakes, and 15” steel wheels. Inside, brown vinyl upholstery is joined by a pistol-grip shifter, a dash-mounted tap handle, and a Bluetooth-capable head unit. Other highlights include a windshield visor, wood cargo bed rails, an automatic transmission, long-tube exhaust headers, and a fuel cell. Acquired by the seller in 2024, this rat rod pickup is now offered at no reserve with a clean Texas title.
A Poppy’s Patina coating has been applied to the steel bodywork, which exhibits dents, rust holes, exposed welds, and other damage that can be viewed in the gallery. Skull artwork has been added to the doors, and pinstriping accents the radiator shell, cowl vent, and headlight buckets as well as the fixed tailgate panel. The radiator support bars are constructed from roller chain links, and other details include a windshield visor, a skull radiator mascot, and front bumperettes formed from open-end wrenches.
The 307ci V8 is equipped with triple Stromberg 97 carburetors, finned valve covers, and long-tube headers that flow into a dual exhaust system with 3” pipes. An electric puller fan cools the radiator. The engine oil, air filter assemblies, and spark plugs were replaced in June 2025.
Steel 15” wheels are mounted with 185/65 Landsail LS588 tires. The truck rides on an independent front assembly and a live rear axle supported by longitudinal leaf springs with lowering blocks. Braking is handled by front discs and rear drums.
The cab features bucket seats trimmed in brown vinyl, and an ammunition box is used as a center console. License plates have been added to the dashboard fascia and firewall, and the doors are secured with barrel-bolt latches. A faucet with a wood tap handle is mounted in the center of the dash, and a mini keg is located ahead of the pistol-grip shifter. A Bluetooth-capable digital media receiver is connected to an amplifier and a subwoofer behind the seats in addition to four 6×9” speakers mounted in an overhead console.
The billet steering wheel sits ahead of an Equus tachometer as well as white-dial gauges mounted below the dash. The odometer does not work, and total mileage is unknown.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through an automatic transmission. The hinged cargo floor lifts to reveal a fuel cell, a wire storage crate, and the battery.
The truck is titled using the VIN 2962773, which appears on the identification plate shown above.
This 1934 Ford roadster is a modified Deluxe Cabriolet built between 1948 and 1953 by Robert Roeder, a metal finisher who worked for Mack Truck. It was retained by Roeder’s wife until 1998, and following the selling dealer’s acquisition in 2011 it was refreshed with a repaint in Ford Candy Apple Red urethane, off-white upholstery, and a top-end rebuilt of its Corvette 265ci V8. The seller tells us the car was hand-striped in front of the audience while on display at Amelia Island, and it was also featured on an episode of Chasing Classic Cars. The body is channeled, sectioned, and has custom details such as a narrowed ’41 Continental bumper, a ’48 Plymouth-based lift-off steel hardtop, a ’37 Packard windshield, a forward-opening louvered aluminum hood, ’40 Mercury front fenders, and ’40 Ford rear fenders. Its Tri-power 265ci V8 was installed around 1958, and it is linked to a Ford three-speed manual and a 4.11 gearset. Inside are ‘40 Bantam Phaeton seats and a Studebaker cluster. This custom ’34 roadster is now offered in Connecticut at no reserve with a clean New Jersey title.
Starting with a 1934 Deluxe Cabriolet purchased by Roeder in 1938, the build commenced in 1948 following damage sustained at an apple orchard. The body was channeled 6″ over the frame and sectioned 4″. The fabricated grille used Mack fire truck components for the surround, and the front fenders from a ’40 Mercury were integrated into the body. The windshield frame is a ’37 Packard unit that was chopped and narrowed, and the bumper is a narrowed ’41 Continental unit.
The louvered hood was fabricated from aluminum and utilizes rumble seat hinges to open forwards, with catches mounted on the cowl.
The Deluxe Cabriolet doors were cut down, and the glass was removed. The ’40 Ford rear fenders were shortened, and the wheel opening was modified. The rear valance was modified with dual exhaust outlets and a spare carrier integrated into the design. All parts were brazed and leaded into place before the original paintwork was applied, and following the selling dealer’s acquisition in 2011 the car was repainted Ford Candy Apple Red.
The lift-off steel hardtop was custom-fabricated from the rear roof section of a 1948 Plymouth.
’40 Ford hydraulic brakes and tube shocks were used, and the car rides on pie-crust whitewall tires with full wheel covers.
The bucket seats are thought to be from a 1940 Bantam Phaeton, and they were reupholstered in off-white in 2011.
The dashboard and bezel are from a Studebaker, and a ’38 Lincoln Zephyr steering wheel was utilized. The selling dealer has added ~100 of the ~42k miles indicated.
The tri-power 265ci Corvette V8 was installed in 1958, and it underwent a top-end rebuild in 2011. The generator and carburetors were overhauled at the same time, and the selling dealer tells us a tune-up and fluid services were performed in preparation for the sale.
The car has a three-speed manual and a 4.11 gearset.
A custom-made history board and historical images are displayed in the gallery.
A replacement VIN tag has been applied, and the car is titled as a 1934 Ford.
The automotive world is filled with stories of cars that were laughed at, ignored, or even ridiculed when they first hit the streets. Many of these vehicles were dismissed as failures—quirky oddities or commercial missteps that never found their audience. Yet, beneath their misunderstood exteriors, some of these so-called “junk” cars harbored innovative engineering that was simply ahead of its time.
From radical aerodynamics to groundbreaking technology, these hidden gems quietly influenced the industry and paved the way for future breakthroughs.
As we peel back the layers of history, we discover that some of the most maligned cars were actually secret masterpieces, waiting for the world to catch up.
In the world of automobiles, affordability has often been the mother of invention. Car companies set out to build simple, budget-friendly vehicles for the masses—yet, some of these humble models defied expectations in remarkable ways.
They weren’t just about saving money; they became symbols of freedom, ingenuity, and resilience. Over time, these once-overlooked cars captured hearts, shaped pop culture, and left an indelible mark on the industry.
Their stories prove that greatness can spring from the most unassuming origins, reshaping how we see “cheap” cars forever.
The wedge-shaped cars of the 1960s-1980s are so dramatic and angular that it seems as if there were no compromises made in the transition from initial sketch to production. Unfortunately, they’re so old now that you rarely see any of them out on the street unless you count the C4 Chevrolet Corvette. The good news is that the Petersen Automotive Museum in LA will be opening an exhibit called “The Wedge Revolution: Cars on the Cutting Edge” on August 2.
According to the museum, the display, “co-curated with Tesla Chief Designer and wedge design aficionado Franz von Holzhausen, will showcase a wide range of vehicles embodying the bold, angular styling that defined this unique era in automotive design. It will highlight the transitional period when designers moved from decorative curves and chrome to clean lines, flat surfaces and geometric forms.”
Work from designers such as Marcello Gandini, Sergio Coggiola, William Towns, and Jerry Palmer will be showcased there. Some of the concept and production cars include the 1966 Cannara I, 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero, 1974 Lamborghini Countach LP400 “Periscopio,” 1979 Aston Martin Bulldog, and 1976 Chevrolet Aerovette. Although not from the era, the Tesla Cybertruck and the Lo Res Car from the footwear brand United Nude will also be on-site to check out. Given the designers mentioned, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the exhibit also includes the Maserati Boomerang or an Aston Martin Lagonda sedan.
For more information about the “The Wedge Revolution: Cars on the Cutting Edge” exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum, click here. If you can’t get to Los Angeles anytime soon, don’t worry—the exhibit runs through September 2026.