Even though the Germans invented the automobile back in 1886, British engineers and brands gave it a unique perspective and helped create the car industry as we know it today. It is very unusual that such an influential car industry has lost almost all of its specific brands, and very few British brands are actually owned by UK owners. However, remember how this small island created automotive history and presented cars enthusiasts still lust after.
Jensen Interceptor FF
Photo Credit: AutoWp
One of the best British Gran Turismo cars ever built was the Jensen Interceptor. With its Italian styling by Vignale, massive size, superb comfort, and powerful Chrysler 383 or 440 V8 engine in the front, this four-seater coupe was one of the fastest and most comfortable cars for crossing continents in the late ’60s and early ’70s. The latter part of the name comes from Ferguson Formula, which means that this model is equipped with all-wheel drive and an early form of ABS brakes. In 1966, this was space-age technology.
Nineteen fifty-seven is a popular year for many American brands, but not for Mercury. That was the year Mercury unveiled its series with “Dream-Car Design,” but enthusiasts and collectors tend to look elsewhere for Atomic Age greatness. Our Pick of the Day is one of these dark horse classics: a 1957 Mercury Montclair. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Greely, Colorado. (Click on the link to view the listing)
Mercury might as well be known as “Sybil” because Ford Motor Company gave it several images that made it seem the brand had multiple personality disorder. Initially created to fill a gap between Ford and the Lincoln Zephyr, Mercury eventually grew into a junior Lincoln, then had its own exclusive bodies, then evolved into a premium Ford after the Edsel debacle, back and forth. After spending several years in the shadows of its competition (if not Ford) in the 1950s, Mercury was poised to make a splash for 1957 with its own unique interpretation of personal transportation.
“Styled to influence the shape of cars for years to come,” the “Big M” 1957 Mercury featured styling reflected by the 1956 XM-Turnpike Cruiser show car. Canted taillights leading to “projectile side theme” rear fenders were unusual, even for 1957. Available “Quadri-Beam” quad headlights was a forward-thinking feature. “Keyboard Control” push-button automatic transmission was a contemporary option that’s more commonly seen as a Mopar feature. A new power seat option featured a dial to save your seat setting.
Under the hood, Mercury appeared to step up to the plate and greet Chrysler in the horsepower wars: a “Safety Surge” 312 four-barrel with 259 horsepower was standard, with a 290-horse “Turnpike Cruiser” with four-barrel being optional for the Monterey and Montclair. On top of that, buyers could specify the M-335 power package that included dual-quads and 335 horsepower.
Speaking of Turnpike Cruiser, that also was the name of a new, special Mercury model that sat above Monterey and Montclair. Said to have been named to commemorate the creation of the Interstate Highway System, this new flagship featured every power item offered by Mercury, including the following:
The “Monitor Control Panel” dashboard was ‘driver-planned” with tachometer, and featured a “Average-Speed Computer Clock,” which worked both as a timepiece and a speed calculator. The steering wheel also featured a recessed hub for better vision and safety.
The “Skylight Dual-Curve Windshield” wrapped upwards, as well as around, and was flanked by twin antennas atop the A-pillars.
“Breezeway Ventilation” brought air in through “supplementary roof-level air intakes.” Air flowed out through a retractable, power-operated backlite on hardtops.
In the collector car world, the Turnpike Cruiser garners the most attention, leaving cars like this 1957 Mercury Montclair Phaeton Coupe (Mercury’s way of saying “two-door hardtop”) to fend for themselves. Painted in Classic White with a Fiesta Red top and gold-hued side sculpting, “this often-overlooked gem of ‘50s Americana boasts its original 368-cubic inch V8, one of the largest, most powerful engines on the market at the time, producing 290 horsepower and mated to a Keyboard Control automatic transmission,” says the seller. Note the optional quad headlights.
He also calls the car a “survivor”—is it? Or just a loose use of the word to suggest “unrestored?” This under-appreciated piece of 1950s glitz certainly deserves your attention and, if its space-age styling doesn’t do it for ya, maybe the $9,999 asking price will.
Featured on AutoHunter is this 1966 Chevrolet Nova restomod. Originally a six-cylinder car, this Chevy now features a modified 350 paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Features include four-wheel disc brakes, LED headlights, black chrome bumpers, 18-inch Ridler wheels, and more. Painted Black Cherry Pearl over a black vinyl interior, this restored Chevy II comes from the selling dealer with a clear title.
The Black Cherry Pearl hue is complemented by black chrome bumpers front and rear. Other features include aftermarket LED headlights, dual side mirrors, and blacked-out front and rear trim.
A set of 18-inch black Ridler wheels is wrapped in staggered-width radials—225/45 Milestars up front, 295/35 Continental Extreme Contacts out back.
The black vinyl cabin features modern, low-back bucket seats up front. Additional features include a wood-rimmed Forever Sharp steering wheel, floor-mounted shifter, and factory AM radio.
The instrument panel consists of a 120-mph speedometer and fuel gauge. Aftermarket gauges include oil pressure, coolant temperature, and voltage. The odometer shows 53,995 miles, though the true mileage is unknown.
Powering this Nova is a modified 350 small-block V8 that features Sportsman II heads, flat-top pistons, and solid roller cam and rockers. Shifting dues fall upon a Muncie four-speed manual.
The undercarriage features power four-wheel disc brakes and a 10-bolt rear with 3.31 gears and Positraction. A dual exhaust system routes spent emissions to the rear.
The auction for this 1966 Chevrolet Nova restomod will end Thursday, December 26, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. (MST).
Earlier this month, we shared news that Nissan seems to be in dire straits and may only have 12-14 months left to live. As we’ve seen before, one way of staying in business is merging with another company. That could possibly not only save Nissan, but also save both automakers money in development costs. Nissan’s lifeline may just come from inside its home country. According to a report from the business publication Nikkei, “Honda Motor and Nissan Motor will begin merger talks as early as Monday as the two automakers seek to create a group that can rival Japanese leader Toyota Motor in capital-intensive fields like electric vehicles.” Another target? Chinese EV manufacturers and Tesla.
If this comes to pass, it wouldn’t be all that shocking (no pun intended). Back in August, Nissan and Honda agreed to work together on platforms for future software-defined vehicles (SDVs), which Bosch defines as those in which software shapes the customer experience and sometimes even the hardware’s specifications. The same month, Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi signed a memorandum of understanding about working together on vehicle electrification and intelligence.
Mitsubishi has been involved with Nissan for years through its alliance with them and Renault. The French automaker currently has a 15 percent stake in Nissan. In early November, Mitsubishi bought back 10.02 percent of the total number of shares it issued to Nissan, reducing its stake in Mitsubishi from 34.07 percent to a 24.05 percent. For now, the official line from Mitsubishi is no decisions have been made regarding future collaboration between Nissan and Honda.
There’s a fourth company in the mix, according to InsideEVs. Taiwanese electronics company Foxconn, one of Apple’s suppliers, wanted to buy a chunk of Nissan directly. Reportedly, Honda threatened to walk away from everything if that happened and Foxconn is going to reach out to Renault to try to purchase some of Nissan.
Nothing is definite yet, but typically, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. It’s no mystery that it’s in automakers’ best interests to spread costs and one way of doing that is through working with another company. The question is, given Nissan’s current state, would a merger with Honda be good for both companies or only Nissan? We’ll just have to wait and Z.
We are confident that you know just how popular SUVs are nowadays. Almost all cars on the streets are SUVs of some kind, with standard sedans and station wagons nearly extinct. But how did SUVs gain such popularity? For decades, they were just a niche vehicle, rugged and low-optioned. Here is how the SUV class started and influenced today’s car market.
Toyota 4Runner
Photo Credit: Auto WP
The 4Runner came in time to battle with the second generations of the Bronco and the K5. While it obviously couldn’t compete with the two due to its lack of V8 power, it gained recognition due to its ruggedness and durability. Even without the V8 under the hood, the 4Runner was an excellent SUV for the period. It was competent in off-road conditions—better all-terrain capabilities than its big-engine counterpart.
The 2004 Chevrolet Corvette marked the end of an era. It was the final model year of the fifth-generation model. It was also the end of the road for pop-up headlights and the LS1 V8. But this 22K-mile 2004 Chevrolet Corvette convertible featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, could be the beginning of unforgettable open-top adventures for you.
It’s what you’d call “turn-key” – in a few ways. Just look at it. Red is always a great color for a Vette, especially this rich Magnetic Red Metallic. What’s not here is also attractive. There’s no roof unless you want it there and that Light Oak soft top pairs so well with color of the body. And when the weather gets bad, it has a heated rear window you can look through to see everyone behind you clearly (a common experience for Corvette drivers).
Then there are the features. On sunny days, you can crank up the dual-zone automatic climate control system’s A/C and the Light Oak leather bucket seats won’t scorch you like black ones will. This C5 hasn’t been modified, so you get its original gear, including the AM/FM/CD audio system and the cool and helpful head-up display.
Of course, this Corvette has performance to go with its looks and bells and whistles. You’ll thunder toward the horizon with the 350 horsepower of the LS1 5.7-liter V8 under the curvy hood and the convenience of a four-speed automatic. And when you blast into curves, the Z51 suspension will be there to keep all four run-flats on the road.
If you place the winning bid for this C5 and actually turn its key to start it up, you’ll see another wonderful sight: There are only 22,144 miles on the odometer.
We at The Journal love featuring stories about vehicles being restored as sentimental artifacts of family history. Back in August, we talked about an Acura that I restored in memory of my friend’s mother, who had passed away. I came across a similar story, except this one had to do with a truck that was fixed up for its owner who, despite having some health struggles, was still around to drive and enjoy it.
“We are offering a unique opportunity to own a piece of our family’s history,” the listing says. “This truck has been in our family for over 50 years and holds a special value in our hearts. It was my father’s daily driver during his 25-year tenure at the General Motors assembly plant in Van Nuys, California, and the truck that my entire baseball team would pile into the bed of for a drive to practice.”
Chevrolet’s “Advance Design” light-duty and medium-duty pickups were produced from 1947 to 1955. They were incredibly popular in the marketplace, with sales numbers outpacing those of other manufacturers during that span. Chevrolet promoted its trucks for having “All-around value, all around the farm.” One of the features that set them apart was a cab that was “flexi-mounted” (cushioned on rubber) and had more foot room, more seating space and better visibility compared to prior models.
The listing itemizes some of the key attributes of this special truck. It rides on a lowered coilover suspension and is equipped with a Mustang II steering system, four-wheel power-assisted Wilwood disc brakes, a stainless-steel exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers, new chrome trim, and custom American Racing wheels. The complete restoration was performed by Kandy Shop Creations in Mesa, Arizona, and the truck has been driven just over 1,000 miles since that time.
Power is provided by a 383ci small-block V8 equipped with a Fi-Tech fuel-injection system, and a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission sends torque to the rear wheels.
The listing concludes, “This truck is not just a vehicle; it is a testament to American craftsmanship. It has been meticulously restored with attention to detail and care, making it a perfect addition to any classic car collection.”
Let’s help find the truck a good home! The asking price is $64,000.
In today’s episode of Collectible Corner, we take a look at the customizable Toyota Tacoma available from the Hot Wheels Elite 64 Mod Shop series. And since this year is almost over, we also preview some of the upcoming castings for 2025.
From the start, the AMC concentrated on the economy car field. For a few decades, this company presented a tough competitor to the Big Three with numerous small and cheap models that sold well and were common on American roads. Constantly trying to invent something new and stay relevant and profitable in the market, AMC presented many memorable models like the AMC Gremlin, Hornet, Pacer, and muscle duo – Javelin and AMX. Despite being much smaller than the Big Three, AMC was always innovative and resourceful. Today, we will tell you about those cars.
AMC Marlin 343
Photo Credit: Edmunds
For the 1967 model year, AMC decided to introduce a 343 V8 version of the Marlin with 280 HP on tap. Although it wasn’t very much, it was enough to give the Marlin decent performance and driving dynamics. Today, 343 V8-powered Marlins are very rare, but there were even rarer options, which consisted of a factory-tuned 343 V8 engine with 320 HP, which provided the Marlin with some real power.
Volkswagen’s model lineup is well-known worldwide. The VW Beetle (the classic one) was one of the most popular cars ever produced, with over 20 million examples. Other VW models also enjoyed much success and high-volume production numbers. However, some Volkswagen models are scarce and unknown even to the most knowledgeable enthusiasts. Here are the 20 Volkswagens you might not know.
KDF Wagen
Photo Credit: Pinterest
The KDF Wagen, or Strength Through Joy Car, was the predecessor to the Volkswagen Beetle. It was designed by Ferdinand Porsche and was intended to be an affordable car for German families during the 1930s. Due to World War II, only a few KDF Wagen models were produced before production shifted to military vehicles like the Kübelwagen. Fewer than 700 units of the civilian KDF Wagen were made, making it a sought-after collector’s item.
