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It’s the weekend! Thank you for checking out this installment of Car Connections before you go for a drive through scenic countryside or head to a local get-together with fellow automotive enthusiasts. If this is your first time reading this series, here’s how it works: I make the Random Word Generator spit out a trio of words, then I use my nerdy mind to link each of those to vehicles in some way. This week’s words are perfume, continental, and digital. How would you associate these words with cars? Tell us in the Comments section below.

Let’s get started!

Perfume: It’s hard to see this word and not think of the Air Balance system that Mercedes-Benz offers in several models, such as the 2026 E 450 4Matic Sedan. What exactly is Air Balance? Essentially, it cleans the air in the cabin, then makes it smell better.

The system uses charcoal filtration with an electrically charged ionizer to remove impurities and odors. An LED-backlit vial in the glove box pumps out the owner’s choice of fragrance through dedicated ducts. In the past, I used Air Balance in a few Mercedes press vehicles, which made the already luxurious cars even more pleasant and indulgent.

Continental: Lincoln. Done! Just kidding. Outside of cars, this word makes me think of a continental breakfast. Hmmm … breakfast. As a native Texan, I have a soft spot for breakfast tacos. Every now and then, I come across a vehicle that has a seemingly random, oddly sized storage space on the dash.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe I tested had one with a sliding cover to the right of the infotainment screen. Yes, the end of a breakfast taco would be hanging out the front of the little cubby, but that just means it would be easier to grab while on the move. Where would the little container of salsa go? In one of the cup holders, of course!

Digital: Every vehicle these days is digital in some way, but let’s look at this a different way. Digits — not numbers, but fingers. Several years ago, I tested a BMW (if I remember correctly, it was a 382-horsepower M340i) with a technology called Gesture Control, which allowed me to adjust certain things using hand movements. If I wanted to turn the volume up, all I had to do was twirl my finger clockwise; going counter-clockwise lowered the volume. Pretty cool, huh?

Well, if you’re like me and “talk with your hands,” that feature can lead to some unwanted adjustments. Trust me — it did. I would’ve told BMW how frustrating my experience was, but since I stopped moving my hands, I was speechless.

If today’s round of Car Connections has you wanting to add a Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet, or BMW to your garage, visit ClassicCars.com and AutoHunter.com. And if you have any ideas for random words to use in a future installment of Car Connections, send them our way!

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Sport Coupe, which is powered by a fuel-injected 327ci V8 paired with a Powerglide two-speed automatic. Finished in Tuxedo Black over a white vinyl interior, this restored C2 Corvette comes from the selling dealer in Oregon with a clear title.

As part of the restoration process in 2024, the body was refinished in its original color of Tuxedo Black. Exterior feature include chrome bumpers, pop-up headlights, a driver-side mirror, and dual exhaust outlets.

The stock wheels and tires were swapped out for 17-inch chrome Ridler wheels and 275/50 radials.

Opening the doors reveals a high-contrast interior with a black dashboard and carpeting, and white vinyl door panels and bucket seats. Features include power steering, wood-rimmed steering wheel, AM/FM radio, and center console.

Instrumentation consists of a 160-mph speedometer, 7,000-rpm tachometer, and gauges for the fuel level, battery, oil pressure, and temperature. The odometer shows 2,008 miles, but this car is mileage-exempt, according to its title.

Under the front-hinged hood is a 327ci V8 that’s been upgraded with Holley Sniper electronic fuel injection. A Powerglide two-speed automatic sends the engine’s power to the rear end. The brakes have also been upgraded to power four-wheel discs.

If you’re looking for an upgrade to your garage, bid on this 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Sport Coupe before the auction ends on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 11:45 a.m. (MST). To learn more about the car, check out the video below.

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

When the world seemed stable and the September 1983 issue of Life magazine could be found in all corners of the U.S., the cover highlighted a story on the “the 10 Best  & 10 Worst American Cars Ever!” Looking at the automotive articles within, I imagine the mix of Best and Worst would be quite different today. Some may think our Pick of the Day may qualify for the latter, though there is something to be said for being so bizarre that it’s fantastic. This 1961 Dodge Dart Pioneer two-door sedan is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Elkhorn, Nebraska.

Chrysler Corporation’s “Forward Look” was fine in 1955. The redesigned Forward Look for 1957 was absolutely fantastic. And then quality control became a casualty, with rattles, premature rust, and water leaks being issues that were non-negotiable to consumers. A recession the following year did not help things at all — especially for the corporation’s medium-priced cars—and then General Motors debuted its Forward Look-inspired 1959 offerings to make folks forget about Mopar.

Luck was on Chrysler Corporation’s side, however, as the manufacturer was lucky to have already committed to a new construction technique that was set to debut for 1960 and could regain the public’s trust. The answer was unibody construction, a lesser variation of monocoque construction, but this method (applied to the whole corporation save Imperial) helped address quality issues and bring peace of mind to those concerned. That being said, the 1960s were not embraced as well as the corporation had hoped.

This also was a moment of upheaval at the Chrysler Corporation. First, there was an insider-trading scandal involving several senior executives who sold shares before announcing earnings in 1960. And then there was Virgil Exner’s heart attack in 1956. Though under 50 years old at the time, the styling chief took a leave of absence, which compromised his ability to oversee the 1961 program. Additionally, Exner was caught up in his own bubble and therefore missed some indicators of the direction of the industry. Unstable corporate leadership combined with the corporation’s darling being out of the picture (if not out to lunch) was a concoction primed for disaster.

Starting in 1960, Dodge began producing two series of cars, and this continued for 1961: the longer-wheelbase Polara, and the junior version called the Dart. The Dart was available in three trim levels (in ascending order): Seneca, Pioneer, and Phoenix. The Dart Pioneer “compares in cost with middle-of-the-line low price cars,” which means akin to a Chevrolet Bel Air (say, isn’t that Plymouth’s domain?). “It shares with all 1961 Dodge cars an advanced Torsion-Aire suspension system, a method of ride control that is called by knowledgeable car men, ‘the best in the business.’” Available Pioneer body styles included a two- and four-door sedan, and a four-door station wagon with room for six or nine passengers. An unusual running change was the addition of an accessory taillight, as the original slim ones were not quite luminescent enough to approaching vehicles.

So, was the 1961 Dodge a disaster? You tell us, but the kitsch factor is strong for this 1961 Dodge Dart Pioneer two-door sedan, so the paradigm has shifted to the opposite pole. Upon inspection, you can see several things going on in terms of styling and design, many of which haven’t aged gracefully, but oh well, right? Seen as a whole, this Dodge projected a futuristic vision that seemed to be obsolete by industry standards when it finally hit the streets. That’s part of the charm! “From the space age styled dash, steering wheel and shifter to the rocket inspired go to the moon quarter panels!” says the seller. It is powered by a 318 Poly V8 and backed by TorqueFlite automatic, which means it has the push-button transmission. “Options and mentionables include torsion bar front suspension, power steering, AM radio, heater, dash-mounted rear-view mirror, and dual fender-mounted mirrors,” adds the seller. The tires, body-color wheels, hub caps, air shocks, and dual exhausts are all new.

If this was a Chevy, it would have that “Batwing” roofline, which hasn’t aged well either, even though front and rear styling were among GM’s best for the decade. Instead, you can have a Mopar full of character, a car that was once disposable but can now be celebrated for capturing an odd zeitgeist in Detroit. For $26,500 (OBO), you can feel fortunate that this is one of the few that wasn’t junked.

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

There are big changes happening at the sharp end of the collector car hobby. Collector cars that for decades were considered to be correction-proof, blue chip buys have been seeing a decline and an overall lack of interest in the past year, especially with younger buyers.

If you had asked me five years ago what cars in the hobby were the best ones to purchase (with the idea being that what you bought would likely be a very safe bet), I would have listed cars such as the Ferrari 250 GTO, Aston Martin DB5, most classic Bugattis, and the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL — of all the cars on that list, only the 300 SL has proven to be a truly solid investment over the past five years. As of 18 months ago, most people would place the value of the Ferrari 250 GTO at somewhere around $50 million, but now it looks like those days may now be over. No, I am not saying that the purchase of the white 250 GTO (which sold at auction this past January for $38.5 million after actively being offered for years on the private market for $50 million without any takers) makes a market, but at this moment there are several more 250 GTOs for sale. This in itself speaks volumes as, five years ago, word-of-mouth was the way to find one for sale, yet now you have several to choose from on the open market.

Today’s younger buyers are, for the most part, looking to buy the cars that they grew up with — not only cars that they wanted but ones that they also can actually drive instead of trailering them to the next show. This has made modern limited-production supercars the hottest part of the hobby, and prices for the best models are increasing in value quickly. Among these cars, which one is the heir apparent for the Ferrari 250 GTO? I think the answer to that question is simple: McLaren F1.

If you have read this far, you do not need a history lesson on what just may be the ultimate supercar. The McLaren F1 was a cost-is-no-object effort to build the best sports car the world had ever seen. Gordon Murray and his team were so successful in their project plan that the F1 remains the measuring stick for excellence.

The elements that make a car so desirable were there from the beginning: a total production of 106 cars, 64 being road cars; a competition history that includes wins at both Le Mans and Sebring — with a car that was never conceived to be a race car. The F1’s story is so bonkers crazy that it is hard to believe, but its narrative is true. Not only has this made the F1 a very expensive car to buy, but it also has become one with a process that requires potential collectors to wait until the rumor of one for sale hitting their ears, then requiring many meetings with the current owner and exchanging hands for tens of millions of dollars. This is exactly the way 250 GTOs were sold for decades, and the F1 is the car that is replacing it. Yes, Ferrari only built 36 GTOs, but it is more difficult to buy a F1 today than probably any other collector car in the world since demand much outstrips supply.

Beneath the F1 are a slew of other iconic supercars, mostly from Maranello. These include the F40, F50, Enzo, and La Ferrari among them. They are easier to buy than a F1, as you are likely to find many of these at a high-end dealer or a collector car auction near you. My advice: if one of these is your dream car and you are in the position to afford one, you might as well do it soon as prices don’t seem to be decreasing, with many having almost doubled in price over the past 60 days.

On the other side of the coin, if you also love historic 1950-60s sports cars (especially Ferraris), this is the time to pay close attention to the market, as I have already seen some bargains and fully anticipate seeing more soon.

Like all things in the world, the popularity of certain collector cars changes over time. For 2026, we are in the throes of a modern supercar explosion like we have not seen before. How long it will last is anyone’s guess, but right now it is here and is something to be reckoned with. I honestly think that, within the next year or so, we will see prices of the McLaren F1 eclipse that of the 250 GTO. While I cannot day we will again witness a time when a GTO sells for $70 million, we someday may see an F1 achieve that price.

Started in 1967, the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show is the automotive aftermarket industry’s biggest event. SEMA’s Battle of the Builders competition is where some of the best creations at the show go head to head for bragging rights, so today we’re checking out one of the first scratch-built aftermarket Chevrolet K10s in the country, which wears custom red, white, and blue stripes inspired by Chevrolet’s 1976 Spirit of ’76 bicentennial look.

It was built by Rockford Smith of Rockford Custom Paint and Body in Athens, Georgia, and consists of a spot-welded frame, hand-fit AMD (Auto Metal Direct) body panels with tight gaps, a modified cargo box that gives this truck short-bed proportions, a BDS 4-inch lift, and Detroit Steel wheels. The fully tailored cabin features Dakota Digital gauges, Cato’s Custom Upholstery, and a Vintage Air HVAC system. Under the hood is a built LS 6.0-liter V8 equipped with FiTech parts and a mean-sounding Black Widow exhaust. Builds like this prove that you don’t need a rusty donor vehicle if you’re handy and talented.

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“Is that who I think it is?” I had seen the same white R129 Mercedes-Benz SL with chrome wheels a few days before when one of my coworkers was leaving the office in it. Could this be his car at the 2026 Concours in the Hills (read about the event here) or did somebody else in metro Phoenix have the exact same SL? I walked deeper into Fountain Park toward the massive tree that towered over the car to find out.

I had another reason to get close to the ingot-like roadster. I’ve always found the R129 generation of the SL attractive, but I’ve never gotten close to one. On the rare occasion I do see one out and about, I have to admire its crisp lines from afar. Introduced at the 1989 Geneva Motor Show as the successor to the long-running R107 SL, the R129 combined a sharp, angular exterior with updated luxury features and modern safety technology, such as a roll bar that automatically popped up in the case of a rollover. Over the course of its nearly decade-and-a-half lifespan, the SL was available with six-, eight-, and even 12-cylinder engines. There are three main phases — with their associated design, feature, and powertrain updates — in the R129’s timeline: 1990-1995 (the model letters and numbers swapped spots in June 1993), 1996-1998, and 1999-2002. Over the years, the R129 looked progressively more chiseled and leaner and sleeker, but I prefer the softer, more relaxed first-series models (especially with two-tone paint jobs) because they remind me of the cars successful LA attorneys or hit record producers in the ’90s would drive (and I mean that in the best way possible).

As I walked closer to the white SL at the concours, I got the answer to my question. Sitting next to it was Jared Houston, a videographer for Barrett-Jackson who works just down the hall from me. The R129 had been on his radar ever since he was a kid back in the 1990s, but several other cars preceded the purchase of his 1992 500SL, which is equipped with an M119 5.0-liter, 32-valve, DOHC V8 and a four-speed automatic. Jared told me he has eclectic tastes, which led him to buying everything from a Chevrolet C10 and a Lotus Elise to a Mazda Miata and a camo-wrapped Fiat 500 Abarth in the past. He found his SL in the nearby city of Gilbert at a price he couldn’t pass up. With 88,000 miles on the odometer, it’s not a mothballed time capsule of a car, but the condition of its monotone paint, blue leather interior, and shiny 16-inch wheels made the first 8 in that number seem more like a 4.

According to Jared, the previous owner handed over a lot of paperwork, documentation, and spare parts, including the original headlight wipers, which Jared reinstalled just in time for the Concours. He also made sure to add a set of lowering springs as well as an aftermarket head unit and a subwoofer, both of which he’ll use to bump a ’90s music playlist as he cruises in comfort. Jared even had a set of forged, staggered-width AMG monoblock-style wheels made for his SL, but a little more fine tuning is needed to get them to fit just right. It’s a good thing Jared’s SL also came with a body-color hardtop because the hydraulics for the power soft top went out. Fortunately, he can still lower and raise the roof (speaking of the 1990s!) manually.

Like me, Jared is a little nostalgic for the 1990s. When he’s out on the road in his SL, he enjoys passing people in other vehicles from the era, such as an Isuzu Trooper or a Lincoln Mark VIII. However, Jared’s SL firmly connects him to the present, too. Yes, it’s a car he describes as “beautiful” and “classic yet modern,” but to Jared, it’s also an expression of the ebb and flow of life. Most importantly, following Jared’s involuntary hiatus from cars, the SL is a necessary part of his journey as both an enthusiast and a person.

Can you use a 1987 Ferrari Testarossa as a daily driver? Sure you can, but it’s easier if you know how to work on it yourself. As Jay Leno recently learned in the video below, Victoria Bruno is up to the rewarding challenge.

Bruno is a graduate of McPherson College in Kansas, which offers four-year degrees in automotive restoration. There, she learned all about bodywork, engines, interior and trim, and more. Clearly, her education paid off because she used it to get a job as a Ferrari mechanic that specializes in the marque’s older, more technical models.

Bruno’s combination of training and experience prepared her to take on her first project car: a 1987 Ferrari Testarossa that had been sitting for several years after accruing only 12,000 miles.

Despite its dormancy, the Testarossa aged well. The black paint is mostly original and the matching black full-leather interior (including the headliner!) appears to be in fantastic shape.

The mechanically fuel-injected 4.9-liter flat-12 may be intimidating to many people, but Bruno saw it as just a set of nuts and bolts that could be fixed. Given her acquisition’s on-road hiatus, Bruno performed a major engine-out service, replacing things such as the cam seals, belts, and hoses. She even overhauled the brakes behind those cool center-lock wheels, plus she had the alternator rebuilt.

There are still more things that Bruno needs to do to refresh her Testarossa, but she enjoys the fact that it’s a work in progress. She plans on driving it until the odometer hits 112,000 miles, so she’ll have plenty more opportunities to work on it. When those opportunities arise, we’re confident that Bruno will be ready to get her hands dirty and start turning wrenches.