mod@tech

Of all the American collector cars, one of the most stunning is the C2 Corvette. Our AutoHunter Spotlight is one of these cars: a restored 1964 Chevrolet Corvette L75 Convertible. It is powered by a rebuilt, numbers-matching 300-horsepower 327ci V8 mated to an upgraded, rebuilt close-ratio four-speed transmission. Finished in Riverside Red with a new white convertible top over a black vinyl interior, this C2 is offered by the selling dealer with service records and clear title. 

The C2 Corvette was actually a combination of two different projects at GM: the Bill Mitchell-led Stingray race car and the Zora Duntov CERV 1 concept. To put it simply, the chassis came from Duntov and the styling from Mitchell. The combination of these two projects gave us what many people consider to be the greatest generation in the history of the Corvette.

The exterior of this Corvette looks to be in fine condition, with the Riverside Red paint looking excellent. In addition, the car has a factory-correct convertible top, the chrome has been replated, and the car rides on 15-inch turbine-style knock-off wheels clad with 215/75 whitewall radial tires.

The interior of this car looks as nice as the exterior. the black vinyl upholstery is both completely correct and in excellent condition. The car features power steering, a beautiful factory-style three-spoke wood steering wheel, and an aftermarket retro-look AM/FM cassette stereo. Like all C2 Corvettes, this car features full instrumentation including a 160-mph speedometer, 7,000-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges for oil pressure, temperature, battery, and fuel level. All gauges have been restored.

Lift the hood and you find the numbers-matching L75 327ci V8 with 300 horsepower. It is backed by a four-speed close-ratio manual gearbox. Both the engine and gearbox have been rebuilt, and this Corvette has recently undergone a comprehensive service.

The condition of the underside of this Corvette is as good the rest of the car. It features a heavy-duty independent rear end with a Positraction differential set up with 3.55 gears. The car (like all 1964 Corvettes) has four-wheel drum brakes and a dual exhaust system.

I was wondering what it would cost to restore a decent C2 Corvette so I called my friend Kevin Mackay of Corvette Repair Inc., one of the best Corvette restoration shops on the planet. He figures it would cost well more than $100,000 to restore a C2 of any kind. Think about that if you are on the fence about making a bid on this car. This is an opportunity to buy a nice C2 Corvette convertible for less than the cost of the restoration. The fact that this is a numbers-matching example that was restored to the exact specifications from when it was built makes this car look like one to own. If you are interested though you should bid soon as the auction for this 1964 Chevrolet Corvette L79 convertible ends on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

In the animal kingdom, there is a concept called “mimicry.” This is where a species may mimic a harmful predator with markings or what-not to stem any aggressive attacks. In the automotive world, we also have a similar concept where a vehicle does a fine job of running with more prestigious vehicles. Our Pick of the Day, a 1965 Pontiac Bonneville convertible, arguably fits the bill better than any other. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Sandusky, Ohio.

In 1965, Ford introduced a premium sub-model in the Galaxie 500 series and called it LTD. Chevrolet followed suit near the beginning of the 1965 calendar year and called the specially trimmed four-door Impala the Caprice Custom Sedan. Both pretended to be more premium thanks to fancy interiors and tasteful exterior trim. For 1966, Plymouth responded with the VIP and AMC released the Ambassador DPL.

All of the above cars were designed as luxurious vehicles within brands that were decidedly not luxury-oriented — no one would shop for a Caprice and a Cadillac. The Pontiac Bonneville, on the other hand, was more of a masquerade, a Pontiac that thought it was a Buick. Though originally a 1957 special-edition convertible full of power features plus fuel injection, the Bonneville settled at the top of Pontiac’s lineup as a mainstream model starting in 1959. A longer wheelbase than the Catalina was one of its hallmarks, as was its extended trunk.

A funny thing started to happen at the time: the Wide-Track Bonneville became a car with cachet, a model that could confidently move with more prestigious machinery. Though the Bonneville was priced more like a Buick Wildcat, the class it exuded was closer to that of the Electra, which was much more expensive. That combination of sporty and classy was something that no other brand could match — Dodge’s Custom 880 didn’t fake a Chrysler, and the Mercury Park Lane simply didn’t have what it took to fake a Lincoln despite being “In the Lincoln Continental tradition.”

Full-size Pontiacs were completely redesigned for 1965, exploiting the “Coke Bottle” styling that had been introduced several years earlier. For 1965, the Bonneville looked lithe with exaggerated rear proportions thanks to that extended trunk lid and huge rear fenders. Plus, Pontiac was the hot manufacturer in the industry, having kicked Plymouth out of the traditional #3 spot several years earlier with strong styling, a sporty personality, performance engines galore and, eventually, the stylish Grand Prix and mid-size GTO.

Power plants were similar to what they were before, but the 421 gained horsepower in all three variants. The 421 four-barrel went up 18 horsepower to 338, while the 421 Tri-Power gained only six horses for 356. The top 421 HO with Tri-Power gained six horses for 376. The latter was the same engine that, in Bobcat form, was the ringer for powering the GTO in the famous Car and Driver “GTO vs. GTO” story the year before.

The 1965 Pontiac Bonneville is not the most desirable collectible for that year, but it’s not for lack of trying. It has all the elements to make a strong collectible, but the collectible market has never been accused of being logical. This Montero Red convertible is an awe-inspiring combination of all of Pontiac’s strengths of the 1960s, starting with the 421 HO (though this is a documented 421 four-barrel car), buckets and console, TH400 automatic, air conditioning, power steering and brakes, remote trunk release, Safe-T-Track, AM/FM stereo, and 8-lug wheels. “The original top … works well. Interior is in great condition with new carpet installed about 10 years ago,” says the seller. “Body is straight with no rust.”

There’s never been a rhyme or reason why some cars become more collectible than others — witness the Buick Riviera, which always has had among the strongest styling of the decade, according to critics, yet has languished compared to many other lesser cars. The Bonneville is similar, though its strength lies in being able to mimic more expensive and prestigious machinery. For $57,500, this is one masquerade that will fake the Buick thing like a charm.

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

The Concours in the Hills, held in Fountain Hills, Arizona, has become a keystone event in Arizona car culture. Aside from bringing out some of the most elite supercars and classics in the region, it promotes charitable causes: Registration proceeds support the Phoenix Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders as well as the Cardiothoracic Surgery Fund. Here is a link to a story about last year’s event.

Peter Volny, who launched the Concours in 2014, shared some statistics about the history and reach of the event: To date, it has raised $450,000 for Phoenix Children’s, and this year it brought out about 1,000 vehicles. Following a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Peter announced that those vehicles had a combined estimated value of about half a billion dollars ($500 million). That claim is probably something that relatively few car shows around the nation can make.

Five warbird planes did a flyover to kick things off at 10 a.m. — just one example of how the Concours consistently goes above and beyond to make the experience unique for everyone who attends. Best of all, spectator registration was free. To give a quick glimpse of the variety of vehicles on display, we’ll showcase one vehicle from each decade from the 1940s through the 2010s.

1940 Ford DeLuxe Convertible

Model-year 1940 Fords were known for their streamlined styling: the Art Deco, prewar look had a Lincoln-inspired, horizontal-bar grille. The DeLuxe was one of the first Ford models to adopt sealed-beam headlights that were faired into the fenders. Power came from a 221ci, 85-horsepower, flathead V8.

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible

Any “Tri-Five” Chevy is a popular feature on The ClassicCars.com Journal, so we knew you’d appreciate this 1957 Bel Air convertible in eye-catching red. The Bel Air was, of course, renowned for its extensive chrome, its bold tail fins, and the introduction of a powerful (for its time) fuel-injected 283ci V8 engine.

1963 Volkswagen Beetle

The beloved “Herbie” Disney movie franchise, dating back to 1968 with “The Love Bug,” was all about an underdog racing car — a vehicle that since become a pop-culture icon. The German compact had a rear-mounted, air-cooled flat-four and remained in production for over 60 years.

1979 Honda Civic

The first-generation Civic, produced from 1973 through 1979, was known for its incredible fuel efficiency and simple design. You may have seen Andy Reid’s recent story on a car like this. The innovation behind the engineering had to do with what Honda called CVCC (Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion), which allowed it to meet emissions standards without a catalytic converter.

1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SL

The final and most refined iteration of Mercedes-Benz’s classic R107 roadster had a 5.6-liter V8. It was known as a luxurious grand-tourer for its time, often accompanied by a removable hardtop in addition to its retractable soft top. The owner of the car was not available to comment on the plush teddy bear that appeared to be out for a parade ride.

1995 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo

The Z32 was a legendary, wedge-shaped 1990s sports car. Its twin-turbocharged V6 (dubbed the VG30DETT) was capable of 300 horsepower and 283 lb-ft of torque. The Z could be uniquely optioned for its time, featuring removable T-tops, Bose audio, and a HICAS rear-wheel-steering system. This Cobalt Green Pearl 300ZX was originally delivered to Universal City Nissan in Los Angeles and stickered at over $43,000, including its optional leather upholstery.

2000 BMW Z8

BMW’s aluminum-bodied luxury roadster was produced from 2000 through 2003. Only about 5,700 units were built, and about half of them came to the United States. It had the same S62 4.9-liter V8 that powered the M5 sedan of the era. If this car looks familiar, it’s probably because you saw it in the 1999 James Bond movie “The World Is Not Enough.”

2012 McLaren MP4-12C

The MP4-12C boasted a number of important innovations for its time, including a carbon-fiber mono-cell chassis with dihedral doors, as well as hydraulic “ProActive” chassis control. It was powered by a mid-mounted, 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that was capable of propelling the car to 60 miles per hour in only about three seconds.

We look forward to seeing how the Concours continues to grow and evolve — it’s a definite feast for the senses that gets better every year. Thanks for coming along for the ride.

The 2026 Winter Olympics (officially known as XXV Winter Olympic Games) is commonly known as Milano Cortina 2026. Both Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo made a joint bid for the event, with the former hosting skating events while Cortina hosts the rest. While I’m no dummy when it comes to geography, I had no idea that Cortina was a location on the map. Of course, Ford had a clue and gave us a car in response.

Cortina d’Ampezzo is located in the Dolomitic Alps in the region (aka “province”) that borders Austria. Though far removed from the Alpine goodness of Cortina, Venice would be the most familiar city in the region to most. In 1956, it was the site of the Winter Olympics, inspiring Ford UK to name its new family car that was introduced in September 1962. The Cortina also was marketed as Ford’s captive import in the U.S. and was quite popular in Canada.

The most collectible version was something that was familiar to American road-race fans: the Cortina Lotus two-door, which featured the Cortina’s Kent OHV four-cylinder re-engineered by Lotus into a 1,558cc twin-cam stormer. All were white with green rear and longitudinal paint.

Four years and a month after the Cortina’s original introduction, Ford restyled it to create the Cortina Mark II. Following the design trends of the time (and sharing a slight resemblance to its cross-Atlantic Falcon cousin), the Mark II looked heavier but was actually 0.25 inches shorter. In 1967, the first model year for the Cortina Mark II, it became Britain’s biggest seller. The Cortina 1600E Mark II, also produced as a four-door, was the heir apparent to the Cortina Lotus, though it was more of a “luxury-performance” car and lacked the rallying panache of the Mark I.

American sales never exceeded 22,983 (1968), with importation ending in 1970 after 14-odd months of the Cortina sharing showrooms with the Ford Maverick.

Ford produced three more generations of Cortinas through 1982, when it was replaced by the Sierra. The sportiest version of that car was marketed in the U.S. as the Merkur XR4Ti, but that’s another tale for another Olympics.

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this 2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe, which is powered by an LS1 5.7-liter V8 paired with a 4L60-E four-speed automatic. Highlights include T-tops, LS6 intake manifold, and an SLP cat-back exhaust. Finished in Bright Rally Red over a Neutral leather interior, this fourth-generation Camaro is now offered by the selling dealer in St. Louis with a clean AutoCheck report and a clear title.

The Bright Rally Red exterior features smoked fog light and turn signal lenses, black headlight housings, a hood scoop with functional forced-air induction, power mirrors with body-color caps, removable tinted glass T-tops, rear spoiler, and an SLP cat-back exhaust system with dual outlets.

This Camaro SS hunts Mustangs on a set of 17-inch chrome 10-spoke wheels and 275/40 Kumho Ecsta tires.

Inside, there’s 2+2 seating for four on the Neutral leather bucket front seats and pair of rear seats. Comfort and convenience features include power windows and locks, six-way power driver’s seat, cruise control, tilt steering column, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, Bluetooth-compatible Pioneer AM/FM/CD head unit, air conditioning, and center console with cup holders for the first- and second-row passengers.

Instrumentation consists of a 155-mph speedometer, 7,000-rpm tachometer, and gauges for the temperature, oil pressure, voltage, and fuel level. The digital odometer shows 60,133 miles; the AutoCheck report’s latest mileage figure of 43,880 miles was recorded in October 2016.

The air channeled through the hood scoop feeds an LS1 5.7-liter V8, which was factory-rated to produce 325 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. This car’s engine comes equipped with an LS6 intake manifold and a revised camshaft profile. In addition, the EGR system was deleted. A 4L60-E four-speed automatic sends the LS1’s grunt to the Zexel Torsen limited-slip rear differential. A High Performance Ride and Handling Suspension, power disc brakes with ABS, and traction control are in place to keep this Camaro out of ditches and on the road for another 24 years.

Where will this 2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe be in the year 2050? If you want it to be in your garage then, bid on it before the auction ends on Friday, February 20, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Sometimes there are very rare and special modern collector cars that can seem to get lost in the shuffle. This happens most often when the manufacturer does not fully promote the specific model or there is a more popular model that simply overshadows it. These great cars go overlooked for years until someone with influence in the hobby ends up buying one and giving it exposure and singing its praises. Our Pick of the Day is, to my eyes, the most beautiful as well as one of the rarest standard production BMW M cars ever built. This 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Pompano Beach, Florida.

The E85/86 Z4 was BMWs replacement for the Z3 and like the Z3 was built in the U.S. at the BMW plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The first generation of the Z4 was designed by Anders Warming, who also was responsible for the second-generation X3 and was also part of the team who designed the almost mythic E39 M5. The Z4 was introduced at the 2002 Paris Auto show and went on sale in November of that year.

At the 2005 Frankfurt Auto Show, BMW unveiled a concept coupé version of the Z4. That design has been credited to the aforementioned Anders Warming, BMW Design Chief Chris Bangle, Adrian van Hooydonk, and BMW designer Tomasz Sycha. I suppose great designs have many folks who want to be attached to them but I know how the design process at BMW works and I am sure every designer on the above list had a hand in the design of the coupe. The production version of Z4 M Coupe was introduced at the New York Auto Show in April 2006 and went on sale less than two months later.

I can add some personal impressions of both cars as I currently own a Z3 and have owned a Z4 roadster and have a lot of time behind the wheel of the Z4 M Coupe as well. While I prefer exterior design of the Z3 roadster, the Z4 is a better driver’s car in every way. It has more interior room while only being 2.5 inches long and 3 inches wider than the Z3. The Z4 is also much better dynamically and has one of the strongest chassis of any roadster I have ever driven. This makes the Z4 a car that offers amazing handling and little (if any) chassis flex. Think about that and then imagine the coupe version. Adding the stunning fastback roof to the Z4 Coupe literally double the torsional stiffness of the roadster, making it one of the best-handling BMW road cars I have ever driven.

This Z4 Coupe is an M version, which means it’s a good car made even better. The 330-horsepower S54 inline-six has 80 horses more than the standard 3.0si coupe version. This gave the M Coupe a 0-60 sprint of 4.6 seconds, which was a second faster than the standard Z4. In addition, the M version had wider tires, a firmer suspension, bigger brakes, and an even better exhaust note. It is a car that can easily do track and daily driving duty, and do both without and compromises.

The performance offered by the Z4 M Coupe is only part of what makes this car so desirable. The styling of the Z4 is, in my opinion, one of BMW’s finest designs in the history of the company. The fastback roof, combined with the quasi-Zagato “double bubble” roof styling cues, all work to make the Z4 Coupe perfectly proportioned. It’s practically the template for the car that looks fast standing still.

The seller describes this Z4 M Coupe as having covered a total of 61k miles from new. It is finished in Titanium Silver Metallic over a Dark Sepang Brown Leather interior, a combination I have never seen before but one that looks fabulous, especially combined with the brushed aluminum interior trim.

Options on this Z4 include M Sport Seats, M Sport multifunction steering wheel, heated power seats with memory, Storage package, Smokers package, Premium Hi-Fi audio system (this system has to be heard to be believed), and Xenon headlights with auto-leveling and washers. Happily, this car did not come with navigation, which makes the dash look both cleaner and more classic.

Both the exterior and interior of this Z4 look to be in exceptional condition. I looked at the photos multiple times and could not find anything that needed any attention whatsoever. I would ask the dealer about the service history of this car, as it likely has the records but don’t say so in the ad. Remember, this Z4 Coupe is a true M car and regular servicing is necessary.

Of all the more modern German collectibles out there today, the Z4 M Coupe is one of those cars that has not quite caught on yet. These Bimmers are quite rare with a total worldwide production of only 1,815 built. To add to this car’s rarity, this Z4 M coupe is one of only two cars built in Titanium Silver with the Dark Sepang Brown Leather interior. This makes the asking price for this car at only $38,298 seem like a no-brainer. If you think that sounds crazy, consider that amount is less than a E46 M3 in the same condition. Not only does the Z4 M Coupe look better, but it is also faster than the M3 and much rarer. That makes this 2007 Z4 M Coupe one of the best BMW M car deals on the market and the one I would buy myself.

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

While not particularly quick by today’s standards, the Rocket 88 was a strong performance car when it came out in 1949, paving the way for the muscle car era in later years. The Pick of the Day is a 1950 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 hardtop listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Florence, Montana.

One of the keys to the 88’s success in stock car and NASCAR racing was its 303ci OHV Rocket V8 engine, giving the car the ability to accelerate to 60 miles per hour in about 12 seconds. Nowadays, cars can get up to that speed in a fraction of that time (check out the 2026 Corvette ZR1X, which does it in 1.68 seconds).

While no longer powered by its original 303, this 88 packs even more punch. The powertrain has been upgraded to a 455ci Oldsmobile V8 with a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission. Maintenance history includes replacement of the radiator, Edelbrock intake, and dual exhaust system. As icing on the cake, the engine bay has been dressed up with generous chrome accents, adding a show-car element to the build. The seller says the front end has received $3,500 in work, including a new steering box.

Cosmetically, the car is equally solid. “Beautiful restored Oldsmobile Rocket 88 Futuramic Holiday hardtop,” the listing begins. The exterior has been redone in the original two-tone blue and black color scheme; exterior features include chrome brightwork, a hood ornament, a driver-side mirror, and a set of modern American Racing alloy wheels with new tires (the stock wire hubcaps are included with the sale).

The interior was redone in a factory-style theme with two-tone black and white upholstery for the bench seats. Of particular interest is the steering wheel, which contains a unique planet-themed center design. At first glance, it looks like Saturn, but digging a little deeper shows that it was designed to represent Earth. The ring around it is said to be made by the rocket contrails surrounding it — a pretty neat feature for a car from the ’50s.

It’s no wonder the Rocket was such a celebrated car of the era. One of the magazine ads for it said, “Make a date with a Rocket 8!” It went on to say, “Only in Oldsmobile will you find Futuramic beauty and glamour to match the Rocket’s flashing performance.”

“Flashing performance” is indeed in plentiful supply, especially with a later-model 455ci V8 under the hood!

The asking price for this vintage hardtop is $31,000 or best offer.

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