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Supercharged Northstar-Powered ’23 Ford T-Bucket w/Matching Trailer

This Ford is a fiberglass-bodied T-bucket that was built on a custom frame, and it was constructed around 1997 by Don Purdie, an ex-Fisher Body employee. Power comes from a 4.6L Cadillac Northstar V8 topped by a 6-71 Dyer’s supercharger and two Quick Fuel carburetors, and it has Sanderson headers linked to side pipes. The engine is linked to a TH400 automatic transmission and a 10-bolt rear end with an Auburn Gear differential, and the car rides on a custom suspension with chrome ladder bars, a suicide front end, and adjustable rear coilovers. The light blue paintwork is complemented by tri-tone metallic flourishes and a dark blue soft top, and inside are bucket seats, a billet wheel, a wood dashboard, and Classic Instruments gauges. The car is paired with a matching trailer built by Bad Bobs that is equipped with an engine-motif cooler and a storage compartment below a tonneau. Per the seller, the car won an award at the Detroit Autorama following its completion. Acquired by the seller in 2025, this custom T-bucket and matching trailer are now offered with a clean Arizona title listing the car as a 1923 Ford.

The fiberglass body is mounted on a custom frame, both of which are painted light blue. Tri-tone metallic flourishes accent the paintwork, and the soft top and rear compartment have dark blue upholstery. The rear axle is also painted dark blue, as are the grille slats, which feature a raised contrasting “T”. European headlights are set in chrome housings, and dual billet mirrors were fitted.

The 4.6-liter Cadillac Northstar V8 was built for the hot rod with a dark blue block accented by chromed and polished details. It is topped by a 6-71 Dyer’s supercharger with two Quick Fuel four-barrel carburetors and a Hilborn-style scoop with a custom Northstar plate. Sanderson headers are linked to sidepipes, and the firewall has a Bishamon tortoiseshell-style geometric pattern.

18″ wire wheels are used up front, and the rear units are Boyd’s 15″ alloys with knock-off trim caps. The seller tells us the rear Hoosier tires were recently mounted. The car has four-wheel disc brakes with chrome calipers and cross-drilled rotors up front. The suicide front end uses a chrome transverse leaf spring, ladder bars, a tubular drop axle, and lever shocks, and out back are chrome ladder bars, triangulated located links, and coilovers with Carrera dampers.

The bucket seats are trimmed with custom upholstery and Northstar accent lettering, and the billet steering wheel is wrapped in dark blue leather. Coordinated upholstery covers the side panels and seat surrounds.

Classic Instruments gauges are set in a wood dashboard, and the Windsor Shifter shift lever below has lights that illuminate the selected gear. The ~13,500 miles on the cluster represent the distance driven on the build since its completion in 1997.

An aluminum fuel tank and the battery are located in the rear compartment. The car has a removable hitch and an electrical connection for the trailer.

The TH400 with a finned TCI pan is linked to a GM 10-bolt rear end with an Auburn Gear 2.73 differential and a custom Northstar-engraved cover.

The matching trailer has functioning lights and brakes, and the engine scoop tilts to reveal a cooler.

Blueprints from the build are included along with records and spare components depicted in the gallery.

The car is titled as a 1923 Ford using VIN MICH75011. There is no serial number or title for the trailer.

Forgotten Chevys That Could Make a Comeback Today

Chevrolet has a storied tradition of producing vehicles that have defined eras and inspired generations. While icons like the Corvette and Camaro remain household names, other once-celebrated models have quietly disappeared from the spotlight. As enthusiasm for classic cars grows—fueled by nostalgia and cutting-edge technology—interest in reviving these forgotten Chevys is surging. Today’s automotive market, with its embrace of retro design and modern engineering, presents a unique opportunity to reimagine these legendary vehicles for a new age.

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10 Pontiacs From the 90s That Were Way Cooler Than People Admit

The 1990s marked an era of bold design and surprising innovation for Pontiac, a brand synonymous with sporty flair and American performance. Today, collectors and enthusiasts are rediscovering these underappreciated gems, drawn to their unique styling and spirited engineering. From muscular coupes to adventurous sedans, ‘90s Pontiacs offered a refreshing alternative to their more mainstream rivals. As nostalgia grows, it’s time to revisit some overlooked models that truly embodied the brand’s daring attitude. For more on Pontiac’s legacy, check out Hagerty’s history of Pontiac.

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10 Pontiacs That Should’ve Been Muscle Cars But Weren’t Allowed To Be

Pontiac’s reputation as a performance powerhouse is undeniable, with icons like the GTO and Firebird defining the muscle car era. Yet, behind the scenes, corporate mandates, skyrocketing insurance costs, and tightening emissions standards often clipped the wings of promising models. As a result, several Pontiacs with muscle car potential were held back from greatness, never receiving the powertrains or street cred they deserved. These restrictions—rooted in GM’s corporate policies and the pressures of the 1970s—left enthusiasts wondering what could have been. For more on Pontiac’s history, visit Hagerty and MotorTrend.

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10 Buicks Only Enthusiasts Remember — And Still Want

Buick has carved a unique niche in American automotive lore, blending luxury, innovation, and performance for over a century. Car enthusiasts and collectors remain drawn to select rare models—machines that not only exemplify engineering excellence but also embody the brand’s storied past. From supercharged muscle cars to elegant pre-war cruisers, these Buicks stand as symbols of ambition and style. Their enduring appeal is evident at auctions and car shows, where discerning fans celebrate their legacy. For a deeper dive into Buick’s history, visit the Historic Vehicle Association or Buick’s official history page.

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Pinewood Derby Brings Automotive Passion to Youth

What were some of the experiences in your youth that shaped your automotive interest as an adult? For me, my childhood revolved around anything with wheels—starting with Hot Wheels, evolving to slot cars, radio-controlled cars, and diecast scale models of all sizes. As a Cub Scout, one of my favorite events each year was the Pinewood Derby, a tradition in which each participant started with a basic block of wood and crafted it into a race car. My dad was (and is) a handyman extraordinaire, so his involvement was always a critical element in the process.

I remember one year where the derby took a different route entirely: instead of the goal being to reach the finish line first, there was an obstacle at the end of the track that the cars would crash into. Each vehicle would have a raw egg strapped into a “driver seat.” The goal was to build the safest Pinewood Derby car—one that would not crack or break the egg at the barricade. It was a messy ordeal, but it made for lots of memorable laughs.

Custom Creation

My friend Derek from Utah is no stranger to being a do-it-yourselfer around the house. His YouTube channel, dubbed “DIY Derek,” has over 15,000 subscribers at the time of this writing. Derek is an innovator, handyman, and problem-solver. His channel introduces viewers to the ins and outs of home-improvement, how-to basics, and much more.

For one of his latest episodes, Derek chose to document the process of creating a custom Pinewood Derby car for a neighborhood competition. His creation was modeled after my Acura Legend. I was honored, to say the least. “I went with the most tested car I know,” Derek said. His three daughters each built a car of their own, too.

The project was a true “scratch-built” undertaking. In fact, Derek didn’t even start with a pre-cut wooden block. He made his own by gluing three scrap pieces of wood together. From there, he did some freehand sketching to come up with the general shape. The block was cut using a scroll saw to create the basic profile, then an orbital sander and sanding block were used to soften the curves. The axle grooves needed to be carved out manually. The car was sprayed in proper Desert Mist Metallic, and the details were added with a Sharpie. Finally, Derek added some stickers to the trunk lid and the windshield for maximum authenticity.

Race Day

When the action kicked off at the slot track, Derek had to make some strategic and last-minute engineering changes, one of which included the removal of an “underbody” component that was making contact with the track and slowing the car down.

Derek allowed a girl from the neighborhood to race the Legend since she didn’t have a car of her own. The competition was fierce and, out of about 50 competitors, the Legend finished in the Top 10. The car’s best run down the track came in at a speedy 3.44 seconds. Representing!

“There was only one thing left to do,” Derek said. The last step was mailing me the Pinewood Derby car for display in my collection. And display it proudly, I shall!

Fostering Future Car Fans

In an era when autonomous transportation is becoming the norm and fewer young people are energized about getting driver licenses, I loved seeing the neighborhood spirit that Derek created for a fun car-related event. And now it’s making me want to craft a Pinewood Derby car of my own!

AutoHunter Spotlight: 1997 Aston Martin DB7 Coupe

Celebrated for its design by Ian Callum (who later drew up several other popular British models like the Jaguar XK and the F-Type), the Aston Martin DB7 blended supercharged power with sexy styling. Featured on AutoHunter is a low-mileage luxury, Grand-Touring 1997 Aston Martin DB7 Coupe. It is being sold by a dealer in Los Angeles, with the auction ending Monday, December 1, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. (MST).

Showing just 75,600 original miles, the car’s sexy silhouette seems to have defied age—even at 28 years old, it looks relatively modern. Callum’s design sought to capture the essence of classic Astons while adding modern features. Exterior features included vented front fenders, color-keyed mirrors, dual exhaust outlets, and 18-inch turbine-style wheels.

The DB7 was assembled in Bloxham, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, from 1994 through 2003. It was classified internally under the “XX” model name and leveraged some of the platform architecture from the Jaguar XJS (since at the time, both Aston Martin and Jaguar were owned by Ford). In addition to its coupe body style, the DB7 was offered as a “Volante” convertible after 1996. The marketplace reacted warmly to the car, and it became a volume seller for the brand. The DB7 went on to be credited—at least in part—for helping Aston Martin survive during a particularly competitive period.

The Experian AutoCheck report says that this car has an accident-free history. It was first registered in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and later spent time in Ohio, Kentucky, and Florida before being relocated to California in 2020, where it remains today. A California emissions inspection was performed in September 2024. The report corroborates the car’s low mileage reading, as the last recorded entry was 70,235 when that emissions check was done.

No luxury car would be complete without a few creature comforts. The four-passenger cabin of the DB7 has wood veneer, dual-zone automatic climate control, and power convenience options throughout. An aftermarket AM/FM cassette stereo has been added, but the rest of the cabin appears original. 

Up front is a Jaguar-derived 3.2-liter supercharged DOHC inline-six mated to a 4L80-E four-speed automatic transmission. Aston Martin rated the engine at 335 horsepower and 361 lb-ft of torque when new. One unique thing about the DB7 was that each engine was hand-assembled, receiving a placard noting the vehicle number and inspector’s name. This car is identified with the sequence 1*604, which aligns with its VIN. Final assembly was performed by someone named Steve Gray.

Steve should be pleased to know that his efforts did not go unnoticed, and that a DB7 with his name on it is still cruising the streets almost three decades later.

The auction for this 1997 Aston Martin DB7 Coupe ends Monday, December 1, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

No Reserve: 572-Powered ’32 Ford Victoria Hot Rod

This ’32 Ford Victoria hot rod was built under previous ownership using a fiberglass Downs Manufacturing body and a chassis from Close Racing Supply. It is powered by a 572ci ZZ572 V8 equipped with a Holley Demon carburetor and backed by a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission. Additional highlights of the build include 15″ Boyds wheels, coach-doors with concealed hinges, Wilwood disc brakes, power rack-and-pinion steering, adjustable coilover suspension, and a 9″ rear axle with a PosiTraction differential and 3.08:1 gearing. The cabin is upholstered in gray and features a Lokar floor shifter, a billet steering wheel, digital instrumentation, and power windows. Acquired by the current owner on BaT in July 2024 and previously offered on BaT in July 2025, this Victoria is now offered again at no reserve in California on dealer consignment with a clean Arizona title that lists the vehicle as a 1932 Ford Unknown.

The fiberglass reproduction body is from Downs Manufacturing and is mounted on a Close Racing Supply chassis. Finished in metallic red with pink and silver pinstriping, the car features a chopped top, an exposed engine bay, chrome headlight buckets, coach doors with concealed hinges, door-mounted side mirrors, LED taillights, and polished dual exhaust outlets. Graphics have been painted along the rear and sides of the car as well as on the doors.

Staggered-width 15″ Boyds wheels are mounted with BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires that measure 195/80 up front and 265/70 out back. The car is equipped with power rack-and-pinion steering and adjustable coilover shocks at each corner. Stopping power is provided by Wildwood four-wheel ventilated disc brakes, and the selling dealer notes that the brake fluid was flushed in preparation for the sale.

The front bucket seats and rear bench are trimmed in dark gray vinyl with lighter cloth inserts, and matching upholstery extends to the wood-trimmed door panels. The overhead console features an Optimus cassette stereo, and additional appointments include lap belts for the front occupants, power windows, and a Lokar floor shifter.

A billet steering wheel is mounted on a chrome tilt column and fronts a wood dashboard fascia that houses Prime Instruments LED instrumentation consisting of a speedometer, a tachometer, and auxiliary gauges. The digital odometer indicates 7k miles.

The 572ci ZZ572 V8 is equipped with a Holley Demon carburetor and Powercharger air cleaner, 572 Chevrolet-branded valve covers, long-tube exhaust headers, and a Powermaster Performance starter. An American Autowire wiring harness has been installed.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission and a 9″ rear axle with a PosiTraction differential and a 3.08:1 gear ratio. Fluid services for the transmission and differential are said to have been performed in 2024.

The car is titled as a 1932 Ford Unknown using its Arizona assigned identification number AZ-268832 shown above.

454-Powered 1955 Ford C-800 COE Flatbed

This 1955 Ford C-800 started life as a refrigerated box truck and was outfitted with a stake bed around two decades later. More recently, it was the subject of a custom build at Pure Metal Works in Jackson, California, where the cab and bed were mounted to a replacement Chevrolet frame, and a 454ci Chevrolet V8 and TH350 three-speed automatic transmission were installed. An adjustable air suspension system was added along with custom front control arms, a dually rear axle, and 16” steel wheels, and the interior was re-trimmed with brown vinyl seat upholstery, an Ididit steering column, Dakota Digital gauges, and a Lokar shifter. Shortly after work was completed in 2020, the truck was purchased by the seller and driven across the country to Florida, where it has remained registered since. This custom Ford COE is now offered by the seller on behalf of the owner with build records and a clean Florida title in the owner’s name.

The cab is mounted to a replacement frame said to be sourced from a 1980s Chevrolet C30. Rust is visible on the worn yellow, white, and blue paint, and deteriorated Meadow Gold graphics remain on both sides. The seller notes that the right-front vent window is cracked.

A wood stake bed is said to have been installed in the 1970s, and portions of the floor slats were cut out to accommodate the dually rear wheels. Rust on the steel frame and hardware can be viewed up close in the image gallery below.

The 16” steel wheels have been powder-coated in black and are wrapped in 7.50” Diamond Back whitewall tires. Custom front control arms from Michigan Metal Works were installed along with an Air Lift Performance adjustable air suspension system. Braking is handled by front discs and rear drums.

The interior of the cab is painted in light blue, and sound deadening insulation has been applied to the roof and floors. The bench seat is trimmed in brown vinyl, and color-coordinated carpets line the floor. A Lokar shifter has been installed. Corrosion, pitted brightwork, and other flaws can be viewed in the gallery.

The blue-rimmed steering wheel is mounted to an Ididit tilt column and frames a 140-mph speedometer, a tachometer, and auxiliary gauges. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows 6,500 miles, approximately 5k of which have been added under current ownership.

The 454ci Chevrolet V8 and TH350 three-speed automatic transmission were sourced from Jasper Engines & Transmissions. Maintenance performed in preparation for the sale is said to have included adjusting the carburetor and replacing the battery.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Dana 60 rear end. Rust is visible on underbody components, which can be viewed in the gallery.

The vehicle is titled as a 1955 Ford using the VIN C80K5R21424, which appears on the identification plate shown above.

Photos taken soon after the build was completed are presented in the gallery.

Car Connections: Ford, Toyota, and Le Mans

If you’re reading this, you’ve managed to drink enough coffee to counteract all the turkey and high-carb sides of Thanksgiving! Congratulations—and welcome back to The ClassicCars.com Journal. You’re just in time for another installment of Car Connections. I make the Random Word Generator spit out a few words, then I find ways to link each of them to automobiles.

Today’s words are: meat, stuff, and glow. Here we go.

A 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 for sale on ClassicCars.com

Meat: What kills me about some restomods is that they have over-sized wheels with rubber bands for tires. One of the things that makes classic American cars, such as the Ford Mustang and Pontiac Trans Am, look so great is their proportions—including those of their wheels and tires. A nice meaty sidewall helps keep things in balance.

2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum (Photo by Maclaine Morgan)

Stuff: Now that I’m a dad, I love minivans, especially the 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum I tested back in April. Not only was it well equipped, comfortable, and fuel-efficient, but it also had room for so much stuff! It easily fit my wife in the shotgun seat and my son Hayden in his bulky car seat in the second row. There was plenty of space for storage totes in the back, even if I didn’t fold the third-row seats down.

Photo courtesy of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest

Glow: Le Mans racing challenges the endurance of everyone and everything involved. Not only do the drivers have to stay awake for long stretches, but they also have to be 100 percent sharp and alert every second they’re behind the wheel. The cars’ engines have to hold up to the stresses of all-out driving and high-g turns. So do the brakes—they work so hard and absorb so much heat that they literally glow in the dead of night.

How would you associate these words with cars? Tell us in the Comments section below. And be sure to share your ideas for random words to use in a future installment of Car Connections.