mod@tech

Sure, it’s nice to see Ford GTs and Corvette restomods at any Barrett-Jackson auction, but there are plenty of other cars that are more attainable to enthusiasts like you and me. At the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction, some of those vehicles reside under Tents 1 though 3.

We strolled through all three tents to curate some more interesting vehicles for you. Alright, maybe we cannot determine what you would deem interesting, but a better eclectic assemblage cannot be found. Enjoy!

This 1999 Mazda RX-7 from its home market features performance upgrades including an HKS exhaust, blow-off valve and wastegate, and Tein suspension. The interior is outfitted with a JDM Carrozzeria stereo and dashcam, Momo steering wheel, Razo shifter knob, and Defi gauges.

This 1995 Mitsubishi may look familiar, but in Japan, it was known as the GTO. Specifically, it’s a lightweight MR-spec model, which did without the four-wheel steering and electronic suspension. It’s been upgraded with an HKS wastegate, electronic boost control, and “performance” brakes. Wheels are 20-inch ZEA JDMs.

You may recognize this 1974 Plymouth Duster because it was built for the movie “Happy Gilmore 2,” starring Adam Sandler. It was originally powered by a Slant Six, but now it features a 360 underneath the hood, plus a pop-up sunroof.

Due to trim being removed, you may not recognize this as a 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury. It’s currently powered by an unusual 447 small-block putting out 440 horsepower. There’s a lot of other goodies that make this car more capable for your morning commute, but what caught our attention was the tough stance.

Hardtops were still a newfangled thing in the early 1950s, always the sportiest vehicle in the lineup. This 1954 Mercury Monterey is powered by a 256ci “Y-block” paired with a Merc-O-Matic transmission.

Admittedly, I prefer the 1967-68 Eldorado, but this 1970 Cadillac Eldorado was painted in a very attractive “period” hue – and dig that alligator-grain vinyl top! And if that doesn’t do it for you, maybe 400 horsepower will.

Volkswagen Vanagons were never known for their acceleration, but that’s nothing a 2.5-liter Subie engine can’t fix. Other mods on this 1990 model include a new suspension, big brake kit, custom roof rack, road shower, custom ladder, pop-up tent, and more.

This ain’t just any Bimmer—it’s a 2012 BMW Alpina B7 SWB xDrive. The twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 achieves 500 horsepower via larger Honeywell turbochargers, reinforced cylinder heads, Mahle pistons, revised ECU tuning, an Alpina-tuned exhaust system, and more. This is peak Teutonic super saloon!

It’s going to be a while until the next James Bond movie comes out—and who knows if he’ll still be in an Aston Martin when it does? After the corporate shuffle between 1989’s “License to Kill” and 1995’s “Goldeneye,” 007 was a BMW driver until 1999’s “The World is Not Enough.” The good news is that you can get an eyeful of these British performance cars at the Petersen Automotive Museum’s newest exhibit, Performance & Prestige: A History of Aston Martin starting October 30.

If you attend the opening night of the exhibit, you’ll experience “a refined evening featuring complimentary wine, curated selection of craft beer, and elegant light fare. As you explore the gallery, you’ll be among the very first to view an extraordinary collection of legendary Aston Martin vehicles, each representing a chapter in the brand’s storied legacy.”

One of those vehicles will be the 1961 DB4 GT Zagato. As for the others, it’s unclear, but there may be clues about what they’ll be. On the main page for the exhibit, the Petersen mentions models such as the DB4GT, DB3S, Vulcan, DB5, and Valkyrie. One picture shows the One-77, which had a 7.3-liter V12 and a top speed of 220 mph, making it the fastest-ever Aston up to that point (2009). Perhaps that, a Valhalla, or the recently announced DB12 S will be part of the exhibit.

Tickets for Performance & Prestige: A History of Aston Martin are $50, but members of the Petersen Automotive Museum pay only $29. We’d gladly pay those prices to see a new James Bond movie with an Aston right now.

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this restored 1976 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45 pickup, which is powered by a 2F 4.2-liter inline-six paired with a four-speed manual gearbox and two-speed transfer case. Finished in Pueblo Brown with a white roof over a tan vinyl interior, this four-wheel-drive FJ45 pickup is now offered by the selling dealer in Washington with two repair manuals and a clear title.

As part of a 2021 nut-and-bolt restoration, the body was refinished in Pueblo Brown and the roof was repainted white. Exterior features include a silver front bumper, fender-mounted turn signals, external hood latches, fold-down windshield, dual side mirrors, headache rack, tailgate with white “Toyota” lettering, and single exhaust outlet.

This rig cruises land on a set of 15-inch wheels with manual locking front hubs and 31-inch Pirelli Scorpion tires. Behind the wheels are power front disc and rear drum brakes.

Inside the cab, the door panels, dash cap, and seats are covered in tan vinyl. Other features include power steering, floor-mounted manual transmission and transfer case shifters, and air conditioning.

Instrumentation consists of a 160-kph (99-mph) speedometer and gauges for the oil pressure, fuel level, temperature, and voltage. The odometer shows 272,543 kilometers (169,350 miles), but the title indicates this vehicle is mileage-exempt.

A 2F 4.2-liter I6 with two-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and dual-range transfer case get this rig down the road and over challenging trails.

If you want to start this 1976 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45 pickup down the path to your garage, bid on it now. The auction ends on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 12:15 p.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

One of the most fun-to-drive classic sports cars I have owned and driven is the Austin-Healey Sprite. These diminutive vehicles, while not the fastest sports cars ever built, have to be the most fun to drive at or near legal speeds than any other. Due to their small size and a seating position practically at ground level, driving one of these cars at 50 mph feels like 80. My Pick of the Day is from the Mk 2 generation of these cars: a 1964 Austin-Healey Sprite listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Sprite is a very small car, but don’t let that deter you because – like the Tardis in the TV show “Dr. Who” – it somehow defies time and space: Even at 6 feet, 4 inches tall, I can sit behind the wheel and actually look out of the windshield (instead of over it).

The Sprite came to be due to Donald Healey’s need and desire to have a volume-selling entry-level sports car, something that would be a feeder car to the then-new Healey 3000. The original Sprite, nicknamed the Bugeye or Frogeye, was either cute or ugly, depending on the viewer, but became quite popular. Healey sold thousands of them. The next generation did away with the hood-mounted headlight and softened the car a bit. While some people only like the original Sprite, the later-generation models offered lots of improvements and became much more comfortable and capable sports cars. Of the entire run of Sprites, my single favorite generation is the Mk2, which was introduced at the end of 1961. The Mk2 Sprite saw a change to the front end, incorporating the headlights and giving it a more modern look. The rear end was also changed; for the first time the Sprite now had a trunk lid.

In addition, while the interior looks much the same, there is an overall roomier feel to the Mk 2 Sprite. It is still basic, but a tad bit more civilized. It still doesn’t have roll-up door windows, but that means you have more side-to-side room – and, let’s be serious, in 2025 you really don’t want to drive a car like the Sprite in the rain anyway, so who really needs side windows?

The seller describes this Sprite as iconic roadster with a striking red exterior that is a “testament to timeless design and engineering.” They call it a “head-turner wherever it goes,” and they are likely correct.

According to the seller, the seats are covered in black leather, which is an upgrade over the standard vinyl the Sprite was delivered with when new. The simplicity of the dash – with a tach, speedo, fuel level, oil pressure, and temperature gauges – is the very definition of having all you need in a sports car and nothing else. The Sprite’s overall simplicity contributes to making it a truly elemental 1960s British sports car.

Under the hood, the engine looks to be in nice shape – as does everything else. The one change I see from stock is that the dual SU carbs have been replaced with a single two-barrel Weber kit, something very common on these cars. I personally like the original SU carbs, but that is partly because I know how to service and adjust them. The Weber is much simpler in that regard.

Above all, I can guarantee this 1964 Austin-Healey Sprite will deliver driving pleasure that is so often lacking in the cars of today. No, it is not fast and would not be a car I would recommend for integrated driving, but if you are looking for a terrific back-roads classic sports car, this Sprite will deliver. With a price of only $17,500, it represents a good value to me.

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

This year is flying by, but the good news is that it’s already time for the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction, which started yesterday at WestWorld of Scottsdale and runs until Saturday, October 18.

This year’s event features new attractions, such as the Barrett-Jackson Fan Zone, which features lounge-style seating, food and beverage options, live entertainment, and interactive exhibits. According to Barrett-Jackson, “the new Car Club Corral hosts different car clubs each day, allowing guests to check out a variety of impressive vehicles.” There’s also a Collectors Club hospitality pavilion with a massive screen that gives guests a front-row view of the auction while they enjoy premium beverages and Scottsdale’s wonderful fall weather.

Of course, the biggest attraction at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction is the array of collector vehicles crossing the auction block. Those that finished in the Top 10 on Wednesday covered a wide spread of model years and countries of origin, which you can see below.

LOT	DESCRIPTION
85	1975 PORSCHE 914 TARGA
88	1968 DODGE DART GT CONVERTIBLE
92	1982 JEEP CJ-8 SCRAMBLER PICKUP
84	2004 CADILLAC XLR CONVERTIBLE
35	1965 BUICK SKYLARK
23	2008 JAGUAR XK CONVERTIBLE
97	2007 JAGUAR XK CONVERTIBLE
77	1977 GMC SIERRA 1500 PICKUP
69	2009 MASERATI GRANTURISMO S
55	1995 FORD BRONCO XLT

If you want to be at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction to see the next Top 10 sales cross the block right in front of you, get your tickets here or register to bid here. Can’t make it to the event? Click here to watch it live.

In previous articles in this series, we focused on Lincoln and Chrysler’s Imperial. Many of their models were shared with other brands under their respective corporate umbrellas, but General Motors’ Cadillac was much more unique. As such, Consumer Guide’s reviews of 1970s Cadillacs on the used car market possibly cannot be predicted by trends shown in the reviews of other GM brands.

Yet, as mentioned in the recent Buick story, GM began to share components on a much larger scale by the end of the decade—arguably, to the detriment of all. Nonetheless, Cadillac would experience more speed bumps in the subsequent decade.

Here’s a look at “The Standard of the World” that successfully joined the downsize bandwagon yet was able to maintain its stature within the luxury car segment. Please note the CG rating scale of 5 being Excellent and 1 being Poor.

Cadillac
“Wretched excess at its worst … [though] current downsized series is almost as roomy … [with a] repair record more favorable.”

• Calais/DeVille/Fleetwood (1971-76): “The engine and drive train are rated superior, with the only problem area emanating from the cooling system.” CG rating: 3
• DeVille/Fleetwood (1977-80): “Ranking better-than-average on 1977-78 models. Electrical and paint gremlins resurface on ‘79s, however.” CG rating: 4
• Eldorado (1971-78): “If it were not for its excellent frequency-of-repair records, its plush interior, and its power, the Eldorado would receive a much lower overall rating.” CG rating: 2-3
• Eldorado (1979-80): “Far more acceptable for today’s high costs of car ownership … [but] initial owner surveys indicate below-average reliability, mostly due to troublesome electronic fuel injection system.” CG rating: 3
• Seville (1975-79): “Cadillac has done an outstanding job with final touches … [though it] has had a higher than average record of electrical problems.” CG rating: 4
• Seville (1980): “Not what we’d buy for ourselves, but a fine example of today’s American luxury car.” CG rating: N/A

We saw the Aston Martin Valhalla up close in Monterey, and it was every bit as wild as it looks. This mid-engine plug-in hybrid is equipped with a twin-turbo 4.0L V8 and three electric motors, which generate a total of 1,064 horsepower – enough to launch the Valhalla to 60 mph in under 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 217 mph. The design borrows from Formula 1 and features active aero that generates over 1,300 pounds of downforce. In this video, we’ll talk about the Aston Martin Valhalla’s debut on the Pebble Beach Concept Lawn, the engineering behind it, and how it incorporates F1 racing technology. Got a spare $1 million laying around? That’s about what it’ll take to bring one of these home. Stick around for the full breakdown.

This video is sponsored by our friends at Borro. For the trusted source in liquidity when you need it most, call Borro today at (720) 458-6788 or learn more at borro.com.

Subscribe to the CCN Media YouTube channel for more Monterey Car Week 2025 content.

The AutoHunter Spotlight for today is a car from what was basically the end of the line: a 1980 MG MGB Limited Edition. It is being sold by a dealer in Gladstone, Oregon, and the auction will end Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).

I have always had a connection with the MGB. To me, this was the last of the classic British sports cars (with the exception of Morgan). It was the first sports car I ever drove. In fact, I actually test drove a brand-new 1980 MGB when I was only 13 years old! That is a whole other story, but I am likely the youngest automotive journalist to have ever had the opportunity to drive one of these when they were new.

I remember that drive in great detail. It was so much different than the other cars I had driven or ridden in. No, I didn’t drive any of those cars legally – but, hey, it was the ’80s. That MGB certainly handled different than my parents’ cars. The feeling of driving that little MG with the top down – enjoying the classic sound of the engine and exhaust note, combined with the rack and pinion steering and overall lightness – imprinted on me and made me a sports car fan for life.

To me, the MGB Limited Edition is the best incarnation of the late rubber-bumper MGB cars. A last-ditch scheme to save MG, the model was the brainchild of British Leyland’s marketing department and their advertising agency in the U.S. The plan was to build 500 U.S.-delivered MGBs, all painted black with silver striping, Limited Edition badging, a front spoiler, and special alloy wheels. The originally planned production of only 500 examples was quickly forgotten as demand expanded. These Limited Edition black with silver stripe cars worked well with the black rubber bumpers, making these MGBs a newer-looking yet classic MGB. As a result, more than 6,600 units came to the U.S., but sadly even this was not enough to save the company. The MGB Limited Edition became the swan song for one of the most historic brands in the world of sports cars and the brand that literally introduced Americans to the idea of sports cars.

The 1980 MGB Limited Edition featured here is described by the seller as powered by a 1.8-liter OHV inline-four mated to a four-speed synchromesh manual transmission with electronic overdrive. The car has been color-changed to a Black Cherry Metallic (which actually looks black in most of the photos) and has a black convertible top over a black vinyl interior. This British roadster is offered by the selling dealer with a clear title.

The seller goes on to say that this MGB received a complete restoration. Judging by the photos included in the listing, this looks to be a good example.

The exterior paintwork appears to be well done. I am guessing the owner simply wanted something a bit different from the standard black-painted MGB Limited Editions and had the color changed. You really need to get the car in the right light to see it is not black – a subtlety that really makes this MGB interesting.

The interior looks to be completely stock, with the exception of an aftermarket radio. The seat material is 100% correct, as are the steering wheel and carpets. Whoever did the work on this car really seems to have paid attention to the MGB’s details. You might think is a silly statement, but the truth is the MGB was a very well-built car, with nice finishing and a great deal of attention to detail. The people who built these cars cared about what they were doing right through to the end – and it shows when you see an all-original one up close. I am happy the owner took the time and money to have this one done correctly.

Under the hood is the original 1.8-liter OHV inline-four with a Weber Twin Sync 38 carburetor. This is a nice upgrade over the Stromberg this little MGB would have had when new and likely gives it a bit more power. Another nice item – and one of the only options the Limited Edition offered – is the four-speed gearbox with electronic overdrive. The overdrive unit makes these cars much more usable and gives them the ability to easily cruise on the highway at 70 mph without running at 4,400 rpm.

If you want to own one of the last classic MGs ever built – a good example that can give you the same feeling I got when I drove one new – this 1980 MGB Limited Edition is just the ticket. You had better act fast, though, as the auction for this classic British roadster ends on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery