Choosing a family car is a big decision—one that goes far beyond style or speed. Parents want vehicles that protect their most precious cargo while staying within budget. Fortunately, today’s cars combine cutting-edge safety technology with affordability, making it easier than ever to drive with confidence. From automatic emergency braking to lane-keeping assist, these features act like an extra set of eyes on the road. If you’re looking for peace of mind and value, these cars prove you don’t need to spend a fortune to keep your family safe.
The return of the Godfather of the Hellcat, Tim Kuniskis, to CEO of Ram seven months ago was big. It was the impetus for bringing back the Hemi V8 for the 2026 Ram 1500. Then, there was the postponement of the Dodge Charger Daytona R/T for 2026, though the other Charger EV (Charger Scat Pack) will continue for now. Could a Hemi Charger be on the horizon? There’s no basis for the speculation, but we all can daydream in our cubicles as Stellantis has announced that the SRT sports division has been revived. Huzzah!
“We’re getting the band back together,” says Kuniskis. “SRT is another box we needed to check as we head into a product launch cadence enabling more performance than we’ve ever seen before. We’re working with our product development and technology organization to select the best engineers in powertrain and vehicle dynamics to build a team worthy of the SRT name.”
Additionally, Kuniskis has been appointed head of Stellantis American brands and North America marketing and retail strategy. His boss will be Antonio Filosa, Stellantis CEO and COO for North America & American brands. Kuniskis will now be the big guy responsible for developing product across the brand portfolio and connecting its marketing down the chain to dealers and consumers.
The restoration of the SRT (Street and Racing Technology) performance division will also oversee Direct Connection and North American motorsports for all American brands, which includes Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, and Jeep. Per Stellantis’ press release, “Consolidating the best performance engineering talent from across the four American brands, the SRT division will deliver vehicles that push the boundaries of power, aerodynamics, handling and technology, on both the street and the track, ensuring enthusiasts get the power, precision and passion they expect.”
You can read all about it on the Stellantis North America website.
From the biting chill of arctic tundras to the scorching dunes of vast deserts, and the inundated landscapes of monsoon regions, extreme environments challenge human ingenuity at every turn.
Operating in these places isn’t just difficult—it’s dangerous.
Ordinary vehicles falter where nature is most unforgiving, making specialized engineering not just an advantage but a necessity.
Designers and engineers must overcome relentless cold, blistering heat, and unpredictable floods, ensuring machinery can survive, adapt, and excel.
In these harshest climates, vehicles become lifelines, proving that innovation can defy even the world’s wildest weather.
For years, Bugatti has reigned supreme in the hypercar universe, dazzling enthusiasts with jaw-dropping speed, opulent design, and relentless pursuit of perfection.
But a new wave of contenders is rising, shattering expectations and pushing automotive technology to breathtaking new heights.
These trailblazers aren’t just matching Bugatti—they’re rewriting the rules of performance, engineering, and style.
Join us as we explore 15 extraordinary hypercars that are not only challenging Bugatti’s crown, but also redefining what it means to be the best.
The town of Seward, Nebraska, has made history.
A Seward native, Harold Davisson, came up with the idea and had a 45-ton vault buried near a furniture store he owned. Included in the vault were over 5,000 items, including—and this is why, as a car-focused website we’re interested—a brand-new 1975 Chevrolet Vega. Davisson passed away in 1999, but he left instructions that the vault should be opened on July 4, 2025.
A sign above the site said, “Contents of Time Capsule: A new 1975 Chevrolet Vega (no mileage), a new Kawasaki motorcycle (no mileage), thousands of letters and other memorabilia furnished by merchants and residents not only from this area, but across the nation.”
Last summer, the city of Seward opened a pyramid (added in 1983) that contained the capsule itself. And now, at last, the entire stash has seen the light of day—a little earlier than July Fourth, I might add.
Vega Backstory
The Vega was a subcompact produced on General Motors’ H-body platform from 1971 through 1977, and it was available in notchback sedan, hatchback coupe, station wagon and panel delivery variants. Chevrolet promoted the car by saying, “It’s a lot of car for such a little car.”
The car was praised (at least initially) in the automotive press, and it even won the Motor Trend Car of the Year award. Ultimately, the Vega became known for its not-so-positive reputation when it came to reliability. It was powered by an inline-four that was soon notorious for its noise, vibration and a tendency to overheat. One online resource I found said that every new Vega came with a service manual—it’s almost as if Chevrolet predicted the future.
Chevrolet claimed to have made over 200 changes to the car for model year 1975, which included the addition of an HEI electronic ignition system and a catalytic converter. Total sales that year amounted to 206,239—fewer than half as many Vegas as had sold the prior year. And one of those units—in bright yellow—ended up being stashed away in a vault in Nebraska for 50 years. It came out relatively unscathed; even the tires still held air.
Future Plans
The news articles weren’t clear on exactly what the plan is for the Vega. As for the other artifacts in the vault—many of them are letters that will be returned to their original owners (or the heirs thereof) over the next six months or so. Some sources say the plan is to re-seal the vault for another 50 years with new items. Which 2025 vehicle model do you think they should put inside? Also, have any of you ever owned a Vega? Was your experience a positive one?
Sun’s out, tops are down – it’s convertible season!
There’s no better way to soak in the spirit of summer than with the wind in your hair and the open road ahead. And if you ask us, no era did open-air cruising with more flair than the fabulous 1950s. Think bold tailfins, jet-age curves, sparkling chrome and paint colors as bright as a beachside sunset – these convertibles are rolling works of art sure to turn heads wherever they go.
At Barrett-Jackson, we’ve had the pleasure of watching some of the coolest drop-tops cross the auction block over the last year. Whether you’re a die-hard collector or just dreaming of the ultimate summer ride, we’re excited to share these open-air classics with you.
MAIN PHOTO: 1959 CADILLAC SERIES 62 CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE
SOLD! $330,000
2025 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION
Powered by a 6.2-liter LS3 crate V8 engine and 4L60 automatic transmission. Professionally built award-winner. Equipped with air conditioning, cruise control and a custom sound system, along with power steering, top, windows and seats.
1955 CHEVROLET BEL AIR CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE
SOLD! $220,000
2025 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION
Frame-off restoration. Powered by a supercharged 427/825hp by Texas Speed and Bowler T56 transmission. Equipped with Wegner front-drive accessories and a custom interior by Miranda Built.
1955 CHEVROLET BEL AIR CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE
SOLD! $148,500
2024 SCOTTSDALE FALL AUCTION
Powered by a fuel-injected 383ci stroker V8 with aluminum heads. Has an Art Morrison frame, Haartz convertible top, 17-inch Cragar Mag wheels, Vintage Air and power windows, steering and top. Two-year restoration completed in 2023 with less than 300 miles.
1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE
SOLD! $143,000
2024 SCOTTSDALE FALL AUCTION
Powered by a 5.7-liter crate V8 engine mated to a Tremec 5-speed manual transmission. Body-off custom build; sits on an Art Morrison chassis with Budnik wheels. Equipped with Wilwood brakes, modern air conditioning and a power Haartz soft-top.
1958 CADILLAC ELDORADO BIARRITZ CONVERTIBLE
SOLD! $137,500
2024 SCOTTSDALE FALL AUCTION
No. 44 of 815 produced in 1958. Matching numbers, ground-up restoration. Powered by the original 365/335hp V8 engine paired with a 4-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission. Early production model No. 3254.
1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 190SL ROADSTER
SOLD! $225,500
2024 SCOTTSDALE FALL AUCTION
Multi-year, ground-up rotisserie restoration powered by a 1.9-liter engine with twin side-draft Solex carburetors and a 4-speed manual transmission. Saddle interior. Has Coker classic whitewall tires and original factory hubcaps.
1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE
SOLD! $528,000
2025 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION
Built by Joe Clevenger. Powered by an LT1 direct-injected 460hp engine backed by a 4-speed automatic transmission. Features an Art Morrison chassis with independent suspension and one-off custom wheels.
1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 235/150 CONVERTIBLE
SOLD! $370,700
2025 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION
No. 103 of the 300 built for the model year. Found stored in a Pennsylvania estate in 2003, where it had been unrestored since the now-deceased owner bought it in 1961. Formerly from the Bill Munday Collection.
1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE
SOLD! $357,500
2025 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION
Powered by a new LS7 570hp V8 engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission. Features an Art Morrison chassis with rear independent suspension, DeWitts radiator, Vintage Air, custom wide quarters, and 18- and 19-inch rear wheels by Schott.
1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE
SOLD! $220,000
2025 PALM BEACH AUCTION
Powered by a 350hp LS1 engine with a 4-speed automatic transmission on a chassis with modern Corvette suspension. Features power steering, power four-wheel disc brakes and an Al Knoch blue leather interior. Built by Hendrick Performance.
This article was originally published on Barrett-Jackson.com.
Honda is a name synonymous with reliability and practical engineering, but there’s another side to this iconic brand—a daring, almost mad scientist streak that refuses to play it safe.
While most automakers stick to the tried-and-true, Honda has repeatedly thrown the rulebook out the window, diving headfirst into wild experiments and unexpected creations.
From humanoid robots to jet airplanes, this company’s history is littered with moments where innovation went gloriously, unapologetically off the rails.
Let’s take a closer look at twenty times Honda unleashed its creativity and built something genuinely awesome—sometimes bewildering, always fascinating.
In the mid-1990s, the sport-utility marketplace was gaining momentum, and Land Rover was right on the front lines. In 1994, Four Wheeler magazine awarded the Land Rover Defender 90 the title “Four Wheeler of the Year.” The following year, Land Rover did it again – this time, with the Discovery. What made the “Disco” such a standout in its segment? You might have to drive one to find out. Luckily for you, we’ve found a prime example:
Featured on AutoHunter is this 1994 Land Rover Discovery 4WD. The sport-utility vehicle is being sold by a private party in Peoria, Arizona, and the auction will end Monday, July 7, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. (PDT).
Finished in Beluga Black over tan, this Discovery’s silhouette showcases one of its most recognizable exterior features: a raised rear roof section over the cargo area with upward-facing windows for the ultimate safari-style experience. The vehicle’s boxy body looks straight and clean – especially for being a three-decade-old SUV that was built with off-roading intentions.
The Discovery established a name for itself as a capable rig thanks in part to its ample ground clearance (at 8.1 inches). The “Series I” version dates back to 1989 when it was first shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Its chassis, suspension and four-wheel-drive system were derived from the Discovery’s larger (and more upscale) sibling, the Range Rover. Exterior features included roof rails, side steps and a swing-away rear-mounted spare tire.
For being such a rugged machine, the Discovery still offered its share of creature comforts on the inside. Some of them included a power sunroof, cruise control and dual-zone air conditioning, all of which are equipped on today’s featured vehicle. The audio system is upgraded to a Kenwood AM/FM/CD setup, but the equipment appears largely unmodified otherwise.
Under the hood, you’ll find a Rover 3.9-liter V8, which is mated to a ZF 4HP22 four-speed automatic transmission and a dual-range transfer case. The AutoHunter listing outlines some of the maintenance that has been performed since March 2025, including an oil change, air conditioner recharge, spark plug replacement and battery change.
Adding to the positive-attribute checklist, the CARFAX report shows accident-free and damage-free ownership since new. The first owner took delivery in June 1994 in California and the vehicle remained in that area until 2005; subsequently, there were registration events shown in both Washington and Arizona. The last emissions check was performed in 2018, and the current odometer reading is 136,627 miles. This Disco has plenty of adventurous miles ahead.
Back to our earlier mention of Four Wheeler magazine’s awards: Do you think you could guess which vehicle broke Land Rover’s consecutive winning streak? It was the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The auction for this 1994 Land Rover Discovery 4WD ends Monday, July 7, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
To many car enthusiasts, any Ferrari would be a dream to have, especially in red. But then there are those who want more than just a Ferrari, which could blend in with others at an owners meeting—they want the only Ferrari that looks like theirs. Consider our Pick of the Day, a 2009 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti customized through the automaker’s One-to-One (OTO) service, as that kind of Prancing Horse. It’s listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Newport Beach, California.
Introduced in 2004 as a successor to the 456M GT/GTA, the 612 Scaglietti was a GT that honored coachbuilder Sergio Scaglietti, a.k.a. the “maestro of aluminium.” Its long hood covered 532 horses generated by the 5.7-liter V12 and corralled by a six-speed automated manual gearbox; the 2+2 cabin seated four humans.
This particular 612 was configured by its original owner in the One-to-One customization program. When this 612 was completed, it was covered in Brunito with Grigio Ingrid side coves, the latter an homage to the color of Casablanca actress Ingrid Bergman’s Ferrari 375 MM. Total price was a cool $442,678.
The interior is just as unusual, featuring rich brown Iroko leather accented with ostrich-print leather on the door panels and dashboard.
The V12 wasn’t enhanced with the OTO build, but the engine bay was certainly improved—according to the selling dealer, Ferrari employees involved in this 612’s production signed the radiator cowl.
Two owners have put less than 6,000 miles on this Ferrari four-seater in the past 16 years. Despite the low figure on the odometer, this 612 was recently serviced by Ferrari of Newport Beach, which installed new timing belts and tires.
If this 2009 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is the 1-of-1 for you, you can make it yours for $224,800.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
This 1930 Ford Model A sport coupe was the subject of a custom build between 2010 and 2014 that included painting the steel body red with a gray top and custom side graphics as well as trimming the interior in gray leather. A 385ci V8 was built and installed in 2023 by Maloof Racing Engines in San Gabriel, California, and features a Mooneyham 6-71 supercharger and dual Holley four-barrel carburetors. The car is also equipped with a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission and a 9″ rear axle, and it rides on a split-wishbone setup with a drop axle up front along with a rear four-link assembly with adjustable coilovers. Details include a pedestal-mounted shifter, Stewart-Warner gauges, MSD ignition, front disc brakes, 15″ Rocket Racing wheels, and a dual exhaust system with Patriot headers. This Model A street rod was acquired by the selling dealer in 2025 and is now offered with its removed hood panels, build records, and a Washington title.
The sport coupe model featured a fabric roof with Landau bars and a rear curtain that can be opened for ventilation. This example was painted red with ZZ Top-inspired side graphics in 2014, and details include a cowl vent, chrome bumpers, peep mirrors, and dual cowl lamps. The removed hood panels will accompany the car.
The car rides on a front drop axle with a transverse leaf spring and split wishbones along with a rear four-link setup with adjustable coilovers. The Rocket Racing 15″ wheels are wrapped in 195/55 Premiorri Solazo front tires and 255/70 BFGoodrich Radial T/A rear tires. Braking is handled by front discs and rear drums.
The cabin features individual seats upholstered in gray leather accompanied by coordinated door panels and gray carpeting. A ratcheting shifter is mounted on a pedestal, and lap belts are installed for two occupants. The trunk is trimmed to match and houses the battery and a charger.
The Grant banjo-style steering wheel is mounted to a tilting column ahead of a body-color dash panel. The central engine-turned instrument bezel houses Stewart-Warner gauges consisting of a 160-mph speedometer, a tachometer, and readouts for voltage, water temperature, oil pressure, and fuel level. The six-digit odometer shows 1,400 miles, a handful of which have been added by the selling dealer. Total mileage is unknown.
The Maloof Racing Engines 385ci stroker V8 was built and installed in 2023, and it is topped with a Mooneyham 6-71 supercharger and dual Holley four-barrel carburetors. Records indicate the engine was built using a Scat crankshaft and connecting rods, and that the rotating assembly was balanced and blueprinted by the builder. Additional equipment includes an electric radiator fan, aluminum cylinder heads, valve cover breathers, and an MSD ignition control module.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission and a 9″ rear end. Coated Patriot headers feed into a dual exhaust system with Dynomax mufflers.
The car is titled by its serial number, A3178369, which corresponds to a unit produced in April 1930.
The Washington title carries an Antique brand.