mod@tech

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this restored 1963½ Ford Falcon Sprint. It ‘s powered by a rebuilt, reportedly numbers-matching 260ci V8 mated to a C4 three-speed automatic transmission. Finished in Corinthian White over a black vinyl interior, this beaut of a bird is now offered by the selling dealer in Oregon with a clear title.

As part of the restoration, the body was refinished in Corinthian White. Exterior features include chrome bumpers, an ornamental hood scoop, dual side mirrors, side trim spears, bright rocker panel trim, and dual exhaust outlets.

This Falcon flies—or sprints, actually—on a set of 14-inch steel wheels equipped with wire covers, spinner-style center caps, and 185/35 whitewall radials.

Black vinyl covers the front bucket and rear bench seats. Cabin features include manual windows and steering, wood-tone steering wheel, column-mounted automatic shifter, factory AM radio, and rear deck speakers.

Instrumentation consists of a 100-mph speedometer, dash-mounted 6,000-rpm tachometer, and gauges for the temperature and fuel level. The odometer shows 40,589 miles, but this vehicle’s title indicates that it’s mileage-exempt.

According to the dealer, the rebuilt 260ci V8 under the hood is original to the car. It comes connected to a two-barrel carburetor and a C4 three-speed automatic.

This Falcon sprints, but time flies. Make sure you bid on this 1963½ Ford Falcon Sprint before the auction ends on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 11:45 a.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Several days ago, I opined that 1964 was the most significant year in the ’60s, although enthusiasts often cite 1970. Our Pick of the Day is one of the biggest reasons why 1970 is often thought of as the peak of the era. This LS6-powered 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Sport Coupe is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Marietta, Georgia.

The 1970 Chevelle has its fans, with many feeling it’s the best-looking Chevelle ever. However, there’s almost an equal number of fans who believe the 1969 Chevelle was the most attractive of the bunch. Whatever your opinion may be, the 1970 edition appeared somewhat stockier, thanks to rounded edges and slight bulges above the wheel wells. A newly designed domed hood contributed to the tougher look. Inside, a new gauge cluster had Hot Rod pointing out “you can see them all and they all work.”

There were changes under the hood as well. First, the 396 was bored slightly to measure 402ci, though it was still marketed as a 396 for Z25 Super Sports (plus, it was newly available on regular Chevelles as order code LS3, though confusingly marketed as a 330-horsepower 400). Next, the new base engine for the SS 396 was the L34, still rated at 350 horses. The 375-horsepower L78 was still available.

However, within a few months of production, the Z15 SS 454 package was introduced. The base engine was the LS5, a 360-horsepower “Rat” that was akin to the 390-horse version available for full-size Chevrolets and the Corvette. The LS6 upgrade was akin to a big-bore version of the L78 or a stroked version of the L72 427, all solid-lifter engines that were quite in their respective classes. When the LS6 was introduced, Chevrolet decided to discontinue the L78, leaving three available Super Sport engines.

For the first time, the Chevelle Super Sport was available with air induction. The domed hood stayed the same, but now it featured a rear-facing lid at the cowl that opened under hard acceleration. Branded Cowl Induction (like the system introduced for the 1969 Camaro), the option included “band-aid” stripes in white or black. The stripes were also available as a stand-alone option.

The LS6 option was a resounding success for Chevrolet, with 4,475 built among SS 454 hardtops, convertibles, and El Caminos. In fact, more LS6s were built than LS5s—that’s an anomaly somewhat like the 390 Mustang we recently discussed. This LS6-powered 1970 Chevelle SS 454 Sport Coupe shows many of the things that made the Chevelle hot, including stripes, air induction, and SS wheels. What’s more unusual is the Gobi Beige hue, which doesn’t scream horsepower but certainly screams 1970. Originally built in Baltimore, it was sold new at City Motors Company in Great Falls, Montana. Early in its life, the original LS6 was replaced by a factory-warranty block. “Refinished circa 2005 in the factory Gobi Beige (50) with black SS stripes; Dark Gold vinyl roof (H) replaced at the same time,” says the seller. “15-inch Super Sport-style wheels with trim rings/caps.” The windshield also was replaced. Tires are BFGoodrich Radial T/As, 215/60R15 up front and 255/60R15 at the rear. Other features include power steering and front disc brakes, gauges, and an M22 close-ratio “Rock Crusher” four-speed. Modifications include Edelbrock cylinder heads, a Melling oil pump, an HEI distributor, and an X-pipe with MagnaFlow mufflers, among others.

The current owner has had this vehicle for 55 years, which means it has had one owner for the bulk of its life. Clearly, he is in the 1970 camp. The question for you is: For $149,900, will you be?

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

Ya gotta love Mopar folks. When you discuss the fastest muscle cars of the era with them, there’s always one who tosses a “The 1968 Hemi Dart and Barracuda would crush them all!” bomb. However, there’s always that pesky “not quite street-legal” footnote that completely negates the point.

Nonetheless, these A-body race cars are quite popular with enthusiasts because they reflect a manufacturer’s intention to destroy all competitors in sanctioned racing. At the end of the decade, it seems only AMC offered a similar car with the SS/AMX, while Ford dabbled in other stuff and GM still held onto the AMA racing ban, resulting in a handful of race cars dressed in street trim (read: ZL1 Camaro).

Not everyone can afford a Hemi A-body, but not everyone wants one anyway—they aren’t well-suited for the street, as you know. But what about building one that’s more street-friendly? With a 392 Hemi crate engine from Mopar Performance, no less? That’s 495 net horsepower. Dan Zajac and his son Daniel built this car together over 14 years. Why did it take so long? Because Daniel—newly retired—was a career military man.

Join Muscle Car Campy as he guides us during a ride in a satin black 1969 Dodge Dart with modern Hemi power, aka “Dart Vader.” Other features include a TKX five-speed manual (with a Hurst Pistol Grip, natch!), Hemi hood scoop, Reilly MotorSports front suspension with Street-Lynx triangulated four-bar rear suspension, Ford nine-inch rear end, and much more.

If you dig this video, be sure to check out other muscle car videos from Muscle Car Campy!

Has your spouse or significant other told you that you can make a connection between cars and anything, no matter how random or obscure it is? My wife has told me that more than once. I can’t help it because my head is so full of car trivia that sometimes it just flies out of my mouth when I have even the slightest opportunity to share it.

That’s why I’ve started a new weekly series called Car Connections here on The ClassicCars.com Journal. Every Saturday, I’ll have the Random Word Generator spit out 3-5 words, then I’ll link them to cars in some way—without using Google. I’ll just rely on the minutiae rattling around inside my brain. If the word is overtly car-related, I’ll take it out of the running and use a different one. Some of the connections will be simple and quick; others will be more labored and convoluted (but probably more fun to make and—I hope—follow).

For this first installment in the series, I’m going with three words: brown, revolution, and number. Let’s see what I can do with them.

Brown: UPS delivery truck. Done. (Or Aston Martin‘s former owner Sir David Brown, whose name led to the “DB” model name prefix still used today.)

Revolution: At first glance, I interpreted this in the sense of a cultural movement, not revs. A tachometer is too easy, so let’s try a different route: styling. The Porsche 911 has always had an evolutionary design because each generation has the same basic layout and an overall family resemblance. The Hyundai Santa Fe, however, went through a design revolution. Launched in the 2024 model year, the fifth-generation SUV tossed out its predecessor’s curves for a blockish design that brings the Land Rover Defender to mind.

Number: Several years ago, I read something about the McLaren F1 in which the writer said that everything associated with the BMW 12-powered ’90s icon was “telephone numbers.” That means if any repair needs to be done, the price for it will have a lot of numbers in it.

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.

The ML55 AMG is an important vehicle for Mercedes as it was the company’s first SUV to receive the AMG treatment. It is powered by the naturally aspirated M113 5.4-liter SOHC V8, one of the most reliable AMG engines ever. That develops 342 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque, which gave the 5,000-pound ML55 a respectable-for-the-era 0-60 mph time of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 141 mph, making it the fastest SUV at the time – and the first truly sporty SUV. The ML55 AMG showed manufacturers such as BMW and Porsche that there was a market in the U.S. for performance SUVs. The rest is history. Now, several automakers build high-performance SUVs and sell them by the thousands, but Mercedes was the first. Today’s AutoHunter Spotlight is a 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML55 AMG offered on AutoHunter by a Phoenix, Arizona seller.

The seller describes this ML55 AMG as being finished in black with a black leather interior. The vehicle has covered 93,000 miles from new and has not only been well cared for, but it has also received a number of upgrades that improve its already good off-road capabilities.

The exterior of this ML55 looks to be in excellent condition, with nice black paint and no issues to be seen. Being in Phoenix, it has not had to live with salt on the roads. Based on the condition, I am guessing that this car spent its off hours in a garage, otherwise the paint would not look this good. This ML rides on a set of factory 18-inch AMG Monoblock wheels clad with 275/70 Nitto Ridge Grappler tires.

The interior looks amazingly nice. The black leather appears to be in great condition as does the rest of the cabin. It includes WeatherTech mats as well as the original Mercedes carpeted mats. The only change from stock is the Pioneer replacement head unit that adds Bluetooth and SiriusXM radio.

Under the hood, the M113 V8 looks great. The engine compartment is clean and everything appears as if it was cared for and maintained. Recent service includes the replacement of the crank position sensor, A/C drier, A/C expansion valve, fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, thermostat, water pump, valve cover seals, coolant reservoir, power steering pump, and power steering reservoir. In addition, this ML55 received a recent transfer case rebuild, a new transmission pan seal, and fresh brake pads and rotors.

Upgrades include Bilstein shocks, H&R one-inch spring spacers, and a MagnaFlow dual exhaust system.

This ML55 AMG has not only been extremely well cared for, but it also has some great upgrades. The stance on this Mercedes makes it look ready for both off-road fun and daily driving.

If this ML55 AMG looks as good to you as it does me, then act fast and bid on it right now. Don’t forget that when it was new, this Mercedes had a list price of over $65,000. You have an opportunity to get one of the original performance SUVs and the very first factory-built AMG SUV, so get in there and bid because the auction for this 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML55 AMG ends on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

The first episode of the “Star Trek” sci-fi television series premiered on NBC on September 8, 1966—the same year our Pick of the Day was manufactured. This 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 convertible is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Petaluma, California.

Did you know “Star Trek” was set in the Milky Way galaxy in about the year 2266? Without a crystal ball, we, of course, have no way of knowing what automotive designs will look like hundreds of years from now. But throughout the 1960s, there was an automotive pop-culture obsession with outer space, and Ford tried hard to sell its full-size Galaxie as a car of the future. In the earliest days of the model (dating back to 1959), the nameplate was used as a high-end trim level for the Fairlane. Within a year, a separate model under the Galaxie name had branched off. And, true to its name, the Galaxie had futuristic space-age lines, most noticeably at the rear, with its turbine-style taillights in most years.

The Galaxie was one of Ford’s most well-rounded models and, over the years, it could serve as a family car, luxurious vehicle, or performance machine depending on the body style and equipment. This California-kept convertible looks fresh for being nearly 60 years-old. Finished in burgundy paint, it features chrome bumpers, LED headlights, dual mirrors, and a black power-operated soft top. Footwork comes from a set of 15-inch Allied Wheel Components wheels wrapped in Toyo Extensa tires.

Performance-wise, this car has a few goodies worth mentioning. Under the hood is a 289ci V8 that has been bored to 302ci and upgraded with Ford Racing valve covers as well as an MSD ignition system. A column-shifted three-speed manual transmission sends power to the back wheels via a nine-inch rear end. A set of power brakes—including discs up front—add modern-day safety and convenience to the driving experience.

A lot of the marketing themes around the 1966 Galaxie 500 had to do with the car’s refinement. To that end, one advertisement talked about “Ford’s quiet quality.” The interior of this Galaxie 500 features its reportedly original Emberglo vinyl upholstery, and has been upgraded with some modern niceties. An aftermarket air conditioning system (with Bluetooth control) has been added, as well as a custom under-dash console that houses a JL Audio head unit. The sound system is connected to a trunk-mounted subwoofer.

“Star Trek” lasted for three seasons and 79 episodes, but the show’s legacy lives on. And just like there are still die-hard “Trekkies” today, there are devout Ford Galaxie fans out there. If you’re one of them, do yourself a favor and check this car out. The asking price is $25,000.

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

I made an interesting discovery this morning while checking the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum‘s events calendar: members of the Girl Scouts can go to the museum to earn their badges for Automotive Design.

The Girls Scouts website shows there are six grade level-based tiers within the organization: Daisy (K-1), Brownie (2-3), Junior (4-5), Cadette (6-8), Senior (9-10), and Ambassador (11-12). All of them have a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) section on their Badge & Award Charts, but only the first three have a STEM category for Automotive Engineering. That umbrella covers badges for Automotive Engineering, Automotive Manufacturing, and Automotive Design.

Requirements for the third one on that list get increasingly complex as girls transition from Daisy to Junior, which has five steps:

• Explore mobility across time
• Conduct automotive market research
• Create your vehicle’s design criteria
• Sketch a vehicle to meet your criteria
• Sculpt and share your vehicle

On Saturday, November 22, Daisy, Brownie, and Junior scouts can add the Automotive Design badge to their vests by attending the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum’s Mechanical Engineering: Car Design workshop. In the beautiful art deco building, which was once an Auburn showroom, they’ll “discover the place where some of the world’s most elegant and groundbreaking cars came to life” and “explore the history and innovation that shaped the automotive industry.” Prices are $18 for Girl Scouts and $3 for each adult chaperone. The registration fee also covers access to the museum as a whole, which will provide Girl Scouts in attendance even more of an automotive education.

If you’re wondering, Scouting America has its own car-themed Merit Badge for Automotive Maintenance, which goes over everything from basic fluids and dashboard lights to connecting jumper cables and properly disposing of used coolant.

It’s nice to know that these programs exist for young girls and boys, and that venues such as the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum support them. Not only do the badge requirements teach children important skills, but they also engage kids with classic vehicles, potentially creating part of the next generation of car enthusiasts. The more I read about Scouting America, the more I want to involve my little guy Hayden once he’s old enough.

When it comes to muscle cars, 1970 is usually held as the peak year. There’s a small segment of the population that holds 1969 in highest regard, which is a valid counterpoint. But what if I submitted the idea that there was another year in the decade that was more significant for American automotive enthusiasts? As one who is familiar with a decade in which I did not live through, I respectfully submit 1964 as the greatest.

You don’t need to disguise your snickers—I don’t allow my feelings to be dictated by strangers—but you should hear me out.

Nineteen sixty-four was the year when everything converged. Glance at popular culture and you cannot ignore the Beatles as the band appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in February of that year. It wasn’t just the Beatles that caught America’s fancy—a whole slew of bands tried to break into the American market, rendering the then-current crop of surf instrumentals and “girl groups” obsolete. This “British Invasion” spurred a batch of American kids to pick up instruments and learn to play, leading to innumerable bands that were formed in garages, some of which released 45s or even LPs as they matured.

For Detroit, Pontiac introduced the GTO for 1964. The months leading up to the GTO were difficult for the brand because General Motors had ended all direct and indirect support for racing activities on January 24, 1963. This was to comply with the Automobile Manufacturers Association ban on racing involvement. Pontiac, a success in NASCAR and drag racing, had built its reputation on performance, yet now it was not allowed to do the performing. Pontiac’s answer to this was to focus on street performance and, with this paradigm shift, founds its way through an engineering experiment with a Tempest—newly upsized into a full-fledged mid-size vehicle. The top engine was planned to be a 326 High Output (which put out a respectable 280 horsepower), but engineers dropped in a 389 from the big cars for $#!+$ and giggles. After a bit of fun, they knew they had to get Pontiac to build this car but, alas, GM had an edict that limited cubic-inches to 330ci for mid-size vehicles. What made the GTO a brilliant move was that it was promoted through the upstairs offices as a package, which did not arouse the same scrutiny of approval as an actual model with an engine that was not allowed. By the time someone figured out the ruse, Pontiac already had several thousand orders for the car.

The GTO gave enthusiasts a nifty package that would end up influencing the whole industry.

Culturally even more significant was the Ford Mustang, which was officially introduced on April 17, 1964. Though serially denigrated as a “secretary’s car,” the original Mustang was so much more: a car developed via market research—not unlike the Edsel—but with lessons learned. In a world where more households were buying a second car, the Mustang made sense; in a world where a large segment of the population was coming of age and ripe for driver’s licenses, the Mustang made sense; in a world where a new generation of youths was the largest generation in America, the Mustang made sense; in a world where more women were owning their own cars, the Mustang made sense. Sure, the Plymouth Barracuda debuted 16 days earlier, but it was not a marketing tour de force designed to capture the baby boom and other sociological elements—it merely was a fastback Valiant.

As you know, the Mustang captured the imagination of America, quickly becoming a phenomenon never seen in Detroit, and establishing a new class of American car.

Nothing in culture is a coincidence—several facets converged at the same time, one after the other. There is a reason 1964 rings strong and, as a result, it makes for a more substantive argument than any for 1969 or 1970.