Some vehicles are often misunderstood or undervalued until experienced firsthand. Unique characteristics or unconventional designs can reveal their true strengths on the road. For instance, the Mazda RX-7, with its rotary engine and lightweight design, offers a driving experience that defies conventional expectations. Similarly, the Porsche Boxster, often overshadowed by its 911 sibling, provides a balanced and engaging drive that enthusiasts appreciate upon taking the wheel. These examples highlight how personal experience can transform initial skepticism into genuine appreciation.
mod@tech
Throughout automotive history, certain vehicles have introduced design and technological innovations that, while not always celebrated, have profoundly influenced modern car aesthetics and functionality. These underappreciated models have left lasting impressions, demonstrating that true influence often emerges quietly, shaping trends and setting standards that endure through many eras. By examining these vehicles, we gain insight into how subtle innovations can steer the course of automotive style and technology.
The automotive industry has long been a playground for visionary designs and groundbreaking technologies. Throughout history, numerous concept cars have emerged, showcasing the bold ambitions of manufacturers to redefine transportation. These prototypes often embody futuristic ideas and innovative features that, for various reasons, never transitioned into mass production. Factors such as technological limitations, economic constraints, and shifting market demands have led to the abandonment of these once-promising vehicles. This phenomenon highlights how design and innovation can sometimes outpace the world around them, resulting in creations that remain tantalizing glimpses into what might have been.
Exploring these automotive “what-ifs” offers a fascinating insight into the creative processes of designers and engineers. It underscores the delicate balance between ambition and practicality in the automotive world. While some of these vehicles were too radical or ahead of their time, others were victims of circumstances beyond their creators’ control. Nevertheless, they continue to captivate enthusiasts and historians alike, serving as enduring symbols of innovation and the relentless pursuit of automotive excellence.
Among the Big Three, Ford was the only one with a completely new mid-size series. From the Fairlane 500 to the new Torino Brougham, Ford offered something distinctive among the restyled rehashes from Chrysler and General Motors. Ford also had an answer to them under the hood thanks to an all-new 385-series 429 Cobra Jet V8. This 1970 Ford Torino GT convertible available for bidding at the Barrett-Jackson 2026 Scottsdale Auction January 17-25, 2026 is a showcase for both the new car and engine.
As the replacement for the FE-series 428 Cobra Jet, the 429 was available in three versions: The 429-4V was rated at 360 horsepower and had been available in large Ford vehicles since 1968, often marketed as the Thunder Jet; next was the 429 Cobra (429 Cobra Jet without ram air, coded “C” in the VIN), which was rated at 370 horsepower; almost identical was the 429 Cobra Jet with Ram Air (“J-code”). Add the Drag Pack to either of the latter two and you’d have the 375-horsepower 429 Super Cobra Jet.
This engine was most popular in the budget-friendly Torino Cobra but, if you wanted to be stylin’, you chose the Torino GT. Available as a SportsRoof fastback or convertible (the hardtop was discontinued), the larger (117-inch wheelbase) unibody mid-sizer had a wider stance, long hood/short deck proportions, and low roofline. Base GT power came from a 302, with two 351s and the three 429s as options.
Only 3,939 folks took Ford up on this opportunity to order the 1970 Torino GT convertible. When it comes to both versions of the Cobra Jet, no one could have predicted how rare it would be: 94 built, of which 64 had the CJ with Ram Air. This 1970 Torino GT convertible is one of 37 J-codes with the C6 SelectShift automatic. Outside, you’ll find perks like original Wimbledon White paint, hidden headlights and “Laser” stripes; peek inside that red interior and you’ll note options like bucket seats, console, power windows, air conditioning, AM/FM radio, and more. This is a special opportunity to own one of the most spectacular Fords of the muscle car era, and you can only get it at the Barrett-Jackson 2026 Scottsdale Auction from January 17-25, 2026. Click here to register as a bidder; if you wish to see your car cross the block, go here.
We saw Andy Warhol’s BMW M1 Art Car at the 2025 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where BMW brought it out as part of the Art Car anniversary display. This is BMW Art Car No. 4 from 1979, which was based on a BMW M1 Group 4 race car. Aiming to visually capture speed with bold, blurred brushwork, Warhol painted the car himself by applying more than 13 pounds of paint in approximately 28 minutes. It went on to compete in the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans with Hervé Poulain, Manfred Winkelhock, and Marcel Mignot driving. This high-horsepower painting finished 6th overall and 2nd in class, giving it real motorsport credibility to go with its art world legacy!
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.
One of the most interesting things about writing about cars is how much you learn. When I made my choice to write about a Plymouth Duster for today’s AutoHunter Spotlight – a second-year 1971 Plymouth Duster offered by a dealer in Missouri – all I really knew about the model was that it was Chrysler’s more compact-size muscle car, built to compete with the Chevy Nova. As I did my research, I learned that the Duster, from the cowl forward, was basically a Plymouth Valiant. From the cowl back, the Duster featured a steeper-angled windshield and also received more of a fastback styling look, penned by Neil Walling.
The project gets more interesting with the fact that Chrysler-Plymouth A-body product planner Gene Weiss came up with the Duster in only six weeks, with little management support and a minuscule tooling budget of less than $15 million. Nevertheless, that all added up to a sales success. The Duster also was more than $600 cheaper – and, in its 340ci engine form, faster – than the heavier ‘Cuda.
The seller describes this Duster as being powered by a Mopar Performance 360ci V8 mated to a three-speed 904 automatic transmission with 2700 stall converter. Finished in Curious Yellow over a Chestnut vinyl interior, this classic is offered by the selling dealer with a build sheet and clear title.
Overall, this Duster looks to be an excellent example, having been judged at the Monster Mopar Weekend in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Now finished in the great-looking color of Curious Yellow with black stripes and “340” decals, the car’s original (and quite boring) color was Tunisian Tan (code GT2). It also features a Ramcharger hood. The car rides on 15-inch chrome Cragar wheels clad with 225/60 BFGoodrich radial front and 275/30 Nitto Extreme Drag rear tires.
The interior, finished in Chestnut vinyl upholstery (code T7), features a bench seat, a factory radio delete plate, and a column-mounted automatic shifter. Instrumentation includes factory 120-mph speedometer, as well as temperature, fuel, and alternator gauges. In addition, it features Bosch auxiliary gauges for oil pressure and temperature.
Under the hood is a Mopar Performance 360ci Magnum V8 crate engine fed by a Holley 750-cfm four-barrel carburetor mounted to an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold. The engine also features high-performance headers, an aluminum radiator, and an MSD 6AL ignition control module. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed 904 automatic transmission with a 2700 stall converter. The rear end is an 8 3/4-inch Sure-Grip with 3.55 gears. The engine is said to have 400 horsepower, which gives it plenty of punch to impress from the driver’s seat – and much preferable to the 145-horsepower 225ci six-cylinder engine it came with originally. This really looks like an excellent build.
If you are looking for a Mopar muscle car, this Duster looks like it ticks all the boxes. It should leave any stock 340 ‘Cuda in the dust (pun intended) and would make for a great car to take to shows or even the drag strip if you are so inclined.
If this custom 1971 Plymouth Duster is as interesting to you as it is to me, then I would get over to AutoHunter and made a few bids, as the auction for this yellow Duster ends Monday, January 5, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. (MST). Be sure to wave as you leave behind the ‘Cudas and Novas.
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
It’s easy to think of the Firebird as being Pontiac’s version of the Camaro, but John DeLorean engineered it to be more distinct. The later introduction of the Firebird gave Pontiac engineers time to give the suspension a different calibration including a rear trailing link or two depending on the team member—yes, the Firebird was not just a model, but was a team of five magnificent models with different purposes. Perhaps the most obscure of those is our Pick of the Day, a 1968 Pontiac Firebird HO coupe. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Webster, South Dakota.
When the “Magnificent Five” debuted early in 1967, Pontiac had created a team of pony cars with different purposes:
- Firebird 6
- Firebird Sprint
- Firebird 326
- Firebird HO
- Firebird 400
The first came with an OHC-6 and a single-barrel carburetor, but a performance version called the Sprint came with a four-barrel and was capable of outperforming small V8s like the Firebird 326, which had a two-barrel V8. The Firebird 400 was the high-performance version, akin to a GTO pony car. Where did that leave the Firebird HO? Pontiac called it its “light heavyweight” thanks to a high-output 326 four-barrel with 285 horsepower. Aside of a standard three-speed on the column (with floor-mounted three-speed, four-speed, and automatic as options), it received a side stripe with “H.O.” on the front fender.
For 1968, the Magnificent Five continued, but Pontiac increased the base V8 to 350ci. For the Firebird HO, that meant a nice bump to 320 horsepower. Styling was marginally tweaked (the parking lights, side markers, and lack of vent windows were the biggest tell-tale), while equipment was similar otherwise. The HO continued into 1969, including a five-horsepower bump though the Firebird’s restyle also resulted in the elimination of the H.O. stripe. Throughout all this, the Firebird HO was always the rarest model of the five.
This Solar Red 1968 Pontiac Firebird HO coupe has the 320-horsepower 350 backed by a two-speed automatic. Little is given by the description, but I spy a white vinyl top, Rally II wheels, console, and AM/FM radio. There is no gauge package, but you can keep track of revs with the hood tach.
The Firebird HO is a sleeper Pontiac in the collector world. One magazine back in the day had a tuned Tempest with the same engine and it was beating Plymouth Road Runners. For $39,875, would you be interested in how you can do the same?
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
There is something charming about visiting a town that embraces automotive history. Thinking back, my visit to Seligman along Route 66 was one of the top highlights of my year.
During a recent overnight stay at the Shady Dell RV Park, I took a stroll through Lowell, Arizona – a small establishment on the outskirts of Bisbee. It’s only about eight miles north of the Mexican border, and the fact that it’s so remote adds to the charm. (The vibe was a little bit like the settlement of “Portal,” which I also visited earlier this year.)
Lowell got its start as a copper mining establishment and, in fact, expansion of the mine ended up consuming part of the original town. Today, Erie Street remains as a reminder of the past. Here were some of the vehicles I liked the most:
1948 Chrysler New Yorker
The New Yorker was a luxurious offering from Chrysler, complete with an Art Deco-inspired interior. Power came from a 323.5ci inline-eight mated to a semi-automatic Fluid Drive transmission. This streetside Chrysler was done up in taxi livery for the Broken Spoke Cab Company. It had some nice upgrades like an A-pillar-mounted spotlight.
1951 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe
This Styleline was parked on the north end of Erie Street at a gas station. The right-rear door was ajar, so I peeked inside and got a good whiff of “old car smell.” The Styleline’s standard powertrain offering was a “Thrift-Master” 216ci inline-six mated to a three-speed manual.
1953 Ford Customline
This might have been my favorite car in the mix. Styled as a police cruiser, it was parked on the south end of Erie Street. And glancing at Google Street View, it’s been there for several years. The door had the name of Barney Fife, a fictional character who played a police offer in the “Andy Griffith Show” in the 1960s. (In the actual TV show, Fife drove an early 1960s Galaxie.)
1954 Ford Crestline Country Squire
This four-door station wagon was a top-of-the-line ride for its time. Another Broken Spoke-themed car, this two-tone classic had V8 badges on the front fenders. That meant it was powered by an optional, new 239ci Y-block V8 that was rated at 130 horsepower.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
We love our tri-five Bel Airs, and this four-door sedan had an amazing patina on the exterior. The turquoise and white two-tone paint had seen better days. Surprisingly, unlike many of the cars on Erie Street, it had current registration and fully inflated tires, so perhaps someone is driving it on a regular basis.
1957 Ford Ranchero
Another finned beauty was this red “coupe-utility.” This car-based pickup, which launched in 1957, was Ford’s answer to the desire for a vehicle that had passenger-car handling but cargo-hauling capability. It had an integrated body design and came standard with a 223ci inline-six.
1959 Edsel Ranger
The Ranger’s shield-shaped grille was an unmistakable feature for the time. The Ranger was an entry-level model for Ford’s Edsel brand, and it could be ordered as a sedan or a hardtop. This baby-blue four-door had nice chrome and a very straight body – a strong candidate for restoration if someone decided to go that route.
1969 Chevrolet C10
It was nice to see some pickup-truck representation, and this C10 was parked outside a motorcycle shop with all sorts of period-correct memorabilia. The C10 was a half-ton, produced as part of GM’s “Action Line” generation. The diversity of the lineup was vast, ranging from short/long beds, fleetside/stepside, and many engine options.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro
This was undoubtedly the best-preserved (or best-restored) car in the mix – probably because it belongs to someone who was visiting the area and hadn’t been parked very long. Model year 1969 marked the last year of the first-generation Camaro – a vehicle that will forever be remembered as “peak” muscle car among enthusiasts.
I hope you enjoyed a walk down Erie Street with me. Considering it’s lined with classic cars, it might as well be called Memory Lane instead. Which car did you like the best?
The 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler was available in only six colors, and black wasn’t one of them. The original owner of this vehicle wanted black and special-ordered it in that hue, one of 31 built in a non-standard color. He also loaded it with an assortment of desirable options like Drag Pak with 4.30 gears, four-speed with console, hidden headlights, and AM-FM stereo, among others. Additionally, as presented, this Mercury wears aftermarket parts installed 55 years ago, making this 4,000-mile time capsule possibly the most desirable Cyclone ever built.
Subscribe to the ClassicCars TV YouTube channel for more Interesting Finds.
As much as we all love high-powered muscle cars with flashy paint colors, big-block engines, close-ratio manual transmissions, and limited-slip rear ends, there is something charming about a simple, economy-oriented base model in a subdued color palette. Featured on AutoHunter is a car that was ordered using a value-focused formula: a 1968 Ford Mustang Hardtop offered by a dealer in Gladstone, Oregon. The auction for the car will end on Wednesday, December 31, at 11:45 a.m. (MST).
Finished in Lime Gold, this pony car is an unassuming coupe with a no-frills look, right down to its steel 14-inch wheels with covers. The data plate reveals some of the details for the build: The car was manufactured on September 8, 1967, and originated in the Seattle district sales office – not far from where it’s currently listed for sale.
The first-generation Mustang swiftly became a cultural icon when it launched in the mid-1960s. With its sporty styling characterized by a long hood and a short deck, it appealed to youth, which contributed to Ford selling over a million units within its first two years. For model year 1968, the Mustang got some new equipment like a wider grille, side markers, and an energy-absorbing steering column.
Power for this pony car comes from a relatively miserly 200ci inline-six that was rated at 115 horsepower, and the transmission is a C4 SelectShift three-speed automatic. Considering the late 1960s and the early 1970s were a time of horsepower wars during the peak muscle car era, a small inline-six didn’t get anyone’s heartbeat up.
But perhaps this car survived all these years in such nice shape because of its drivetrain. After all, high-performance cars were more likely to be driven hard and modified, whereas basic coupes were driven with restraint. We see the same thing with late-model cars. As someone who closely follows the marketplace for 1980s and 1990s Honda and Acura cars, I typically see the low-trim automatics are in unmodified, original shape.
No matter how or why this Lime Gold Mustang survived, we’re glad it did, and the selling dealer is ready to help it find a new home. Just try to resist the urge to modify or upgrade it!
The auction for this 1969 Ford Mustang Hardtop ends on Wednesday, December 31, at 11:45 a.m. (MST).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery