mod@tech

McLaren debuted its hybrid Artura supercar two years ago, but the coupe was met with production delays before being released to customers, which temporarily put a convertible model on hold. The 2025 McLaren Artura Spider is now officially here, with deliveries starting mid-summer, and it’s only 136-pounds heavier than its coupe sibling.

McLaren gave its 2025 Artura Spider several enhancements when compared to the 2024 coupe, beyond the revised design which fits the retractable hardtop roof. McLaren notes that many of the updates seen on the convertible will be featured on the 2025 coupe.

First, the Spider’s twin-turbo 3-liter V6 hybrid powertrain offers more oomph with a combined 690 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque, which is 19 horsepower more than the current Artura coupe model. The 2025 model receives upgraded engine mounts to improve stability and prevent movement from the roaring M630 engine. Backing the engine is a recalibrated eight-speed gearbox, which McLaren claims delivers 25-percent faster shifts. With its new configurations, the Spider can spin from zero- to- 60 miles-per-hour in just 3.0 seconds, reach 124 mph in 8.4 seconds, hit 186 mph in 21.6 seconds, and can blast down the quarter mile in 10.8 seconds. An electronic limiter stops the acceleration once the supercar hits 205 miles-per-hour.

For dramatic effect, McLaren added a “Spinning Wheel Pull-Away” feature that allows the wheels to spin more freely when the driver smashes the throttle from a standstill. The supercar also has a pure electric mode, which allows the Artura run purely on its 7.4-kilowatt-hour battery, offering 21 miles all-electric of range.

Another new feature is its aerothermal cooling system with new brake cooling ducts and an increased engine airflow. Brakes utilizing carbon ceramic discs and lightweight aluminum calipers provide the stopping power, while the supercar’s ride feel and overall handling is improved by revised damper valving. McLaren states that it increased its Proactive Damping Control suspension system’s response rate by up to 90 percent.

As for the Spider’s roof, it is controlled by eight electric motors that can reportedly open and close the roof in 11-seconds while the car is traveling up to 31 miles-per-hour. Dropping the top surely makes it easier for the supercar’s occupants to hear the notes played by the revised valved exhaust system. McClaren notes that the roof can also be had with an optional Electrochromatic glass panel.

The 2025 model year comes standard with 15-spoke silver wheels. The Spider is further customizable with an expanded color palette that includes five standard options, 20 Elite paints, and 18 MSO finishes. New black Stealth badges are standard, however customers can switch to silver badges at no cost.

Both the 2025 McLaren Artura Coupe and the 2025 McLaren Artura Spider are available to order. The Spider will set customers back by $273,800, not including add-ons such as the three alternative interior options, Performance, TechLux, and Vision, priced at $9,400 each. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the middle of this year.

It’s been 70 years since Ernest Hemmings sat down to staple together 500 copies of a mimeographed bulletin listing a half-dozen old cars and car parts for sale. A lot has happened since issue number 1 of Hemmings Motor News made its way into the world, a point underscored with a look back at some of the cars that were introduced as 1954 models. We went through the ads in Hemmings Marketplace and found eight for sale, with everything from two-seat roadsters to full-size station wagons represented. Why not help us celebrate by putting one of these in your garage?

Mercury Sun Valley, asking $42,000

Mercury Sun Valley, asking $42,000

Mercury Sun Valley, asking $42,000

Mercury Sun Valley, asking $42,000

Joining the Monterey series for 1954, the Sun Valley hardtop was distinguished by its see-through tinted plexiglass roof panel that let the sunshine in. Beneath the hood is Mercury’s Y-block, 256-cu.in. V-8, rated at a healthy 161 horsepower, and connected to a Merc-O-Matic three-speed automatic. This example is equipped with power windows, power steering, power drum brakes, and a power-adjustable front seat. It’s one of 9,761 Sun Valleys produced that year, and is described by the selling dealer as “beautifully restored” and “completely rust-free.”

https://www.hemmings.com/auction/1954-mercury-sun-valley-torrance-ca-493212

Oldsmobile 98 Starfire, asking $85,000

A production followup to the 1953 dream car of the same name, the Starfire was a luxurious convertible version of the division’s flagship 98. As the most expensive Oldsmobile offered for 1954, its featured the new 324-cu.in., OHV Rocket V-8 engine, mated to a three-speed Hydra-Matic automatic. This example, one of 6,800 built for 1954, features power steering, power brakes, a power-operated top, a Wonderbar AM radio, Autronic Eye automatic headlamp dimming, and power windows. The seller has rebuilt the brakes, restored the original gas tank and rebuilt the four-barrel carburetor. “Everything works,” the ad says.

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/1954-…

MG TF, asking $28,500

MG TF, asking $28,500

MG TF, asking $28,500

MG TF, asking $28,500

The last of the square-rigged T-series cars that helped launch America’s infatuation with sports cars in the 1950s, the TF features body-on-chassis construction, body panels braced by a wooden skeleton frame, a four-speed manual transmission, and a 1,250-cc OHV inline-four rated at 57.5 hp. Just 6,200 were built before its successor, the MGA, arrived for 1955. This numbers-matching example is “a nice example of a solid, ‘drive anywhere’ MG TF,” according to the seller.

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/1954-mg-m-lebanon-tn-2713001

Studebaker Commander Conestoga, asking $46,500

Studebaker’s landmark Starliner and Starlight coupes were a sensation when they were launched for 1953. Two- and four-door sedans were offered in that first year, too, but it would take Studebaker another year to produce a station wagon version. Named to honor the company’s wagon business that dated back to the 1850s, the two-door Conestoga was offered in the six-cylinder Champion series, and, as seen here, the Commander series, powered by a 232-cu.in. OHV V-8. This example is quipped with a three-speed manual transmission. According to the seller, it’s had an “excellent restoration,” and is “one of the finest examples available.”

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/1954-…

Kaiser Darrin, asking $89,500

A halo car before the term was coined, Kaiser’s fiberglass-bodied coupe helped draw families into showrooms, where they might buy themselves a more practical sedan. Styled by Howard “Dutch” Darrin, the roadster makes an impression with its trademark sliding doors and puckered-up grille. Underneath the fiberglass is a Henry J chassis, and a 161-cu.in. inline-six. One of just 435 built, this example has been in single-family ownership, and is “likely the most original and honest example you will come across,” according to the seller.

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/kaiser…

Plymouth Belvedere, asking $41,900

Plymouth Belvedere, asking $41,900

Plymouth Belvedere, asking $41,900

Plymouth Belvedere, asking $41,900

Formerly Plymouth’s first two-door hardtop as part of the Cranbrook line, the Belvedere stood alone in the division’s lineup in 1954, offered as a convertible, four-door sedan, and Suburban two-door station wagon, as seen here. This would be the first year that Plymouth offered a fully automatic transmission, the two-speed PowerFlight, to go with its 230.2-cu.in. flathead six. According to the seller, this Suburban has been refinished in its original Rose Coral, complementing the original interior. “It has been very well cared for and it shows extremely well,” the seller says.

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/1954-…

AC Aceca, asking $97,500

Long before Carroll Shelby put a V-8 under the hood of the AC Ace to create the Cobra, the British firm produced a fastback GT version of the Ace, called the Aceca. Like the Ace, it was powered by AC’s 1,991-cc, OHC straight-six, later upgraded to a more powerful Bristol six of the same displacement. The body was constructed of hand-formed aluminum panels over a tubular steel framework, attached to a tubular steel chassis. This 1960 example, described as a restoration candidate, has been sitting for several decades. Its original engine had been swapped for a 260-cu.in. Ford V-8, but that has since been replaced with a correct AC six. According to the seller, its previous owner was an AC Owners Club member who kept this GT for 50 years.

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/ac/ace…

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, asking $1.99 million

A car that needs little introduction, the 300 SL was the somewhat civilized version of Mercedes-Benz’s endurance racer, powered by a fuel-injected, 3-liter straight-six borrowed from the big 300 sedan. According to the seller, this gullwing was sold new in London, and returned to Germany in the 1970s, where it was restored to the highest possible quality. Since that time, it’s been part of an unidentified “important collection.” Desirable options include a two-piece luggage set, Rudge center-lock wheels, and a Becker Mexico radio.

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/merced…

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, asking $1.99 million

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, asking $1.99 million

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, asking $1.99 million

Collectible trucks are as hot as ever. Coming from all eras of production, these once hardworking vehicles are now in the hands of enthusiasts poised to preserve them or make them better than they ever were.

Right now, on Hemmings.com, we’ve got plenty of trucks available from Hemmings Auctions and Make Offer listings. Below are six collectible trucks that we think are pretty cool that capture the spirit of style, performance and moving cargo. From the 1950s, up to and including modern 21st century machines, these all-American V8 machines look ready to show, cruise or haul.

Two-Owner 1996 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Club Coupe 4×4 Pickup

Vermont is a beautiful place. Great skiing. Stunning views as the trees change colors in the fall. Covered bridges that are used every day. And the best maple syrup in the world. Sorry, Wisconsin, you might win on beer, but Vermont gets the trophy for maple syrup.

What’s decidedly not great about Vermont is the volume of salt used on the roads. And it’s not just to melt snow and ice in the winter. They even sometimes use a calcium chloride solution to tame dust on the many dirt roads during the warmer months. The tin worm might as well be the official state animal. So, when we see trucks like this 1996 GMC Sierra 1500 4×4 pickup, we take notice.

With just two owners, less than 130,000 miles on the odometer, and a Carfax history showing only Oregon and Louisiana registration, it’s no wonder this four-wheel-drive pickup looks so clean. According to the seller, it hasn’t been restored, the paint is original and the 5.7-liter, 250-hp/335 lb-ft Vortec V8 under the hood is also the factory installed powerplant.

The seller has included a picture of the original window sticker showing a rather extensive list of options that were ordered on the truck when new, including the right side third door for rear seat passenger access, a 3.73 axle ratio with a rear locking differential, off-road chassis, remote keyless entry, A/C, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, power locks, power windows, and much more. About the only change from new is a set of more recent 20-inch alloy wheels from a Denali-spec truck.

Restored and Customized 1980 AMC Jeep J10 4×4 Pickup

Sometimes forgotten among the domination of the truck market by the Big Three, Jeep made its own line of full-size trucks right up through the merger with Chrysler in 1987. Originally sold as the Gladiator from its introduction in 1962 before becoming known as the J-Series trucks in the 1970s, it had the J10 moniker for short-wheelbase models and J20 for the long-wheelbase versions. Amazingly, Jeeps corporate parentage during the production run included Willys Motors, Kaiser-Jeep, American Motors Corporation and eventually, albeit briefly, Chrysler Corporation.

With styling that echoed the contemporary and related Wagoneer models, the J10, like so many Jeep and AMC products, cut its own, distinctive look that helped it stand out from contemporary trucks from GM, Ford or Dodge. This customized 1980 Jeep J10 features an AMC 360-cu.in. V8 that the seller reports as original while also noting a recent rebuild and a host of aftermarket upgrades, such as a 650-cfm four-barrel carburetor, a new camshaft and Hedman exhaust headers. The Chrysler-sourced TorqueFlite 727 three-speed automatic has also been treated to a rebuild, according to the seller.

Other elements of the restoration process listed by the seller include fresh tan bedliner paint on the body, with black accents and a black bedliner, new upholstery on the bench seat with fresh foam underneath, a “full complement of aftermarket Equus gauges,” and more. The Flaming River tilting steering column is topped by a billet-style aftermarket steering wheel.

2012 Chevrolet Colorado LT3 Extended Cab Pickup With a 5.3-Liter V8

If there’s one thing most car guys can agree on, it’s that more power is better. And if that happens to be a bigger engine in a smaller vehicle, then there’s even more to like. The vast majority of Chevrolet’s first-generation compact Colorado pickups, from the 2004 to 2012 model years, were built with four and five-cylinder engines. But a small fraction of them were built with a version of GM’s Vortec 5.3-liter V8.

In this 2012 Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab pickup, the LH9 V8, with continuously variable valve timing, managed to produce 300 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on regular unleaded gasoline. One magazine test reported the 0-60 mph sprint at 6.7 seconds and the quarter mile at 15.1 seconds At 92 mph for a similarly-equipped 2009 Colorado, though its LH8 V8 did not have variable valve timing. Still, the numbers are impressive for a small truck, particularly one with a 6,000-pound towing capacity.

This example in 3LT trim is also equipped with the ZQ8 Sport Suspension, which included body-color bumpers front and rear, a black front air dam, a sport-tuned suspension, a quick 14.5:1 steering ratio, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. With the suspension 1.1 inches lower, step-in height for ZQ8-equipped trucks was more than three inches lower than the standard setup and almost six inches lower than the Z71 off-road package allowed for. The seller—and original purchaser—of this Colorado adds that he installed a set of coilover shocks in front, lowering blocks with new shocks in the rear and a “stealth” crossmember for rigidity. He adds that the modifications are all bolt-on and can be reverted to stock on this 52,136-mile example.

Custom 1957 Chevrolet 3100 Series Stepside Pickup With a 350 V8

As the listing for this modified 1957 Chevrolet 3100 half-ton pickup points out, “1955-’57 Chevrolet pickups are right up there with the 1953-’56 Ford F100s as the trucks that jumpstarted the custom classic pickup hobby.” This restored ’57 3100 street rod is noted by the seller as having been most recently refinished in 2020, in a shade that seems to be candy apple red, that shines brightly in the photos provided for the listing.

The powertrain is a classic street machine setup: a recently rebuilt Chevrolet small-block V8 backed by a 700R4 four-speed automatic from Monster Transmission routing power to the rear wheels via a Ford 9-inch rear end with 3.55:1 gears. A Mustang II-style front end with power-assisted steering works with a four-link rear end augmented with coilover shocks. Power-assisted Disc brakes at all four corners handle the stopping.

Seemingly nothing was left unmodified in this truck, including the interior that features a pair of bucket seats, Vintage Air A/C, Dakota Digital gauges, and Lokar components for the shifter, pedals and door handles. There’s no radio, but a Bluetooth-capable audio system that includes a 10-inch subwoofer.

Mopar Muscle Truck: 2003 Dodge Dakota R/T Club Cab Pickup

Like the Colorado V8 detailed above, Dodge followed the tried-and-true muscle car formula of installing a bigger, more powerful engine in a smaller platform with the Dakota R/T, a mid-size truck with a full-size engine under the hood. Dodge had previously offered the Dakota with a 5.2-liter (318-cu.in.) V8 before it engineered the R/T in 1998 with the 5.9-liter (360-cu.in.) Magnum V8, a capable engine rated at 250 horsepower and 345 lb-ft of torque.

Rear-wheel drive only, the R/T also included some suspension mods from the standard Dakota to match the new level of power. Firmer shocks were joined with firmer springs, the latter also accommodating a near one-inch lowered stance. Alloy wheels with low-profile 17-inch tires and front and rear stabilizer bars also added to the handling performance, which was praised by the road test reviews of the day. A 3.92:1 limited-slip rear axle helped deliver 0-60 mph times in the low seven seconds and the quarter-mile at 15 seconds and 90 mph. The R/T’s performance was a substantial step up from any other mid-size truck of the era.

This 2003 Dodge Dakota R/T Club Cab is noted in the listing as being one of just 1,239 R/Ts delivered that year, including just 115 Club Cab models in Bright Silver. This under 39,000 mile example has minimal modifications, including a K&N cold-air intake, a 3-inch cat-back exhaust and a Flowmaster muffler. Aftermarket wheels measure 17 inches.

Restored and Upgraded 1972 Chevrolet El Camino SS Tribute

Chevrolet’s El Camino outsold its competition from Ford nearly two to one. And though the Ranchero came first, the Elco stayed on the market for nearly a decade longer. That love for Chevrolet’s car-base truck seems to remain as strong as ever.

Not every El Camino was an SS model of course, but that doesn’t stop enterprising builders from creating their own equivalent. While this 1972 Chevrolet El Camino SS tribute is not exactly an authentic copy of an original, it certainly appears to capture the spirit of Chevy’s muscle truck of the era. In place of the original two-barrel 350 (as indicated by the “H” in the fifth position of the VIN), there is now a modified 350-cu.in. V8 with an Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor atop an aluminum intake manifold. Aftermarket air cleaner and rocker covers also adorn the engine bay and the V8 features dual exhaust.

Finished in a Mercedes-Benz shade called Sienna Grey Metallic that was reportedly applied in 2023, this El Camino also sports a “complete SS dashboard” and new black vinyl upholstery, new carpet, and a new headliner. Photos provided by the seller show a clean underside and engine bay indicative of a thorough restoration.

The technician smiled as I pulled the Miata into the middle bay of the drive-through oil-change shop. “Getting it ready to put away for the winter?” he asked. “Actually, no,” I responded, not quite sure how he’d react. “In fact, I’m planning to drive it through the winter.”

“Really? Good for you,” he said, and asked me to pop the hood. What else could he say? Whether he thought he was dealing with a fool, or a nonconformist, or the sort of person who shouldn’t be allowed to have a nice car, I don’t know, as he kept whatever opinion he might have to himself. He finished the job, swiped my credit card, and waved me on my way into a mild December afternoon.

Now, I know that there are a couple of schools of thought here. The first is that it’s simply illogical to run a sports car in a New England winter; it just isn’t done. Sports cars are for warm, sunny weather, and should vanish and reappear on schedule, like migrating warblers, or those polo shirts with the little sailboats on them. The second is the belief that exposing an interesting older car to road salt is an unforgivable sin, an act of moral failure. By this reckoning, I should have the keys taken from my hand, replaced by a bus pass.

That might be how I’d feel if we were talking about a Ferrari 250 GTO, or a Duesenberg Model J. You’d no sooner expose one of these to road salt than hang van Gogh’s The Starry Night in a damp basement – they’re special, and you don’t want them to get damaged. (I eagerly await the first reader photo of a GTO in a snowbank.) But with cars like the Miata, it isn’t quite so clear-cut. Mazda has made an awful lot of them – more than 215,000 of the first-generation NA cars like mine alone – and they’re still making them, in ever-better versions. Not only that, but they’re so plentiful that they’re still lingering at the bottom of the depreciation curve.

Photo: Hemmings Archives

I can’t claim to speak for Mazda, but I don’t believe they ever intended their affordable sports car to be just a fair-weather plaything. In my high school years, one of my year-round rides was a somewhat shabby Triumph Spitfire, a car whose anemic heater and defroster demonstrated just how little the British knew or cared about the North American climate. That’s not the case with the Miata. The heat goes where you want, in whatever quantity you want, and the windows and top are snug enough to keep the cold out.

Here in the salt belt, we have the “winter beater” approach, in which a sacrificial vehicle takes the place of the nice car – something mechanically interesting and fun to drive, and yet not the sort of vehicle you might see on a concours lawn someday. But there’s a flaw to that approach: Who knows what the future holds for any car’s collectability? Some cars that might have been considered great winter beaters not so long ago – a well-preserved Malaise Era wagon, let’s say, or an E30-generation BMW 3 Series – now have their own passionate followings. Is today’s winter beater tomorrow’s holy grail? Who am I to say?

That said, today’s winter beaters don’t face the same long odds they did decades ago. Average temperatures are rising here in the Northeast, and the lack of snow must be giving skiing industry executives some sleepless nights, to say nothing of the folks who sell sleds for a living. We’ve developed a zero-tolerance approach to snow, too – the roads barely have a chance to turn white before the sanders and plows attack. Within 24 hours of a storm, our roads are clear and dry again, a testament to the hard work of the snow crews. The salty slush that ate the quarter panels of my 1968 Pontiac Catalina all those years ago isn’t the menace it used to be.

The Miata is better protected against salt than that Pontiac ever was, so I think it stands a good chance of making it through at least a couple of winters intact. Visits to the car wash around the corner will improve its chances even further. And if that overdue Nor’easter ever does arrive, there’s our other car, the Subaru Forester, which has about 19 different snow-and-mud traction settings that I haven’t even tested yet.

In short, I think everything’s going to be okay. Unless … what if it turns out that the Subie was the future collectible all along? Hmm. Guess I’d better wash ’em both.

Behind the scenes on our video project vehicle, things are happening. We need to finalize decisions and sources on things like the engine, transmission, and front brakes: Especially the engine. We’ve gone through a lot of ideas, but we’ve narrowed down our choices to three at this point: A 1966-‘84 250-cu.in. Turbo-Thrift six, a 1963-‘89 292-cu.in. High-Torque six, or a 1954-’62 Jobmaster 261.

The other suggestions

People have pitched everything from the conventional SBC swap (100-percent rational, but a little cliched) to a 2002-’09 DOHC 4.2L Atlas straight six or a GMC 302 and even the 1952-‘56 Hudson 308 and the 1965-‘96 Ford 300. We believe our 1936 Chevrolet ½-ton panel truck needs an equally old-school Chevrolet six cylinder.

The Atlas is an interesting engine but looks like a technological/aftermarket dead end to us (feel free to convince us otherwise in the comments). The GMC 302 parts supply just isn’t what we want in a daily-driver engine. A Ford 300 crossbreed would have us fearing for our personal safety. The Hudson 308 combines both those issues.

Finally, virtually nobody has suggested it, but the original 207 is long gone, replaced in the ‘70s with a (now worn out) 230-cu.in. Turbo-Thrift six and going back to factory stock has never been on the agenda for this truck.

How we’ll use it

Our priority is driving the ‘36 just like the Hemmings folks of old. When Terry Ehrich ran things, the panel truck was used as a panel truck, hauling such loads they eventually broke the rear suspension. Stories abound of it creaking, overloaded, onto a show field to disgorge a welcome supply of magazines and giveaways.

Nowadays, the agenda is about transporting editorial crew and parts for future projects to and from swap meets, shows, and photo shoots. We need more speed and less hauling power, but enough that we can reliably run things like air conditioning, haul home heavyish swap-meet items, and perhaps pull a small camper.

We don’t expect to drive everywhere at 70 mph, but with our desired overdrive and the existing 3.73 gears and 550/600 x 17 tires, we expect to cruise at 65 with the engine turning just over 1,800 rpm.

261 vs 292

Our plan at the outset was to install a 292-cu.in. engine because it’s in the same family as the 230. In fact, we even have one, but it is cracked and poorly repaired, meaning we can’t use it as a core and still need one. That’s what put 261s on our radar.

The 292 is a sought-after engine by straight-six performance enthusiasts and we weren’t finding many. Those searches also netted plenty of 216s, 235s, and a surprising number of 261s. The 261 is the engine the 292 replaced. It’s bigger, heavier, and less powerful in stock form, but because it physically resembles the 235 and 216, it remains popular with folks working on stock or nostalgically styled early Chevrolets who want to carry that theme on under the hood.

Horsepower wise, a 261 isn’t far beyond the 230, but the added torque would be a welcome addition. The popularity of the 235-era stovebolt also means that those engines have a thriving aftermarket, perhaps even better than the 194/230/250/292 series. The downside, of course, is that moving to another engine family is more invasive, though we’d hardly be the first group to swap a 235/261 into a chassis designed for the earlier six.

Sourcing a bellhousing to mate a 261 with our planned five-speed transmission installation would probably be the biggest challenge; whereas the 230 and 292 use the common small-block V-8 pattern.

250 vs 292

At least one reader has noted that it is theoretically possible to carve down the crankshaft from our 292 to fit in the 230 block, equip it with shorter connecting rods, and build a low-deck 292. That’s a pretty cool build, but way too exotic for what’s supposed to be a straightforward working truck. It does raise a good point, though: Nothing (save a 207) is going to fit better than what’s in there now.

That’s why the 250-cu.in. Turbo-Thrift six showed up as a kind of dark-horse candidate. It was, after all, the standard half-ton truck engine for Chevrolet from 1960-something through 1984. We aren’t going to be hauling any car trailers with our ’36 Chevrolet panel truck, so perhaps a mildly warmed-up 250 would do the trick. If, in the long term, it proves unsatisfactory, we could still replace it with a 292.

An appeal to the Hemmings Nation

We’ve already polled a few enthusiasts both on the Jalopy Journal’s HAMB message board and on Instagram. So far, the nostalgic 261 leads, with the powerhouse 292 close behind, along with a few persuasive advocates for the 250. We’ve even had a couple of core-engine offers come our way. What say you?

Most vehicles degenerate into third- or fourth-hand beaters before clawing their way to collectability — assuming they survive the years of neglect and deferred maintenance. Not so with Cadillac’s 2011-’14 CTS-V Wagons. The newest of these factory hot-rod Caddy haulers turned 10 years old in 2024 and their collectible status seems more secure than ever.

This Opulent Blue 2012 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon sold for $59,850 (including fees) in June 2023 as a Make Offer listing on Hemmings.com. At the time of sale it had been driven just over 32,000 miles. Photo provided by Hemmings

What Are CTS V Wagons Worth?

CTS-V Wagon prices have remained stable since 2020, averaging more than $50,000 for an automatic equipped V or $70,000 for a six-speed car, according to Classic.com. That puts them in the neighborhood of their factory $60,000-plus base MSRP. By piling on some options, like the $3,400 Recaro seats, $1,150 UltraView sunroof or $800 wheels, the price of a new V Wagon could’ve increased to more than $70,000, back then.

V wagons were never produced in large quantities —something that’s also in their favor. Fewer than 1,800 were built over four model years, and of those, just 514 were equipped with manual transmissions. But these cars come up for sale quite often. There are usually several up for grabs on Hemmings.com. Last June, a low-mileage Opulent Blue, automatic example sold for $59,850 (including fees) as a Make Offer listing. During the auction it attracted 19 bids — the highest of which was $52,000 (from the bidder who wound up offering more and ultimately buying the car)— and nearly 13,000 views.

Are CTS-V Wagons Reliable?

Aside from their low-production/high-performance status, these cars are popular because they have a reputation for being reliable, especially in stock tune — though performance mods are pretty common. Most owners report few problems other than interior trim wear and other minor issues, like rattles and squeaks, or bring pestered to sell their cars. GM issued a Technical Service bulletin about supercharger noise and many were replaced or repaired under warranty. Noisy rear differentials are also common in these cars and a TSB was issued relating to that as well. These cars don’t suffer from the widespread differential failures reported in first-generation CTS-V sedans, however.

What’re the Differences Among 2011-’14 CTS-V Wagons?

The CTS-V Wagon was introduced in 2011 as the high-performance, rear-drive-only variant of the CTS Sport Wagon, launched in 2010. There were only a few year-to-year updates, mostly new colors. For 2012, “Rainsense” automatic windshield wipers and three new exterior colors: Black Diamond Tricoat, Opulent Blue Metallic and Mocha Steel Metallic (late availability) were added. For 2013, Cadillac added two-piece front brake rotors to the V Wagon and made red-painted brake calipers available. Glacier Blue Metallic, joined the exterior palette. The 2014 model year brought new exterior colors including: Phantom Gray Metallic, Mocha Steel Metallic, Red Obsession Tintcoat and Majestic Plum Metallic.

The Cadillac CTS-V Wagon shared the 6.2-liter LSA V-8 with its sedan and coupe stablemates. The LSA pumped out 556 horsepower with boost from a 1.9-liter Eaton TVS blower.Photo by Mike McNessor

The 2011-’14 CTS-V Wagon’s 6.2-liter LSA V-8

Under the domed, aluminum hood of every V Wagon lurked the 6.2-liter LSA V-8, shared with the V-series sedans and coupes (also the Chevrolet Camaro ZR1), and packing 556 horsepower.

The LSA got its supercharged punch from an intercooled, 1.9-liter Eaton TVS (Twin Vortices Series) blower that spun twin four-lobe rotors, twisted 160 degrees rather than three lobes twisted 60 degrees, as was more typical. The TVS’s design was intended to create smoother, more efficient airflow into the engine with less noise and vibration.

The foundation of the LSA V-8 was an aluminum, six-bolt-main block with cast-iron cylinder liners. Inside there were oil-cooled hypereutectic pistons on forged connecting rods, swinging from a forged crank. Typical for a factory supercharged engine, compression was relatively low at 9.1:1 compression and the hydraulic roller camshaft was a mild grind with low lift — .492 intake/.480 exhaust — and low valve overlap. Heads were aluminum with 68-cc combustion chambers and 2.16-inch intake/1.59-inch exhaust valves.

The 2011-’14 CTS-V Wagon’s Six Speed Transmissions: Tremec or a Hydra-Matic 6L90

Backing up the LSA was the buyer’s choice of six speeds: a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual with a dual-disc clutch or a Hydra-Matic 6L90 six-speed automatic with a console-mounted shifter and steering wheel-mounted shift controls.

Out back was a stout rear-axle package with a limited-slip rear differential in a cast-iron housing that transferred the power to asymmetrical half-shafts — designed that way to manage wheel hop. Manual-transmission V Wagons were outfitted with 3.73:1 gears while automatic cars used 3.23:1 gears.

The 2011-2014 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon rode on the Sigma II platform shared with the rest of the CTS lineup. The V-Wagon weighed in at 4,396 pounds, with a manual transmission, or 4,424 pounds with an automatic, but a 51/49 weight distribution made the car a balanced handler.Photo provided by General Motors

The Sigma II Platform of the 2011-’14 CTS-V Wagon

All of the V Wagons shared the Sigma II platform with the rest of the CTS lineup. GM’s Magnetic Ride Control, with electromagnetically controlled shocks, was standard issue as was four-channel StabiliTrak with brake assist. Up front, there was independent short/long A-arm suspension with elastomeric bushings and heavy springs tied together with a 29-mm hollow anti-roll bar. In the rear, there was independent short/long A-arm suspension with elastomeric trailing arm bushings, heavy springs and 25.4-mm solid anti-roll bar.

Brakes were four-wheel discs at all four corners. Up front there were six-piston Brembo calipers, while four-piston Brembo calipers were used in the rear, all clamping on vented rotors ABS and dynamic brake proportioning was standard. Steering duties were handled by a power-assisted 16:1 rack and pinion setup. Nineteen-inch alloy wheels, 9-inch-wide front and 10-inch wide rear were also standard shod with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 rubber.

The V-Wagon was a substantial vehicle at 4,396 pounds, with a manual transmission, or 4,424 pounds with an automatic. It’s road manners definitely don’t give away the car’s heft thanks to its neutral 51/49 weight distribution.

The 2011-2014 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon could pull .89g on the skid pad and cover the quarter mile in 12.3 seconds at 119 mph.Photo provided by General Motors

How Fast is the 2011-’14 CTS-V Wagon?

The V Wagon has to be the fastest American production station wagon ever built. Road test reports of the day clocked it running the quarter mile in 12.3 seconds at 119 mph and dashing to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. On the skid pad it pulled .89 g and when it came time to stop, the Brembos hauled the mighty wagon from 70 mph in 158 feet.

The 2011-’14 CTS-V Wagon shared its cockpit with the other CTS models. Recaro bucket seats were a $3,400 option.Photo Provided by General Motors

2011-’14 CTS-V Wagon Exterior and Interior

Like the other CTS V-Series models, the Wagon incorporated a free-flowing grille and air dam

that helped drive air to the supercharger. There were also V badges on the fenders and rear hatch door calling out the performance package. Of course, there’s no missing the V’s dual 3-inch exhaust tips, made of high-grade stainless steel, poking out from under the rear bumper.

The CTS-V Wagon shared its cockpit with the sedan, including the three-pod gauge cluster, LED lighting and hand-cut-and-sewn accents on the instrument panel, door trim and center console.

The CTS-V Wagon offered 58 cubic feet of cargo area with the seats folded.Photo Provided by General Motors

Performance seats, that were 14-way adjustable with pneumatic bolster controls in the cushions and backrest, as well as sueded microfiber inserts were standard, while Recaro performance driving seats were available. The thick production steering wheel and shifter knob could be had with Alcantara coverings, providing a grippier surface during spirited driving. Navigation with a pop-up screen was standard issue as was: Bose 5.1 digital surround audio; Bluetooth phone integration; and a 40-gigabyte hard drive that allowed the customer to store music files via a USB port or the in-dash DVD/CD drive. If you’re planning to do a little hauling, the V Wagon delivered, with 25.4 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 58 cubic feet with the seats folded – virtually doubling the cargo space of the sedan. A power liftgate provided easy access to the rear.

What to pay for a 2011-’14 CTS-V Wagon

2011-2014 (automatic)

$33,000 $52,000 $121,000

2011-2014 (manual)

$41,000 $70,000 $121,000

Specifications

Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

Construction

Unitized welded steel body with direct-mounted front cradle and rubber-isolated, multi-link independent rear suspension

Engine

6.2-liter, supercharged LSA V.9

Displacement: 376 cu.in.

Compression: 9.1:1

Block and heads: Cast aluminum

Fuel/air delivery: 1.9-liter supercharger with intercooler; sequential fuel injection

Horsepower: 556 @ 6,100

Torque: 551 @ 3,100

Transmission

Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual or Hydra-Matic 6L90 six-speed automatic

Differential

Limited slip with 3.23:1 ratio (automatic) or 3.73:1 ratio (manual)

Steering

16.1:1 power-assisted rack-and-pinion

Steering turns lock to lock: 2.8

Suspension

Front: Independent SLA; 29-mm hollow stabilizer bar; elastomeric handling and ride bushings; 65-N/mm spring rate; Magnetic Ride Control with electro-magnetically controlled shocks

Rear: Independent SLA; 25.4-mm solid stabilizer bar; elastomeric trailing arm bushing; 90-N/mm spring rate; Magnetic Ride Control with electro-magnetically controlled shocks

Brakes

Four-wheel disc with four-channel ABS, hydraulic brake assist and dynamic rear brake proportioning

Dimensions

Wheelbase: 113 inches

Length: 192 inches

Height: 58 inches

Curb weight: 4,396 (manual)/4,424 (automatic)

Weight distribution: 51/49

There have been a handful of stylists over the past 100 years who have forever altered the course of automotive design, and Marcello Gandini was one of them. He was 85 when he died on March 13.

Gandini, a native of Turin, Italy, was raised in a professional musical household, but went in a very different, mechanically focused direction.

He was hired by Nuccio Bertone to replace his contemporary, Giorgetto Giugiaro, at Carrozzeria Bertone in November 1965 when he was just 26 years old. He led the design studios at Carrozzeria Bertone for 14 years, and his signature styling elements emerging from that period include the low, wedge-shape body style and most distinctively, his trademark angled rear wheel arch. Gandini left Bertone around 1980 and began working as a freelance designer, handling automotive projects for a multitude of international automakers and even earning patents and designing outside of the four-wheeled realm.

According to the Italian paper La Repubblica, he’d been awarded an honorary degree in Mechanical Engineering by the Polytechnic of Turin on January 12 of this year. The report quotes Guido Saracco of the Polytechnic as saying, “Marcello Gandini is an innovator. He has been able to combine a very high aesthetic taste with cutting-edge engineering and technological solutions, contributing to improving the entire process of industrial design.” Gandini’s acceptance speech, in which he addressed tomorrow’s designers and engineers with his feelings on the crucial role of automotive design, has been shared by cardesignnews.com.

Watch Gandini reminisce about his career in the Part 1 and Part 2 videos created by the Federation Internationale Vehicules Anciens to reflect on how his memorable designs disrupted the automotive status quo and forever changed the form language of exotic supercars.

Gandini on Lamborghini

While Lamborghini’s first model family (350GT/400GT) was styled by Carrozzeria Touring, Ferruccio’s firm quickly turned to Bertone and was rewarded with the iconic Miura. This was followed by Gandini’s V-12 Islero and the Marzal-inspired Espada. A mid-mounted V-8 powered the the Urraco, Silhouette, and Jalpa. Gandini shocked and awed the world with the debut of the Countach, and followed that up with the Diablo.

Gandini on Lamborghini

While Lamborghini’s first model family (350GT/400GT) was styled by Carrozzeria Touring, Ferruccio’s firm quickly turned to Bertone and was rewarded with the iconic Miura. This was followed by Gandini’s V-12 Islero and the Marzal-inspired Espada. A mid-mounted V-8 powered the the Urraco, Silhouette, and Jalpa. Gandini shocked and awed the world with the debut of the Countach, and followed that up with the Diablo.

Gandini on Lamborghini

While Lamborghini’s first model family (350GT/400GT) was styled by Carrozzeria Touring, Ferruccio’s firm quickly turned to Bertone and was rewarded with the iconic Miura. This was followed by Gandini’s V-12 Islero and the Marzal-inspired Espada. A mid-mounted V-8 powered the the Urraco, Silhouette, and Jalpa. Gandini shocked and awed the world with the debut of the Countach, and followed that up with the Diablo.

Gandini’s Lamborghini vibe would manifest itself in other high-powered exotics like the Cizeta-Moroder V16T and Bertone’s prototype Bugatti EB 110.

Gandini on Alfa Romeo

One of the first Bertone assignments given to Marcello Gandini was to pen a show car for Alfa Romeo to display at Expo 67, the 1967 World’s Fair in Montréal, Québec, Canada. This stunning design, which shared some DNA with the Lamborghini Miura, came to the road as the 1971-’77 Alfa Romeo Montreal.

One year later, the 1968 Carabo -built on the underpinnings of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale- shocked the automotive world with its unapologetic wedge shape and scissor-opening doors, both of which would reappear on the Lamborghini Countach. The Carabo’s pure wedge was again seen on his groundbreaking 1970 Lancia Stratos HF ‘Zero’.

Gandini on Alfa Romeo

One of the earliest Bertone assignments given to Marcello Gandini was to pen a show car for Alfa Romeo to display at Expo 67, the 1967 World’s Fair in Montréal, Québec, Canada. This stunning design, which shared some DNA with the Lamborghini Miura, came to the road as the 1971-’77 Alfa Romeo Montreal.

One year later, the 1968 Carabo -built on the underpinnings of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale- shocked the automotive world with its unapologetic wedge shape and scissor-opening doors, both of which would reappear on the Lamborghini Countach. The Carabo’s pure wedge was again seen on his groundbreaking 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero.

Gandini on BMW

Two of the lesser-remembered pieces of Gandini’s work were the 1969 BMW Spicup and the 2002 tii-based Garmisch coupe that was shown at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show. The original Garmisch disappeared after that display, but BMW recreated it in 2019; that coupe’s influence can be seen in the first-generation 5-Series, which was styled by Paul Bracq with Gandini’s input.

Gandini on BMW

Two of the lesser-remembered pieces of Gandini’s work were the 1969 BMW Spicup and the 2002 tii-based Garmisch coupe that was shown at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show. The original Garmisch disappeared after that display, but BMW recreated it in 2019; that coupe’s influence can be seen in the first-generation 5-Series, which was styled by Paul Bracq with Gandini’s input.

Gandini on Fiat

Gandini brought his distinctive wedge design to the masses with the brilliantly styled and packaged, mid-engine Fiat-Bertone X1/9 sports car.

Gandini on Ferrari

While he only had one production car from Maranello on his CV, it was a memorable one: The 1973-’80 Dino/Ferrari 308 GT4. This sometimes controversial model that emerged from the Bertone studio was groundbreaking for Ferrari, being its first production sports car with a mid-mounted V-8 engine, and also its first mid-engine 2+2. Bertone offered another take on the 308 concept with its retractable-roof 1976 Ferrari Rainbow, whose basic shape echoed that of the popular X1/9.

Gandini on Maserati

The stunning 1974-’82 Khamsin blended a traditional Maserati V-8 with Citroën hydraulic systems, cloaked in Gandini’s fantastic Bertone design bearing unique elements like taillamps floating in a glass panel. He was tapped by Maserati again in the late 1980s to update the V-6-powered Biturbo into the V-8 Shamal, and used his design language to add smooth tension to the contemporary Quattroporte.

Gandini on Maserati

The stunning 1974-’82 Khamsin blended a traditional Maserati V-8 with Citroën hydraulic systems, cloaked in Gandini’s fantastic Bertone design bearing unique elements like taillamps floating in a glass panel. He was tapped by Maserati again in the late 1980s to update the V-6-powered Biturbo into the V-8 Shamal, and used his design language to add smooth tension to the contemporary Quattroporte.

Other Noteworthy Gandini Car Designs

• Citroën GS Camargue (1972)
• NSU Trapeze (1973)
• Iso Lele (1970-’74)
• Lancia Stratos HF (1971/1973-’74)
• IsoRivolta Grifo 90 (1990)
• Nissan AP-X (1993)
• DeTomaso Biguà/Qvale Mangusta (1996/1999-’02)
• Renault 5 (1984-’96)

This 1974 Bultaco Pursang 360 Mk7 for sale on Hemmings.com looks a little too nice to race following an extensive restoration.Minnesota Motorcars

Warning: Vintage dirt bikes can be habit-forming and 50-year-old Bultacos, like this 1974 Pursang 360 Mk7 for sale on Hemmings.com, are a powerful gateway drug.

While Senor Bultó’s scrappy independent motorcycle company folded decades ago, his passion lives on among Bultaco enthusiasts today. There’s a deep fanbase/knowledge base for these legendary Spanish machines, and spare parts needed to keep a Bultaco in race-, ride- or show-ready form, are still available from dealers, as well as aftermarket sources.

This restored ’74 Pursang 360 Mk7 looks too nice to get dirty and it’s a significant bike in Bultaco history. By the early to mid 1970s, the Big Four Japanese companies were in the motocross motorcycle business to stay. Honda’s Elsinore had rewritten the book, while Yamaha’s innovative Monoshock suspension foretold future single-rear-shock designs. Roger DeCoster was running roughshod over the 500cc class on a Suzuki and Kawasaki launched it’s legendary KX series with a 125, a 250 and 450 in ’74. Meanwhile Maico, Husqvarna, CZ and Penton/KTM weren’t sitting still either.

Bultaco needed a boost to keep it winning on the world MX stage and got one from a young American named Jim Pomeroy. Pomeroy was a struggling but talented privateer racer, with limited sponsorship, when he made history at age 20 by winning the 1973 Spanish 250 Grand Prix. He was the first American to grab a GP win in Europe and the first to ever score victory on a GP debut. For that historic win, in Bultaco’s home country no less, Pomeroy rode a stock 1973 Pursang 240 Mk6 (that he assembled himself) and arrived at the track without a mechanic or crew. Pomeroy’s life changed significantly after that win though. He became an overnight MX star with full-factory backing as well as Bultaco’s frontman in ads for the Pursang.

Jim Pomeroy (number 26) was virtually unknown when he won 1973 Spanish 250 Grand Prix became an overnight motocross star.Bultaco advertisement

When the ’74s Pursangs arrived, they were good enough to win races at any level. Bultaco built stout two-stroke engines, but for ’74, the Buls were lighter, thanks to a new chromoly frame and handlebars, Akront aluminum rims and alloy hubs. Suspension fore and aft across the board was via Spanish-made Betor forks and shocks. The ’74 Pursang 250 sported a blue with white-stripe paint scheme as an homage to the helmets worn by American riders, like Pomeroy.

The 1974 Bultaco lineup was lighter than ever thanks to chromoly frames and lightweight alloy wheels and hubs. The 250 sported a blue and white paint scheme modeled after the helmets worn by American riders like PomeroyBultaco advetisment

The big-bore engine in the Pursang 360 engine now displaced 352 ccs up from 326 ccs in the previous year’s Pursang 350. The size increase came primarily from a 4-mm increase in the stroke, which probably also helped the Pursang 360 deliver the strong, tractable power it was known for. The carburetor was a 36-mm Amal with a tickler for cold starts instead of choke. The tickler button would force the float down, flooding the carburetor with fuel, ensuring a rich mixture. The kick starter was on the left side and the shifter for the five-speed transmission was on the right. This particular bike has a compression release installed in the cylinder head. It’s cable operated via a short lever on the left side of the handle bar below the clutch. This is a nice addition, as these big-bore two-strokes can be hard to kick over (especially from the left side) and you need to boot them forcefully to get them started.

These bikes have their kickstarter on the left and the shifter on the right, which can take some getting used to. A cable-operated compression release (pictured to the left of the spark plug) has been installed to make the big-bore, two-stroke easier to kick over. The carburetor is a 36 mm Amal. It uses a tickler (that knob to the right of the fuel filter) for cold starts rather than a choke. Pushing the tickler forces the float open flooding the carburetor with gasoline (and dribbling gasoline oil the engine as well).Minnesota Motorcars

Aside from being light, powerful and a lot of fun to ride, Pursang 360s are visually stunning with their red/yellow and white body work against their silver frames. Someone spent a lot of time polishing this Pursang’s fork leg’s engine cases, rims and hubs, bringing back their original luster.

This Pursang 360 is so clean it’d be a shame to risk scuffing it up in vintage MX races. So, maybe this one could be for show, and you could pick up a scruffier Pursang for weekend competition? Just be careful: vintage dirt bikes can be habit-forming.

A Cycle World test rider drags the toe of his Full Bore boot while drifting the new 1974 Bultaco Pursang 360 Mk7 for the cover shot of the May issue. The magazine editors called the 360 “Bultaco’s Illegal Super light” because the stock bike’s 204.5 dry weight was under the FIM minimum weight for the 500 cc class.Cycle World

Specifications

(May 1974 Cycle World)

Original List Price: $1,395

Tire size: 3×21 (front) 4.50×18 (rear)

Engine: Two-stroke, piston port, 352cc

Bore and stroke: 83.7×64 mm

Compression: 10.5:1

Carburetor: 36 mm Amal

Ignition: Motoplat breakerless

Fuel capacity: 1.8 gallons

Horsepower: 28.55@6,500 rpm

Torque: 23.07 lb.ft. @6,500 rpm

Transmission and drive

Clutch: Mult-plate, wet

Primary drive: Twin-row chain

Final drive: Single row chain

Chassis

Wheelbase: 55 inches

Seat height: 33.5 inches

Weight: (with fuel) 212 pounds