The roster of 1970sChrysler and Imperial vehicles reviewed by Consumer Guide was not as bad as I had expected. The takeaway after surveying the pair of books was that early C-bodies were horrible in the beginning but became better as the decade wore on, with the LeBaron actually forging an improved path for the brand.
So, what about Plymouth?
My recollection suggests that there was only one Plymouth that the testers recommended as a used car, with other models having poor body integrity over time, bad fuel economy, or too many recalls. Would that still be the case once I evaluated Plymouth’s entire lineup? I suspect my memory is a bit harsher than reality, so let the excerpts below demonstrate most of the reality versus my perception. Observe the captive imports save the Rootes-based Cricket (the latter of which had a poor record) and Mitsubishi-based Sapporo. Please note the CG rating scale of 5 being Excellent and 1 being Poor.
Plymouth “The unitized bodies are practical for subcompacts and compacts, but they are unacceptable for the bigger, comfort-oriented models.”
Barracuda: “Workmanship was bad. Body integrity was worse, resulting in air and water leaks, plus penetrating noise at all speeds.” CG rating: 1
Fury/Gran Fury: “If you don’t mind sacrificing quiet [due to unitized construction], then the Fury is a good used-car buy.” CG rating: 2-3
Satellite/Fury: “Plymouth’s intermediate … gives good gasoline mileage for its class and loses resale value quickly. That would be enough to qualify it as a best buy, if it were not for the car’s lackluster repair history.” CG rating: 2-3
Horizon and TC3: “Overall, a fine little car, and rather underrated … [though] workmanship more lax than on German or Japanese imports.” CG rating: 5
Valiant: “No car sold during 1969 through 1975 can compare with its all-around good sense and economy.” CG rating: 5
Volaré: “A basically good design for its day spoiled by haphazard assembly practices.” CG rating: 5
Champ: “Performance okay for this sort of car … fine fit and finish [make it an] excellent used-car buy.” CG rating: 4
Arrow: “Engine and drive train durability is better than average, and body integrity superior.” CG rating: 4
August 11th marks 60 years since Ford introduced the Bronco “sport-utility” to the world. To celebrate this milestone, Ford is offering a 60th Anniversary Package for the 2026 Bronco (sure, there was a 25-year gap between the fifth- and sixth-generation models, but who doesn’t love a party?).
Ford starts with the four-door-only Outer Banks model powered by either the EcoBoost 2.3-liter I4 or the EcoBoost 2.7-liter V6. Color combos are limited to Ruby Red with white 60th anniversary side graphics and Wimbledon White hardtop, or solid Wimbledon White with Vermilion Red graphics. No matter which color is selected, all Broncos with the 60th Anniversary Package receive a heritage-inspired Warm Alloy grille with Vermilion Red “BRONCO” lettering and special badging that identifies their place in SUV history.
The Sasquatch Package comes standard and adds automatic on-demand four-wheel drive, a high-clearance suspension, front and rear e-lockers, and a more aggressive rear end ratio. A set of 35-inch Goodyear Territory RT tires surrounds the unique 17-inch Gravity Gray wheels, which are styled after the wheels on the original Bronco. Vermilion Red center caps with a Bucking Bronco logo and the Bronco’s first production year, 1966, deepen the anniversary model’s connection to the original.
At the back, the 60th Anniversary Package adds a matte black Ford badge on the swing gate and a tire cover with a Wimbledon White hard center that features Vermilion Red “BRONCO” branding.
Getting into the cabin will be a little easier thanks to running boards and A-pillar-mounted grab handles, which are available on all 2026 Broncos. Like the outside, the leather seats are two-tone: Ebony around Alpine white inserts.
Other special touches include Alpine marine-grade vinyl armrests, Alpine stitching on the leather-topped dashboard, and 60th Anniversary logos embossed into the seatbacks. Bronco Red accents on the instrument panel and grab handles add pops of color to the otherwise neutral interior.
Expect Ford to release pricing for the 2026 Bronco and the 60th Anniversary Package shortly before dealers start accepting orders in October.
A family heirloom is typically not sold because it’s been a part of so many memories that it’s transcended being an object and become a part of the family. You can consider our latest AutoHunter Spotlight car, a 1967 Ford Mustang Hardtop, an heirloom because it’s been in the same family since it was new. But this Lime Gold pony car with an Ivy Gold vinyl interior is very much for sale. If you place the top bid on AutoHunter.com, you’ll become the new caretaker of this well-preserved Challenger 289-powered Mustang that’s equipped with a SelectShift Cruise-O-Matic. It comes from the Missouri-based private seller with an owner’s manual, Classic Auto Investments appraisal, and clear title.
The 1967 model year brought revised exterior styling (especially at the rear end), interior changes, and an optional 390ci Thunderbird Special V8, among other updates. That’s when the seller’s grandma bought this Mustang Hardtop. He says he’s had it the last 30 years and that it’s “all original,” which means the “motor, paint, interior and even the wheels” came straight from Ford’s factory back during the LBJ administration. Understandably, the Lime Gold paint has developed a patina over the last 58 years. The photo gallery shows chrome trim that appears to be in great shape.
Four things that have been changed—for good reason—are the tires, which are now 205/70 Goodyear Regatta whitewalls.
With 81,820 original miles on the clock, this car hasn’t been moth-balled, but it also hasn’t been driven a lot, considering its age. You can see that in the overall shape of the Ivy Gold vinyl upholstery and its lack of cracks and rips. The original AM radio is still in place. Even the headliner seems to be holding up well (literally) against Father Time. To see an entire list of things that have aged well on this car, check out the Classic Auto Investments appraisal. However, one thing that does need to be addressed is the factory air conditioning because the seller reports it doesn’t work.
According to the brochure for the ’67 Mustang, Ford offered it with four V8s. The one under the hood of this particular car is the entry-level Challenger 289 with 9.3:1 compression and a two-barrel carburetor, a combination which was factory-rated at 200 horsepower. A SelectShift Cruise-O-Matic (a.k.a. C4) three-speed auto turns that number into forward motion; manual drum brakes reign it in.
After nearly 60 years as a four-wheeled member of the seller’s family, it’s time for this 1967 Ford Mustang Hardtop to find a new home. If you’d like to welcome it to your family, the only way you can do that is by placing the winning bid for it on AutoHunter. Do it now before the auction for this heirloom automobile ends on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. (PDT).
While not as luxurious as the Bel Air or even the mid-range 210, the Chevrolet 150 was a popular car for economy-minded buyers and those managing fleets. It has also become a popular model for hot-rodders because it is essentially a blank/basic canvas. While badged as a Bel Air, today’s featured car is actually a 150 in disguise. More importantly, it has a few tricks up its sleeve, like a fuel-injected V8 and a six-speed automatic transmission.
“The main components of this 150 wagon’s powertrain date from the 21st century,” the listing begins. “The engine is a 6.0-liter iron-block LS V8 sourced from a modern Chevrolet truck that showed about 25,000 miles on the odometer when the engine was removed.”
Throughout its lifespan, Chevrolet touted the 150’s value. One advertisement said, “You get more to be proud of in a Chevy. You’ll take extra pride and pleasure in the way it looks—the way it acts—and the way it’s put together. No other low-priced car is quite so sweet, smooth and sassy, or so solidly and finely made as Chevrolet.”
As for this car’s performance powertrain: The LS engine was reportedly torn down and rebuilt using LS3 components, including the cylinder heads, camshaft, and intake/fueling components. The seller says, “The engine bay is executed cleanly enough to nearly pass as factory.” Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission pulled from a 2011 Camaro.
The car’s two-tone Surf Green and Highland Green paint theme continues to the interior, where they work together nicely. While details of the options are not itemized in the listing, the photos show features that include a floor shifter, under-dash climate control vents, lap belts, radio, and wood-rimmed steering wheel.
My take: I love how the car is impressive on paper, yet so unassuming in person. It’s a wagon, it’s not a super flashy color, and it even has a set of simple retro-look wheels. But underneath its skin, it has more to offer—and it moves with the power and confidence of a modern fuel-injected V8. Yes, please.
This 1932 Ford roadster is a steel-bodied hot rod that was built by Lowrey’s Auto Restoration of Tilton, New Hampshire. It is powered by a built 301ci Mercury flathead V8 paired with a Ford three-speed manual transmission and a Ford rear end. The car features a Brookville body finished in Lite Fast Maroon over a white and red interior. Equipment includes a chopped windshield, a white soft top, 16″ steel wheels, Buick drum brakes, and a Dodge dashboard. Acquired by the current owner in 2022, this roadster is now offered on their behalf in Warwick, Rhode Island, with a Rhode Island title in the owner’s name.
The Brookville steel body is finished in Ford Lite Fast Maroon and features pinstriping of the original builder’s initials on the doors. The windshield frame has been chopped 3.5 inches, and the car is equipped with a louvered hood, a white soft top, and E&J Type 20 headlights.
The red-painted 16″ steel wheels are mounted with front 6-16 and rear 7.50-16 BFGoodrich Silvertown tires. The car is equipped with a Vega steering box, and stopping power is provided by 1947 Buick drum brakes.
The cabin features a bench seat upholstered in white and red. A 1933 Dodge dashboard is fitted, along with a 1939 Ford steering wheel and a glass shift knob.
The dash houses a 100-mph speedometer and gauges for amperage, water temperature, oil pressure, and fuel level. A Sun tachometer is mounted to the steering column. The five-digit odometer shows 2,300 miles. Total mileage is unknown.
The flathead V8 was reportedly sourced from a 1947 Mercury and built to 301ci with the following components:
4.125″ stroke crankshaft
Ross pistons
Isky 400 Jr. camshaft
Oversized intake valves
Offenhauser aluminum cylinder heads
Offenhauser intake manifold
Dual Stromberg 97 carburetors
Lucas racing distributor
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 1939 Ford three-speed manual transmission and a 1940 Ford rear end with 3.54:1 gears.
The Rhode Island title carries a “not actual” brand.
Muscle cars are celebrated for their roaring V8 engines, bold styling, and an aura of rebellion. Traditionally, these American icons have followed a formula of power and attitude. Yet, even within this high-octane world, some models shattered their own conventions—introducing innovations, surprising performance tweaks, or bold design departures. These exceptional vehicles didn’t just bend the rules—they rewrote them, challenging what it means to be a muscle car. To see how muscle cars have evolved, check out MotorTrend’s list of muscle car legends.
If you want to know the true difference between a restoration and a restomod, ask someone to tell you a vintage vehicle he or she finds attractive, then put him or her behind the wheel of it. Unless this person is an absolute purist, you’ll probably hear complaints related to the bias-ply tires or the lack of power steering or the suspension’s rough ride. Many people want the looks of a classic, but don’t want to live with the reality of one. That’s why vehicles such as Velocity Restorations‘ version of the 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer exist: It combines the Blazer’s old-school SUV presence with modern power and conveniences.
ON PAPER
Velocity calls its Ford Bronco (one of which we reviewed here), Chevrolet K10, International Scout, and other builds “Re-Engineered Classics” for good reason. Instead of retrofitting parts here and there, the Florida-based company goes from the tires up. Each vehicle is constructed as it passes through several stages that focus on the metal, paint, engine, chassis, interior, and more.
Velocity bases the K5 Blazer on a new foundation, using a company-specific frame from Roadster Shop. Believe it or not, Chevy offered the ’72 Blazer with two-wheel drive, but Velocity equipped its rig with a Dana 44 front axle with Warn locking hubs and a Dana 66 rear end with a limited-slip differential. As part of the hardware overhaul, Velocity installs front and rear sway bars and replaces the leaf springs with Fox coilovers. Of course, it also adds larger wheels and tires, opting for a set of 18-inch rollers with 35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain rubber. Behind those are Wilwood discs connected to a hydroboost braking system.
According to the brochure for the ’72 Blazer, Chevy’s color palette included Wheatland Yellow and Grapefruit Yellow. My test vehicle came finished in Ice White and War Bonnet Yellow, which was available on other Chevrolets: the 1971 and 1972 Corvettes. Velocity strikes a balance between going completely roof-on and totally topless by adding a “Safari” top connected to a family-style roll cage.
Power-deploying side steps ease entry to the cabin, which looks largely like it did back in the Nixon administration while providing useful upgrades in key areas. Behind the gorgeous wood-rimmed steering wheel is a set of new factory-style gauges from Dakota Digital. Black leather covers the bucket front and bench rear seats. Although the fabric roof prevents the sun from beaming straight down into the Blazer, most of the space underneath it is always open, so the Vintage Air A/C is a necessary addition. The touchscreen below the center HVAC vents has Bluetooth connectivity and provides access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Skeletonized manual-style cranks for the power windows help bottle in as much chilled air as possible or let the wind rush in completely for a more stimulating driving experience.
Under the hood, a pair of beautiful billet hinges flank an LT1 6.2-liter V8 crate engine from Chevrolet Performance Parts. Sorry, C8 Corvette Stingray fans – there’s no eight-speed dual-clutch transmission to go with that, but there is a 10L80 10-speed auto and a twin-stick, Advance Adapters Atlas dual-range transfer case that help deliver the small-block’s 455 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque to the road or trail.
ON PAVEMENT
After some of the personnel at Right Toyota, one of Velocity’s 13 dealers, pulled the Velocity Blazer out of the showroom, it was my turn to get behind the wheel. I knew the Blazer would turn heads. Many people are not used to seeing vehicles from the early 1970s in traffic. Then there’s the Blazer’s sheer size, which was effectively made even larger by the distinctive War Bonnet Yellow paint. Fans of the classic, full-size Blazers would definitely see it coming. Everyone would hear the K5 before it was even visible.
So how many people did I catch doing a double take as I thundered down the roads of Scottsdale, Arizona? I have no idea – I was so busy enjoying the experience (and making sure I – and everybody near me – didn’t get a scratch on my $322,400 borrowed set of wheels). The Velocity K5 Blazer was pure Americana: A big, burly, body-on-frame off-roader with a loud, powerful V8. Being able to hear the LT1 roar through Velocity’s performance exhaust while the wind blew through my hair made the drive even better. Despite all the new hardware, the Blazer’s lovable rawness and rugged charm remained undeniably intact.
To see – and hear – the Velocity Restorations 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer in action, watch my video review below.
Located in the Black Hills of Yavapai County, Arizona, Jerome is a settlement about two hours from Phoenix that got its start as a copper mining boomtown. At its peak about 100 years ago, approximately 10,000 people lived there. Today, fewer than 1,000 call it home.
The main attraction for most who visit Jerome is its Wild West tourism: the historic buildings erected on the twisty roadways of Mingus Mountain remain largely the same today as they were a century ago. With that in mind, my destination for a one-night stay was the Jerome Grand Hotel—a former 30,000-square-foot hospital that sat vacant for over four decades and was later converted into a hotel in 1996. The lobby is located where the old emergency room reception took place, and the on-site restaurant is called Asylum. Thrill-seekers love going to the hotel for its paranormal activity, particularly on the third floor, where the psych ward was located. I was not sure if I wanted to spend the night with any otherworldly entities.
What I did want to see, though, was located just about a mile up the road. The Gold King Mine was established in 1890 when a 1,270-foot shaft was dug and gold was struck. Thus, the small settlement of “Hayden” was established. Eventually, the ore was exhausted, the mine was closed in 1914, and the town dried up. But in the 1980s, Terry and Don Robertson turned it into an outdoor museum. Sprinkled around the property are over 180 cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Based on my general observations, the vast majority of the vehicles are heavy-duty trucks.
Here were some of the vehicles that caught my eye during my visit:
1936 Dodge LC Truck
This truck rolled off the line the year Franklin D. Roosevelt was reelected as president of the United States, and it had a modern look for its time. The most common engine was a 201.3ci L-head inline-six paired with a three-speed manual transmission. According to signage on the door, this one participated in the American Truck Historical Society (ATHS) National Antique Truck Show in Bloomington, Minnesota in June 1999.
1939 Studebaker Commander Coupe
Powered by a 226ci L-head inline-six, this car was one of the pioneers of a specific type of independent front suspension. The sweeping lines became signature characteristics of Studebaker models during the era. Even the dashboard had an Art Deco look to it. This was one of the few cars on-site with fully inflated tires. Maybe it “ran when parked?” I’d sure love to see it cruising down the road again.
1941 International Harvester Heavy-Duty Tanker Truck
Even though it was older by a decade and a half, this truck immediately made me think of the menacing 1955 Peterbilt 281 tanker truck from the famous 1971 Steven Spielberg horror movie “Duel.” This fuel-hauler was decked out in Shell Oil livery; an Arizona license plate on the rear end expired in 2007. This is a vehicle I’m quite unfamiliar with. International apparently evolved from its D-Series to its K-Series line of heavy-duty trucks right around model year 1940. Can someone definitively help us identify this colorful truck?
1949 Ford F-3 One-Ton Truck
A placard affixed to the driver door of this F-3 said it had a six-cylinder flathead engine and a four-speed transmission. It also said, “Used Every Day.” I’m not sure when that badge was attached to the vehicle, but something tells me it hasn’t been used in quite some time. The upholstery was so mutilated that the bench seat was nothing but rusty springs.
1952 Chevrolet 3600 Truck
The “Advance Design” series of General Motors trucks, produced between 1947 and 1955, have an incredibly strong enthusiast following. This truck more than likely came with either a Thriftmaster 216.5ci inline-six or a slightly larger 235.5ci version of the same. The driver door said “Cannon’s Salvage and Towing” in Clarkdale. It turns out that Cannon Salvage is still in business. I wonder if it wants its truck back?
1956 Studebaker 2E “Transtar” Truck
This dually was definitely set up for heavy hauling. More than likely, it was powered by a 259ci Commander V8 mated to a three-speed manual transmission. Some online sources say there were 20,218 trucks of this type built for the year. The way the tires were sinking in the ground, it was almost as if Mother Earth was trying to reclaim it.
I hope you enjoyed kicking the tires—some inflated and some not—of these old rusty rides with me. Want to check out the Gold King Mine yourself? Admission is $12 for adults, and the property is open for self-guided tours every day except Tuesday. Check out the Gold King Mine website for more visitor information.
This 1931 Chevrolet is a five-window coupe that was acquired by the seller’s father in the 1990s, and subsequent work involved repainting the steel body and installing a supercharged 400ci Chevrolet V8. Induction is through dual Holley carburetors, and the engine is backed by a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission and a 12-bolt rear end. The car rides on a transverse leaf spring up front and coil springs out back along with rack-and-pinion steering, front disc brakes, and Rocket Racing 15” alloy wheels with big-and-littles. Inside, two-tone bucket seats are joined by a WELD Racing steering wheel, a Lokar shifter, an engine-turned dashboard fascia, an overhead console, and a Pioneer CD head unit. This Chevrolet hot rod is now offered with a clean Colorado title in the seller’s name listing the car as a 1931 Chevrolet.
The steel bodywork is finished in purple with multicolor pinstriping, and details include a roll-down rear window, a black roof covering, chrome headlight buckets, tinted glass, blue-dot taillights, and dual exhaust outlets. Dings in the radiator, paint chips, and other flaws around the car can be viewed in the gallery.
The front Rocket Racing 15” alloy wheels are wrapped in 26×6.00” Mickey Thompson tires, while 12.00” Radir Dragster slicks with whitewall inserts are mounted out back. The chassis features hairpins radius rods all around, rack-and-pinion steering, a drop axle with a transverse leaf spring, and a live rear axle with coil springs and a double-bend Panhard bar. Braking is handled by front discs and rear drums.
The cabin features bucket seats trimmed in gray with purple inserts, and gray carpets line the floor. Additional appointments include billet hardware, a Lokar shifter, an engine-turned dashboard fascia, an overhead console, and a Pioneer CD head unit. The seller notes that the power functions for the seats are not wired in.
The WELD Racing steering wheel is mounted to a tilt column and sits ahead of Mallory instrumentation consisting of a 160-mph speedometer, a tachometer, and gauges for oil pressure and amperage. They are joined by AutoMeter gauges for coolant temperature and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 3,500 miles.
An aluminum box in the trunk houses the battery.
Around 2019, the 400ci Chevrolet V8 was installed at Wicked Kool Rides in Keenesburg, Colorado, and it is equipped with a Weiand supercharger, dual Holley carburetors, and Lake-style exhaust headers with capped cutouts. The seller states that recent work has included rebuilding the carburetors, replacing the spark plugs, and changing the oil.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission and a 12-bolt rear end.
The car is titled using the Colorado Assigned Identification Number ID43022COLO as a 1931 Chevrolet 5WN.
The world of muscle cars is filled with machines that broke every rule, ignored market logic, and sometimes seemed to exist against all odds. These daring creations defied conventional wisdom, yet became icons that shaped automotive culture. From limited runs to wild engineering choices, their stories are as legendary as their rumbling engines. Discover the most unlikely muscle cars that left an indelible mark on history, celebrated by enthusiasts everywhere. Read more about muscle car history.
