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Ardun 296-Powered ’32 Ford Highboy Roadster

This ’32 Ford roadster was built around 20 years ago with a steel Ford Deuce body, which has been mounted on a modified TCI frame. The car is powered by a 296ci V8 topped by hemispherical Ardun overhead-valve heads and three Stromberg 97s, and it is linked to a ’39 transmission with Zephyr gears and an iron Frankland quick-change rear end. The car rides on steel wheels with staggered tires and has a drop axle with Pete and Jake’s chrome radius rods, a buggy-style rear end with Ford Houdaille hydraulic shocks, and hydraulic drum brakes with Buick finned units up front. Inside is black upholstery on the bench seat, Stewart-Warner instruments, and a banjo steering wheel. Acquired by the selling dealer in 2025, this ’32 highboy roadster is now offered in Houston, Texas with a clean Louisiana title listing the car as a 1932 Ford.

The selling dealer tells us the build took place around 20 years ago, and it utilized a steel Ford body mounted on a TCI frame.

Red flourishes and a V8 logo have been applied to the radiator shell and grille, and it has chrome spreader bars front and rear. The drop axle has been chromed and is matched with chrome Pete and Jake’s hairpin radius rods, a transverse leaf spring, and tube shocks. Buick-style finned hydraulic drums are mounted up front.

The 16″ U.S. Wheel Deuce wheels wear ’40 Ford hubcaps. The selling dealer tells us the Firestone 5.00×16 Dirt Track ribbed front tires and 8.90×16 Dirt Track grooved rear tires were mounted in 2025.

Black upholstery and carpeting line the cabin. A banjo steering wheel and Stewart-Warner gauges were fitted, and the cluster registers 125 miles.

The car is powered by a 296ci V8 topped by hemispherical Ardun overhead-valve heads and three Stromberg 97 carburetors. A Vertex magneto and an aluminum radiator were also fitted.

The ’39 three-speed manual transmission has Zephyr gears and is linked to an iron Frankland quick-change rear end. The buggy-style rear end uses Ford Houdaille hydraulic shocks, and ’40 hydraulic drums were also mounted out back.

A set of red wire-spoke wheels with staggered tires are included. The car is titled as a 1932 Ford using VIN 18135519.

The seller-provided build summary is displayed above, and a Bring a Trailer hot rod jacket accompanies the sale.

No Reserve: Custom Ford-Style Hot Rod Project

This custom hot rod is an incomplete project that was initiated approximately ten years ago by the seller’s late father-in-law. The fabricated bodywork is mounted to a tubular steel chassis that rolls on live axles with cowl steering, transverse torsion bars, four-wheel disc brakes, and Sander Engineering 15” wheels. A 351ci Ford V8 longblock is linked to a Muncie four-speed manual transmission and a Winters quick-change rear end, while the cabin features Kirkey aluminum racing seats and a Schroeder steering box. A Hilborn eight-stack fuel injection system, a spare engine block and transmission, an aluminum radiator, and a fuel cell are among the parts included in the sale. This hot rod project is now offered in North Carolina at no reserve on a bill of sale with blueprints.

Taking inspiration from prewar sedans, the steel bodywork is mounted to a custom-fabricated tubular chassis and features a raked roofline and a louvered rear panel. A Mooneyes fuel tank is mounted ahead of the radiator shell. Rust and exposed welds are visible around the car.

The torsion-bar suspension incorporates a four-bar front assembly, a three-link rear setup, and spherical joints.

Sander Engineering 15” multi-piece knock-off wheels are retained with Halibrand three-eared spinners and wrapped in older 25×7.50” front and 29×15.50” rear Hoosier tires. The four-wheel disc brakes are inboard-mounted out back.

The 351ci Ford V8 longblock is equipped with a Hilborn fuel pump, a crankshaft-driven water pump, and aluminum valve covers.

The cabin houses two Kirkey aluminum racing seats, and the three-spoke steering wheel is mounted to a Schroeder steering box.

A Muncie four-speed manual transmission is linked to a Sander Engineering driveshaft and a Winters quick-change rear end. Corrosion on chassis components can be viewed in the gallery.

The uninstalled Hilborn eight-stack intake has long velocity stacks.

An extra gearbox is included in the sale along with a spare engine block, an aluminum radiator, a fuel cell, and other parts that are shown in the gallery.

A set of blueprints will accompany the car and show design details from multiple perspectives.

The car does not have a VIN, is not legal for road use, and has not been titled or registered. It is being sold on a bill of sale.

15 Cars Built for Street Cred, Not Spec Sheets

Some cars are more than the sum of their horsepower, torque figures, or lap times. Street cred is earned not through raw performance alone, but by capturing imaginations and turning heads on every corner. These are the cars celebrated in movies, immortalized in music, and etched into the memory of car culture. Whether it’s a distinct silhouette, a rebellious spirit, or a legacy forged in the streets, these icons prove that coolness can’t always be measured by numbers. In the sections that follow, we’ll spotlight 15 cars whose legend lives far beyond the spec sheet.

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20 Factory Sleeper Cars That Made Zero Noise Until the Green Light

Some cars are born to shout about their power, but others prefer to whisper—until the stoplight turns green. Factory sleeper cars are those deceptively ordinary vehicles that blend into traffic, hiding their true muscle beneath everyday styling. Automakers have long surprised enthusiasts by slipping high-performance engines and advanced drivetrains into models that look like family sedans, wagons, or even hatchbacks.

This stealthy approach makes sleepers endlessly appealing: they’re the ultimate underdogs, catching rivals off guard and offering thrills where you’d least expect them. From turbocharged wagons to unassuming four-doors, these cars prove that looks can be delightfully deceiving.

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15 Cars So Ugly at Launch, They’re Considered Beautiful Today

In the world of automotive design, beauty is often a matter of perspective. Many cars have launched to public derision due to their unconventional aesthetics,
only to be celebrated as design icons years later. These vehicles challenge our notions of what makes a car visually appealing by defying conventional beauty standards.
Some designs were simply ahead of their time, while others grew on enthusiasts as cultural contexts shifted.
This article explores fifteen such cars, once scorned for their looks, that have undergone a remarkable transformation in public opinion over the years.
Join us as we count down these vehicles that exemplify how perception can change, turning yesterday’s “ugly ducklings” into today’s beloved classics.

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15 Cars From the ’90s That Predicted Everything About 2025

The 1990s were a transformative era for the automotive world, brimming with bold ideas and groundbreaking technology. While many cars from that decade are now fondly remembered as nostalgic icons, a closer look reveals that several models were far ahead of their time. These vehicles introduced features and design philosophies that have only become mainstream in 2025, from hybrid powertrains and advanced infotainment systems to driver assistance technologies and radical styling.
Manufacturers in the ’90s weren’t just chasing trends—they were setting them, laying the groundwork for the smart, sustainable, and connected cars we drive today. The visionary spirit of the era truly set the pace for the future of mobility.

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15 Vintage Car Models That Drove Like the Future

Vintage cars hold an undeniable allure, not just as relics of the past, but as harbingers of the future. Some classic models introduced revolutionary technologies and designs that were light years ahead of their era, leaving a lasting impact on automotive history. From groundbreaking aerodynamics to pioneering safety features, these vehicles defied the norms of their time, offering a glimpse into what the future could hold. The stories of these cars remind us that innovation is timeless. Let’s explore 15 vintage cars that not only captured the spirit of their time but also pushed the envelope of what was possible.

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Identify These GM Colonnades!

For 1973-77, General Motors redesigned its A-body series and promoted them as Colonnades, marketing’s attempt to describe pillared construction with frameless doors and windows after two-plus decades of touting the pillarless hardtop. Below we have four Colonnades that are currently listed for sale on AutoHunter or ClassicCars.com. Can you tell us the year, make, and model of each?

Post your answers in the Comments section below. Hints are available by simply clicking on an image.

Click on a photo to reveal each car

Every Tuesday, you’ll find a new puzzle at The Classic Cars.com Journal. Play previous games for even more enjoyment!

bb-Auto 1986 Porsche 911 Hybrid Beams into Jay Leno’s Garage

Jay Leno has had several Porsches in his garage over the years. Many of them were his, but a lot of them were brought in by companies such as Singer and Lab Eleven. For a variety of reasons, none were quite like this bb-Auto 1986 Porsche 911.

In the 1970s and ’80s, German tuner BB was known for its customized cars. One of the company’s most famous builds was the “Rainbow Car,” a 1976 Porsche 911 that combined the Targa body style with Turbo power and Polaroid’s color scheme as part of a display at the 1976 Photokina trade show in Cologne, Germany. These days, Galpin Motors has the rights to bb-Auto in North America. To honor BB’s colorful creation, the company has developed a prototype of a 1986 Porsche 911 with a similar color scheme (with painted stripes!), but a very different engine.

As Galpin Motors president Beau Boeckmann explains, under the rear engine cover is a fuel-injected Ed Pink 4.0-liter flat-six. Between the 4.0 and the upgraded G50 five-speed manual gearbox is a lightweight electric motor that instantly adds 150 horsepower, raising the grand total to 550. An Elephant Racing 997 GT3-style adjustable suspension and custom Fuchs-style wheels made by Titan 7 for bb-Auto help all that reach the road or track. When the Brembo discs aren’t needed, a regenerative braking system puts juice back into the lithium-ion battery pack.

The cockpit is colorful in its own way: both Recaro buckets, the rear seats, and the door panel inserts are covered in a vibrant blue upholstery.

Like the Targa, the roof panel is removable, but now it’s transparent glass. Air conditioning keeps things cool while a TV in the dash keeps the shotgun passenger entertained.

What does Leno think of bb-Auto’s retro-inspired 911 build? Are all of the changes too much? Watch the video below to find out.

AutoHunter Spotlight: 1987 Chevrolet R10 Pickup

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this restored, two-wheel-drive 1987 Chevrolet R10. It is equipped with features such as air conditioning and cruise control. Under the hood is a fuel-injected 5.0-liter V8 connected to a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission. Finished in red and gray two-tone paint over an updated gray cloth interior, this Chevy R/V-series (formerly C/K) pickup is now offered by the Florida selling dealer with the original owner’s manual, CARFAX report, and clear title.

As part of its 2024 body-on restoration, this “Square Body” was refinished in a combination of red and gray paint. Exterior features include chrome bumpers, front bumper guards, fog lights, tonneau cover, hitch receiver, and single exhaust system with dual pipes.

The tires have also been updated to new 235/75 Mesa (front) and Corsa (rear) radials, which surround a set of 15-inch Rally wheels.

The refreshed interior features a gray cloth bench seat plus the convenience of power windows and locks, cruise control, tilt steering column, power steering, air conditioning, and new AM/FM/Bluetooth retro-look stereo with new speakers.

Instrumentation consists of an 85-mph speedometer and gauges for the fuel level, voltage, oil pressure, and temperature. The odometer shows 60,164 miles, though a mileage inconsistency was logged in the CARFAX report in January 2023, the same month a mileage figure of 57,689 was recorded. The title for this truck indicates it’s mileage-exempt.

A fuel-injected 5.0-liter V8 that was factory-rated at 170 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque gets this Chevy down the road. The L03 small-block draws fuel from two gas tanks and delivers its output to the rear wheels through a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission. Power front disc and rear drum brakes help this R10 stop so that it can keep on truckin’.

If you want this updated 1987 Chevrolet R10 pickup for cruising, hauling, or a little of both, bid on it now. The auction for it ends on Friday, July 25 at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery