mod@tech

If you’re a Gen-Y guy or gal (or any other generation) whose automotive knowledge was seeded in the movie theater, read up because you’re going to want to hear this: Universal Studios Hollywood has a new roller coaster called Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift that will be taking over SoCal starting in the summer of 2026.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will be the first-ever high-speed outdoor roller coaster at Universal Studios Hollywood. It features a “groundbreaking” 360-degree rotation of individual cars that “makes a seamless sensation of drifting cars as they spin in motion at speeds up to 72 mph.” Will it give you the same heart-pounding thrill that the Fast & Furious universe does? You tell us!

You’ll have the following cars to choose from: 1970 Dodge Charger, 1997 Mazda RX-7, 2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R, and 1994 Toyota Supra. No, they won’t be running 10-second quarters, but they will be doing things that you’d never want to experience on the street.

To be the first to know what’s next, visit Universal Studios Hollywood’s website and sign up for email updates.

There’s a lot of celebrity memorabilia out there, but to a car enthusiast, it doesn’t get any better than buying a star’s vehicle. At a Barrett-Jackson auction, someone paid $107,800 to get not only comedian and actor David Spade’s 1978 Ford F-250 Ranger XLT, but also a piece of Ford truck history.

This is what you call a “Dentside” because of the indentation down both sides of the body, a styling cue on Blue Oval trucks from 1973-1979. As a ’78, this one has the visual updates that Ford incorporated for the model year. Speaking of updates, Spade bought this truck after its 400ci V8 and three-speed automatic were rebuilt. It had also been upgraded with a four-inch lift, 17-inch Raceline Rockcrusher wheels with BFGoodrich KO2s, a hotter cam, an Old Air Products air conditioning system, and more. If you missed your chance to get Spade’s F-250, don’t worry — he’s sold several vehicles through Barrett-Jackson before and we’re sure there are more to come.

The Grundy Insurance Agency has offered Agreed Value Collector Vehicle Insurance to America’s automobile enthusiasts for over 75 years. Their policies are designed for car guys and girls to enjoy their vehicles without fear of loss. Additional benefits include towing and labor, trip interruption, repair shop of your choice, and more. Contact them today for a quote on one or all of your vehicles. www.grundy.com

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this 1972 Chevrolet El Camino EV conversion built by Vintage Iron & Restoration of Scottsdale, Arizona. It’s powered by a pair of NetGain HyPer9 electric motors mated to a single-speed automatic transmission. Highlights include air conditioning, power steering, QA1 coilovers, and power disc brakes. Finished in black over a black vinyl interior, this all-electric restomod is now offered by the selling dealer in Oregon with a clear title.

The body may look purely black but, if you catch it from certain angles, you’ll see gold flakes in the finish. Exterior features include chrome bumpers, custom “EV Camino” fender badges, chrome mirror housings, and folding soft tonneau cover.

This distinctive build rides at the perfect height on its black 18-inch American Racing Torq Thrust wheels with polished lips and 225/45 Goodyear Eagle radials.

The cabin continues the blacked-out theme with aftermarket black vinyl bucket seats, which are divided by a center console with an armrest, two cup holders, wireless charging pad, and drive mode selector dial. Other features include electric power steering, Budnik three-spoke steering wheel, air conditioning, and RetroSound AM/FM radio with Bluetooth connectivity.

Instrumentation consists of a 160-mph speedometer, 8,000-rpm tachometer, and gauges for the voltage, fuel level, temperature, and oil pressure — all from Dakota Digital. The digital odometer shows 993 miles, but the true mileage on this vehicle is unknown.

According to the EV Builder’s Guide, a pair of NetGain HyPer9 electric motors with 253 horsepower 649 lb-ft of torque power this pickup/passenger car. The 66.6-kWh battery pack is divided between the engine bay and the cargo bed. A single-speed automatic and an aluminum driveshaft sends that zip (and zap) to a 1992 Ford Thunderbird rear end. Also on this build’s long list of updates is a Ford Mustang II front end, QA1 coilovers, and Wilwood power four-wheel disc brakes.

Just as the El Camino is a hybrid of car comfort and truck utility, this customized 1972 model is a hybrid of retro styling and modern EV power. If you’re all charged up and ready to make it yours, bid on it before the auction ends on Friday, March 13, 2026, at 12:15 p.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

In an interesting twist of events, Pontiac did not offer a GTO convertible for 1972. However, Buick continued to offer the GS convertible, Chevrolet the Chevelle SS convertible, and Oldsmobile the 4-4-2 convertible. Our Pick of the Day is what a Pontiac enthusiast could order in substitution: This 1972 Pontiac LeMans Sport convertible is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Palmer, Massachusetts.

Pontiac actually discontinued the GTO convertible in the middle of the 1971 model year. Why an automaker would discontinue a body style of one of the most important performance models in the middle of the model year is anyone’s guess, though Pontiac had new general manager starting in 1969 and things were done differently than before.

Even though the GTO convertible was gone, the same equipment was available, so judicious use of the order form could create a quasi-GTO convertible. The first thing that one had to do was specify the LeMans convertible. For 1970-71, the LeMans Sport was the “regular” ragtop for consumers, but for 1972, the Sport became an option package with a “W70” order code. This package was included on all LeMans convertibles (optional for the hardtop) and included bucket seats and “distinctive door and quarter trim panels” plus “LeMans Sport” identification and additional interior lighting for the convertible.

The GTO also reverted to a package, the first time since 1965. It included a heavy-duty three-speed manual, 400 four-barrel with dual exhaust, exhaust splitters, G70-14 blackwalls, Endura front bumper, special hood with scoops, front-fender air extractors, firm-control shocks, front and rear stabilizer bars, and GTO identification. While it wasn’t possible to add the whole package to a LeMans convertible, it was possible to individually select most of the good stuff, including the “T41” Endura Styling Option that included the GTO’s front bumper, special hood, and front fenders. It was a GTO convertible in all but name.

Engine options to fake a GTO convertible included the 455/220 (250 horses with dual exhaust) or the 455 HO, which was now rated at 300 net horses. It required the Turbo Hydra-matic or “M22” heavy-duty close-ratio four-speed, T41 package with ram air (required, unlike in 1971), unitized ignition, and dual exhaust. Only 33 LeMans Sport convertibles were built with this engine, including seven with the GT package, a replacement of sorts for the GT-37 that included a manual heavy-duty three-speed, G70-14 white-lettered tires, body-color mirrors on both sides, Rally II wheels sans trim rings, Rally stripes, dual exhaust with side splitters, and GT identification.

This Wilderness Green 1972 Pontiac LeMans Sport convertible is one of 26 like it built with the 455 HO, and we know this to be true thanks to the “X” in the VIN. Of those, 12 were equipped with an automatic. “This fine example has received a complete frame-off restoration and was previously owned by the meticulously renowned Hendrik Performance Collection,” says the seller. Features include a Black convertible top, power steering and disc brakes, heavy-duty suspension (upgraded with Bilstein shocks), 17-inch Rally II wheels (though the original 15-inchers are included), tinted glass, center console, Rally gauges, tilt column, and Formula steering wheel. Modifications include an Eaton Suretrac 3.73 limited-slip setup, RetroSound AM/FM/Bluetooth stereo, and 1970-71 rear spoiler.

Sounds like a GTO, right? Drives like one as well. And, when it comes to most GTO convertibles out there, this one is rarer and faster (despite the low compression), stock for stock. This is the last of the stout A-bodies from Pontiac, and the top drops too! For $74,900, you will get a stellar piece of Pontiac history.

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

Representing peak late-1970s “land yacht” heft and styling, the Mercury Marquis was offered as a full-sized coupe, sedan, or station wagon. It rode on the body-on-frame platform and epitomized American luxury for its era. This brochure shows some of the available body styles, trim levels, and options.

The Marquis was geared inside and out toward touring. Mercury’s promotional materials said, “Full-size luxury, full-size comfort.” The brochure said, “It gives you room for six passengers with ample hip and shoulder room, even for three adults.”

At the recent Melrose Street Fair, one of the noteworthy cars on display was this beautiful, boxy, brown 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis with only 56,620 original miles. The car had a very “Lincoln-esque” vibe to it, featuring vertical marker lamps, waterfall-style grille, hideaway headlights (with “crown” medallions!), hood ornament, beefy bumpers, wheel skirts, and vinyl landau roof covering.

I caught up with the owner, Rick, who popped the hood. His car was optioned with a 460ci big-block V-8 – an upgrade from the standard 351ci V-8 and even the optional 400ci V-8. A three-speed automatic transmission was the sole offering, regardless of engine choice. The car probably gets about the same gas mileage as my Ford F-250.

Notice that Rick’s car was also equipped with a receiver hitch. Mercury’s brochure said, “Marquis sedans and station wagons offer uncommon trailer towing capabilities when equipped with the Class III Trailer Towing Package. Marquis recommended weight maximums of 7,000 pounds are higher than those for Olds 98 or Toronado, Buick Riviera or Electra, even Cadillac Eldorado or deVille. If you’re a trailer enthusiast, you’ll want to look into Marquis.”

By the way, 1978 would mark the final year for the big-body Marquis. In 1979, the car and its direct counterpart from the Ford lineup, the LTD Crown Victoria, were downsized. In fact, the 1979 models were 17 inches shorter and about 1,000 pounds lighter.

Looking at it that way, Rick’s Grand Marquis represents the last of its kind, and to many, it’s a strong reminder of the “excess” that defined some 1970s American cars.   

If you’re a Jeep fan, I have a feeling you’re really enjoying 2026. This year marks the brand’s 85th anniversary, which Jeep started celebrating last year with its ongoing Twelve 4 Twelve series of Wrangler special-edition models. The Jeep Convoy line of “mission-ready special editions that embody strength, unity and purpose” continues. And Jeep has released 85th Anniversary editions of the Wrangler and Gladiator, which will soon be joined by commemorative versions of the Compass, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Grand Wagoneer.

Since its founding, Jeep has not only honed its identity as the manufacturer of rugged and capable vehicles, but it’s also made a significant impact on the automotive industry as a whole. According to Stellantis, the 1949 Willys Wagon was the first utility vehicle with four-wheel drive. The 1963 Wagoneer was the first 4×4 with an automatic. Equipped with removable doors and roof just like the Wrangler, the 2020 Gladiator was the first open-air midsize truck.

To mark Jeep’s 85th Anniversary, Compass, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Grand Wagoneer special editions will come with “Steel Oxide wheel designs and unique badging graphics finished in Agave Blue. On the inside, vehicles receive unique elements, including Mayan Gold thread accents and seat tags finished in Blue Agave and Mayan Gold.”

Given the limited details, it looks as if the 85th Anniversary treatment is just a cosmetic package. Perhaps there is more to it and Jeep will fill in the blanks around the time that it announces pricing. However, judging by the press release and the single photo of the 85th Anniversary lineup, it’s reasonable to assume that only the Wrangler and Gladiator have the cool plaid seat inserts.