mod@tech

Ever wanted to get your hands on a police-spec muscle car? Your time has come. The Pick of the Day is a 1994 Chevrolet Camaro B4C SSP coupe listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“Original owner; this vehicle is in showroom condition,” the listing says.

While largely unassuming from the exterior, there is something special going on behind the scenes with this fourth-generation Camaro. Or should we say, “Cop-maro.”

The B4C Special Service Package (SSP) consisted of high-performance equipment that was usually reserved for police pursuit vehicles. Among the features were a 275-horsepower, 5.7-liter LT1 V-8, a heavy-duty suspension (with larger sway bars), four-wheel disc brakes, high-output alternator, and heavy-duty cooling systems for both the engine and the transmission. The car was built for stealthiness and speed.

Finished in Medium Quasar Blue Metallic, the simple exterior features fog lamps, quad headlights, black-finished side mirrors, and an integrated rear spoiler with a built-in third brake lamp. The manufacturer information sticker in the door jamb says that the car was built by General Motors of Canada in April 1994.

The cockpit (which looks immaculate in the photos) is upholstered in two-tone charcoal and gray cloth, and features include bucket seats, power windows, power-adjustable driver seat, air conditioning, cruise control, Delco stereo, power hatchback release, floor mats, and electric rear window defogger.

SSP-equipped Camaros could be optioned either with a 4L60E four-speed automatic or a T-56 six-speed manual transmission. This car will appeal to driving enthusiasts thanks to its six-speed manual. Oh yeah, and it has only 10,000 miles on the odometer. The pictures corroborate the reading; even the engine bay and underbody look immaculate.

When it came to hot pursuits, the SSP Camaro was a strong performer. While not “advertising” such a fact, the car had essentially the same performance credentials as a Z28. One of the ads for the Z28, by the way, said, “Yes, we are talking about rocket science here.”

Chevrolet knew it had a modern muscle car on its hands, and the police-spec SSP (especially in Quasar Blue instead of red) was the perfect sleeper for civic duty.

“Truly a rare find,” the listing concludes.

The asking price is $35,000; it will include the window sticker, owner’s manual, and original set of wheels and tires.

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

The SEMA Show is where the aftermarket world shows off its biggest ideas, new parts, wild one-off builds, and the kind of craftsmanship that is meant to stop foot traffic in its tracks. In this video, our spotlight lands on a 1963 International ice cream truck customized by Mister Cartoon, a Los Angeles artist whose lettering and fine-line tattoo aesthetic helped shape modern street and lowrider visuals, and Rockford Fosgate, a car audio brand known for building high-output sound systems. This build combines art, culture, and audio into one attention-grabbing centerpiece, and the story behind how it ended up on the SEMA floor is an example of why the popular show exists.

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The 1969 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 holds an interesting spot in the collector car world. Looking at it, nothing seems wrong — in fact, everything is right with it: good looks, W42 hood stripes, OAI (Olds Air Induction) scoops under the front bumper, and a cool ad campaign with Dr. Oldsmobile and his motley crew of laboratory misfits.

But Oldsmobile fans tend to prefer the earlier, short-stroke 1965-67 400 over the long-stroke 1968-69 400. Then there’s the mild cam used for base-engined automatic cars (it downgraded horsepower from 350 to 325), which was not a positive for the model’s reputation.

W-30s also reside in a culture that promotes stock vehicles despite the engine being so aggressively cammed that it was designed to be modified for maximum effect … and then there’s the 455 that was introduced in the ever-popular 1970 model (aside from the 1968-69 Hurst/Olds).

As such, 1968-69 4-4-2s are often overlooked. It used to be difficult to find a W-30 version of the ‘69 despite 1,389 being built. Muscle Car Campy found one, a Sports Coupe owned by Karl Metz. This was the body style with a B-pillar, which makes it one of 2,984 built. Of those, only 171 were W-30s. Note the unusual bench seat, which was a no-cost option in substitution of the standard buckets.

To view more Muscle Car Campy videos, click here.

When it comes to B-body Plymouths, you may have wondered what the difference is between the Plymouth Road Runner and GTX. The differences go deeper than just a standard engine (383 and 440, respectively), as both are based on different trim levels. This two-tiered approach was not generally found within General Motors, though Ford Motor Company dabbled in it after responding to the Road Runner.

Since the GTX first appeared in the market (in 1967), let’s start with it. If you glance past the GTX’s standard 440, you’ll notice it shared a fancy interior with the Satellite, the top “pedestrian” model in the Belvedere lineup. Most mid-size performance cars at the time followed the same formula: The Pontiac GTO also shared the same trim level with the LeMans, the Fairlane GT with the Fairlane 500/XL, and the Chevelle SS 396 with the Malibu.

The above models are the reason the Road Runner was introduced in 1968 — because the cars were on the expensive side of their respective series, while there still was a demographic clamoring for cheap performance cars. Since Plymouth reshuffled its lineup for 1968, let’s look at the hierarchy of the Belvedere series for the two years.

For 1968, Plymouth grouped the Belvedere series in two segments, which readily could be identified by the grille. Belvedere, Road Runner, and Satellite models featured an “aluminum grille [featuring] several rows of rectangular openings”; the Sport Satellite and GTX featured a “deeply recessed horizontal-bar grille.”

The rear end also distinguished the two segments, though the difference came from the decklid trim (or lack thereof) in between the horseshoe-shaped taillights.

The Belvedere and Road Runner Coupes had nothing on the trunk panel, while Road Runner Hardtops featured a brushed aluminum applique across the deck between the taillights that was shared with the Satellite. Order a Road Runner Coupe with the Decor Group and you’d receive the same applique (among other trim).

The Sport Satellite and GTX received a fancy applique that gave the illusion of full-width taillights.

The GTX featured lower-body stripes that started at the GTX badge on the rear fenders and stopped at the front wheels. The dual stripes were available in white, black, red, “ledger” green, or light blue.

It’s worth noting that when the Road Runner Hardtop was introduced in January 1968 (several months after the Coupe), its standard interior was a step up from the Coupe’s — more like the Satellite’s, including carpet instead of a rubber mat. This upgrade was also available for Road Runner Coupes with the Decor Package.

Plymouth refined the Belvedere series for 1969, as was common for sophomore efforts. A Road Runner Convertible joined the roster which, like the Hardtop, included the Decor Package. That package remained optional for the Coupe.

The Belvedere, Road Runner, and Satellite featured a “dual horizontal bar grille insert,” while the Sport Satellite and GTX featured a “single horizontal bar insert in deep-set grille.”

Out back, new taillights were now inset and angled at the corners, with back-up lights migrating to the bumper. The Belvedere and Road Runner featured no trim on the trunk lid, while the Satellite featured silver paint and trim around the cove on the trunk lid.

Both the Sport Satellite and GTX featured a “bright applique across rear deck,” with the GTX also having black inserts.

The stripes identifying the GTX were gone, replaced by a “full-length lower body molding” with “black textured paint on all sheet metal below [the] molding.” Either white or red reflective tape Sport Stripes ran longitudinally under the molding. Road Runners were also available with longitudinal Tapered Sport Stripes, also available in reflective white or red.

Below is your key to comparing the 1968-1969 grilles and taillights (in ascending order). Click on each image to be taken to its respective ad on ClassicCars.com.

Would you believe Phoenix already hit over 90 degrees – in February? It’s not even officially spring yet, but automotive enthusiasts in Arizona are taking advantage of the temperatures before they soar to triple digits. 

The Melrose Street Fair is a family-friendly event that brings the Phoenix community out to enjoy some neighborhood camaraderie. Attractions each year include vendors, food trucks, live music, kids’ area, beer garden, and car show. The free-admission event is hosted by the Melrose Merchants Association, a non-profit organization that is now in its 23^rd year.

This year’s program on Saturday, February 28, attracted over 200 local and independent artisans – not to mention a variety of special vehicles. Here were a few of the cars that caught my eye:

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad

The “Tri-Five” Nomad was an iconic two-door station wagon manufactured on the General Motors A-platform and sold between 1955 and 1957. This Matador Red Nomad was a clean machine both inside and out, flaunting its quintessential tailfins and a set of wide-whitewall tires.  

1962 Imperial Custom Hardtop

The Imperial, for a time, was a standalone luxury brand from the Chrysler corporation, although it was originally a model under the Chrysler nameplate. “Custom” models from 1962 rode on a perimeter frame and received a mild facelift compared to the prior version. Power came from a 413ci “Wedge” V-8. My favorite thing about this one was its freestanding “gunsight” taillights.

1985 Honda CRX Si

At the leading edge of the fuel economy spectrum for its time was this immaculate Baltic Blue CRX. I wrote a story last December about a friend’s second-generation CRX, and this first-gen was just as clean. The CRX was a two-seater that blended fun-to-drive dynamics with a modest price tag (and of course, incredible MPG in the 40s or even 50s, depending on trim level). According to paperwork displayed with this CRX, it won 2nd place at a Japanese Classic Car Show and was retained by its original owner for 38 years.

1985 Porsche 944

The 944 was produced from 1982-92 and was known for its balanced handling and iconic pop-up headlights. The standard powertrain was a 2.5-liter inline-four that was rated at 147 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque. This 944 was finished in Marble Gray and had a two-tone interior with perforated leather seats and a Kenwood audio system.

1988 Volkswagen Cabriolet

The Cabriolet was a compact, four-seat convertible largely hand-built by Karmann. Power came from a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated inline-four with K-Jetronic fuel injection. The car shared engineering with the first-generation (Mk1) Golf and was available in a few trim levels, including Base, Bestseller, and Boutique. This Cabriolet had a unique look to it, outfitted with color-keyed aftermarket wheels and a white leather interior.

The Melrose Street Fair car show offered fun for the whole family. If you ever find yourself in Phoenix in a future February, make sure you check it out!

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Want to learn more about Big Ass Fans? Check out senior key account manager Scott Fehrenbach’s presentation in our Product Showcase video below.

Muscle cars get plenty of love in the collector community, but muscle trucks are equally deserving of time in the spotlight. With that in mind, let’s check out a C10 done up with all the right restomod touches. Featured on AutoHunter is a 1970 Chevrolet C10 Custom Pickup listed by a dealer in St. Louis. The auction will end on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 11:15 a.m. (MST).

One of the handy tools for researching the original build specifications of some GM vehicles is the Service Parts Identification (SPID), which can be found affixed to the inside of the glove compartment door on C/K-series pickup trucks. According to the SPID on this truck, it came optioned from the factory with bodyside moldings, door edge guards, heavy-duty battery, push-button radio, tinted glass, heavy-duty rear springs, wheel covers, and blue cloth upholstery. In the 50-plus years that the truck has been on the road, a few things have changed from its original assembly, as we’ll soon see.

Most notably, the truck was subject to a frame-off restoration and was repainted in its current light blue metallic color. Exterior features include front and rear roll pans, LED lighting, dual side mirrors, bodyside moldings, and 22-inch American Racing forged wheels wrapped in Nitto NT555 G2 tires. The seller notes that the glass has been replaced, and the floor of the long bed has been redone with oak planks. Stance comes from an AirSlamIt air suspension with a handheld controller.  

The interior of the cab features a two-tone white and blue vinyl bench seat, body-colored dash, power steering, aftermarket steering wheel, power windows, Bluetooth-enabled retro-look audio system, and factory air conditioning.

Under the hood is a numbers-matching 350ci V-8 mated to a numbers-matching Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 three-speed automatic transmission, plus a 3.71:1 rear differential. Mechanical work was performed within the last 1,000 miles. The odometer currently shows 51,593 miles, although the title reads mileage-exempt.

The C10 has a strong, customizable platform with loads of aftermarket support — as we can already tell from this eye-catching custom. When equipped with a V-8 engine and a lowered, tight-handling suspension, a restomod truck can deliver a muscle car-like driving experience with the added cargo-hauling capacity as a bonus. Best of both worlds! As the selling dealer says, “This C10 is more than restored – it’s reborn.”

The auction for this 1970 Chevrolet C10 Custom Pickup ends on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 11:15 a.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery