mod@tech

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.

Click above and watch our full video review on YouTube!

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.

Barrett-Jackson will auction “Hot and Heavy ” a custom motorcycle built by Paul Cox Industries with 100% of the hammer price to benefit Tunnel to Towers during the 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction, Oct. 15-18, 2025, at WestWorld of Scottsdale. The No Reserve auction of the one-of-one motorcycle, commissioned and donated by Mohawk Group, is part of Barrett-Jackson’s yearlong commitment to support the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting U. S. military veterans, first responders and their families.

“We’re honored to continue our support of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation by auctioning this extraordinary custom motorcycle,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “We’ve partnered with the foundation over the years because we stand behind their mission to support the brave men and women who serve our country and communities.  We’re looking forward to this custom bike crossing the block during our Scottsdale Fall Auction to directly support Tunnel to Towers’ efforts to ensure our nation’s heroes have the resources, support and recognition they deserve.”

The custom, hand-made motorcycle was commissioned by Mohawk Group, the world’s largest flooring manufacturer, and inspired by their Hot and Heavy II Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) Collection.

“Hot and Heavy” started with a custom rigid frame fabricated by Paul Cox Industries and is powered by a classic 1966 Harley-Davidson engine. The one-of-one motorcycle features Paul Cox’s signature design elements developed over 20 years of custom bike building. In addition to his distinctive Girder-style front fork, it offers custom features throughout using fender and gas tank hand hammering, planishing and finish work on an English Wheel. The Baker 4-speed transmission sports an electric start, and all aluminum motor parts were hand-blended at the seams and machine-polished before assembly.

“We hold a special place in our hearts for our country’s frontline heroes,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “We’re always honored to work with Tunnel to Towers and use our platform to support the men and women who serve in our military and first responder communities. The auction of Paul’s custom motorcycle represents American craftsmanship and is a symbol of the generosity and compassion we all share as members of the collector car community.”

“Commissioning this bespoke chopper, hand-built by Paul Cox, for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation is a powerful way to connect exceptional craftsmanship with profound purpose,” said Jackie Dettmar, vice president of product, design, and marketing for Mohawk Group. “We are incredibly proud that our Hot and Heavy II LVT could inspire such a unique symbol of support for America’s heroes, and we are thrilled to see the proceeds from this auction go to such a vital cause.”

Since 9/11, Tunnel to Towers Foundation has helped America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially adapted smart homes for badly injured veterans and first responders. The Foundation is also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America Never Forget September 11, 2001.

“We’re deeply grateful for Barrett-Jackson’s partnership and years of support of our mission,” said Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. “When the final hammer falls, someone will take home a truly one-of-a-kind motorcycle—and with it, the pride of knowing they’ve played a vital role in honoring and supporting America’s heroes.”

“Hot and Heavy” will be a part of this year’s 24th Annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk NYC, held on Sunday, September 28, 2025. The event symbolizes Stephen Siller’s final footsteps from the foot of the Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers and pays homage to the 343 FDNY firefighters, law enforcement officers, and thousands of civilians who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. For more information visit https://t2t.org/new-york-city-5k/.

Those interested in consigning their vehicles with confidence for the Scottsdale Fall Auction are welcome to submit their application online. In addition, bidder registration is now open, with three packages to choose from and upgrades for Muscle Lounge access. Throughout the four-day Scottsdale Fall Auction, children aged 12 and under enjoy complimentary admission with a paying adult. General admission tickets for students ages 13 through college age are $10 and adult ticket prices start at $28.  

Join Barrett-Jackson’s online conversation with #BarrettJackson and #BJAC on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. 

While writing this recent overview on American Motors and the 1970s used car market, I discovered that the mid-year introduction of the 1970 Gremlin included a cut-rate version that lacked a rear seat.

The Gremlin was a clever, short-wheelbase take on the Hornet compact, which had been introduced several months before in the autumn of 1969. AMC liked to hype the fact that it was two inches longer than a Volkswagen Beetle, yet it was seven inches lower and had a turning radius that was about three feet less than that of the German, all the while designed to American standards of comfort and convenience. This two-pronged approach allowed AMC to compete with the likes of both the Ford Maverick and Pinto—compact and subcompact.

The two-seat Gremlin (love the name, but probably not a good idea today) reminds me of a business coupe or utility sedan, a throwback to a time when tradesmen were targeted with austere, fleet-style vehicles that often lacked a rear seat, leaving more room for equipment or wares. However, I doubt this version of the Gremlin was targeted at these folks. Instead, I suspect it was for those who were interested in basic transportation and seduced by a range of almost 500 miles on a full tank (21 gallons, no less) of fuel, a smooth ride, and decent acceleration, as described by a period AMC ad.

In addition to the lack of a rear seat, the two-seat Gremlin featured a fixed rear window, while four-seat Gremlins featured a flip-up “lift-gate” to give easy access to the storage area. If you wanted access to the cargo area of the two-seater, you had to use the side doors. Most Gremlin options were available, though bucket seats and items that toned down the austerity were not.

AMC advertised the four-passenger Gremlin as having the lowest list price of any car made in America, $1,959, aside from the two-passenger Gremlin’s $1,879 MSRP. According to the Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975, only 872 two-seat Gremlins were produced for the abbreviated 1970 model year, while an additional 2,145 were made for 1971. After that, all Gremlins featured a rear seat.

Was the two-seat Gremlin the AMX version of the Hornet? That’s quite a stretch, but the two-seat subcompact definitely contrasts with the cheapest cars of today, which feature standard power windows and air conditioning.

Over the last 20 years, when Ford has pushed the boundaries of its performance and the associated pricing, there has been at least one person who has shown the company it’s on the right track: Jay Leno. He’s put money down on the first-gen, 550-horsepower GT of the mid-2000s, the EcoBoost-powered second-gen model and, most recently, the $300,000-plus Mustang GTD. Jay discusses the latter with Ford CEO Jim Farley in the below video.

Leno is not alone in his support of the super-Mustang because his car is #12 in the production run (just like both of his GTs). In its standard form, the Mustang GTD is a purpose-built machine. The body is made out of carbon fiber and pushed closer to the road with a massive rear wing that’s mounted to the C-pillars. The supercharged “Predator” 5.2-liter V8 pumps out 815 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, which an eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle shuttles to the street or track. Brembo carbon ceramic brakes help reign in all that raw power.

Leno went beyond that already impressive configuration by spec’ing his GTD with the optional Performance Package’s front splitter and dive planes, lightweight magnesium 20-inch wheels, and drag reduction system for the rear wing.

The Mustang GTD is a direct attack on European exotics, which was successful on perhaps the world’s most difficult battlefield. At Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife, a demanding 12.9-mile course full of elevation changes, different weather zones, and dozens of turns and corners, the Mustang GTD beat its previous time of 6:57.685 with a 6:52.072 lap, securing the #4 spot on the list of fastest sports cars.

So was Leno’s Mustang GTD worth going through the application process and waiting a year and a half for delivery? Is it too harsh and focused to be an enjoyable road car? Watch and find out.

Mercedes-Benz has been building some of the finest cars in the world for more than 100 years. The company literally invented the automobile and, over the years, has created some truly landmark models including the prewar 500 and 540K, the 300SL and, more recently, the AMG Black Series. Beyond its sports offerings, it also builds the S-Class sedans—arguably the measuring stick for quality. Within the S-Class, there are a few true standouts; the first of these was the 300 SEL 6.3 sedan.

The 6.3, as Mercedes fans call it, was the first true high-power sports sedan. If you think that’s a crazy statement, then consider the 1970 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan can cover 0-60 in 6.9 seconds and the quarter-mile in 15 seconds, with a top speed of 136 mph. By comparison, the 1970 911S, Porsche’s highest-spec pure sports car at the time, took 7.3 seconds to get to 60 and had a quarter-mile time only one-tenth of a second faster than the 300 SEL. If that’s not enough for you, Road & Track called the car “the greatest sedan in the world,” Motor Trend stated it was “the safest, fastest, and most comfortable 4-door sedan made today,” and racing legend Dan Gurney said the 300 SEL 6.3 “was the best car he had ever driven. Bar none.”

Our AutoHunter Spotlight for today is one of these cars, a 1970 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 offered by a dealer located in Gladstone, Oregon. The auction ends Tuesday, August 12, at 12:15 p.m. (PST).

This Mercedes is described as being powered by its reportedly original 6.3-liter SOHC M100 V8, mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The car is painted in Beige Gray and brown two-tone over a Dark Tobacco Brown leather interior, and is now offered by the selling dealer with a clear title. It is one of a total of 6,526 300 SEL 6.3s produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1968-72.

The exterior of this car looks to be in exceptional condition, with few (if any) paint flaws to be seen in the provided photos. The seller does state there are minor imperfections, but the key word is minor. The car is equipped with factory 14-inch “bundt pan” wheels, which are period-correct in both size and style for this car. This really appears to be an extremely well-cared-for Mercedes.

The interior, with its aforementioned Dark Tobacco Brown leather, also looks to be in excellent original condition. The seats and door panels seem to be in fine shape with no noticeable flaws. The car is fully loaded with power windows, air conditioning, and a sunroof, and it still has the factory Becker radio.

The dash instrumentation includes a 150-mph speedometer and tachometer, gauges for oil pressure, temperature and fuel level, and a clock. I see no dash cracks and, like the rest of the car, everything looks to be in excellent condition.

Under the hood is more of the same, with the Mercedes 6.3-liter SOHC M100 V8 appearing to be both clean and completely unmodified. The entire engine compartment looks to be correct in every way and is in fantastic condition.

The underside of this Mercedes looks just as good. There appears to be no surface rust, it is very dry of oil, and is amazingly clean.

These Mercedes 6.3s are truly amazing cars, and collectors have caught on to this. I have driven a number of them over the years, and they never fail to impress. Quite a few of my friends own 6.3s; they tend to be the cars they would never consider selling. If you are in the market for one, this looks to be an example that, due to its quality, will demonstrate just what an excellent 4-door sports car the 300 SEL 6.3 is. That being said, you had better act fast and make a bid, as the auction for this 1970 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 ends Tuesday, August 12, at 12:15 p.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

With so many Chevrolets on the streets, it’s often difficult to find one that’s unusual. That’s typically the fault of conformist owners because, statistically speaking, so many Chevys produced should mean that interesting ones pop up on the radar more often. For those of you bored by Hugger Orange Camaros, allow us to introduce to you our Pick of the Day, a 1969 Chevrolet Malibu Sport Coupe. It is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Canton, Ohio.

Chevrolets are like the Homecoming King who’s also the QB of the football team and the student council president: they tend to be attractive and have broad appeal, the respect of the people around them, and the hatred of also-rans. It’s difficult having allegiance to Brand X when you have Chevrolet folks who only know Chevys and will put small-blocks in anything, almost like a parasitic insect. Utter disrespect! Yet, once in a while, along comes a Chevrolet that sticks out. This is that car.

The 1969 Chevelle was facelifted for 1969, the second year for this generation. New was the elimination of vent windows for two-door hardtops and convertibles, as was the discontinuation of the Chevelle 300, leaving the 300 Deluxe at the bottom of the hierarchy. Interestingly, the SS 396 lost its model status and became a performance package, with Chevrolet making it available on the 300 Deluxe Coupe (with B-pillar) and Sport Coupe (without), the Malibu Sport Coupe, and the Malibu Convertible.

Also new was the mid-year addition of the 427 through Chevrolet’s Central Office Production Order (COPO) system, a channel for fleet orders that allowed Chevrolet to break the rules and produce an engine larger than the 396 in the Chevelle. Like the COPO Camaro, the COPO Malibu was not a Super Sport but featured some SS regalia (such as the hood). Another similarity was that Yenko Chevrolet in western Pennsylvania converted some into Yenko Super Cars.

The Malibu continued to sit at the top of the Chevelle lineup. All Malibu body styles except the Coupe were trimmed with Cortez Silver on the lower body and decklid panel—a nice touch.

These days, you don’t often see cars flaunting this trim because countless Chevelles have been modified by everybody and his mom, but this 1969 Chevrolet Malibu Sport Coupe shows us how it should appear. Additionally, this is a two-tone car—note the Glacier Blue body with Dover White top. Only 4,590 Chevelles of all trim levels and body styles were painted in this combination, so breaking it down would suggest there were few built like this. “Sporting an older cosmetic restoration, this car still looks fresh. The Glacier blue paint is near perfect and the car is laser straight,” says the seller. “The blue interior has been freshened up with seat covers and door panels. The rest of the interior appears to be original with only a ‘70s sport steering wheel and a newer Custom Auto Sound stereo system.” An SS hood and 15 x 8-inch Rally wheels have been added.

Aside from COPOs and SS 396 cars, the biggest engine available in the Malibu was the 350 small-block, which this has, though it’s been warmed up “with a little over-stock camshaft, aluminum intake, and four-barrel carb” plus headers and dual exhaust outlets that end in SS-style tips. If you wear a Bow Tie yet march to a different Chevy beat, we can think of three colorful reasons why this $39,995 Malibu is the right one for you.

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