mod@tech

If you enjoyed our coverage of Bonhams during Arizona Auction Week, then you will be delighted to know that the auction house has signed a multi-year agreement with WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to host its sale as an integral part of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion during Monterey Car Week.

In a week full of prestigious events, few have the gravitas of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. In fact, it was named “Motorsports Event of the Year” at the 2025 International Historic Motoring Awards. The intersection between the two events celebrates automotive history and will deliver a noteworthy experience during the summer.

“I’m delighted to confirm the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as the new home for the Bonhams|Cars sale in Monterey Car Week,” said Whitney Maxwell, Global Managing Director for Bonhams|Cars. “Monterey is one of our flagship global sales in the calendar and the location of the auction is hugely important.”

Though the move marks the first new venue for the Bonhams|Cars Monterey Car Week auction in 29 years (having previously been hosted at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering), it extends the 15-year partnership between the two companies.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bonhams|Cars as our official auction partner during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion,” said Mel Harder, President and General Manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “Bonhams|Cars’ unparalleled heritage in the collector car market enhances the experience for our fans and participants, bringing world-class auctions to the iconic setting of Laguna Seca.”

One thing you won’t see during the Super Bowl this year is a commercial from Stellantis because it’s chosen to focus its money and time on the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. However, that didn’t stop the company from creating a nearly two-minute spot for the all-new 2026 Jeep Cherokee hybrid, “Billy Bass Goes to the River,” which just happened to come out online shortly before the big game.

Yes – it’s that Billy Bass, the animatronic fish that flops and sings the 1974 Al Green song “Take Me to the River.” If your family didn’t have one on the wall when you were a kid, you probably had a friend who passed by one in his or her home every day.

The boy in Jeep’s new commercial takes Billy Bass’s command literally and asks his dad to help make it happen. The two of them load into the ’26 Cherokee, which is powered by Jeep‘s first hybrid engine, and use a chunk of its 500+ miles of range to leave the suburbs and go deep into the woods, where they eventually find the perfect place to let Billy Bass loose.

As a father, I often daydream of hopping into a Jeep with my son and going on road trips and adventures with him, so the first 58 seconds resonated with me. After that, the part of me that appreciates ridiculous, over-the-top humor had a great time (some of you might find the rest of the commercial unbearable). I won’t spoil anything for you, but I will say that the ending gives Jeep a great reason to mention that the Cherokee has 140 safety features, which include Active Driving Assist, Intersection Collision Assist, and Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking. I’m sure you eagle-eyed viewers out there will agree.

If you want to go on your own family adventures in the 2026 Jeep Cherokee, you can do that very soon because it’s in showrooms now, priced from $36,995 (which includes the $1,995 destination charge). Wherever you take it, just remember to keep an eye on your surroundings…

If you were in high school like I was in the 1980s, the Toyota pickup was one of the vehicles that many of my friends wanted to have. The Japanese automaker really hit its stride with trucks in that era, and each generation just got better and better. These pickups were also the go-to solution for many small businesses. To try and compete, American manufacturers were forced to work up their own designs or even—in the case of the Ford Courier and Chevy Luv—license already existing Japanese small trucks.

These Toyota pickups in many ways invented the whole small truck category, and they are becoming more and more collectible. Featured on AutoHunter is one of these trucks, a 1982 Toyota Deluxe Pickup listed by a dealer in Asheboro, North Carolina. The auction is scheduled to end on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. (MST).

The seller describes this Toyota Deluxe as having always been in North Carolina. It is powered by its correct Toyota 22R 2.4-liter inline-four engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. Finished in beige over a tan vinyl interior, it is offered by the selling dealer with service records, an owner’s manual, a window sticker, a clean AutoCheck report, and a clear title.

According to the listing, this pickup is optioned with a factory AM/FM radio and factory air conditioning. Recent services include replacement of the valve cover gasket, PCV valve, and clutch. Total mileage on this truck is said to be 210,000.

The exterior of this Toyota Deluxe looks like it’s in very nice condition. Many of these trucks were literally driven into the ground, but this one seems to have lived a very nice life. The paint and exterior trim all appear to be in great shape with no dents, heavy scratches, or other flaws. There is a small ding in the cab, but this seems to be something easily rectified with pointless dent removal. It also looks as if this Toyota pickup has escaped any tweaks from stock—a rare thing, as they often received modifications like suspension and tires to full off-road builds.

The interior looks as nice as the exterior. The original embossed vinyl interior looks amazingly well preserved, and there are no rips or tears to be seen anywhere. The dash is also in great shape with no visible cracks. The same goes for the floor covering. This truck truly looks like an all-original survivor.

The engine compartment is clean but not detailed, with the Toyota 22R looking to still be in completely stock form. The underside shows some slight surface rust on the exhaust and leaf springs, but the chassis looks perfect. Finding a Toyota truck from this era in this condition is unbelievably rare, and this truly looks like an exceptional example.

If you have been searching for one of these ’80s Toyota trucks, I would advise bidding on this one. You rarely see them this clean; you can spend months looking online and not find one that is both clean and original. If there is such thing as a collector-grade 1980s Toyota Deluxe pickup, this is it. Act fast, though, as the auction for this 1982 Toyota Deluxe ends on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Isn’t it interesting how the sensibilities of the past may not be matched by those of the present? Take our Pick of the Day as an example: When it hit the market, it wasn’t the most stylish vehicle on the road—neither in its class nor the whole marketplace—yet for decades it’s been among everyone’s favorite. This 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee.

As you may already know, the 1957 Chevrolet was simply a heavy restyle of the car that originated for 1955. The ’56 facelift felt appropriate at the time, while the 1957 appeared overwrought in comparison. Gone were the clean Ferrari-inspired grille, high-mounted taillights, and tasteful two-toning, replaced by a busy front end with several protrusions (including optional rubber “Dagmars”) and a tail that hardly looked like an evolution. “A product of extensive engineering development, the 1957 passenger car incorporated many far-reaching new features designed to keep Chevrolet at the forefront of contemporary passenger cars in performance, styling, and roadability,” claimed the company.

Additionally, Plymouth was leading the charge of the Chrysler Corporation’s “Forward Look,” featuring sleek two-door hardtops with low rooflines and high tailfins, not to mention Torsion-Aire front suspension. Compared to Chevrolet, the Plymouth two-door hardtop was around five inches lower and four inches wider. It was Plymouth and its Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, and Imperial companions that made Chevrolet go back to the drawing board and introduce a spectacular response two years later.

That’s not to say the 1957 Chevrolet was lackluster—quite the opposite, actually. It simply worked, giving kids everywhere a car to dream about. It’s been “America’s Sweetheart” for decades because it has style in spades, plus it was underneath the hood that the newsboys had something to shout about. The 265ci small-block was given a 0.125-inch bore to achieve 283ci, making an engine that would reside in Chevrolet’s roster for 11 years. For 1957, a two-barrel 283 was rated at 160 horsepower, with a four-barrel adding 60 more horses. Two versions were available with dual quads: one with 245 horses, the other a solid-lifter job rated at 270; add the all-new Rochester fuel injection and those numbers increased to 250 and 283, respectively. This car has been embraced by hot rodders ever since.

This award-winning Onyx Black 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe flaunts everything that has made it America’s Sweetheart of the collectible car world. “This outstanding car just won Best Restored, First in Class, Best Interior, and Best Engine at the 2026 World of Wheels, Chattanooga, Tennessee,” says the seller. “It has the original matching-numbers 283 Power Pack engine, 3-speed manual transmission, and rear end. Also, T3 headlights, dual side-view mirror, radio, rear-mounted antenna, stainless exhaust, 14-inch 800 bias-ply tires with correct ‘57 spinner hubcaps, and original spare and jack.”

You may know what it’s like to get the girl of your dreams. Even if you don’t know that feeling, certainly you can imagine the feeling of owning America’s Sweetheart. For $95,000 (OBO) including shipping anywhere in the Continental U.S., you can be that lucky person.

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

Right now, you’re probably busy preparing for the Super Bowl. But at this very moment, you’re here, checking out the latest installment of Car Connections, a series in which I link three outputs from the Random Word Generator to cars in some way—and I am thankful that you are. This week’s words are ratio, medicine, and tube. (How would you associate these words with cars? Tell us in the Comments section below.)

Ratio: I can just end this one by choosing compression ratio, but that’s too easy. Instead, I’ll start with sandwiches because I believe part of a good sandwich is its ratio of bread to fillings. There needs to be a balance of the two so that you can sink your teeth into the bread but also taste what’s in the sandwich. That leads me to the sandwich chain Jimmy John’s, which makes me think of Jimmy Johnson, the two-time Super Bowl-winning former NFL coach. Yes, he took the Dallas Cowboys to the top in the ’90s but, when he popped into my head, I thought of Florida, where he led the University of Miami to a national championship and coached the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Florida is where Velocity Restorations transforms “iconic vehicles into modern masterpieces.” Last year, we brought you reviews of its 1966 Ford Bronco with the Blackout Package and its 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer.

Medicine: Every now and then, especially when colds are going around, it’s time to break out a jar of Vicks VapoRub. In this case, rubbing is a good thing, but it’s terrible for matte paint jobs, such as the Bond Silver finish offered on another one of our review vehicles, the 2024 Genesis G70 3.3T RWD Sport Prestige.

Tube: Going to the bank is a boring errand, but using the drive-thru’s pneumatic tube system is somewhat fun. Hmmm . . . tube. Torque tube. You know which car had one of those, which housed the driveshaft and connected the front-mounted V8 to the rear-mounted transmission? The 1997-2004 C5 Chevrolet Corvette.

Share your ideas with us for random words to use in a future installment of Car Connections. Want to add a Velocity Restorations build, Corvette, or Genesis to your garage? Visit ClassicCars.com and AutoHunter.com.

It seems every automaker in Detroit has discontinued and reintroduced a model name from its portfolio. Sometimes it feels like a natural segue, while other times it’s egregious, as if there’s a lack of creativity. In rare instances, companies transferred the name from one brand to another. Here are several examples of the latter. Can you think of more?

Ford Parklane and Mercury Park Lane
When Chevrolet debuted the Nomad (and Pontiac the Safari), it was quite the unique wagon, what with its hardtop styling, radiused rear wheel arches (a distinguishing feature of the ’55), and premium trim. Ford scrambled to produce a competitor, but creating a new body style doesn’t come easy. In this case, Ford returned the serve with the 1956 Parklane wagon. It too was a “ultra-fashionable” two-door station wagon that “carries six big passengers in complete luxury,” with Ford stylists grafting on Fairlane side trim and stainless steel trim on the B-pillar; inside, you’d find a fully carpeted interior (“even in the load area”) and a privacy cover for cargo. Ford built 15,185 Parklanes (almost twice as many as the Nomad), then discontinued the model.

Mercury began using the very similar Park Lane name for its new top-of-the-line model for 1958. This lasted through 1960, when Mercury appeared to be confused and moved its marketplace position down a notch. For 1964, the Park Lane returned as Mercury’s top-line model, though the late 1960s brought evolution to Mercury’s portfolio as the Marquis, a personal luxury coupe introduced for 1967, was expanded and replaced the Park Lane as the top full-size Mercury.

Lincoln-Zephyr and Mercury Zephyr
Lincoln’s Zephyr was Ford Motor Company’s youthful, streamlined series that competed with LaSalle, Cadillac’s junior companion make, and the Packard One-Twenty. What distinguished the 1936 Zephyr from its eight-cylinder competition was its flathead V12. The Lincoln-Zephyr’s streamlined appearance came off better than most aerodynamic predecessors, although for 1938, it adopted more conventional styling in the Ford vein, though it was no less stunning. Though the Lincoln-Zephyr can stand on its own, it’s worth noting that it was the basis for the landmark 1940 Lincoln Continental convertible and coupe. While the Continental lasted through 1948, the Zephyr name ended in 1942. Once production resumed after World War II, these cars were simply referred to as “Lincoln.”

The Zephyr name was used by the British Ford beginning with the 1951 model year and lasted through 1972. In the States, Mercury revived the name for a Fox-bodied compact for 1978 that was a cousin to the Fairmont and replacement for the Comet. This car was replaced by the even more unloved 1984 Mercury Topaz. After hibernating for several decades, the Zephyr nameplate returned to the Lincoln fold for 2006 before being renamed the Lincoln MKZ for 2007.

Imperial LeBaron and Chrysler LeBaron
Founded in 1920 in New York City, LeBaron was one of the premiere design houses in the United States. Briggs Manufacturing Company bought LeBaron in 1926, which in turn was purchased by Chrysler in 1953. Two years later, Chrysler spun off the Imperial model to be an independent brand. Two years after that, the Imperial LeBaron played the role of the top-ranked Imperial. The Imperial LeBaron remained at the top of Chrysler’s premium brand through 1975, upon which the brand was discontinued until 1981.

For 1977, Chrysler christened its first small car the LeBaron. Based on the M-body platform (along with the Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen), the LeBaron deftly disguised its humbler origins until the model was applied to Chrysler’s version of the K-car for 1982. Variations of this vehicle would be produced through 1994.

Cadillac Calais and Oldsmobile Calais
Calais is a northern French port city right by the English Channel. It’s also the namesake of a forgotten Cadillac model that first appeared in 1965 as a replacement for the Series 62. As the entry-level Cadillac, the Calais never really caught on as a name with buyers (or collectors, for that matter), so it was discontinued after 1976; for 1977, with the introduction of the full-size, downsized Cadillac, the De Ville became the entry-level model and continued to kill it in sales.

Ironically, when Oldsmobile downsized the mid-size Cutlass series for 1978, the Calais became part of that series, a Euro-inspired coupe based on the Cutlass Supreme. It was produced through 1984, upon which it was replaced by the Cutlass Salon. For 1985, the Calais name was transferred to a brand-new compact that was chosen to pace the Indianapolis 500. For 1988, Oldsmobile—already drunk with “Cutlass Fever”—applied the Cutlass name to the Calais, and it was this Cutlass Calais that was laid to rest at the end of the 1991 model year.

Just so you Aussies don’t dox me, I should mention that the Calais name was also used on the top version of the Holden Commodore starting in 1984. It would continue through 2020, the year before Holden was discontinued as a brand.

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this four-wheel-drive 1971 Chevrolet K10, which is powered by a 350ci V8 paired with a four-speed manual gearbox and a dual-range transfer case. Highlights include power steering and front disc brakes, left- and right-side mirrors, hitch receiver, and more. Finished in Medium Blue over a Blue cloth and vinyl interior, this second-generation C/K pickup is now offered by the selling dealer in Oregon with a clear title.

Part of General Motors’ “Action Line” of trucks, this K10 is covered in Medium Blue, which is accented with chrome bumpers and bright mirror housings. Features include a cab-mounted fuel cap, bed and tailgate liners, and hitch receiver.

A set of 15-inch steel wheels with manual-locking front hubs and 30-inch Cooper Discoverer A/T raised-white-letter radial tires get this classic truck down the road and up trails.

The cabin is just as colorful as the body. Nearly everything is blue, from the door panels to the dashboard, and the Blue cloth and vinyl bench seat. Features include power steering, floor-mounted manual transmission and transfer case shifters, and AM/FM radio.

However, there is some black for contrast, which surrounds and fills the dials of the 100-mph speedometer and the gauges for the battery, temperature, fuel level, and oil pressure. The odometer shows 95,667 miles, but this truck is mileage-exempt, according to the title.

The 350ci V8 left the factory with 8.5:1 compression and gross output ratings of 250 horsepower at 4,600 rpm and 350 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. A four-speed manual transmission and dual-range transfer case send the small-block’s grunt to the road or trail below.

If you want to get some mud on this 1971 Chevrolet K10’s tires, you have to bid on it first. Do it now—don’t wait until right before the auction ends on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 12:15 p.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery