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Graphic Mastery: Bold Production Car Designs That Turned Heads

When muscle cars exploded on the car scene in the mid-’60s, they brought a great many new things to the car industry. This included aesthetic changes with the release of new color schemes and graphic packages. When muscle cars became a sales hit, Detroit took the ‘cooler’ path with a rather colorful approach. The best way to stand out from the rest was to introduce wild and bright colors. Soon, shades like Hemi Orange or Plum Crazy Purple became synonymous with Dodge and Plymouth cars, but that wasn’t all.

To make their vehicles even more characteristic and unique, manufacturers started introducing various graphic designs that were previously unheard of at the time. This was the first time in car history that manufacturers equipped their models with wild graphics straight from the factory. It marked a revolutionary moment in the industry as a result. So much so that these graphics became legendary in addition to the cars. Even though this trend started in the US, it was later accepted by Europeans. Check out the best car graphic packages ever released straight from the manufacturers here.

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Photo Credit: Flickr

Plymouth Roadrunner

When it first appeared in 1968, the Plymouth Roadrunner proved to be a very influential muscle car. Not only did it introduce the new trend of inexpensive yet fun vehicles but it was also a strong seller. The most appealing thing about the Roadrunner was the fact that Plymouth used the Roadrunner cartoon character from the popular Wile E. Coyote cartoon. Chrysler paid $60,000 for the rights to use the name and design and everyone thought the company was crazy for doing so. The sales results proved everybody wrong and the Roadrunner was the first muscle car with crazy graphics, starting the trend (via MCI).

Photo Credit: Mecum

The Roadrunner had a bench seat, no luxury options, and manual steering. It came with the powerful 383 V8 as the base engine and buyers could also opt for the 440 or the mythical Hemi 426. In 1969, the Roadrunner got a convertible option for those buyers who wanted an open-air driving feel. But the majority of Roadrunners produced were two-door hard tops. For just above $3,000, you could be the proud owner of a Roadrunner in 1970. However, if you wanted a few options and the Hemi engine, the price quickly rose to over $4,000.

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Plymouth Power: The Best Performance Cars of Mopar’s Forgotten Brand

The Plymouth brand was introduced in 1928 as a low-cost manufacturer positioned below Dodge and Chrysler. It occupied that market position for decades up to the end of its lifespan. Plymouth has always been successful as its sales numbers were just behind Ford or Chevrolet. Plymouths were regarded as dependable and high-quality automobiles at affordable prices, which meant they appealed to a broad audience.

However, when muscle cars exploded on the American car scene, Plymouth realized it could be more than just an economy car company. It jumped on the performance bandwagon, using the best Mopar engines and delivering exciting cars to the public. Today, we’ll remember Plymouth’s best muscle cars. These vehicles became classics of the genre due to their style, power, speed, and even the fact that the company was no longer in business. Chrysler discontinued Plymouth in 2001, leaving the automotive world without one of its best performance brands. Let’s look back at just why that was the case.

Olympus Digital Camera
Photo Credit: Mecum

Plymouth Fury (1958)

Before the Fury was a separate model, it was an option on Belvedere. In 1958, this model benefited from Chrysler’s new Golden Commando engine. The mighty Hemi was gone but Chrysler didn’t abandon the performance market. The Golden Commando had 350 CID displacement, better equipment, and 305 hp (via How Stuff Works).

Plymouth Fury Sport Coupe
Photo Credit: Mopar

Plymouth even experimented with a fuel injection setup but the system proved very problematic. This caused the factory to compensate owners and give them a conventional four-barrel setup. If the fuel injection worked as it should, it would have produced up to 315 horsepower.

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Reel Rides: Movie Cars That Captured Our Hearts (Number 3 Will Trigger You)

When you watch a movie, sometimes a car can be as exciting as the featured actors. These are vehicles that make you sit up and take notice. They might be super fast, cool, or even magical. Think about your favorite car chases where cars zoom and dart around. Or maybe you like shiny, sleek cars that look like they’re from the future. Some of these cars are so special, they almost feel like they’re part of the cast and tell their own story.

In movies, a car can be a hero, a mystery, or a ride toward adventure. And there’s one car on our list that’s sure to surprise you. It’s not just famous; it’s got a twist that you might not expect. Whether you thinking of Marty McFly and the DeLorean in Back to The Future or that memorable bone crusher in Mad Max, the auto industry and the movie business have been integral partners for decades. Remember some of the coolest cars that have ever been on the big screen right here.

Aston Martin DB5
Photo Credit: Aston

James Bond’s 1964 Aston Martin DB5

The DB5 has appeared in several James Bond films, including Thunderball, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Casino Royale, Skyfall, and Spectre, making it a recurring element in the franchise. What made this particular car so unique was the design and the performance. Let’s be honest, nothing looks quite like an Aston. But there’s also something so classy about these cars that it only made sense to use one in a movie franchise like the Bond films (via 007).

Photo Credit: Top Gear

The DB5 wasn’t the best-performing car of its era but there was something classy and unique about this car. Beyond the Bond films, the DB5 has made appearances in various other media, including video games, television shows, and even other movies. Aston Martin is a renowned automaker and when it comes to class and style, the DB5 has quite a legacy.

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Born To Run: The Evolution of The Camaro’s Most Legendary Models

You’ve probably heard the news that the revered Chevrolet Camaro is being canceled for the second time in its unique history. It means that there will not be a 2024 Camaro since the assembly lines shut down on December 14, 2023. To say that the news saddens car fans is an understatement. This was and still is one of the best muscle cars ever. It was a true dream car of millions of enthusiasts all over the globe.

Chevrolet claims the lack of sales was the main reason the Camaro is gone, but we doubt it. In a very short period, muscle car lovers have lost two muscle car legends – the Camaro and the Dodge Charger/Challenger. That leaves only the Ford Mustang as the last American-made muscle car on the scene. However, let’s not mourn the sad destiny of the Camaro. Instead, let’s concentrate on the most significant models from its storied history and hope that it will find a way to reincarnate itself for the second time.

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Photo Credit: Auto Evolution

1967 Chevrolet Camaro

On September 22, 1967, Chevrolet introduced the Camaro in front of an eager audience. Motoring journalists and the automotive public saw a brand-new, elegant coupe and convertible with a modern design. It also boasted a classic long hood and short deck proportions, a sporty stance, and excellent trim. Chevrolet chose to abandon the third body style like the Mustang or Barracuda. From this standpoint, it was a good decision (via Car and Driver).

1967 Chevrolet Camaro Rs Ss 396 Is Everything Todays Car Is Not 1
Photo Credit: Auto Evolution

The new Camaro came with a selection of straight six and V8 engines, starting from a small 230 six-cylinder up to the mighty 396 V8 with 325 hp. The idea was to offer a broader range and more powerful engines than Ford to attract sport-minded buyers. That’s why Chevrolet offered the three performance versions of the SS, RS, and Z/28 models. The 1967 Camaro could succeed since it was sold in over 220,000 examples and the performance versions were well-received. However, more was needed to catch the Mustang and its lofty 400,000 examples sold in 1967.

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These Hilarious Vintage Auto Ads Will Have You Rolling

For many carmakers, advertising is one of the most important parts of their marketing because it’s the one thing that drives sales the most. Some automotive advertising campaigns have stuck with car fans for decades. A good automotive advertising campaign can transcend any issues with the brand or the car itself and make drivers believe they need to own that car or truck. Carmakers have made innovations in the advertising world for decades and there’s always something new. But it could be argued that comedy was always the most effective way to create a memorable advertising campaign.

So we looked back at the most hilarious vintage automotive ads ever shown. Some of these were straight jokes about a rival automaker and others were indirectly pointed at the consumer. You probably remember seeing most of these advertisements at a time or two. You might even have a sense of nostalgia remembering where you were when you first saw these advertisements. That’s what good automotive advertising does. It sticks with you. Buckle up as we look back at some of the most notable and hilarious automotive advertisements of all time here.

Porsche 911 Advertisement1 Via Airows
Photo Credit: HSN

Porsche 911- The Anti-Nissan

There’s no denying that cars were boring in the ’80s. Japanese cars were especially boring around this time because of emissions regulations. Porsche, on the other hand, was selling the 911 like hotcakes. So naturally, they had to poke fun at Japanese automakers. The 911 was one of the most iconic automotive designs ever built and was in its prime in the ’80s. That’s not to say that every Nissan or Mitsubishi was boring but nothing came close to the 911 at the time (via Motor Biscuit).

Nissan still sold the 300ZX during this time but it wasn’t nearly as iconic as the 911. When kids grew up in the ’80s they dreamt about owning a Porsche 911 and just about everyone had a 911 poster on their bedroom wall. This is why Porsche decided to play off of that popularity with this advertising campaign. We’d have to say that this advertising campaign was both comedic and well done by the German sports car maker.

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Fire-Breathing Monsters: Turbo Cars That Revolutionized The Auto Industry

Even though turbocharging as a concept dates back to the early 20th century, it took decades for it to make its way to the car industry. Complicated and unreliable at first, it was gradually improved over time. Today, due to significant emissions, fuel economy, and power advantages, it’s a standard feature on nearly all current engines produced worldwide.

Its path from an unknown technical obscurity to a mainstream component was challenging. But it was paved with great cars, speed records, and some fire-spitting monsters that will remain forever as the choice of true enthusiasts. So today, we’ll revisit the turbo cars that had a hand in revolutionizing the car industry. Buckle up because there are some true speed demons ahead.

Chevrolet Corvair Monza

The Corvair was a compact car in a time when they were rare on US soil and produced mainly by foreign brands. It had its engine in the back rather than the front like most other domestic vehicles had. Third, it was a six-cylinder boxer, not a straight six or V8. Overall, this car was a bold and unusual move by the usually conservative Chevrolet (via New York Times).

Photo Credit: Hagerty

The most interesting Corvair was the Monza. It was a two-door coupe or convertible and featured one of the most unusual power plants Detroit has ever produced – a turbocharged boxer engine. Think of it as Chevrolet’s four-seat Porsche 911 Turbo 15 years before Porsche even thought of the idea. The heart of the car was the 2.4-liter, flat-six engine with the turbocharger mounted on top. The result was 150 hp. Despite the fact it isn’t a significant number, the small weight of the Monza helped produce some lively performance, at least for the standards of the compact car class in the early ’60s.

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Custom Cars That Chip Foose and Danny Koker Got Horribly Wrong

Custom cars are an embodiment of innovation and craftsmanship and the world of automotive design is unlike anything else. Chip Foose and Danny Koker are legends in the custom car business thanks to their TV shows showcasing their remarkable skills in resurrecting classic cars. But there’s a fascinating twist as even the most seasoned craftsmen can sometimes stumble. In the world of auto restoration, even legends like Foose and Koker have experienced moments when they got it wrong.

In this article, we’ll explore those instances where their expertise faltered and show that in the realm of car restoration, no one is infallible. So fasten your seatbelts and prepare to embark on a journey where we’ll reveal some of the lesser-known aspects of Foose and Koker’s careers that didn’t quite go as planned. It’s a reminder that even in the face of undeniable talent and experience, the road to perfection can be paved with its fair share of bumps and unexpected detours.

Photo Credit: SEMA

Custom 1974 Jaguar E-Type

Jaguar designs of the past were some of the most iconic cars on the road. There was something about beautiful British designs that separated these cars from the rest of the world. It’s why classic car enthusiasts generally prefer old Jaguar cars to other international designs from the same period. So when Chip Foose designed a custom E-Type, it was a rather shocking design, to say the least. The car was designed for the SEMA show in Las Vegas and it wasn’t at all what the original car looked like (via Chip Foose).

Photo Credit: SEMA

The design was confusing with an odd mix of muscle car elements and classic car tie-ins. The Dayton-style rims and white wall tires just didn’t go well with the rest of the design. On the front of the car, you had a hood that was designed for a sports car and a shaved design that made the car look like a silver bullet. Nothing else made sense about this Jaguar, although it was well received at the SEMA show. Foose never designed a car like this again and there were good reasons for that.

The post Custom Cars That Chip Foose and Danny Koker Got Horribly Wrong appeared first on Motor Junkie.

Ranking The Greatest Dodge Challengers As The Legend Fades Away

By the 1970s, the original muscle car market in America was starting to slow down with rising environmental laws strangling the market. Interestingly enough, however, this was the time the Dodge Challenger was born. Dodge was a big player in the muscle car wars of the ’60s. But it never had a pony car model, like the Mustang, Camaro, or Barracuda. Their iconic line of Challengers quickly became just that.

It was a compact muscle car on an E-Body platform. The car boasted an exciting new design, a lineup of powerful engines, a great image, and strong performance. Even though it came out last, it was quickly a force in the segment. Unfortunately, the original Challenger was dead by 1975. Yet its legend never left muscle car fans. After a long wait, it was back in 2010. It remains one of the best cars in the segment since. Dodge will be discontinuing it again soon. So there’s no better time than rank all the greatest Challenger models in the storied history of the nameplate.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Dodge Challenger 340 Six-Pack

1970 featured several battles between car manufacturers in the Trans-Am Championship. At one point, almost all pony cars were included in the racing program. Mustangs, Camaros, Firebirds, Challengers, and Barracudas were chasing each other on tracks around America. To homologate Challengers for the Trans-Am, Dodge released a model called the 340 Six-Pack. It featured several modifications, a blacked-out hood, and a 340 V8 engine with 290 hp (via Motor Trend).

Photo Credit: Greg Keysar Photography

Experts said the car had close to 350 hp but it was rated less for insurance reasons. The Challenger 340 Six-Pack proved to be agile on the street. It could have been more successful on the race tracks. The 340 could accelerate to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds with its four-speed manual transmission.

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Cars From ‘The Fast and The Furious’ Regular Drivers Can Actually Own

In the summer of 2001, a high-octane action film hit theaters and changed the landscape of Hollywood cinema forever. “The Fast and the Furious,” directed by Rob Cohen, wasn’t just about thrilling car races and daring heists. It was a cultural phenomenon that introduced audiences to the roar of engines and the speed of the streets. At the heart of this adrenaline-fueled saga were not just its charismatic characters but also the charismatic vehicles they drove. The cars that were in the movie were modified to each of the owner’s tastes.

So we embarked on a nostalgic journey back to where it all began. These weren’t just ordinary cars. They were emblematic symbols of the underground racing culture, showcasing an array of makes and models. Even though some of these are common cars with the right modifications, they are completely different. Join us as we rev our engines and dive into the world of these great common cars that set the streets on fire and made cinematic history in “The Fast and the Furious.”

Photo Credit: Mecum

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

A car that was featured very briefly in the original movie, the 1970 Chevelle SS in the movie was smoked out with a slick primer paint job. Although the original film focused mainly on imports, it was the Chevelle SS that caught the attention of moviegoers. Driven by the main character Dominic Toretto, this was an in-between car with big power under the hood. Obviously, it wasn’t a bone stock restoration, this car was a street rod. The Chevelle SS was a rough-and-tumble hot rod even when it was brand-new, so it fit in the movie perfectly (via Fandom).

Photo Credit: Mecum

The cars that made the movie iconic were the Toyota Supra and the Mitsubishi Eclipse. But the Chevelle SS still had an important part. Car culture in general was cultivated around muscle cars like the Chevelle. You can’t get a full view of the car scene without vehicles like this. The muscle car era is responsible for birthing amazing movie franchises like ‘The Fast and The Furious.’ There have been plenty of car movies that featured the Chevelle SS and with good reason as it’s an iconic part of car culture.

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Wild Horses: These Crazy Mustangs Shouldn’t Be Allowed On Roads

The Ford Mustang has been around for almost six decades as one of the most successful nameplates in the car industry. With over 10 million Mustangs leaving the factory, the Mustang’s impact on the industry is beyond immense. Over the years, many of these crazy wild horses gained worldwide recognition on a mainstream level.

However, today, we’ll not discuss those well-known models and common-spec cars. Instead, we’ll concentrate on those “evil twin” Mustangs. These cars have crazy engines and brutal performance which makes them illegal for the road – or just barely legal. All of them are rare and limited-production items. Some flew under the radar while others became household names. However, one thing is sure – all are Mustangs so crazy, they should hardly be allowed on the streets.

Photo Credit: Ford

Shelby GT350 R

Carroll Shelby started building Mustangs in 1965 as fire-breathing machines that brought Ford some much-needed recognition and performance credentials. But the cars responsible for racing success were 34 “R” models only made in 1965. They were sold to privateers and racing teams all over America and the world. Those cars were not street-legal and were used purely for racing purposes, which they did exceptionally well (via Motor Trend).

Photo Credit: Ford

The GT350 R had numerous modifications. It was also lighter, faster, and sharper than the regular GT350. The same 289 V8 powered the R version as the standard Shelby GT350, but it had close to 400 hp and numerous racing modifications. The car was light, well-balanced, and proved extremely fast, winning multiple races in America as well as in Europe and South America.

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