Collector Car Network Media spotted something truly special during Monterey Car Week: a BMW M1 Procar, one of only 54 built for the legendary 1979-1980 one-make racing series. In this video, we take you through its history, from BMW Motorsport’s decision to create its first M car to the iconic Procar battles featuring Formula 1 stars such as Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet. This particular example, delivered new to Porsche sales and motorsports icon Vasek Polak and never raced, is a time capsule of late-1970s engineering, and features a Giugiaro design, a spartan race car cockpit, and a 470-horsepower M88 straight-6capable of nearly 190 mph. In the race to buy this piece of automotive history, one bidder outran everyone else with a winning bid of $1.6 million.
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Today’s AutoHunter Spotlight is a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro located in Oregon City, Oregon. The auction ends Friday, September 5, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. PDT.
I am often asked by people interested in buying their first collector car about what a good choice would be. If they want to buy an American sporting car, I always have the same answer: Camaro or Mustang.
The reason is simple. Both the Camaro and the Mustang are fun to drive, great to look at, and instantly recognizable by non-car people as the true collector car icons they are. In addition, both the Camaro and the Mustang have some of the best support for parts and service. At heart they are very simple cars to service and repair. They can be great cars to own for someone who wants to learn about car repair and deepen their bond as an owner.
Another benefit is that there is basically a Camaro or Mustang to suit just about every budget, from inexpensive six-cylinder cars to super-rare-optioned ones. No matter how much money you have to spend, there is likely a Camaro or a Mustang that fits the bill.
Of the two cars, I honestly prefer the Camaro. Not only is it less common, but there also is something just a bit more special about the Camaro for me. Maybe it was the timeless styling, or perhaps it was the time spent riding in and driving my high school best friend’s 1968 model and the adventures we had with Ozzy on the stereo and both of us getting up to various antics. Whatever the reason, the Camaro (especially the 1967-69 models) holds a special place in my heart.
The 1968 Chevrolet Camaro featured as today’s AutoHunter Spotlight is so close to my high school friend Jody’s car that, if you had swapped this one out for his, we might not have noticed.
The seller describes this second-year 1968 Camaro as powered by a 350ci V8 mated to a two-speed automatic transmission. Finished in red over a black vinyl interior, this classic is offered with a clear title.
The exterior of this Camaro looks to be in good shape. It was originally Butternut Yellow (in my opinion a boring color for these cars) and was repainted in red with a black accent stripe on the nose. The seller states this Camaro underwent a restoration, which I am guessing is when the color was changed. It looks like the work was well done, as the exterior is quite nice.
The car rides on Chevrolet 15-inch Rally wheels clad with staggered 215/40 front and 255/60 rear Tornel radial tires.
The interior was originally equipped with a front bench seat and center arm rest, which is on the rarer side for Camaros. These are covered with correct-pattern black vinyl. Other interior changes include an aftermarket Boss Audio Systems stereo and dash-mounted aftermarket gauges for oil pressure and water temperature. Overall, the interior looks to be in excellent condition. While purists might not like the seat change, I would never want a bench seat in a Camaro – not only do they look weird in a sporting car, but they are also less comfortable.
Under the hood of this Camaro is a 350ci V8 that has a chrome dress-up kit and the spectacular Holley Sniper EFI system. Forget about carbs—this system is better and more reliable in every way and offers the unique combination of increased performance and reliability. It also features an aluminum radiator with electric fans.
There are other mechanical changes as well, including tubular A-arms with poly bushings, power front disc brakes, and a dual exhaust system.
The overall condition of the car and the changes made to it make this a classic first-generation Camaro you can drive every day, take on tours, and show off with pride at a local car show.
If you are in the market for either a first classic car or simply another classic car to drive and enjoy, take a hard look at this tastefully modified 1968 Chevrolet Camaro as a potential choice. If you are interested, though, you have bid on it. The auction for this ends Friday, September 5, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. PDT.
We can look at brochures and dealer books and learn what was available for a particular model year, but those won’t provide a complete picture of things as they evolved over the model year. Our Pick of the Day is one of those cars that you won’t find in most literature; that’s because it was a promotional package created by a marketing department early in the calendar year. This 1967 Plymouth Belvedere Silver Special two-door hardtop is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Elkhart, Indiana.
The Silver Special name has been used by Plymouth since 1958. It was first applied to a mid-year promotion for Plaza two- and four-door sedans to kick sales up a notch. Equipped with whitewall tires, deluxe wheel covers, fender ornaments, and anodized aluminum “Sportone” side trim with a matching metallic silver roof, the Silver Special was a nicely dressed version of Plymouth’s cheapest model.
The Silver Special was revived for 1966, though now applied to the Fury II four-door sedan. The Silver Special was available in five colors (white, light blue, light metallic blue, dark metallic blue, and silver) and included these extras as standard equipment: whitewalls, deluxe upper door moldings, special wheel covers, and a blue vinyl interior.
The Silver Special reappeared for 1967, now based on the Belvedere II two-door hardtop and four-door sedan—again, a specially equipped, specially priced mid-range Plymouth. “It worked before…work it some more,” said the special brochure created for this promotion. There were two packages available: Package A included Buffed Silver paint or any other regular color save Light Tan metallic, a special silver and black vinyl interior, deluxe wheel covers, whitewall tires, and sill moldings; Package B added a special textured vinyl top in a silvery charcoal color. If air conditioning or a 383 four-barrel was ordered, a $50 discount for each was implemented.
You may not have heard of the Silver Special because, other than the special interior, there’s not much that makes it stand out from your typical Belvedere II. Additionally, the Belvedere II was not a performance model, so it’s often modified by enthusiasts, sometimes losing its identity. According to the seller, this Gold metallic 1967 Belvedere Silver Special has what’s “believed to be 21,500 original miles,” adding that it is powered by a “well-built, fuel-injected 360 cubic-inch V8 backed by its 3-speed automatic transmission” that “has been nicely upgraded with Hooker long tube headers, aluminum heads, Edelbrock mild-rise EFI intake manifold, Edelbrock electronic fuel-injection, and aluminum radiator with electric puller fan.” Other features include power front disc brakes, an aftermarket Optimus AM/FM stereo with a cassette player, and more.
Sure, there’s nothing on the outside to show that this Plymouth is more interesting than any other Belvedere out there, but the silver lining is in the cabin. For $34,995, is this Mopar gold?
My kiddo turned six less than a month ago, so he was ripe to visit Disneyland. As we needed a car, I happened to notice one of the cheaper rentals was a Tesla Model 3. Intrigued with the prospect of not having to pay for the highly taxed California fuel, I thought it was a win-win.
In fact, both my wife and I rented Tesla Model 3s—no, this wasn’t some strange his-and-her rental as much as having different travel schedules on the upcoming Sunday, as I was slated to judge a class at the San Marino Motor Classic, and she didn’t want to stick around and take a late flight.
Luckily, our check-in attendant told us how to use the key (really, a card) and the shifter (not unusual these days) because, after all, they needed to be reinvented by some brave somebody who probably is not from Detroit. She also deflated my hope about refueling, saying I needed to return the Model 3 with at least a 70-percent charge or I would incur a fee of $30 or so.
Other than a steering wheel, nothing in front of the driver.
A seasoned enthusiast knows that once the seat is adjusted and the seat belt inserted, it’s time to adjust the mirrors. Noting the minimalist interior layout and lack of buttons for anything, I went into the menu of the large center display and was able to find instructions on how to adjust the mirrors, with all selections—including left and right mirrors—requiring tedious input.
When I exited the facility, I was curious where my wife was—it seemed she didn’t know how to get the car moving and had to call our Tesla friend to guide her.
Once we were both on our way headed to Santa Clarita, my wife called me and asked, “How do I adjust the mirrors?” and “Why is this car is such a POS?” Her steering wheel was peeling, and she felt the whole car rattled. I explained to her that some people drive rentals like they hate it, yet her feeling of uncertainty from a rental was unacceptable. We let it slide.
After a 45-minute ride, here were my initial thoughts: thrust was impressive and seamless, but my rental was about as rickety as my wife’s. There was under 60,000 miles on mine, so I was not impressed by the Model 3’s integrity. Ditto the screen—I prefer knobs and buttons for many functions buried in menus, and there’s pretty much nothing of the former on this Tesla. Also, for such a minimalist vehicle, I was surprised by the lack of a heads-up display. Visibility was impressive.
Yet what impressed me the most was this feature on the screen that showed my position on the road, along with the position of surrounding cars. It was a small-yet-easy-to-see portion of the screen, somewhat like a sidebar to the navigational map. However, after chatting with my boss, he showed me on his own Model 3 that he could enlarge it to take up the whole screen.
After working at the car show, I stopped by Mercado Buenos Aires to pick up baked goods for my dad, then drove around looking for a Supercharger. All I had to do was press an icon on the screen and it showed me the local Supercharger stations. Alas, the one I went to on Washington near Culver City was nonexistent, though I did see a private parking garage with chargers. Unsure what was proper, I subsequently drove closer to the airport, getting off at the Slauson exit. During this time, I called our Tesla friend, who told me Tesla leased the space, and I would have been allowed in the private garage. True? Too late now!
When I arrived at the Supercharger, I was at 35 percent. I hope there’s room for me because I have a plane to catch! I plugged it in, then asked a neighboring Tesla owner what I needed to do. She told me the one I was at wasn’t working, so I moved closer to her, plugged in, and waited. She said it was running slow, which was true because I waited a nerve-wracking 45 minutes to achieve a 75 percent charge. As the airport was 10 minutes away, I thought I could return the car with at least 70 percent—luckily, that was correct.
The awkward proportions of the derivative Model Y
Tesla owners swear by them, which I always find intriguing considering several quality issues they tolerate and ignore. I’m intrigued by the fuel savings over my wife’s suburban assault vehicle, as we already pay $X.00 for fuel, which is likely more than a Model Y payment would be (including the cost to charge at my house). And how much would my insurance increase? But, man, range anxiety is real! Sure, I wasn’t running out of charge—I just needed to have the charge at 70 percent without missing my flight—but having to find a Supercharger for the first time, combined with not knowing the ins and outs of charging and charging times, was stressful. Thankfully, I had Pre-TSA, so that allowed me to enter the airport and slide into the terminal with no issues despite carrying luggage and a light sabre.
I still desire a utility vehicle that features a manual transmission, but I could really appreciate the display showing surrounding cars. It’s a safety feature that I can’t say I have seen in another vehicle, though my experience with EVs is small.
Cadillac invented the finned rear fender, initially inspired by airplanes before evolving into rockets. It’s a styling feature copied by every manufacturer in Detroit, South Bend, and Kenosha, plus several overseas . . . and then it died out.
Below are four Cadillacs that are listed for sale on AutoHunter or ClassicCars.com. Can you tell us what they are by model year? If you need a hint, just click on an image—shhhh! We won’t tell!
How would you like to get behind the wheel of a turn-key award-winner? Featured on AutoHunter is this 1957 Ford Custom 300 4-Door Sedan. The car is being sold by a dealer in Canon City, Colorado, and the auction will end Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).
The car won “Best Stock” and “Best Classic” in 2009, as well as “Best Classic” in 2011. It was featured in a 2012 catalog for Night Prowlers Kustom Kemp, a brand that produces parts and accessories for hot rods and classics. Finished in two-tone Dresden Blue and Colonial White, it is no wonder why this Custom 300 caught the eye of so many car show judges and parts vendors. Its bumpers have been rechromed, and exterior features include bright trim, decorative lake pipes, a dual exhaust system, and 14-inch steel wheels wrapped in Coker Classic wide whitewall tires.
The 1957 Custom rode on a 116-inch wheelbase (its sibling, the Fairlane, was two inches longer). Thanks to the available powertrain (which we’ll touch on momentarily), the Custom was a “sleeper,” and it had surprising performance for being an otherwise no-nonsense, no-frills four-door sedan. One advertisement for the 1957 Ford models said, “Step to the head of the class in the new kind of Ford. It’s smarter, longer, lower than anything in its field … livelier, too – with Thunderbird V8 power!”
The interior of this car was spacious for its time: Ford emphasized the amount of space inside the cabin (“plenty of hat room, elbow room, and knee room”). This car’s interior was redone in two-tone white vinyl and blue cloth. The factory AM radio is inoperative, but an aftermarket Pioneer stereo with satellite connectivity was installed for modernized audio. The odometer reads 4,347 miles, but it does not track mileage accurately, according to the seller.
As for being a sleeper: power comes from a Thunderbird 292ci Y-block V8 mated to a three-speed manual transmission. It was rated at 212 horsepower and 297 lb-ft of torque with a two-barrel carburetor. An electronic fuel pump and an alternator (in place of the original generator) have been added.
A copy of the car’s Colorado 1983 title shows the car’s registered owner as having lived in Canon City, so the car has remained in its current area for at least the last 40 or so years. Accompanying the car is a long list of accompanying items, including spare parts, an owner’s manual, awards, parts catalog, service records, and other memorabilia. It is a complete “package deal.” As Ford said in its advertising for 1957 cars, “After you see it, other cars will never be the same.”
What makes a classic? Just look at some blue jeans or a good pair of boots. They’re simple. They’re also perennially attractive. Those same characteristics are what make certain old trucks, such as our Pick of the Day, classics. You can find this 1964 Chevrolet C10 Stepside on ClassicCars.com listed by a dealer in Lugoff, South Carolina.
Unlike many deserving classic vehicles out there, this C10 received a frame-off restoration, which brought fresh light blue and white paint, replacement glass, and new cream-colored wood planks for the floor of the Stepside bed. Inside the light blue cab, there’s a bench seat with new light blue vinyl, and black and blue plaid cloth upholstery.
It’s a different story under the hood, but one with a happy ending. Chevrolet didn’t offer a 250ci inline-six in the C/K lineup until 1966. At some point in the past 60-plus years, a “High Torque 250” engine was put under the hood of this truck and connected to a three-speed manual gearbox.
The restoration will help this C10 survive the passage of the next few decades; its proportions ensure that it’ll look handsome the entire time. It doesn’t sit too high or too low. The wheels are neither dwarfed by the body above them nor are they stuffed underneath it. The ratio of the Stepside bed’s length to the cab’s length is just right.
For decades, this 1964 Chevrolet C10 Stepside has been a classic and it always will be. The question is: Will it be your next truck? If you pay the $35,000 asking price, the answer is yes.
Laec Christensen’s pride and joy (and his daily driver for the last 10 years!) has been a 1980 Mazda 626 sedan. While stock-appearing on the exterior, the car is powered by a 1.6-liter inline-four and a transmission from a first-generation Miata.
Some cars, like Laec’s, from the 1970s through 1990s, go underappreciated in the traditional car-show realm. Sure, RADwood is out there to recognize part of this group, but Laec says there’s still an opportunity to celebrate the oft-forgotten “grandma cars” and the everyday underappreciated drivers of the era.
1985 Cadillac Eldorado
He says, “We’re clearing up an injustice, I think: those of us that grew up in the ’90s were promised a future where everything 25-years-old and up would be considered a classic … and yet my own 45-year-old chariot is mostly ignored at a regular show – and I’m far from the only one.”
My first car was a 1986 Chevrolet Celebrity that fits squarely (with its box-shaped silhouette, quite literally) into the demographic, so I can relate to Laec’s mindset.
1980 Honda Prelude
Event Background
Enter the Malaise Car Club of Oregon, which has become a home base for vehicles of the “Malaise Era” between 1972 through 1995. Members connect via a Facebook group of over 600 members. This year will mark the fourth annual meet-up of an event put on by the club called the Malaise Invitational. It will be held at the Pumpkin Patch on Suavie Island on September 13. I connected with Laec for more intel on the background of this unique show. The first event was held in Eugene in 2022, and it has grown in size and in scope ever since.
Daniel Bones and his pride and joy.
Together with his colleagues Daniel Bones and Duncan Nodarse, Laec has helped build a community in the Pacific Northwest around the cars – and the people – from an era that many car shows overlook. As a special attraction, this year, a first-generation Pontiac Phoenix (in brown, of course) will be given away at the event. The car – dubbed “Russet” because of its Idaho-based origins – will be sent home with one lucky attendee.
Most importantly, the Malaise Invitational has a community-oriented mission: Proceeds will be donated to Birch Community Services, an organization that helps low-income families receive food, education, and “nurturing accountability” to qualifying community members in need.
1988 Plymouth Reliant
Registration and Spectator Details
If you are interested in taking part in this year’s Malaise Invitational, participant registration is available at this link. Any car, truck, motorcycle, and anything with wheels made between 1972 and 1995 is encouraged to register. “Rust buckets, show cars, and daily drivers will all be equally welcomed at the show,” the website says. The show is open to the public and free to attend. Pets and food are welcome, and the event will be held rain or shine.
Event Details:
Fourth Annual Malaise Invitational
Saturday, September 13, 2025
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sauvie Island
16511 NW Gillihan Road, Portland, OR 97231
Photos courtesy of Malaise Car Club of Oregon and CurbsideClassic.com
ClassicCars TV was lucky to see this 1954 Kaiser Darrin in all its fiberglass glory. Not only are Kaiser Darrins rare, but they also have a distinctive design from Automotive Hall of Fame inductee Howard “Dutch” Darrin. His Kaiser Henry J-based creation has an unusual grille, a Willys inline-six, pocket doors, and a soft top that can be put into three positions.
But those features weren’t enough to get it on the production line. Ultimately, Henry J. Kaiser’s wife Alyce convinced him to start making the Darrin, aka KF-161. This restored Darrin is #46 from the 435-unit production run; it sold at the Barrett-Jackson 2024 Scottsdale Fall Auction for $97,900.
Featured on AutoHunter is this 1972 Datsun 240-Z, one of the first Japanese cars to capture enthusiasts’ hearts, as well as one of the first Japanese collectibles in America. Car and Driver said in 1970, “The difference between the Datsun 240-Z and your everyday three-and-a-half thousand dollar sports car is that about twice as much thinking went into the Datsun. It shows.” Power comes from a 2.4-liter inline-six paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Other features include center console, air conditioning, aftermarket AM/FM/cassette stereo with digital tuner, and sunroof. Finished in red over a white vinyl interior, this classic Japanese sports car is offered by the selling dealer with service records and a clear title.
The red hue is bright, just like you’d want in a sports car. The 2018 repaint is complemented by black side mirrors, longitudinal protective trim, chrome rear bumper guard, and other assorted brightwork. Twin chrome exhaust tips exit from the left rear. A dual-panel sunroof helps you enjoy the rays while carving corners in the backroads. A set of 14-inch aftermarket wheels (not specified, but they look like Appliance Dia-Mag wheels) are wrapped in 205/70 Toyo radials.
The white vinyl interior is complemented by black components. A pair of bucket seats are divided by a center console housing the shifter. Other interior features include air conditioning, three-spoke steering wheel, and aftermarket JVC AM/FM stereo with cassette.
The instrument panel features a 160-mph speedometer and 8,000-rpm tachometer, with gauges for the oil pressure, temperature, amperage, and fuel, plus clock. The odometer shows 92,470 miles, though the title reads mileage-exempt.
The OHC six-cylinder measures 2393cc and put out 150 horsepower on 8.8:1 compression. Fuel is delivered by a pair of single-barrel carburetors. Power is transmitted through a four-speed manual transmission.
The undercarriage features a fully independent suspension, power front disc brakes, 3.36 gears in the rear differential, and a dual exhaust system.
Nissan . . . er, Datsun set out to do the Italians and Brits one better, and it succeeded. The 240-Z would be a stellar collectible no matter who built it, but it so happens that it is from the Land of the Rising Sun. The red and white color combo is just right, and we all should be thankful this isn’t a post-1972 car with bumpers that ruin its grace. Get your bid in for this 1972 Datsun 240-Z by 11:00 a.m. (PDT) on September 5, 2025, or you’ll miss out on a sports car that keeps you from cursing under your breath.
