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Journal Classic Cars

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Seeing a Skyline GT-R is cool enough, but getting an up-close look at this 1996 Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 LM Limited was an even better experience. Nissan created 188 LM Limited special-edition GT-Rs to commemorate its participation in the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans: 86 like this car and 102 in V-Spec trim, all of which wore Champion Blue paint. In addition to its N1 front bumper ducts, front spoiler, and carbon fiber rear wing, this all-wheel-drive road rocket features several upgrades.

The RB26DETT twin-turbo 2.6-liter I6 is equipped with performance parts from HKS, which include the boost controller, turbo timer, intake, and Hi-Power cat-back exhaust. The suspension received R34 GT-R front lower control arms and Tein Flex Z coilovers. All of those enhancements make a rare car that much more special – and caused someone to pay $105,600 for it at the Barrett-Jackson 2024 Palm Beach Auction.

Currently listed on AutoHunter is this restored 1953 Buick Special Tourback Sedan. As Buick’s cheapest model and bodystyle, the Model 48D Special Tourback Sedan gave eight-cylinder performance at a price point that was agreeable to many. Powering this two-door sedan is Buick’s Fireball straight-eight backed by a three-speed manual transmission. Other features include tinted windows, driver-side chrome mirror, Cragar mags, Moog springs, and more. Painted turquoise over a multi-colored cloth interior, this 1950s cruiser is offered by the seller with books, full-size spare, and a clear title.

The turquoise exterior is complemented by generous flourishes of chrome, from the classic Buick spear and gunsight hood ornament to the Ventiports. Other features include chrome driver-side mirror, chrome gas door guard, and tinted windows. A set of 15-inch Cragar mags are wrapped in 235/70 Cooper Cobra radials.

The cabin features bench seats front and rear, both wrapped in multi-colored cloth. The steering is manual, as is the column-mounted transmission shifter. There is a factory-style Sonomatic AM radio, though it’s currently not operational.

Instrumentation consists of a 110-mph speedometer with gauges for the oil pressure, coolant temperature, amperage, and fuel. The odometer currently shows 63,257 miles, though the title reads mileage-exempt.

The 263.3ci Fireball straight-eight was originally rated at 125 horsepower with a two-barrel carburetor. This Buick was originally built with the standard three-speed manual versus the much more common Dynaflow automatic. Other under-hood features include an oil bath air cleaner and electric fuel pump.

The undercarriage features an independent front suspension and solid rear axle with the differential housing 3.90 gears. Other features include Moog lowering springs, polyurethane front sway bar end link bushings, and manual drum brakes. A dual exhaust system helps the straight-eight breathe.

Our AutoHunter Spotlight ain’t a ’57 Chevy — it’s something better! Buicks were known as cars with great passing power, and the combination of the straight-eight in Buick’s lightest vehicle can surprise some in the Stoplight Grand Prix. This Arizona-based 1953 Buick Special Tourback Sedan appears to be an easy way to get into a classic that you can drive often, so don’t be caught napping as the auction will end on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 11:15 a.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

The single most important car I have ever owned was a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona. It had been my dream car since I was 13 years old, and owning one was a dream come true. The Daytona completely delivers on the Ferrari experience in every way, but unfortunately they have become much more expensive since I had mine. In addition, the one downside of the Daytona is that it has the heaviest slow-speed steering ever, making parking lot maneuvers a rather serious workout. Happily, there is a car that offers just about everything that the Daytona does, adds power steering, and costs much less. That car is our Pick of the Day, a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 listed on ClassicCars.com by the Barrett-Jackson Collection Showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The 365GTC/4 styling was penned by Filippo Sapino at Carrozzeria Pininfarina in the first half of 1970. By September of that same year, a prototype had been built and was being tested by Ferrari. Interestingly, there was little said to the press about 365 GTC/4 as a new model prior to its launch.

Ferrari debuted the 365 GTC/4 model at the Geneva Motor Show in March, 1971. It was intended to be more civilized and practical, more in line with the 330 GTC and not a replacement for the old 365 2+2. Having driven a 365GTC/4 on multiple occasions, it is in essence a roomier and more luxurious version of the Daytona.

These are fast cars, sharing the basic DOHC V-12 engine of the Daytona, but with six sidedraft Webers instead of the downdraft ones used on the Daytona. Another change is the gearbox, which is mounted behind the engine instead of being mounted at the rear like on the Daytona. This gave the 365GTC/4 a 49/50 weight distribution front to rear.

The car featured here is one of 505 365GTC/4s built. It is finished in Marrone Colorado (“reddish brown”) over a tan leather interior. The condition of the exterior looks excellent in every way. Some folks haven’t warmed up to the exterior styling of the 365 GTC/4 but, in the right colors (anything but red), these cars can look striking. They have a lot of the DNA of the Daytona but are a bit softer. The side view is especially amazing.

The seller states that this car was owned by its original owner from 1972-2006, something almost unheard of in a classic Ferrari. It is a U.S.-spec example delivered new to Beverly Hills. I love that it rides on Borrani wire wheels, an option that fits this car perfectly. This car includes all books, complete tool kit, and years of service records — something nice to have on any classic V-12 Ferrari.

The 365 GTC/4 is one of the best 1970s Ferraris to take on a long-distance road trip, say from New York to Dallas. These cars were designed to be used as an alternative to air travel for those who would rather drive than fly to a far-off destination. They can literally cruise at 150 mph all day, making them one of the fastest cars of the era.

While I would hesitate to call this classic 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 affordable, it is definitely a pretty serious value at an asking price of $224,900. Currently consigned at the Barrett-Jackson Collection Showroom in Scottsdale, it is still less than half the price of a comparable Daytona while delivering the complete V-12 Ferrari experience.

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

Remember when Volvo was America’s favorite European import? Do you recall how suburban moms drove Volvo wagons for safety and status? A lot has happened since then, including a global recession, new owners (with a move to a new continent), and electrification. In fact, Volvo stopped taking orders for the V60 Cross Country last month, spelling the end of its station wagon. However, Volvo has hinted that the station wagon will be coming back as a Polestar.

It’s a variant of one of four new EV models coming to Polestar through 2028. Here’s the list:

Image courtesy of Polestar

  • Polestar 5 debuted at the 2025 Munich Motor Show and should reach dealerships this summer.
  • Polestar 2 already exists, but a new-gen version will be introduced early in 2027.
  • Polestar 7 is a “compact, premium SUV” that should debut in 2028.
  • Polestar 4 is a “coupe crossover” that has been available since the 2024 model year, with the new wagon variant bound to offer more versatility.

“Polestar 4 coupé is our current best-seller. Already by the end of this year, we will launch a new variant of Polestar 4, based on the same great technology,” said Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller. “With this car, Polestar will once again set new standards. Sweden is famous for its estate cars, and its SUVs are world-class. We are combining the space of an estate and the versatility of an SUV with the dynamic performance that is Polestar.”

Image courtesy of Polestar

Count on the Polestar 4 wagon to be launched later this year, with deliveries starting in the fourth quarter of 2026. Perhaps it’s not the manual transmission turbo wagon you wished for, but it’s a wagon that’s fighting the good fight.

Jeep is waging two campaigns right now. When “Twelve 4 Twelve” concludes later this year, there will be 12 new Wrangler special editions out on the roads and trails. The “Convoy” series focuses on “mission-ready special editions that embody strength, unity and purpose,” such as the stealthy Gladiator Black Ops. The newest addition to Jeep‘s convoy in the 2026 Gladiator Whitecap.

As its name implies, the Whitecap treatment includes a Bright White painted roof, but it also extends to the matching seven-slot grille, 1941 side‑stripe decal, and hood decal (on Rubicon, Rubicon X, Mojave, and Mojave X). Stellantis says the package was inspired by the earliest Jeep vehicles, so that may be why it looks familiar. Or perhaps it’s because December’s Twelve 4 Twelve release was the Wrangler Whitecap (which was reminiscent of the Chief package that Jeep offered on the JK Wrangler in 2017).

Adding the Whiteout trim to the Gladiator Sahara, Rubicon X, or Mojave X will cost $495; ticking the box for it on the Rubicon and Mojave models (when equipped with body‑color fender flares and the body‑color Freedom Top) will set you back the same amount. You can see the two-tone look on 2026 Gladiators in Jeep dealerships starting this spring.

The Roaring Twenties was a decade of modernization and optimism in the United States. Shortly before the stock market crash of late 1929, Ford came out with a successor to its Model T that still garners a collector following nearly 100 years later. One such car is a 1929 Ford Model A Tudor Custom that is listed on AutoHunter by a dealer in Gladstone, Oregon. The auction will end on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 12:15 p.m. (MST).

As a bit of backstory, between about 1908 and 1927, the pioneering Ford Model T had sold over 15 million units, making it the highest-selling vehicle in history until later being passed by the Volkswagen Beetle. Imagine being on Ford’s product planning team and trying to come up with a new car that could even come close to filling the shoes the Model T left behind.

That was where the Model A came into play, boasting a 40-horsepower engine (double what the Model T had), as well as conveniences like a three-speed transmission (replacing the complex two-speed planetary), four-wheel brakes, an electric starter, and hydraulic shocks. Oh yeah – and you could get the Model A in a variety of colors besides black, unlike its predecessor.

This burgundy Model A is full of unique upgrades. While the car is still boxy in shape, the chopped top gives it a sleeker, hot-rod stance. The body is said to be all steel (as opposed to fiberglass replacement parts) and the top is covered in an ivory soft material. Exterior features include turn signals, a pop-out windshield, dual side mirrors, dual exhaust outlets, and 15-inch steel wheels with Coker wide-whitewall tires.

The cozy cabin’s later-model bucket seats (as well as the door panels and headliner) have been reupholstered in ivory vinyl with black accent piping. Features include a floor-mounted shifter, a custom headliner, a Grant steering wheel, lap belts, and dashboard pinstriping.

Another attribute that makes this car stand out is its powertrain. In place of the original engine is a Studebaker 232ci flathead V8 mated to a three-speed manual transmission and a 1939 Ford “Quick Change” rear end. Dual two-barrel carburetors and an electric fan help bring it all together for optimal running and driving condition.

So, after all the Model T’s success, did the Model A live up to expectations? In 1929 alone, there were over a dozen body styles available, encompassing closed cars (sedans/coupes), open cars (convertibles), and commercial vehicles. There seemed to be a Model A for everyone, and indeed, it did sell well – at least until the Great Depression hit. Sales for 1929 topped about 1.5 million units.

If you’ve been considering a vintage hot rod with some period-correct character, your chopped-top Tudor has arrived.

The auction for this 1929 Ford Model A Custom ends Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 12:15 p.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

I don’t know about you, but I think certain colors look best on certain cars. To me, shades of silver, white, and gray fit Mercedes-Benz vehicles well. Yet our Pick of the Day comes in such an interesting shade of red that has made me rethink my stance. You can find this restored 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in St. Louis. It comes with a matching removable hardtop and tool kit.

At the 1954 International Motor Sports Show in New York, Mercedes introduced the 300SL, aka the “Gullwing,” and a prototype of the 190SL. According to the automaker, “In contrast to the famous wing-door coupé, the roadster 190SL was not designed to be a true sports car, but an elegant and sporty two-seated GT car” available as a roadster with a soft top or a coupe with a removable hardtop — with or without a fabric roof. Instead of the 300SL’s 3.0-liter straight-six with direct fuel injection, the 190SL received a new 105-horsepower 1.9-liter I4 equipped with a pair of Solex downdraft carburetors and a four-speed manual gearbox.

Between 1955 and 1963, Mercedes produced 25,881 190SLs, nearly 40 percent of which (10,368) were sold in the U.S. According to the selling dealer, this particular 190 was “completed on June 9, 1956 [and] delivered through Mercedes-Benz of Los Angeles and equipped with several rare factory options, as documented by its original data card. These include a transverse rear seat, color-matched hardtop, Becker FM shortwave radio, and black cloth soft top with matching boot.”

Those are cool features, but it’s a little hard to notice them because you have to look past the gorgeous color of the body. It’s called Erdbeerrot Metallic, which translates to Strawberry Red. I love the 190SL in white so much that I bought a diecast model of it in that color, but this shade of red — which seems to have a little maroon and pink in it — is my new favorite.

Believe it or not, the paint (as well as many other parts) is more than 30 years-old. Mercedes-Benz collector Tom Reiger had it restored by Mercedes specialist Bob Platz in the early 1990s. After that, this SL went on to win a variety of awards, including Best of Show at the International 190 SL Group meet and First, Senior, and Grand National prizes from the Antique Automobile Club of America.

If this 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL looks like a winner to you, buy it for $169,500 — then celebrate your own personal victory as its new owner.

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

Sometimes nicknamed a “junior supercar,” the Toyota MR2 was far ahead of its time when it launched over four decades ago. It was a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive (also, “runabout”) two-seater — thus the “MR2” name — and when it debuted, it was Japan’s first production mid-engined vehicle. It went on to be produced for three generations until 2007. Let’s look at the car that started it all.

The first-generation MR2 (W10 platform) was manufactured for model years 1985-1989 and embodied many of the engineering elements that made the 1980s era so iconic: a distinctive wedge-shaped design, pop-up headlights, and available removable T-tops. The Kyusha Club, an Arizona-based car community with an emphasis on 2005-and-older European and Japanese vehicles, hosted an event in mid-February where an MR2 from each generation was on display. The 1986 model pictured herein caught my eye as an exceptionally well-kept, unmodified survivor.

One of Toyota’s 1985 magazine ads said, “Slide in and prepare to blast off. Punch the accelerator and the tach snaps to the 7,500-rpm redline while the twin-cam, four-valve-per-cylinder, TC-16 electronically fuel-injected engine builds a sweet resonance behind you.” Motor Trend magazine named it the “Import Car of the Year” for a number of reasons. The car had a 45/55 front/rear weight distribution that was said to give it superior balance and road-holding ability. Handling was a strong suit, too, thanks to a four-wheel independent suspension with dual stabilizer bars, gas shock absorbers, and rack-and-pinion steering.

Power came from a 1.6-liter, 16-valve, DOHC inline-four that could propel the small compact (weighing in at only about 2,200 pounds) to 60 miles per hour in about 8.5 seconds. For 1986, the 4A-GE engine was rated at 112 horsepower and 97 lb-ft of torque. A subsequent supercharged variant, the 4A-GZE, would elevate the output to 145 horsepower and make its way to the United States in 1988.

Later MR2 generations, known by the W20 and the W30 chassis codes, implemented several controversial changes to the car that we’ll discuss in a future story. Luckily for us, the Kyusha Club offers us a visual representation of how the MR2 evolved.

By the way, there are rumors starting to circulate about a future Toyota MR2, although, based on the timeline discussed by Gazoo Racing president Tomoya Takahashi during an interview with industry paper Automotive News, the final product is likely still several years away.

We’re eager to see if Toyota can pull it off! And as always, we look forward to seeing what other classic cars the Kyusha Club brings out of the woodwork. You can stay informed about its future events by clicking here.

It’s the weekend! Thank you for checking out this installment of Car Connections before you go for a drive through scenic countryside or head to a local get-together with fellow automotive enthusiasts. If this is your first time reading this series, here’s how it works: I make the Random Word Generator spit out a trio of words, then I use my nerdy mind to link each of those to vehicles in some way. This week’s words are perfume, continental, and digital. How would you associate these words with cars? Tell us in the Comments section below.

Let’s get started!

2026 Mercedes-Benz E 450 4Matic Sedan (Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz USA)

Perfume: It’s hard to see this word and not think of the Air Balance system that Mercedes-Benz offers in several models, such as the 2026 E 450 4Matic Sedan. What exactly is Air Balance? Essentially, it cleans the air in the cabin, then makes it smell better.

The system uses charcoal filtration with an electrically charged ionizer to remove impurities and odors. An LED-backlit vial in the glove box pumps out the owner’s choice of fragrance through dedicated ducts. In the past, I used Air Balance in a few Mercedes press vehicles, which made the already luxurious cars even more pleasant and indulgent.

2021 Chevrolet Tahoe RST (Photo courtesy of Chevrolet)

Continental: Lincoln. Done! Just kidding. Outside of cars, this word makes me think of a continental breakfast. Hmmm … breakfast. As a native Texan, I have a soft spot for breakfast tacos. Every now and then, I come across a vehicle that has a seemingly random, oddly sized storage space on the dash.

2021 Chevrolet Tahoe (Photo courtesy of Chevrolet)

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe I tested had one with a sliding cover to the right of the infotainment screen. Yes, the end of a breakfast taco would be hanging out the front of the little cubby, but that just means it would be easier to grab while on the move. Where would the little container of salsa go? In one of the cup holders, of course!

2020 BMW M340i xDrive (Photo courtesy of BMW PressClub USA)

Digital: Every vehicle these days is digital in some way, but let’s look at this a different way. Digits — not numbers, but fingers. Several years ago, I tested a BMW (if I remember correctly, it was a 382-horsepower M340i) with a technology called Gesture Control, which allowed me to adjust certain things using hand movements. If I wanted to turn the volume up, all I had to do was twirl my finger clockwise; going counter-clockwise lowered the volume. Pretty cool, huh?

2023 BMW M340i xDrive (Photo courtesy of BMW PressClub USA)

Well, if you’re like me and “talk with your hands,” that feature can lead to some unwanted adjustments. Trust me — it did. I would’ve told BMW how frustrating my experience was, but since I stopped moving my hands, I was speechless.

If today’s round of Car Connections has you wanting to add a Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet, or BMW to your garage, visit ClassicCars.com and AutoHunter.com. And if you have any ideas for random words to use in a future installment of Car Connections, send them our way!

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Sport Coupe, which is powered by a fuel-injected 327ci V8 paired with a Powerglide two-speed automatic. Finished in Tuxedo Black over a white vinyl interior, this restored C2 Corvette comes from the selling dealer in Oregon with a clear title.

As part of the restoration process in 2024, the body was refinished in its original color of Tuxedo Black. Exterior feature include chrome bumpers, pop-up headlights, a driver-side mirror, and dual exhaust outlets.

The stock wheels and tires were swapped out for 17-inch chrome Ridler wheels and 275/50 radials.

Opening the doors reveals a high-contrast interior with a black dashboard and carpeting, and white vinyl door panels and bucket seats. Features include power steering, wood-rimmed steering wheel, AM/FM radio, and center console.

Instrumentation consists of a 160-mph speedometer, 7,000-rpm tachometer, and gauges for the fuel level, battery, oil pressure, and temperature. The odometer shows 2,008 miles, but this car is mileage-exempt, according to its title.

Under the front-hinged hood is a 327ci V8 that’s been upgraded with Holley Sniper electronic fuel injection. A Powerglide two-speed automatic sends the engine’s power to the rear end. The brakes have also been upgraded to power four-wheel discs.

If you’re looking for an upgrade to your garage, bid on this 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Sport Coupe before the auction ends on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 11:45 a.m. (MST). To learn more about the car, check out the video below.

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery