Journal Classic Cars

As the seasons change, automotive enthusiasts in some regions of the country are getting their collector vehicles out for one last spirited cruise. Out Motorsports is an LGBTQ+ drivers’ community that prides itself on an emphasis of actually driving. The organization has been around since 2021 and has gained momentum ever since. From the website: “We don’t do parking lots—find us on back roads, at racetracks, off-roading, or anywhere in between.”

Fueled by coffee and passion

One of the group’s signature events each year has been a fall road rally in the northeast, dubbed the Pumpkin Spice Rally. This year’s event—the biggest in Out Motorsports’ history—was headquartered at Camp Out Poconos, a campground in the scenic Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Activities kicked off on Friday, September 26, 2025, with an informal meet and greet. On Saturday, things revved up (after coffee, of course) with seven different drive groups heading out at 10-minute intervals for the designated 100-mile route through the area’s mountain roads. After the cruise, people enjoyed free time to socialize prior to a buffet-style group dinner.  

Key takeaways

I caught up with Event Director Jake Thiewes for some event highlights. He acknowledged that one of the key contributors to the success of the Pumpkin Spice Rally (and to the success of Out Motorsports in a broader sense) has been the support and sponsorship of auto manufacturers and other companies in the industry. This year’s, eight total “press cars” were provided from Audi, Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Lexus, Maserati, and Volvo. Auto equipment companies OG Racing and Bridgestone Tire were critical contributors, as were the event’s many volunteers.

About 100 total vehicles turned out, all of which spanned a wide variety of makes, models, and genres. Some of the 150 or so attendees preferred to ride along versus driving their own vehicles—after all, the rally was designed to be a social event above all else. Jake estimated that about a third of the people at the rally were first-timers. Best of all, the event was set up as a “choose your own adventure”-type program. Even the drive groups were customized according to a target pace/speed. Jake said, “This wasn’t at all a race. We have actual events at racetracks for anyone who really wants to go fast.”

Jake said he was proud of the variety of vehicles that came out, naming off a few of the more obscure examples like a Mitsubishi Evo station wagon, a variety of Saabs, and even a Ford Edge Sport. “We have a spread of age, gender, and interests,” he said, emphasizing that the conversation wasn’t always about the cars—it was more like a reunion of friends.

Get connected

The over-arching message that Jake and his team emphasize is that “community matters.” With that in mind, Out Motorsports is working on an exciting calendar of events for 2026. In addition to the in-person programs like the Pumpkin Spice Rally, the organization encourages electronic networking via both a Facebook group and a Discord server. Check out the website here.

We look forward to seeing what kind of events Out Motorsports puts together in the future! Cheers to many more tasty pumpkin spice lattes and spirited drives.

During this year’s Monterey Car Week, we had the chance to see one of the most fascinating “What if…?” stories in motorsports history: the De Tomaso P70. Born from the collaboration of Carroll Shelby, Alejandro de Tomaso, Peter Brock, and Medardo Fantuzzi, the P70 was a lightweight, rear-engine prototype powered by a 7.0-liter V8, and designed to be Shelby’s Can-Am fighter. With Brock’s aerodynamic design, de Tomaso’s pioneering spine chassis, and Fantuzzi’s craftsmanship, it had all the makings of a racing legend. Unfortunately, fate had other plans. In this video, we uncover the mystery of the P70.

This video is sponsored by our friends at Borro. For the trusted source in liquidity when you need it most, call Borro today at (720) 458-6788 or learn more at borro.com.

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Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this restored and upgraded 1941 Chevrolet AK Series pickup, which is powered by a Chevrolet 350ci V8 crate engine mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. Finished in dark teal over a black leather interior, this prewar American pickup is now offered by the selling dealer in California with receipts, repair orders, and a clear title.

As part of the restoration/upgrade process, the steel body was painted dark teal. Exterior features include chrome bumpers and trim, two-piece windshield with top-mounted wipers, dual mirrors, running boards, LED third brake light below the rear window, wood bed slats, LED taillights, and dual exhaust outlets.

A set of 215/70 BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial whitewall tires surrounds the mint green 15-inch wheels, which are equipped with Chevrolet-branded hubcaps and chrome beauty rings.

The interior of the cab offers seating for two on black leather bucket seats. Amenities include power windows, power driver’s seat, power rack-and-pinion steering, Grant three-spoke steering wheel, and air conditioning.

The VDO and Auto Meter instrumentation consists of a 120-mph speedometer and gauges for fuel, voltage, water temperature, and oil pressure. The odometer shows 6,963 miles, but this truck’s title indicates it’s mileage-exempt.

Under the V-shaped hood, the original engine was replaced with a Chevrolet 350ci V8 crate engine that features a Quick Fuel Technologies four-barrel carburetor and aluminum intake manifold. The HEI distributor’s ignition module, cap, and rotor were replaced last year. In addition, the original transmission was swapped out for a three-speed automatic. Check out the video below to see and hear this truck in action.

Many of the upgrades to this truck can be found closer to the pavement, such as the Ford Mustang II independent front suspension, power steering rack, lowering springs, and power front disc brakes. The fuel tank was relocated to underneath the bed, which has an opening for the fuel door.

If you have an opening in your collection for this 1941 Chevrolet AK Series pickup, bid on it now. The auction ends on Monday, October 13, 2025, at 12:15 p.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Read the news today and it may appear we are not of this Earth—the monolithic way in which we thought the world was organized has fractured. Peruse questionnaires and you’ll be asked if you’re male, female, or other. The truth is that this is not a new phenomenon, as our Pick of the Day presented the very same orientation. This 1972 Plymouth Road Runner GTX is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Alsip, Illinois.

You likely know the story of how Plymouth introduced the GTX for 1967, which included a standard 375-horsepower Super Commando 440. The following model year, Plymouth introduced a novel companion performance model called the Road Runner. Major distinctions between the two was that the GTX was based on the up-market Sport Satellite, while the Road Runner was based on the down-market Belvedere and powered by a 383. The siblings continued together through 1971, but sales of the two models tanked as market forces (insurance among them) led to a decline of the performance/sporty segment. With only 2,942 GTXs produced for 1971, Plymouth decided to put the GTX model to rest.

During these years (1968-71), the 440 four-barrel was never available as a legitimate option for the Road Runner (the anomaly being the Superbird), but due to the absence of the GTX, Plymouth added the 440 four-barrel to the 1972 Road Runner’s roster. Interestingly, when this engine was specified, subtle GTX badges were added. There was no “GTX package” per se—order the 440 and the Road Runner also received GTX badges.

The 1969-71 “RB”-engined Mopar muscle cars—that’s 440 and 426 Hemi to the uninitiated—received the famed, heavy-duty Dana 60 rear end when equipped with a four-speed (with any gear set) or 727 TorqueFlite when 4.10 gears were specified. However, for 1972, the only Plymouth to receive the Dana rear was the 440 four-speed-equipped Road Runner. Why no automatic Danas? Nineteen seventy-two was the first year for low-compression engines as mandated by the Feds, and Plymouth was less aggressive in its offerings, as 3.55 was the best gearing for TorqueFlite automatics. For four-speeds, the “A33” Track Pak was required and included the Dana rear with 3.54 gears, a Sure-Grip differential, a seven-blade torque drive fan, and 26-inch radiator with fan shroud.

This “GY9” Tawny Gold 1972 Plymouth Road Runner GTX is one of 219 U.S.-spec Road Runners built with the 440 four-barrel and four-speed. Yes, the compression is low, but that doesn’t mean this car isn’t a scorcher—plus it runs just fine on unleaded premium. “Fresh restoration on solid-body car,” says the seller. “Documented with Chrysler Corporation and dealer invoices, being sold new from Schoenhals Motor Sales, Inc. in Imlay City, Michigan.” Features include a 440 with 0.30 overbore plus aluminum heads, Gold buckets, a center console, the Décor Group, power steering and brakes, the Rallye instrument cluster, an AM/FM radio, the “N96” Air Grabber, black Strobe striping (though the invoice originally specifies gold), and 14-inch Rallye road wheels, among other items.

As this car was ordered with the 440, you’ll find GTX badges on the front fenders and trunk lid, but don’t mistake it for a GTX—it identifies as a Road Runner. Confused? For $79,900, we bet you’ll know exactly what you’re driving.

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

It’s stunning how quickly time seems to pass. If you’re of a certain age, you might think the 1990s weren’t that long ago, but they were. The Z32 Nissan 300ZX, Mk IV Toyota Supra, and FD Mazda RX-7 are now in their 30s. And the Japanese Classic Car Show (JCCS) on October 11 will mark the 20th anniversary honoring machines from the “Land of the Rising Sun.”

According to the JCCS website, “Back in 2005, Japanese cars weren’t even widely seen as ‘classics.’ Now, thanks to a passionate community of fans, builders, and collectors, we’re proudly celebrating the craftsmanship, culture, and legacy that continue to thrive in the U.S. and beyond.” So expect to see USDM and JDM versions of Japanese performance cars, racing vehicles, sedans, and even SUVs from yesteryear at the Marina Green Park in Long Beach, California this coming Saturday. You can also expect to see coverage of the show on The ClassicCars.com Journal from Honda and Acura enthusiast Tyson Hugie.

It’s been 60 years since automotive designer Peter Brock left Shelby (where he penned the lines of the Daytona Coupe) and started his own company, Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE). The BRE race team’s Datsun 240Z went on win two C Production National Championships; its 510s and driver John Morton took 1st place in the 1971 and 1972 Trans Am 2.5 Championships. Brock, Morton, and other members of the original BRE race team will be at the JCCS to mark the big anniversary—next to the Nissan booth, of course.

There will also be plenty of cool bikes to check out because the 14th Annual Japanese Classic Motorcycle Show will be happening at the same time.

Vehicle registration for the 20th Anniversary Japanese Classic Car Show is closed, but you can still purchase tickets and attend—currently, they’re $20 but, at the door, the price goes up to $25. How many yen is that? We’ll leave that to you to figure out.

The joy of driving didn’t become a thing in America until GIs returned from post-World War II Europe with strange vehicles from England and Italy. Detroit took note of this and developed the 1953 Corvette, a half-baked attempt that finally began to fulfill its objective two years later.

Below you’ll find four vehicles currently for sale on AutoHunter that are modern takes on gran turismos, luxurious grand tourers designed for high-speed, long-distance driving. Can you identify them? Post your answers in the Comments section below, including model year, make, and model. Having trouble identifying a car? You can click on an image for a quick cheat.

Click on a photo to reveal each car

You’ll find an car puzzle every Tuesday at The ClassicCars.com Journal. You can also play past puzzles to test your automotive mettle.

Currently listed on AutoHunter is this 5,142-mile 2021 Bentley Continental GTC, one of 1,972 built. Power comes from a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Features include active all-wheel drive, special Mulliner Driving Specification, adjustable suspension, a suite of driver assistance features, and much more. Painted in Dark Sapphire Metallic with a blue top over a Camel leather interior, this gran turismo convertible comes from the selling dealer with a Bentley jump box, wind deflector, an umbrella, a clean CARFAX, and a clear title.

The Dark Sapphire Metallic paint is nicely complemented by lower-body chrome trim. Of course, the blue soft top is power-operated and includes a tonneau cover. Also note the jewel-like headlights with 55 individual LED lights each. Other features include a pair of twin exhaust pipes and dual power-adjustable side mirrors. A set of 22-inch Open Spoke Alloy wheels is wrapped in staggered-width Pirelli P Zero radials—275/35 front, 315/30 rear.

The Camel leather upholstery includes power-adjustable bucket seats with the Front Seat Comfort package. Other interior features include Burr Walnut trim, adaptive cruise control, a heated steering wheel, wireless charging, a 12.3-inch high-resolution touchscreen with a 360-degree camera view, and much more.

The instrument panel consists of a 220-mph speedometer, an 8,000-rpm tachometer, gauges for the fuel and water temperature, and a GPS display. A rotating display on the center portion of the dashboard includes a thermometer, compass, and stopwatch. The odometer shows 5,142 miles, which is in line with the CARFAX reading from January of this year.

Under the hood, you’ll find a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 putting out 542 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. All that is deployed by an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic.

The undercarriage features an Active All-Wheel Drive system, adjustable suspension, and power four-wheel disc brakes.

It has been said that it is good to be the king. This 2021 Bentley Continental GTC is a convertible that treats you like one with its copious power and lushly trimmed interior, the latter part of the deluxe Mulliner Driving Specification. Coronation is approaching, so place your bid on this drop-top chariot because the auction ends on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Our Pick of the Day is one of the true icons of the muscle car world, a 1970 Pontiac GTO listed for sale on ClassicCars.com in Monterey, California.

Though there is some argument about it, for most people the Pontiac GTO introduced the world to the idea of muscle cars. At this point, it is a legend, and every generation of the GTO is desirable in its own right.

What Pontiac did extremely well, and probably better than any other manufacturer, was to modify and change the GTO to respond to the changing needs and expectations of buyers. What started out as basically an option package for a GM intermediate-class car, the Pontiac LeMans, evolved into a vehicle that was not just an option package, but its own model.

In 1968 the GTO received a complete redesign with much more streamlined styling, incorporating a sort of fastback-style rear window. Pontiac also redesigned the front bumper in the body color, which was made out of a plastic called Endura. You could still get a GTO with a chrome front bumper if you wished, but the body-colored bumper, along with the dual hood scoops, are to me what makes this generation of GTO super cool-looking and very 1970s aggressive.

The seller describes this 1970 GTO as a “gorgeous restored” example painted in its factory color of Polar White with a basecoat/clearcoat process. The seller goes on to say that the second owner had it for 25 years and that they are the third owner.

The car was restored five years ago and has been garaged ever since. In the comprehensive description, the seller reports that at the time it was restored, new weatherstripping and window felts were installed. The car is said to still have all its original Soft Ray tinted glass, with the side and back glass in excellent condition. The seller also states the stainless steel around the original front and rear windows is in great shape, and the photos appear to support that. In addition, the car received new side-view mirrors, while the door handles are original and look great. Importantly, the original front Endura nose and grilles are also in excellent condition, as these can often suffer over the years. The car retains its original headlight bezels and parking lights, as well as its original wheel well and rocker moldings, all of which look outstanding. The seller also states that the car’s original rear bumper has been rechromed.

This GTO’s interior is also in extremely good condition, having been completely redone (apart from the original dash) by Legendary Auto Interiors during the restoration. This included the factory-correct red bucket seats, sail panels, deluxe package shelf, headliner, front and rear door panels, armrests and bases. The instrument cluster, which currently shows 72,000 documented miles, is original. The car does feature an upgraded Alpine AM/FM stereo with Bluetooth, happily hidden in the glovebox. A quad set of gauges and tach are mounted under the dash. The car has a deluxe steering wheel (with all three horn buttons working) and deluxe seat belts with shoulder belts front and rear, as well as new carpet, deluxe Pontiac floor mats, and new sill plates.

Under the hood of this GTO is a professionally rebuilt and blueprinted, correct Pontiac YS-code 400ci V8 with less than 5,000 actual miles. It has been bored out to 407ci and produces 444 documented horsepower. Other mechanical upgrades include an Edelbrock aluminum four-barrel intake, Demon four-barrel carb, chrome valve covers and breather, K&N filters, full MSD ignition with billet distributor, RPM red line governor chip, heavy-duty radiator with correct shroud and fan, a set of ceramic coated Hooker long-tube headers into a 2.5-inch dual MagnaFlow exhaust that exits out the back with correct tips, and power front disc brakes. What I really like most about the modifications is how understated they look when you peek under the hood.

The awesome power of this engine is carried to the rear wheels by a professionally rebuilt, smooth-shifting 400 transmission with a 2800 converter. The car also features an F41 suspension package with a larger front sway bar, rear sway bar, and boxed control arms. It has brand-new inner fender seals, adjustable shocks, springs, ball joints, and bushings, factory Safe-T-Track rear with 3.55 gears (updated with an Auburn posi unit), and a new fuel tank and sending unit. The car rides on a set of factory Rallye II wheels with correct PMD center caps and black dot lug nuts, 235/60 all around.

This truly looks to be an exceptional example of a 1970 GTO, with all the mods you would want to work well in today’s world. I don’t think I would change a thing on it. For me, this would be an awesome choice for a tour or vintage rally car. I say “tour,” as I would enter this car into something like the Copperstate 1000 and proudly represent the muscle car community at that event, which is primarily comprised of sports cars. I would guess this car is quite a bit quicker than the European sports cars on that rally and, without question, more reliable. Personally, I would gladly take home this GTO and park it in my garage.

You probably want to know what all this awesomeness is going to cost you. Well, the asking price for this 1970 Pontiac GTO is only $54,500. If that seems steep, you are nuts, as this car has way more than that invested into the restoration. In my opinion, it looks like a great value for an iconic muscle car that’s been restored this nicely.

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

If 1970 is the high-water mark for American muscle, then this 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler must be the ultimate. Arguable? Sure, so pull up a chair and listen as we make a case for this 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler being the most desirable Cyclone ever built. You will be able to purchase this low-mileage vehicle with No Reserve at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction October 15-18 at WestWorld.

Let’s start with the obvious: this is a 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler SCJ, one of 1,631 built. The Spoiler was the top model among three Cyclones that included the base Cyclone and the upmarket Cyclone GT. All Spoilers were powered by the 429 Cobra Jet with ram air and a choice of four-speed or automatic. Note the unique stripes and spoilers, all of which were not available on other Cyclone models.

This car has something that sets it apart from most other Cyclone Spoilers: the Drag Pak, making it one of 341. Mathematically, 429 Cobra Jet + Drag Pak = Super Cobra Jet, which means this 429 received several heavy-duty tweaks to protect it from the rigors of racing. The Drag Pak also added 3.91 or 4.30 gears, the latter of which was specified for this particular vehicle.

Then there’s the special-order color. Cyclone Spoilers were available with a limited selection of colors: Competition Blue, Competition Green, Competition Yellow, Competition Orange, Competition Gold, and Pastel Blue. According to Marti Auto Works, only 31 folks decided they didn’t want any of those colors, instead opting for some other hue. How many of the 31 were black, no one knows, but few will disagree black helps this Spoiler become the ultimate Cyclone.

Take a peek inside and you’ll note this Spoiler has a four-speed manual with console. Glance at the odometer and your eyes will open wide at the 4,459 actual miles. It’s like this car can’t get better than it already is, yet it does—check out the “Day 2” equipment that’s been on this vehicle for decades, such as the American Racing 200S wheels mounted on Goodyear Arriva tires, the huge Holley R-4575-AAA 1150-cfm carburetor on a Shelby aluminum intake manifold, the set of eight Sun gauges mounted on the dashboard, and the Craig Powerplay 50-watt stereo amp with 8-track.

There’s even more desirable options to highlight, such as the hidden headlights and AM/FM radio, but those are regular in comparison. Seriously, what more could you want? This car has it all! If you’re a big Cyclone fan or you simply want the best of the best for your muscle car collection, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. October 15-18, this 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler SCJ will be available for bidding at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction, so you have a little time left to practice raising your arm for bidding and dancing a jig after winning.

Register for the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction and bid on location or online.

ClassicCars TV was lucky to spot a 1962 Maserati 3500GTI, one of only 441 fuel-injected 3500GTIs produced between 1961 and 1964, at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Palm Beach Auction. The 3500GT/GTI series was important to Maserati because it was the first series of road cars that the Italian company built in large numbers.

Clearly, this 3500GTI was also important to a previous owner because it received a variety of updates, including fresh paint, new leather upholstery, an overhaul of the racing-derived 3.5-liter straight-6, and a new fuel injection system. One determined bidder took this restored piece of Italian car history home with the winning bid of $187,000.

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