Journal Classic Cars

If you look at a sample of human beings, you’ll find that common behaviors likely fall within a Bell curve. Look at their car-buying habits and you’ll find the same. But there are those who find red Mustangs terribly boring, so the Pick of the Day is tailor-made for them: a 1966 Plymouth Belvedere II two-door hardtop. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Clearwater, Florida. (Click the link to view the listing)

When looking at this 1966 Belvedere II, you have to go back to 1962 and look at Plymouth’s full-size series. Due to a misconstrued rumor that General Motors was downsizing its cars, the bosses at Chrysler shortened the cars Virgil Exner had planned. These vehicles, based on the new B-body platform, ended up being somewhat ungainly, turning off the public, but their 7/8^th-scale size was not in line with the public’s expectations for full-size transportation, even though Plymouths lost nothing in terms of interior space. Model hierarchy started with the Savoy and then went up to Belvedere, Fury, and Sport Fury.

Styling was mainstreamed through 1964, upon which Plymouth made a sleight-of-hand move and transitioned the B-body platform as a mid-size series while introducing the truly full-size C-body platform. The model names for the latter were Fury I, Fury II, Fury III, and Sport Fury. For the new mid-size offerings, it was Belvedere I, Belvedere II, and Satellite, a new name taken from a show car.

The mid-size Plymouth series was restyled for 1966, now featuring razor-straight styling with bodyside sculpting. Though the 365-horsepower 426-S was discontinued for the platform, an all-new 426 Street Hemi was available. The only other engine with any semblance to performance was the 325-horeepower 383. It would be another year until Plymouth would have a packaged performance model (GTX) with a nice happy medium between the two engines (440 Super Commando).

This 1966 Plymouth Belvedere II two-door hardtop features the 383 backed by a four-speed manual, which is somewhat unusual and rare. However, what makes this vehicle even more interesting is the special-order “Corporate Blue” paint, as evidenced by the “999” under PAINT on the fender tag, as well as the “y9” special-order code. This is the same color used for Richard Petty’s cars. The seller has left absolutely nothing in the description, but we can see this Belvedere II has the “H4X” black bench seat (buckets were reserved for the Satellite), “R1” AM radio, and not much else.

If you’re a Mopar guy or gal and the thought of driving a Plum Crazy Challenger makes you want to get into a Chevy, then this $49,990 1966 Plymouth Belvedere II is your antidote for boredom.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

When you go to the magazine stand today, Hot Rod is one of the few automotive titles left. It continues to have a place in the North American (if not global) automotive consciousness, especially thanks to TV shows like Roadkill, so it’s amazing that a book on its history has not appeared until recently. Written by longtime automotive journalist and former Hot Rod editor Drew Hardin, Hot Rod Magazine: 75 Years is a title for anyone interested in the post-war era development of drag racing, NASCAR, the muscle car era, and beyond

It all began in the 1940s when a photographer by the name of Robert E. Petersen formed a PR agency with fellow refugees from Hollywood studios. One of their clients was the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), an organization created to maintain a level of safety for both racers and spectators in dry lake racing. Petersen became responsible for selling advertising for the program of the SCTA’s First Annual Hot Rod Exposition and Automotive Equipment Display in 1948, so he traveled around Southern California visiting companies participating in the hot-rodding industry.

As he got to know the proprietors of the likes of Edelbrock, Weiand, So-Cal Speed Shop, and more, he realized there may be a market for a periodical catering to this segment of the population. In a column in the inaugural issue, a credo was laid out: “Hot Rod is designed to inform and entertain those interested in automobiles whose engines and bodies have been rebuilt for better performance and appearance.”  

The 1950s were the “Boom Times” for Hot Rod. The magazine’s first editor, Wally Parks, formed the National Hot Rod Association in 1951 after recognizing the need for organization in hot rodding activities. Bonneville also was hot, with many racers starting to evolve into the OHV engines as the limits of Ford’s “Flathead” were becoming apparent. Then, in 1955, the unofficial “Horsepower Race” began in Detroit, with V8 power going from a class-based thing to more of an egalitarian thing as now all of the “Low-Priced Three” now offered V8 power. Of special note was Chevrolet’s embrace of performance thanks to engineer and future Godfather of the Corvette, Zora Arkus-Duntov.

Like Rock ‘n Roll, automotive and hot rod culture joined 1950s popular culture and would only increase in recognition. Hot Rod Magazine: 75 Years tells the stories of the magazine, the industry, the automobiles, and the personalities involved, through thick and thin, up to the present day. Even the Malaise Era is not just given lip service — the whole history during the 1970-80s is written with the same respect and density as the heyday.

For anyone into American performance cars, Drew Hardin’s Hot Rod Magazine: 75 Years is seminal in tracing the lineage of hot rods and American high-performance, as well as the magazine being the beacon through it all. The book adds color and depth to the past 75 years in ways you simply can’t get from being a decades-long reader or collector of the publication. For the definitive review of the publication and American performance history, Hot Rod Magazine: 75 Years is essential.

Note: The author of this review is a former Hot Rod staffer and has written for the book’s author. Every attempt has been made to remain objective.

Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1997 Chevrolet Camaro Z28.

The Camaro has deep roots in the muscle car collector segment. I thought it fitting that since I recently wrote a recent AutoHunter Spotlight about a first-year 1967 Camaro, I needed to also delve into the merits of a Camaro that’s exactly 30 years newer. This well-kept fourth-gen Z28 convertible has driven only 52,995 miles since new and comes in a striking white finish with Hugger Orange accent stripes. It is being offered by the selling dealer in Phoenix, Arizona with a clear title, owner’s booklets, and service records.

In recognition of the Camaro’s 30^th anniversary, Chevrolet rolled out a striking version of the fourth-generation Camaro: The Arctic White (paint code 10) finish came topped by dual Hugger Orange racing stripes. A power-retractable white top, along with color-matched white wheels, give the overall exterior of this convertible a consistent and attractive appearance.

Edition-specific treatment continues to the interior, where we find 30^th Anniversary embroidery on the white leather bucket seats up front. Options include cruise control, air conditioning, a trunk-mounted CD changer, and a tilt-adjustable steering column. Darker tones for the console, belts, dash, and carpeting give a unique two-tone appearance to the cockpit.

Power under the hood comes from Chevrolet’s robust 285-horsepower LT1 5.7-liter V8 paired with a console-shifted four-speed automatic transmission. According to the CARFAX report, recent maintenance included replacement of an intake manifold gasket, oxygen sensor, and crankshaft position sensor in 2021. In addition, the Falken Ziex tires are new within the last 50 miles according to the selling dealer, so this Camaro is ready to roll.

Hagerty stated that just 979 units of the 30^th Anniversary were produced for the United States and Canadian markets combined, so this car has “future collectible” written all over it, especially with its low accrued mileage. The accident-free CARFAX report spans ownership in California, Texas, and Arizona, so this car hasn’t seen harsh winters.

It is hard to believe, but the Camaro model name is now 56 years old, so in just a few years we will be ready for a 60^th Anniversary iteration. Maybe Chevrolet should roll one out in Arctic White with Hugger Orange striping as a nod to this car from the late 1990s?

The auction for this 1997 Chevrolet Camaro ends tomorrow, August 24, 2023, at 1:15 p.m. (PDT)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery

A 1957 Jaguar XKSS was sold last week by RM Sotheby’s at its auction coinciding with 2023 Monterey Car Week.

After some intensive bidding, the car finally sold for $13,205,000, which was right in the center of its estimate of between $12 million and $14 million.

The car, which bears chassis no. 707, is among the best preserved examples of the Jaguar race car built for the road. It features most of its original bodywork, plus an original engine block and head, and even two of the three carburetors, according to the auction listing. The odometer shows 25,535 miles, which is thought to be the actual lifetime mileage.

The original XKSS cars were D-Type race cars converted for road use and sold to customers mostly in the U.S., one of them being Steve McQueen. After winning Le Mans with the D-Type two years in a row, Jaguar chose to withdraw from racing at the end of the 1956 season. That left some spare D-Type chassis.

For the XKSS, Jaguar modified the bodywork, losing the distinct fin and adding basic amenities, including a passenger door, a windshield, side curtains, and a folding top, but the company kept the 262-hp 3.4-liter inline-6 engine and other mechanical hardware. The result was a road-going version of a still-competitive race car. The D-Type went on to win Le Mans again in 1957 with the privateer Ecurie Ecosse team.

Jaguar planned to build 25 examples of the XKSS, but only 16 were built in 1957 before a fire broke out at Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory, with the unfinished cars either destroyed by the fire or later dismantled for parts. In 2016, Jaguar got around to building those final nine examples as continuation cars that were each sold for $1.5 million.

Chassis no. 707 was one of the original 16 cars to be built. It was imported to the U.S. originally for delivery to racing driver Lou Brero Sr., who selected a cream exterior and red interior. He died in a crash before taking delivery and as a result the car was sold to dealer Sammy Weiss, whose Sacramento dealership sold it to San Francisco resident and racer Sidney Colberg in 1960.

Colberg kept the XKSS for 15 years before selling it to British enthusiast Anthony Bamford. The car then remined in the U.K., trading hands a few times. Over the years, the original hood, dented in racing incidents, was replaced, as well as a rear bulkhead due to the original featuring holes once cut for roll bars. The car was also repainted at one point to its current metallic blue—a nod to the Ecurie Ecosse race cars.

RM Sotheby’s also sold a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 for $5.4 million in Monterey, as well as a 2003 Ferrari Enzo for just over $4 million, and a 1990 Ferrari F40 for $3.3 million.

The highest price fetched for a Ferrari in Monterey was a 1967 412P race car. It was sold by rival auction house Bonhams for just over $30 million.

HIGH-RES GALLERY: 1957 Jaguar XKSS bearing chassis no. 707 – Photo credit: RM Sotheby’s

This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com

Think you know your cars? Then try the below automotive puzzle highlighting dashboards from cars currently listed on AutoHunter.

As command central for cars and trucks, the instrument panel is what we see more than any other part of our personal vehicles. However, knowing what other cars’ dashboards looks like is not the same (or as easy) as identifying a taillight. So, put on your thinking hat and type your answers in the comment section below, then click on each image to learn whether you guessed correctly. Have fun!

Have an idea for another automotive puzzle? Don’t be shy to tell us below — Ron Drew wasn’t when he suggested this one!

Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1986 GMC C1500. This truck has been given a custom frame-up restoration that includes power supplied by a fuel-injected Chevrolet 383 stroker V8 harnessed to a four-speed automatic transmission. Features include air conditioning, Dakota Digital gauges, shaved door handles with remote keyless entry, upgraded Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo, and more. Finished in Black with Violet Pearl over a black vinyl and cloth interior, this 1986 GMC pickup comes with a CARFAX report and clear title.

During the restoration, the exterior was finished in BASF Black over Violet Pearl. Features include a silver Chevrolet grille with dual headlights and tinted parking lights, black front air dam, dual chrome side mirrors, white accent stripes, tinted glass, black vinyl tonneau cover, short Fleetside pickup box lined with gray BedRug, shaved tailgate, and rear roll pan.

A set of new 20-inch custom U.S. Mags wheels is wrapped in 11.5-inch-wide Goodyear radial tires.

The bench seat is upholstered in black vinyl with cloth inserts. Features include power steering, four-spoke Grant GT steering wheel, floor-mounted automatic transmission shifter, and factory air conditioning converted to R134a refrigerant. The sound system consists of a modern Kenwood AM/FM/CD/Bluetooth stereo, four new Pioneer speakers, and Polk Audio subwoofer.

The instrument panel consists of a set of Dakota Digital VHX analog gauges that includes a 160-mph speedometer, 8,000-rpm tachometer, and readouts for the fuel level, coolant temperature, oil pressure, and voltage.

Power is provided by a new Chevrolet 383 stroker V8 paired with a Holley Sniper fuel injection system and 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission with 3,000-rpm stall converter. Power output is an estimated 500-plus horsepower. Engine features include polished aluminum valve covers and intake, MSD electronic ignition system, and aluminum air cleaner with flame design.

The suspension has been lowered two inches with drop spindles. Braking is provided by power front discs and rear drums. The rear end has been upgraded with a mini spool.

The auction for this 1986 GMC C1500 ends tomorrow, on Thursday, August 17, 2023, at 1:15 p.m. (PDT)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery

Italian cars can be like a Fellini flick: fantastic, with a dose of drama for good measure. Seems that sounds like our Pick of the Day: a 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Philadelphia. (Click the link to view the listing)

Italian cars of this era can be confusing to American car lovers because there were so many variations done with the same chassis: a Bertone here, a Pinin Farina there, and maybe a Zagato for the truly avant-garde. That’s why you see sedans, coupes, convertibles, and practically bespoke versions sharing the same name. That’s very true of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, which started off as a 1.3-liter twin-cam inline-four-powered Sprint coupe in 1954, soon to be joined by a Berlina (four-door sedan) and Spider (convertible) a year later.

At the time, unibody construction, aluminum alloy engine block with cast iron sleeves, and hemi heads were novel ideas beyond the twin cams. More powerful versions of the 1956-62 Sprint and Spider were called Veloce (think “velocity”), which added another twin-venturi carburetor and more compression for 89 horsepower, a ten-horse bump. The 1957-62 Giulietta Sprint Speciale, a custom Bertone two-seater, and a race-inspired Sprint Zagato, featured even more compression and 99 horsepower.

This 1959 Alfa Romeo was born a white Giulietta Spider Veloce in Milan on January 3, 1959, and sold through the famous Hoffman Motor Car Co. in Manhattan. In the 1990s, the Alfa was sent to Ashcroft Restorations in Phoenix for an interior refreshing. The exterior was repainted a shade of BMW red by the owner, who owned Day BMW in Concord, California.

The driveline was sent to Conrad Stevenson of Berkeley, where he adapted the Veloce’s exhaust manifold, carburetors, air box and filter, headers, and oil sump to a 1750cc block, then mated the engine to a five-speed manual transmission (the original had four forward speeds). The charging system was also upgraded to an alternator. Underneath, the suspension was upgraded to include a larger sway bar and other tweaks.

Since 2004, this 1959 Giulietta Spider Veloce has been in the possession of the current owner. “The car has been cared for and looked after since thanks to consistent service records on file, and now shows a scant 87,500 on the odometer,” says the dealer, which is a scant 1,500 miles added over 20 years. With classic Italian style and subtle Alfa upgrades, this Giulietta is a dream collectible with some rev-happy drama under the hood. For $95,000, it’s a fine way to enjoy the good life.

Today’s AutoHunter Cinema feature is a fine example of how final generation D150s are almost a blank canvas for builders. This 1983 Dodge D150 is powered by a Blouch Performance twin-turbocharged 318ci V8 mated to a 904 TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The modified D150 features a ton of customization from the Indigo Blue exterior to the custom navy interior and the performance modifications are more bite than bark. This custom pickup sold for $46,200 at the Barrett-Jackson Houston auction.

Check out AutoHunter Cinema on YouTube for other great videos.

If the quintessential station wagon is the Ford Country Squire, then you have a certain expectation of what a station wagon looks like. So when you encounter a wagon like this 1958 Mercury, does something strike you as being somewhat different? It’s a proper hardtop, which is why this 1958 Mercury Commuter is our Pick of the Day. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Branson, Missouri. (Click the link to view the listing)

By the time this Mercury was built, hardtop wagons had become a thing thanks to the 1955-57 Chevrolet Nomad and Pontiac Safari. Truth be told, they were two-door hardtop wagons that were more about style than service. The 1957 Mercury was among the first to offer a “regular” hardtop wagon, which included the Buick Special Riviera Estate Wagon and Century Caballero, and Oldsmobile Rocket 88 and Super 88 Fiestas. Rambler, Dodge, and Chrysler eventually would join the bandwagon. (See what we did there?)

For 1958, Commuter sat at the bottom of the Mercury wagon hierarchy. Trimmed similar to the Monterey, it was available as a two-door, six-passenger vehicle, as well as a four-door version capable handling either six- or nine-passengers. A step up was the Voyager, which was trimmed like a Montclair. It was available in the same three configurations as the Commuter. The Colony Park was trimmed like a Park Lane and was the only wagon to feature wood-grained steel paneling. It was only available as a four-door with seating for six or nine passengers. All were hardtops.

Nineteen fifty-eight was the year Mercury started offering a new family of Marauder V8s that’s commonly known as “MEL” (Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln). Standard for the Commuter was a 312-horsepower 383, while the Voyager and Colony Park came standard with 330-horse 383. Optional for all models was the Super Marauder 430 with 400 horsepower — more than Chrysler’s 300-D!

This 1958 Mercury Commuter wagon features four doors and room for nine passengers. Mildly customized, the seller calls this the “California Beach Wagon,” and it shows thanks to four-wheel power disc brakes, American Racing mags, and lowered suspension. With 80,000 miles, the 330-horse wagon also features push-button automatic transmission. “Paint is high-quality with no blemishes or chips. All trim and chrome has been repaired, straightened and either polished or re chromed,” says the seller. “Power steering, power rear window, power antenna … all lights, gauges and accessories in working order … radio works.” Inside, the interior is original and looks great aside of the third row, which has been reupholstered with non-matching material. Best of all, a new under-dash AC system was just installed.

The seller concludes, “Would drive anywhere.” For $87,500 OBO, it better be capable, so tell the tribe to pile in and go to Mount Rushmore with nary a worry. In a sea of SUVs, you certainly would stand out, and the memories would be priceless.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

A group of New York lawmakers want to mandate speed limiters for the cars of serial speeders, The New York Daily News recently reported.

Drivers with multiple speed-camera violations would be ordered to install aftermarket speed limiters in their vehicles, under a bill proposed in the New York State legislature Tuesday by two legislators representing New York City’s Brooklyn borough.

Senator Andrew Gounardes, who is sponsoring the bill in the New York Senate, said in an interview with the Daily News that fines don’t serve as a significant consequence for speeding, adding that a “cohort of drivers” continue to rack up multiple speeding violations.

The proposed alternative is a speed limiter that would prevent cars from traveling no more than 5 mph above the posted speed limit. The bill calls for installing these devices in cars that have been flagged with six or more speed-camera violations.

In New York State, speed-camera violations do not come with driver’s license points, as the automated system can’t prove who is driving. Drivers who are stopped by police can receive points on their licenses for speeding in addition to fines. State law allows for licenses to be suspended if a driver accumulates 11 points in 18 months, but that’s not mandatory. Under the proposed bill, speed limiters would also be installed in the cars of drivers who accumulate 11 points but don’t have their licenses suspended.

This isn’t the only proposal to limit speed in New York. In 2022, legislators proposed fitting every car manufactured or registered in the state with a system called Active Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) that would use GPS and traffic sign recognition to determine the speed limit—and prevent drivers from exceeding it. That bill failed to advance beyond the New York Senate Rules Committee.

This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com