My grandparents purchased a 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air car new in George, Iowa. It was the family car until 1965, then driven by my dad and his siblings. Eventually it was used as a field car on the farm and to check fur traps in the pasture. In the early 1980s, the vehicle was parked and became an inoperable fixture on the family farm. As a kid I remember sitting in the driver’s seat and pretending to drive, and when I turned 15, I began to make plans to make it my own.
Due to various circumstances, my grandpa ended up selling the car locally in 1993. In the years that followed, I made unsuccessful attempts to purchase the car back. At last, in 2005, the owner agreed to sell it back to our family. I began restoring the ’62 at home. The restoration took 20 years, with life and other projects slowing progress. In 2025, the Bel Air was back on the road! The car was restored to appear as it did when purchased by my grandparents, with modifications such as a Muncie 4-speed, disc brakes, lowered suspension, and Dakota Digital gauges.
Weeks after getting the car back on the road, our community was struck with a devastating flood. Thankfully I was able to save the car by putting it on a four-post hoist.
– Casey T., Iowa
Click here to see more in our “My Classic Car” series.
Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this 1976 Jeep CJ-5, which is powered by a 304ci V8 mated to a four-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. It’s been upgraded for off-road adventures with features such as a winch, body armor, a lift kit, and an onboard air compressor. Finished in red and equipped with a textured black removable hardtop over a black leather interior, this modified classic SUV is now offered by the selling dealer in Oregon with a clear title.
If you can take your eyes off the bright red paint, you’ll notice a variety of useful features and upgrades. Aftermarket bumpers have been installed at both ends. Up front, there’s a 12,000-pound Warn winch and LED fog lights. Black fender flares give this rig a more rugged appearance. In case Mother Nature gets a little too rugged, diamond-plate body armor protects the lower sides and the rear end. The black removable aftermarket doors have an upper main window and a small lower window that provides a better view of the terrain next to the vehicle. A textured black removable hardtop covers the passenger compartment and features a lift-up rear window.
Like most Jeeps, this one comes equipped with aftermarket wheels and tires. In this case, the originals have been swapped out for 15-inch black wheels with chunky 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler MT/R radial tires. There’s a little more space for those thanks to a lift kit.
The black and red color scheme continues into the cabin, where the factory seats have been replaced with black leather Corbeau buckets. Those come with black harnesses and red Corbeau pads. In addition, the Grant steering wheel is wrapped in a combination of black and red. Comfort and convenience features include power steering, a tilt steering column, and a Bluetooth-compatible Soundstream AM/FM/CD/USB/AUX stereo with aftermarket speakers.
A polished metal dash fascia surrounds the instrumentation, which consists of an 8,000-rpm tachometer, a multi-gauge with a 90-mph speedometer and temperature and fuel gauges, and readouts for the oil pressure, fuel level, water temperature, and voltage. There are only 344 miles on the odometer, but this Jeep is mileage-exempt, according to its title.
In keeping with the theme of this vehicle, the engine has also been upgraded. The 304ci V8 is connected to an aluminum radiator, aftermarket intake manifold, a four-barrel carburetor, and dual exhaust outlets. It sends power to the wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox and a dual-range transfer case.
If you want to see more of the great outdoors in a classic SUV this year, bid on this 1976 Jeep CJ-5 right now. The auction for it ends on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 12:15 p.m. (MST).
Image plays a strong role in the human condition—we can poo-pooh it all we want, but most of us have a stake in status. Starting in 1970, Chevrolet allowed a big-block to be installed in a Chevelle without SS equipment, but that didn’t seem enough for the marketing folks, who introduced a mid-year package in 1971 to satisfy the status slaves. Our Pick of the Day is this vehicle in the first (and final) full model year of its existence: this 1972 Chevrolet Heavy Chevy is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Des Moines, Iowa.
Starting in the 1969 model year, Chevrolet expanded the Chevelle SS 396 by making it an optional performance package (it had been a model for several years previously) and available for both the 300 Deluxe and Malibu. Considering the success of the Plymouth Road Runner, it can be inferred Chevrolet prepared itself to do battle head-to-head. It didn’t quite turn out that way, as it seems Malibu-spec’d SS 396s greatly outnumber the duo of 300 Deluxes.
For 1970, the SS 396 and new SS 454 continued as performance packages, but only for the upscale Malibu. In fact, Magnum 500-style wheels were standard, showing that Chevrolet gave up on competing with the Road Runner on features (or lack thereof). The following model year, the SS package was downgraded to require a 350 two-barrel to help increase sales in the face of high insurance premiums and an evolving market.
In addition, Chevrolet introduced a mid-year package called Heavy Chevy (code YF3). The Road Runner’s influence returned to Chevrolet because the Heavy Chevy was a combination of a late-to-the-party Road Runner-fighter and sporty insurance-buster. Any V8 up to the Turbo-Jet 400 (confusingly, the 402/300) was available, which included the lowly 307 two-barrel as the starting point. This contrasted with the SS, as the LS5 454 was the top engine.
Aside of price (about half as expensive) and fewer items of equipment, there was one more distinction between Heavy Chevy and SS packages: the former was based on the Chevelle, while the latter was based on the more upscale Malibu. The Heavy Chevy (which was introduced at the same time as the Rally Nova, also a companion to the Nova SS) was “heavy on looks and light on price.” It was “designed for the under-25 group, the single market, for guys as well as gals. Both these cars afford the owner an opportunity to express his or her individuality at a minimum price.” A prospect looking for a performance car image at an economy car price was the purpose: low initial cost, low operating costs, low insurance rates (something that the SS may or may not have been able to avoid, considering the insurance climate), and high resale (which was touted as a “Chevrolet tradition”).
Equipment included in the YF3 package included special body stripes, Heavy Chevy decals on all four sides, special SS hood with raised center and lock pins, black-painted grille, black-painted headlight bezels, and 14-inch Rally Wheels without trim rings. For you Chevy die-hards, SS equipment that was not included with the Heavy Chevy included the Sport Suspension, special instrument panel, 15-inch SS wheels, and power disc/drum brakes, among others. After a mid-year introduction, 6,727 Chevelles were built as Heavy Chevys.
Chevrolet continued to offer the Heavy Chevy for one more year, with production ballooning to 9,508, but SS sales increased too so maybe the Heavy Chevy wasn’t needed—only SS Equipment continued for 1973. This Flame Orange 1972 Chevrolet Heavy Chevy is perhaps the most conspicuous iteration of this vehicle, plus it’s been “upgraded with big-block power, four-wheel Wilwood disc brakes, automatic transmission and new 12-bolt rear with Posi and a tire-smoking 4.11 gear” with options that include power steering and air conditioning. The seller says the “exterior chrome is all new, new shaded windshield, new blacked-out grill and domed hood with locking pins” while “the interior is restored with new Heavy Chevy material on the factory bench seat, new fitted carpet, tach and gauges, tilt steering column, and RetroSound [stereo] with rear-mounted speakers.” Though an original 350 car, this one features a 454 dressed as a 402.
Sure, one could spec a 402 Chevelle without Heavy Chevy equipment, but the “Q-ship” would lack one thing: image. Though the seller doesn’t specify a price (“contact seller”), we know that status plays a large role in people’s perceptions, both of themselves and what they want others to notice. The value of the Heavy Chevy is that no one will ever think it’s—and you’re—half a Super Sport.
Happy New Year, everyone! Welcome to 2026 – and the first Car Connections of the year. If you don’t remember this series from 2025, here’s how it works: I have the Random Word Generator come up with a trio of random words, then I link each of them with cars in some way. Sometimes it’s quick and easy; sometimes it’s a more laborious, convoluted process. Either way, I connect seemingly unrelated ideas to automobiles (the way you do in your everyday life, I’m sure).
This week’s random words are: annual, record, and queen. Here we go . . .
Annual: Oldsmobile Starfire. Why? A few years ago, when I was working for one of our sister sites, AutoHunter.com, I saw a few 1962 Oldsmobile Starfires come through. My research showed me that Olds changed the side trim (among other things) annually in the early 1960s. If you ask me, the ’61s look the best. Which model year gets your vote?
Photo courtesy of GM
Record: Now, let’s flash forward several decades to the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. A pre-production version of the 1,064-horsepower mega-Vette set five record lap times at four American tracks, including a 2:32.3 run on Virginia International Raceway’s Grand Course – beating the 2:34.9 time previously hit by the much more expensive 2019 McLaren Senna.
Queen: This one takes us from GM to another domestic automaker. Queen is a band that was formerly headed by Freddie Mercury (I think you can see where this is going . . .). Mercury built a car that’s always interested me and was on my short list of vehicles to buy before I purchased a 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt: the 2003-2004 Marauder, which had a cool monochromatic exterior treatment and a 302-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 with four-valve heads.
How would you associate these words with cars? Tell us in the comments section below. And be sure to share your ideas for random words to use in a future installment of Car Connections.
Available for purchase on AutoHunter is this 1957 Pontiac Star Chief convertible. Nineteen fifty-seven was an important year for Pontiac because it was an evolutionary link between the past and the future—the “Silver Streaks” were removed, and it was the first year for Tri-Power carburetion, though this one is powered by a 347 four-barrel with Strato-Flight Hydra-Matic. This Star Chief features a continental kit, fender skirts, power top, steering and brakes, dual exhausts, and more. Painted Carib Coral with Sheffield Grey trim and white top over a white vinyl interior, this classy 1950s cruiser comes from selling dealer with tonneau cover and transferrable New Hampshire registration.
Smacking of classic 1950s goodness, the Carib Coral hue is complemented by Sheffield Grey side trim and white top. Glance at the rear and you’ll find a continental kit with chrome brightwork. Other exterior features include rear fender skirts, white tonneau cover, chrome driver-side mirror, and an ornament atop each headlight. Fourteen-inch steel wheels with chrome wheelcovers are wrapped in 215/75 whitewall radials.
The white cabin features a split vinyl bench seat. Other interior features include an automatic transmission shifter on the column, power steering, pushbutton AM radio, and clock.
Instrumentation includes a 120-mph speedometer with gauges for the oil pressure, coolant temperature, battery, and fuel. The odometer shows 41,833 miles though the title reads it’s mileage-exempt.
The 347 four-barrel was rated at 270 horsepower and 359 lbs-ft of torque. It is topped by a four-barrel carburetor and backed by a three-speed Strato-Flight Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. The seller says the carburetor and fuel lines are new.
The undercarriage features power drum brakes and a dual exhaust system. The seller claims the brake system (including power booster), fuel lines, and gas tank are new.
The subject of our AutoHunter Spotlight shines bright because 1957 was such a fine year for General Motors products. Additionally, Pontiac was metaphorically molting, shedding much of the past for a more promising future as the “Horsepower Wars” commenced. Only 12,789 1957 Pontiac Star Chief convertibles were built, which was a good number, but being painted Carib Coral pushes this one near the top in desirability. If you have had dreams of driving a pink 1950s cruiser, we cannot think of a better opportunity than to place a bid now because once 11:30 a.m. (MST) hits on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, it’ll be gone—good luck and enjoy the cruise!
In 2023, Toyota launched its latest/current generation of the Land Cruiser – leveraging, as so many automakers have done in recent years, retro styling and nostalgia for a beloved nameplate. The Pick of the Day is a clean example of one of the vehicles that solidified the model’s status as an iconic sport-utility vehicle. It’s a 1994 Land Cruiser listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Whitehouse, Ohio.
“Purchased from a family member in 2002 with 53,500 miles,” the listing says. “Always has been very reliable and well taken care of.”
The “80 Series” generation of the Land Cruiser was first introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1989 and went into production shortly thereafter. It quickly became known for its ruggedness and reliability: Among its strong suits were a full-time four-wheel drive system, a solid front axle, a coil-sprung suspension, and a durable ladder frame.
By 1994, the Land Cruiser had already been out for over four decades in total, and Toyota had refined the engineering along the way. One advertisement said, “Over the past 42 years, the Toyota Land Cruiser has become as legendary as the remote places it travels. Places like the Yucatan jungle. The Serengeti. And the foothills of Nepal.” Toyota’s slogan at the time was “I love what you do for me,” and buyers did indeed love the Land Cruiser.
This Beige Metallic Land Cruiser has been well-loved, and the seller says that it wears the original paint. “Has been garaged up to a few years ago,” the listing says. As is expected for a vehicle over three decades old, there is some patina on the exterior. Toyota designed the Land Cruiser’s cabin to be a “civilized sanctuary,” and the tan cloth upholstery is cozy and inviting. Aside from an aftermarket JVC CD player, the interior looks original.
Under the hood is a “1FZ-FE” 4.5-liter, 24-valve inline-six mated to a four-speed automatic transmission and a dual-range transfer case. The odometer shows 173,321 miles, and the seller says that many of those miles were accumulated on the highway. Maintenance history is comprehensive: “Always serviced, regular oil changes,” the listing says. “Recent tune-up with new wires, plugs, muffler and tailpipe, new front brakes and rotors, newer shocks, newer battery, newer starter, newer radiator, and tires replaced.”
“This has been a very reliable and comfortable vehicle to drive for the past 23 years,” the listing concludes. “Have always maintained and kept it clean.”
Wish 80 Series Land Cruisers receiving widespread attention as classics – and future collectibles – this could be the chance to get in on the movement at a reasonable rate!
Whenever we receive a vehicle to review for this site, we usually get a week to drive it and test it out. That didn’t happen with the 2025 Toyota Tundra SR5 TRD Rally. We had an unbelievably short amount of time with it, so I’ll keep my review short, too. These are my observations from my brief experience behind the wheel.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR
Toyota introduced the Baja racing-inspired TRD Rally package as an option on the 2025 Tundra SR5 CrewMax 4X4 with the 5.5-foot bed. It costs a whopping $8,660, which (along with a few other add-ons such as a TRD performance air filter and a bed mat) brought the as-tested price of my review vehicle up to $62,442, but it transforms the truck inside and out. Ticking the box for it adds a yellow, orange, and red decal to the grille, front doors, and tailgate. Toyota upgrades the rollers to a set of black 18-inch TRD wheels wrapped in all-terrain rubber. Inside, there are more yellow, orange, and red stripes on the heated and power-adjustable Heritage Black SofTex front seats as well as dual-zone automatic climate control, a TRD leather-wrapped steering wheel, a matching shifter, and a red TRD start button. Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, Downhill Assist Control, an off-road suspension, and a rear locker magnify the four-wheel drive system’s capabilities.
SIMPLICITY IS KEY
When Toyota mixed the TRD Off-Road Package with its Texas-themed 1794 trim level on the 2025 Sequoia we tested, the result was odd and unattractive because those two elements were so bold and different that they didn’t mesh together well. However, the TRD Rally treatment looks great on – and in – the Tundra SR5 because Toyota starts with a low-key look, then applies subtle yet distinctive cosmetic changes.
HEARTY WITHOUT A HYBRID
You can only get the Tundra SR5 TRD Rally with the i-Force 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6. Although it lacked the outright grunt of the i-Force Max hybrid setup, with 389 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque channeled through a 10-speed automatic, the mid-range engine offering was plenty quick when I put my right foot down. Too bad I didn’t have more time to do that.
The good news is that my colleague Luke spent slightly more time in the 2025 Toyota Tundra SR5 TRD Rally than I did, so check out his video review below.
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Several years from now, Chevrolet will be able to celebrate the Corvette’s 75th anniversary. The Vette – in production since 1953 – is without a doubt one of the most iconic symbols of automotive Americana. Featured on AutoHunter is a car that was part of anniversary celebrations a couple of decades ago: it’s a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette 50th Anniversary Edition Convertible listed by a dealer in Easton, Maryland. The auction will end on Monday, January 5, at 11:00 a.m. (MST).
All the 50th Anniversary Corvettes were finished in Anniversary Red paint over a Shale leather interior, but there were a lot of smaller details that set them apart from the rest. Standard features included a unique wheel finish, a head-up display, a premium sound system, unique embroidery, and an upgraded suspension (more on that shortly). Chevrolet put the car on prominent display throughout 2003, including using it as a festival/event car during the Indianapolis 500 in May of that year. (The “official” pace vehicle that year was the then-new SSR pickup).
The current odometer reading for this C5 shows just 58,405 miles. The AutoCheck report shows a clean history, too, with no brands, accidents, or recalls on record. The report also shows just two owners, with consistent registration renewals in New Jersey for the last 22 years. Based on what we can see in the photos, the car looks unmodified – something that should make the purists in the community happy. Power comes from an LS1 5.7-liter V8 mated to a six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. Chevrolet rated the car at 350 horsepower and 375 lb-ft of torque.
One of the C5 Corvette’s engineering innovations was the “F55” Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension. Instead of being filled with standard oil, the dampers were filled with magnetorheological fluid – a synthetic oil with tiny iron balls suspended in it. They reacted to magnetic fields generated by an electric coil, which could change the viscosity. Car and Driver explained, “A dual-processor computer adjusts the current about 1,000 times per second based on wheel travel and speed, vehicle speed, steering-wheel angle, lateral acceleration, brake application, and temperature.” The end goal was maximizing contact of the tires with the pavement while keeping things stable.
The F55 suspension was just one feature that made Corvettes – especially the Anniversary Edition cars – showcases of technology over the years. This clean 50th Anniversary Corvette will come with promotional materials and an instructional CD. What do you think Chevrolet has in store for the upcoming 75th Anniversary Corvette?
I remember the first time I drove the first-generation M2. It was in 2020 during COVID at a very small press event hosted by BMW for a select group of journalists. They had brought out the M2 and the brand-new (at the time) M2 CS for tests on both the track and the street. Having already driven the M2, I at last got behind the wheel of the wheel of the M2 CS and took off around the track.
Up until this time my favorite more-modern BMW M car was the limited-production 1M. It was such a well-balanced car – my only complaint was the lack of a true BMW M engine. After a few laps in the M2 CS, I knew I had found my favorite BMW M model in the 2 Series. The CS version was a dedicated performance vehicle, a true sports car that you could live with day to day. I am not alone in thinking highly of the M2; many journalists have sung the car’s praises over the years. In many ways it is a modern take on the E36 and E46 M3 cars, offering all the lightness and compact size while delivering much higher performance and all the modern amenities you might want.
You might not have heard of the M2 Performance Edition, as it was limited to only 150 examples. In essence it is the same concept as the E36 M3 Lightweight: Take a standard car and strip as much weight out as possible, while at the same time adding performance options to make a great car even better. These options/deletions include manually adjustable sport seats without heat or lumbar, basic keyless entry, no comfort access, single-zone automatic climate control, HiFi audio system (in place of Harman Kardon audio), no smokers package, black mirror caps, M Performance coilover suspension specifically tuned for the M2, M Performance exhaust, titanium exhaust tips, black kidney and side grilles, M Performance illuminated door sills, and LED door projectors with customer “Performance Edition” image. Pretty much everything that added weight was removed, and other items were enhanced or improved to offer better performance. Sounds like the perfect M car to me.
This BMW looks to be in absolutely immaculate condition. When you consider it has covered 75,700 miles and still looks this good, you know it has been well cared for. Residing in California its whole life, the car was owned by a collector for the last six years and has been serviced exclusively by Crevier BMW since 2019.
Here is my advice. Take a look at the price trend for the E36 M3 Lightweight and then consider this M2 Performance Edition’s asking price of only $34,800. This looks like a tremendous opportunity to me. I feel that these first-generation M2 cars are about to have their day in the market, as they are everything a BMW M car is supposed to be and nothing they aren’t. It is a sort of throwback to the E36 and E46 era and something we are never likely to see again in this purity of form. I would love to have this car in my garage.
One of my favorite pieces of art in my home is a framed magazine advertisement for the 1950 Buick that discusses how a husband and wife daringly took their “Dynaflow” transmission-equipped Special four-door all the way up the Alcan highway from the Lower 48 to Fairbanks while towing a travel trailer. “People couldn’t believe their eyes,” it said.
Back in the 1950s – and even beyond – it was not uncommon for people to tow campers, boats, and other types of trailers behind their passenger cars. Heck, even the owner’s manual for my 1994 Acura has a chapter dedicated to towing instructions. Nowadays, though, you’d probably void your warranty on a modern car or crossover trying to tow much of anything around.
Airstream Backstory
Much like the chrome-laden vehicles of the 1950s, some of the camp trailers from the era were equally flashy. One of the popular brands on the market was Airstream. The company had been founded in about 1930 in California. One of its first trailers was a 1936 model for $1,200 that could house four occupants as well as provide electric lights and a water supply. Airstreams were manufactured with aerospace-grade aluminum and riveted construction – allowing them to remain relatively lightweight, yet strong. From a design perspective, they were known for having rounded “silver bullet” shapes and a low center of gravity.
Shady Dell History
As part of a year-end adventure, I decided to make the trek to the Shady Dell RV Park in Bisbee, Arizona. It was about a 215-mile, 3.5-hour trek one-way from the Phoenix area to Bisbee.
Shady Dell’s history dates back to 1927 – nearly 100 years ago – when it was established as a stop along the highway for people to park their cars and trailers. The RV park lies along historic Highway 80 and is home to 18 restored travel trailers, a yacht, and even a tiki-themed bus – all styled in period-correct décor. It’s a step back in time and a place rich in nostalgia.
My Stay in a 1955 Airstream
The check-in process was slick – the key was simply left inside my unit. I made my way around the property and settled in. Along the way, I noticed a few classic cars around the property, including a 1958 Checker taxi in the front parking lot, a 1954 Chevrolet 210, and a 1955 Cadillac Eldorado. Each one looked like it had a lot of stories to tell.
As for my camp trailer, which was unit number 9: Airstream had skills it came to maximizing available space. Every nook and cranny was accounted for – two small beds, a couch, a kitchenette, and a bathroom. My favorite feature inside the wood-paneled interior was a small record player and a library of music selections. I played some period-correct music to get into the mood. The Airstream had everything except a shower, but communal showers were located just steps away, and I wasn’t too worried about taking a shower on a quick overnight trip.
One thing that did catch me by surprise was that the power outlets inside the trailer were two-prong instead of three, so I couldn’t charge my laptop computer. But that ended up being a blessing – what better reason to emotionally unplug and enjoy a night away! As dusk settled in, I viewed the colorful skies from the chairs outside my front door before calling it a night.
For on-site food options with a nostalgic feel, Shady Dell has a vintage 1957 Valentine diner on-site called Dot’s, which is open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. every Thursday to Monday. I elected to walk over to the Bisbee Breakfast Club in Lowell for breakfast, instead – more to come on that in a future story. I highly recommend checking out the Shady Dell!
