Journal Classic Cars

As a Phoenix transplant, I often find myself confused by other drivers. Why do they drive so fast? Why is everyone so aggressive? (Those questions may explain why there are so many accidents on the Loop 101.) Within the past two years, several other questions have come to mind: Why have I seen people here drive with a phone up to their ear? Don’t they know Bluetooth exists?

I could understand people not being aware of Bluetooth if it was some newfangled technology that came out last year, but that’s not the case. Its origins date back to 1996, when Intel, Ericsson, and Nokia “met to plan the standardization of … short-range radio technology to support connectivity and collaboration between different products and industries,” according to the Bluetooth website. The name Bluetooth was inspired by a historical figure from centuries earlier: King Harald Gormsson, who was nicknamed “Bluetooth” for the color of his dead tooth. He united Denmark and Norway in 958, much as Intel and its competitors wanted to connect the PC and cellular industries with a short-range wireless link.

Bluetooth, whether factory-installed or in an aftermarket head unit, has been available in cars for several decades, providing users the ability to stream music and carry on phone conversations through their vehicle’s sound system while on the go. Practically every new car has it these days, especially the pricey ones. Despite this, I have seen three people holding their smart phone to their cheek as they drive. Two of them were in late-model Bentleys; the person I spotted doing this most recently was behind the wheel of a C8 Chevrolet Corvette Z06. I know the ’90s are back in style these days, but there’s a big difference between wearing a baggy shirt and keeping one hand on your phone while you cruise. It’s distracting to the driver and the people who drive past who are struck by the odd sight of a person so clearly and needlessly living in the past (business idea: start selling throwback “Perot for President” bumper stickers).

Perhaps the people I saw living in yesteryear were in rentals or in cars owned by the dealerships that employ them. Maybe they didn’t want their personal phone linked to a car that wasn’t theirs. Whatever the case may be, it’s possible to delete your phone from a car’s Bluetooth system.

I understand a certain reluctance to embrace tech because some of it can be unnecessarily convoluted (having to adjust your power mirrors using an infotainment system’s touchscreen, for instance), but I’ve connected my iPhone to the Bluetooth in hundreds of review vehicles over the last decade without an issue. It makes life so much easier—for those who let it.

During Monterey Car Week, we got an up-close look at the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12, which was unlike anything you’d ever spot on the street. Built by Squadra Corse in 2020, it’s Lamborghini’s most extreme track-only car ever! Only 40 were made, with just 7 making it to the U.S. This one, chassis 11604, has single-digit road miles (it hasn’t been driven on a track) and it’s the only Essenza in the world with crimson-tinted exposed carbon fiber. Underneath the rear bodywork is Lamborghini’s most powerful naturally aspirated engine ever: a 6.5-liter V12 that pumps out 819 horsepower and screams to 8,500 rpm. In person, the Essenza SCV12 seemed less like a car and more like a prototype racer with a Lamborghini badge. It sold for a whopping $1,490,000 at auction!

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It has been over 13 years since the legendary Carroll Shelby passed away at age 89, but the iconic Mustangs that his team crafted continue to captivate performance-car enthusiasts around the globe. Featured on AutoHunter is this 1966 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350H fastback. It is being sold by a dealer in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the auction will end Friday, October 3, 2025, at 12:45 p.m. (PDT).

Nicknamed “Rent-a-Racer,” the GT350H was a high-performance variant of Ford’s popular pony car that was made available to the public via a unique partnership with the Hertz rental car company. The ‘H’ in the car’s name, as one would expect, indicated that it was part of the Hertz program. A May 1966 story from Car and Driver says that the going rate for such a rental—in New York, anyway—was $17 per day and 17 cents per mile.

Most of the 1,001 produced GT350H models were finished in Raven Black (code A) like this one. According to the listing, the car went through refurbishment in 2021. Noteworthy exterior features include chrome brightwork, hood pins, gold striping, driver’s-side mirror, and 14-inch Magnum 500-style wheels wrapped in Goodyear Blue Streak tires. The interior has been graced by Shelby’s signature on the dashboard. Cockpit equipment includes black vinyl low-back bucket seats, lap belts, AM radio, heater, Cobra-branded shifter, and wood-look tilt-away steering wheel.

Shelby’s primary Los Angeles facility, which was located near LAX airport, handled the many upgrades that would set apart a stock Mustang from a GT350—the most notable of which included enhancements to the drivetrain and suspension. Under the hood of this GT350H is a Hi-Po 289ci V8 mated to a SelectShift Cruise-O-Matic C4 three-speed automatic transmission. One big update took place later in life when the car received a Paxton supercharger, which was available from the factory.

The AutoHunter listing outlines some of the car’s mechanical features, which include an Autolite 595cfm four-barrel carburetor, cast-aluminum high-rise intake manifold, “tri-Y” headers, a baffled aluminum oil pan, and Cobra valve covers. The odometer shows 80,092 miles, which the selling dealer asserts to be an accurate reading (the title reads mileage-exempt).

Car and Driver said, “Good things do come for the driver of a GT350. Its cornering ability is a lovely mixture of the beast getting the better of you and you keeping hold of the tiger’s tail. The taut suspension, well-controlled geometry, and big tires suffice to keep it on the road at insane speeds.”

After seeing that the GT350H went for $17 per day in 1966, I was curious how much it would cost to rent a high-performance car in modern day. Turns out, a 2010 Ferrari California can be rented for $381 per day in Phoenix via Turo. Given the choice, though, I’d opt for a classic Shelby all day long.

The auction for this 1966 Shelby GT350H Fastback ends Friday, October 3, 2025, at 12:45 p.m. (PDT). Accompanying the car are a copy of the original delivery receipt and a serial number verification document from the Shelby American Automobile Club.

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

If you commonly associate the BMW M3 with the coupe (and maybe a convertible), you’re not alone. But if you visit a BMW dealership today, you’ll find that every M3 is a sedan. It’s easy to prefer the coupe—now known as M4—but our Pick of the Day is a vehicle that will make you forget about the Bimmer with the two doors. This 2011 BMW M3 Competition Sedan is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Oviedo, Florida.

The M3 first appeared in 1986 in the generation known as “E30”. Much like the Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Road Runner Superbird were homologation specials for NASCAR, the M3 was the same for the DTM and Group A Touring series. It was powered by a 2.3-liter DOHC inline-four putting out 197 horsepower but, thanks to the feds in DC, those with a catalytic converter lost five horses. The M3 was mainly available as a coupe, though a handful of cabriolets were built—none for the American market.

The M3 moved into the “E36” generation for 1993, though it didn’t appear in North America until 1995. New was a 3.0-liter DOHC inline-six rated at 282 horsepower but, once again, North Americans had to make do with less, though the difference was a much more profound 42 horses. M3 models for 1996 were upgraded to 3.2 liters and 316 horsepower, but pity the poor North Americans as they once again had to make do with 240 horsepower, though torque was slightly higher. This generation featured an M3 sedan for the first time, with the convertible also being mainstreamed into production.

For 2001, the “E46” M3 coupe and convertible returned with a 3.2-liter straight-six putting out 343 horsepower. North Americans gave a sigh of relief because now they were not treated as second-class citizens since BMW was able to create an engine certified the world over, though horses fell to 333 thanks to minor specification differences that likely could not be felt by the seat of the pants.

And then there was the “E9x” M3, known as such because BMW offered the M3 as an E92 (coupe), E93 (convertible) and, in a return to the fold, the E90 (sedan). Interestingly, this generation of M3, which began for the 2008 model year, was powered by a DOHC V8 measuring 4.0 liters. Horsepower was 414 the world over, marking the first time that North Americans didn’t have to settle for second-best. Starting in 2011, the “ZCP” Competition Package became available for the coupe and sedan. This reduced the ride height by 10 mm, revised the tuning of the Electronic Damping Control, added a track-oriented M Dynamic Mode for the Dynamic Stability Control, and upgraded the wheels to Y-spoke 19-inchers.

This 2011 BMW M3 Competition Sedan is interesting because 2011 was the first year for the Competition Package and the final year for the E90 M3 (though the conventional E90 continued for two more years). For the model year, 2,170 M3 sedans were built, of which 1,220 were equipped with the Competition Package. Of those, only five M3s were built in Fire Orange, one of 30 special-order M3s painted in a “different” color. According to the seller, “the original owner [spent] 10s of thousands of dollars on modifications on top of the $72,325 MSRP,” leaving us with a completely unique vehicle. “To keep the Fire Orange paint looking flawless, both the front end and rear bumper have been wrapped in Paint Protection Film and the entire car has been ceramic coated, meaning that even 12 years after production, the paint shows like new.” The front seats have been upgraded with AMC Custom BMW M Performance buckets with leather, Alcantara, and orange accents.

Of course, it’s the engine that’s the star, and it’s been enhanced with an ESS 650 supercharger kit that helps the V8 achieve 527 horsepower. There’s plenty more that’s been done to this Bimmer so, even if you’ve been itching for a coupe, it can be said that the number of doors is a hint there’s more to this $69,980 Bimmer.

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

Each year, members of the Acura NSX Club of America (NSXCA) enjoy the opportunity to get together for an annual meet-up. (Here’s a look at last year’s event which was held in Dallas.) This time around, about 250 people in over 100 NSXs converged in the Pacific Northwest to experience the hospitality, scenic roads, unique destinations, and culinary specialties that the area had to offer.

The event was described by some as “pure joy.” If you have ever been part of an automotive community, you know how special it can be to spot a fellow enthusiast on the road. Now, take that same emotion and multiply it by ten or a hundred. It doesn’t matter whether your car is a project car or a Pebble Beach showpiece—the feeling of camaraderie is equally strong.

Team Effort

Ira Leventhal, a long-time NSXCA member from Portland, served as part of a team of volunteers who put on this year’s multi-day program which was based at Tacoma’s Hotel Murano. Ira emphasized that the event could not have happened without the help of many individuals, as well as the many companies who contributed to its success via sponsorships.

Ira says, “As I reflect back on this year’s event, it’s still humbling to know I was a part of making this weekend the fun event that it was.”

Select Highlights

Organizers sought to incorporate something for everyone—making sure that NSXPO incorporated plenty of time to socialize with other enthusiasts in addition to driving their cars.

• NSXPO began with two track days at Ridge Motorsports Park, where NSX drivers were able to put their cars—and their driving skills—to the test.
• Griot’s Garage, based in Tacoma, was established in 1990 and has become one of the car-detailing industry’s key players. Griot’s hosted the NSXCA for a concours d’elegance and even offered complimentary product shipping for NSXPO attendees.
• Private tours were offered at LeMay: America’s Car Museum, which is home to about 300 of the world’s most iconic vehicles.
• A scenic rally headed into the Puget Sound area, where a misty morning, tall fir trees, and sweeping corners gave NSX drivers an authentic Pacific Northwest feel.  

Keynote Speaker and Support from American Honda

Ted Klaus, who retired in late 2020 after a 30-year career with Honda, addressed the group during the closing awards ceremony and gala banquet. Klaus was the key development lead for the second-generation “NC1” chassis Acura NSX, which launched in 2017 as a twin-turbocharged, all-wheel drive hybrid supercar.

Klaus says, “With this project, we sought to build a bridge, one that takes Honda back to its roots of innovation and engineering excellence, but also to the future, harnessing next-generation technology to deliver a car that is uniquely Honda.”

Some lucky NSXCA members even got to interact with Klaus at the track. It’s also worth noting that American Honda had a strong contingent of representatives on-hand at the event, demonstrating a commitment to the enthusiasts who keep events like NSXPO going. A team from Honda Japan was even engaged and receptive to community feedback.

Award Winners

The caliber of cars in attendance was top tier, but a few members in particular stood out:

• Best Engine Bay: Brian Miller
• Best Interior: Eric Loberg
• Best Modified NA1: Richard Todd
• Best Modified NA2: David Fox
• Best Modified NC1: Chuck Ferguson
• Best Stock NA1: Nessa and Sean Lee
• Best Stock NA2: Brown Maloney
• John Vasos Award: Matt Cole
• Peoples’ Choice: Chuck Ferguson

Charitable Causes

One of the key objectives of NSXPO is to give back to the community. The Seattle NSXPO team pledged a commitment of $15,000 between the following two organizations:

• Dream Drives for Kids, established as a non-profit in 2014 to benefit children undergoing treatment for a wide range of illnesses.
• Mary’s Place Seattle, established in 1999 to help thousands of women and families move out of homeless into more stable situations.

Ira adds, “I’m happy to share we exceeded our pledge. Giving back to the communities we bring NSXPO to is becoming a highlight that we’re proud of.”

Looking Ahead

The announcement about next year’s dates and location has been made public. NSXPO 2026 will be held in Orlando the first week of October. Stay tuned to the NSXCA homepage for information on membership and a calendar of upcoming events.

Thanks, Ira and the NSXPO team, for sharing your event with us and fueling the passion for others who would like to get involved!

Toyota just keeps improving the GR (Gazoo Racing) Corolla. It introduced the all-wheel-drive hot hatch in 2023 and, two years later, incorporated engine, transmission, and suspension improvements, which we experienced in the 2025 Premium Plus model we reviewed this past July. Now comes news that the 2026 Toyota GR Corolla is getting its own set of upgrades.

Last year’s Core and Premium trim levels have been dropped, leaving the base GR Corolla and the Premium Plus as the only two choices. The entry-level model features gloss black hood vents, roof spoiler, gloss black 15-spoke alloy wheels, and Brin Naub suede sport seats with gray stitching.

Like last year, the GR Corolla Premium Plus comes standard with a forged carbon fiber roof, a gloss black rear spoiler, matte black wheels, Brin Naub upholstery with red stitching, and a head-up display.

Both versions of the GR Corolla are powered by a G16E-GTS 1.6-liter turbocharged I3 that cranks out 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, and available with a six-speed manual or an eight-speed Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission.

Toyota followed up 2025’s Fuji International Speedway-honed suspension changes by making the GR Corolla more rigid. According to the automaker, “With 45.6 feet of additional structural adhesive in the front and rear sections of the body, the GR Corolla boasts improved body rigidity and rear grip for better suspension movement and direct feeling, helping to ensure consistent steering and stable cornering.” It also topped its previous cooling enhancements with a new secondary air intake duct that helps keep temperatures at the right level.

Inside the GR Corolla Premium Plus, the JBL Premium Sound System’s speaker count is up by one to nine, which includes a subwoofer in the cargo area. Even when the stereo is off, Active Sound Control plays “sporty sounds” tuned to acceleration, deceleration, and throttle and shifter usage through the speakers (let’s hope there’s a button to turn it off—the GR Corolla doesn’t need sonic trickery to feel like a performance vehicle).

If you want the best GR Corolla yet (until—we’re guessing—Toyota comes out with an even better ’27 model), you can find it at your local Toyota dealer this fall. The starting price is up by more than $1,000 to $39,920. Check the table below for the 2026 Toyota GR Corolla lineup’s full pricing list—just be sure to add on $1,195 for the Dealer Processing and Handling fee.

This quartet of quality automobiles currently listed on AutoHunter is hankering for your bids. I’ve called them special because that’s what they are: desirable online auction cars. Once you figure what they are, will you agree?

List the model year, make, and model in the Comments section below. If you need a hint, just click on an image.

Click on a photo to reveal each car

You’ll find an automotive puzzle at The ClassicCars.com Journal every Tuesday. Once you finish this one, there are previous games to play.

Currently listed on AutoHunter is this 1972 Dodge Charger SE. The initials stood for Special Edition, Dodge’s way of suggesting this Charger was more than just a sporty coupe—it was a personal luxury coupe. Note the formal roofline with wide C-pillars, standard vinyl top, accented taillights, bright belt moldings, lower-body pinstripes, concealed headlights, Rallye instrument panel cluster, and available Brougham Package. Standard motivation was a 318ci V8, but this one is powered by the powerful 400 four-barrel, which is paired with a TorqueFlite automatic. Features include an AM/FM stereo, bucket seats, a console, dual chrome racing mirrors with a driver-side remote, chrome exhaust tips, and more. Painted Eggshell White with a black vinyl top over a black vinyl interior, this Mopar B-body comes from the selling dealer in Lafayette, Indiana with a clear title.

The Eggshell White paint is claimed to be original to the car; it is complemented by a black vinyl top. Other exterior features include longitudinal lower-body striping, concealed headlamps, accented taillights, a “Rallye” trunk lid stripe, chrome exhaust extensions with a special rear valence, dual chrome racing mirrors, and Special Edition medallions and badging. A set of 15-inch Rallye wheels are wrapped in staggered-width Cooper Cobra Radial G/T radials—245/60 front, 255/60 rear.

The black vinyl interior features the Brougham Package, which included extra sound insulation, bright pedal dress-up, special door panels, and a cloth and vinyl split-back bench seat with a fold-down armrest; the original buyer opted to substitute bucket seats for the bench. Other features include a center console, air conditioning, simulated woodgrain trim, a three-spoke steering wheel with power steering, and an AM/FM stereo.

All Charger SEs received the Rallye instrument cluster, which included a 150-mph speedometer, clock, and gauges for the oil pressure, temperature, alternator, and fuel.

The odometer shows 75,271 miles, though the title reads mileage-exempt.

The 400ci V8 was rated at 255 (net) horsepower with a four-barrel carburetor and 8.2:1 compression. Electronic ignition was standard with this engine. A three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission is paired with the 400.

The undercarriage features front disc brakes and a dual exhaust system featuring nifty chrome tips.

The 1972 Dodge Charger SE was the stepping stone in Charger’s evolution towards a dedicated personal luxury coupe. In the case of this specific AutoHunter Spotlight vehicle, it features both luxury and performance thanks to the powerplant sitting underneath the hood, making it one of 6,669 built for the U.S. market. A combination of luxury and performance is not often found in vehicles of this era, so be poised to place a bid on this Charger because the auction ends on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 11:45 a.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Today’s Pick of the Day is a 1976 AMC Gremlin. If you have spent a lot of time around the classic car concours and show circuit, you have probably heard of the infamous Concours d’Lemons. This event is the brainchild of my friend Alan Galbraith, and he describes it as “the concours of misfit cars.” Basically, if you have nowhere else to go to show your car because it is thought of as a lemon, a car that is derided by just about everyone, or is a horrible example of an otherwise good car, then Concours d’Lemons is for you. This is one of the most fun events I have ever attended; both spectators and participants have a great time. There are numerous Lemons Concours events in North America, with the largest being held in conjunction with the Amelia Island Concours and during Monterey Car Week, which happens the day before the Pebble Beach Concours.

With that in mind, my Pick of the Day is a car that not only would be automatically accepted at any Lemons event, but one that also would also be in contention for the coveted Worst of Show award. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Cleveland.

The AMC Gremlin was a subcompact car designed to compete with the new small cars coming from Europe and Japan. Rumor had it that both Ford and GM were developing new small cars for the segment, and AMC needed something to compete. According to legend, AMC designer Dick Teague sketched his concept—which involved shortening the rear end of a Javelin—on an air sickness bag. A young designer named Bob Nixon joined AMC and created the first official sketches of the Gremlin.

The Gremlin seen here is described by the seller as a 1976 model that shows 58,000 original miles. It has been repainted in its original correct Sunshine Yellow, and features stock Rally wheels and black stripes. The seller goes on to state that the bodywork is really nice, with laser-straight sheet metal and good gaps all around—even the plastic nose and gills in the sail panel are still in excellent condition with no signs of age-related deterioration. What little chrome and stainless trim there is on the car is also in great shape, as is the original glass, which shows no chips, delamination, or other issues.

The listing says the tan vinyl interior is almost entirely original and still in excellent shape, with no splits or tears in any of the usual spots. The original door panels, steering wheel, and even the carpets are in outstanding original condition.

Under the hood everything looks as good as the body and interior, with a clean engine and an incredibly tidy engine compartment. Finding a Gremlin in this condition—one that still has its original engine and not received a V8 swap—is next to impossible. This has to be one of the best Gremlins on the planet.

If your collector car taste runs more toward unique, forgotten, or underappreciated cars, and if you want to take a class win or even the Worst of Show event at the Concours d’ Lemons, you should consider this 1976 AMC Gremlin. At a price of only $24,900, it is about the same cost as booking a room at the Lodge at Pebble Beach during car week—and I am willing to bet you won’t see another one at any local show.

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

There’s plenty of folklore surrounding NASCAR’s earliest drivers, as some were moonshine runners before turning pro. In the case of Middle Georgia Raceway, this worked in an inverse manner, as the track was a façade for a moonshine operation.

The half-mile paved track opened in May 1966 at a cost of $500,000. With a contemporary Pontiac Catalina convertible handling pace car duties, track activities kicked off with the Speedy Morelock 200, where Richard Petty drove his Hemi Plymouth 100 miles for the win. Through 1971, Middle Georgia Raceway hosted nine NASCAR Grand National races, with names like Bobby Allison, David Pearson, and Bobby Isaac congregating in the winner’s circle.

But sometime between those races—specifically September 23, 1967—federal agents converged on the racetrack and arrested Lamar Brown, Jr., the owner of Middle Georgia Raceway. It seems a hunter had picked up a strange scent and notified authorities, who proceeded to search for several hours before discovering a four-by-four trap door concealed by a dummy ticket booth. From there, a dirt passageway led 17 feet down to an underground chamber about 50 feet long and six feet wide. On the floor was a distillery consisting of two fermentation tanks, a gas-operated cooker, and electrical lighting, exhausts, and even insect-repelling devices. With a total capacity of 3,700 gallons of mash, the still was capable of producing an estimated 80 gallons of whiskey per day. The state and federal tax for that amount would have amounted to approximately $1,000 (about $9,700 today).

Brown denied knowledge of the still despite evidence showing he had purchased 24 pounds of yeast 10 days prior to the still’s discovery. He claimed the yeast was to make food for the concession stand. After deliberation, the jury returned with a not guilty verdict.

After 1971, the track hosted amateur races, special events, concerts, and seasonal Halloween attractions. It also served as a shooting location for TV shows and films, including the racing scenes in the Richard Pryor movie Greased Lightning. The Old Style Beer 200, an ARCA SuperCar Series race held at the track in 1984, was the final automotive event at Middle Georgia Raceway. The track permanently closed in 1986.