Journal Classic Cars

Today’s AutoHunter Spotlight is a 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Holiday Coupe with the W30 package, but this is not just any Olds—it’s a car with a story! In the hands of the original owner for decades, it fell into the hands of a well-known Oldsmobile restorer who was very careful to preserve the vehicle’s originality properly. The W30-spec 455 is paired with a close-ratio four-speed and drag-happy 3.91 gears. Features include extra-cost paint, power windows, four-spoke steering wheel, bench seat, W27 differential cover, and more. Painted Nugget Gold with white stripes over a black interior, this W-Machine comes from the selling dealer in Illinois with original sales documentation including the window sticker, assorted photos and videos, vintage drag racing time slips, trailer hitch coupler, service records, and clear title.

Oldsmobile had four special colors that cost extra, including Nugget Gold. It is complemented by white stripes, which means the original owner specified them since black was the default with this gold. Other exterior features include painted racing mirrors left and right, fiberglass ram air hood with stripes, notched rear bumper, and die-cast badges on all sides. A set of 14-inch wheels with standard hub caps is wrapped in G70 Goodyear Polyglas white-letter tires.

The black vinyl interior features a front split bench seat with a Hurst-shifted four-speed on the transmission hump. Other interior features include a Deluxe push-button AM radio with a rear speaker, simulated woodgrain trim, power windows, and remote driver-side mirror.

Instrumentation includes a 120-mph speedometer and a fuel gauge. The odometer shows 63,772 miles, which is the true mileage, according to the title.

The 370-horsepower W30 engine featured an aluminum intake manifold and performance-calibrated Quadrajet shrouded by a massive plastic air-induction cover that sat atop the air cleaner. This engine is paired with a M21 close-ratio four-speed, which means it has a more radical cam than those paired with the TH400. Note the red plastic fender wells.

The undercarriage features a 3.91 rear differential with an aluminum W27 axle cover. The Rallye Suspension package included boxed rear control arms and a rear sway bar. As this car is a four-speed, manual front discs were the way to go, as the radical camshaft didn’t allow for power assist.

This highly unusual 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W30 Holiday Coupe is more unique than the others out there due to its originality, documentation, and mix of options. There are home movies of this car that support this Olds’ lineage, as well as a notarized letter from the original owner. This AutoHunter Spotlight is presented to you because it’s a special car that requires a special caretaker. Does that sound like you? Bid before Monday, December 15, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. (MST) to make it yours, and be sure to add to the home movies!

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

The Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN) is always difficult to navigate due to the number of enthusiasts who turn out; the largest crowd there can be found at the Barn Finds and Hidden Gems display. Ryan Brutt, he of the “Automotive Archeologist” persuasion, is the curator of this aggregation of forlorn performance cars. Whether it’s the thrill of the chase, an urge to prove the adage, “They’re still out there,” or you simply enjoy seeing the potential that lies within, barn finds and other automotive discoveries are an exciting component of the hobby.

Trailering a car and staying at a hotel can get quite expensive, yet you’d be surprised by the number of folks vying for space at Barn Finds and Hidden Gems at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Considering some of the vehicles in the display aren’t properly functioning, there are even more things to fuss about for some owners, but all that pales in comparison to the fantasy on display.

These are all the cars in the Barn Finds and Hidden Gems display. For more MCACN coverage, just follow the lede above.

In 1965, the “W29” 4-4-2 package was available on several F-85 and Cutlass models. This F-85 Club Coupe is one of 1,087 built. By 1969, the 4-4-2 was in its second year of being its own model.

A 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 is a dream car for many, while a 1968 Plymouth Satellite convertible is more off the beaten path.

Dig the Cragars on the 1965 Buick Gran Sport, a stark difference from the 1969 “A12” Dodge Super Bee, which came with no wheel covers at all.

The 310-horsepower 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 was an insurance-busting package based on the F-85 or Cutlass S. The 350/325 W-31 package also was based on the same models, but it was the real deal, a small-block that had a penchant for upstaging big-blocks.

You can’t beat a ’65 Goat, but this one was special-ordered in a 1965 Corvette color called Nassau Blue. The 1979 Hurst/Olds was only available in black/gold or white/gold.

The Plum Crazy 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T is a 440 Six Pack car. The 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda convertible is powered by a 383. Both were brought to MCACN by Mopars5150.

Both these Super/Stock vehicles were built with assistance from Hurst. Note the 1969 nose on the ’68 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda, while the 1969 AMX had not been updated back in the day.

Mopar just released its 2025 Holiday Gift Guide. Most of it is what you’d expect, such as tools and lifestyle accessories. However, there is one major surprise that’s both whimsical and functional: “Ugly Sweater” armor for the Jeep Wrangler.

The ugly Christmas sweater seemed to shoot up in popularity several years ago and led to people trying to out-gaudy each other with visually appalling Christmas-themed designs and embellishments. I don’t know if it’s still the coolest lame garment out there, but I do know that it’s made its way to Jeep’s iconic off-roader. Available only the JL Wrangler Unlimited and sold by MEK Magnet, the Ugly Sweater consists of magnetic red, green, and white panels that feature top and bottom borders of tire tracks and various Jeep vehicle silhouettes traveling across a landscape of mountains and tall trees in the middle. The $648 multi-piece “sweater” can protect against scratches and other damage, then be easily removed and washed (no de-pilling required!).

If that’s a bit too festive or pricey for you, there are several other options. Those include a $55 10-in-1 folding multi-tool, $49.95 unisex festive sweater holiday hoodie with the Mopar M on the left sleeve, and a $170 roadside safety kit.

Some of the more interesting items in the gift guide are a $218.50 Mopaw rear seat pet carrier (get it?) that’s compatible with the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system in the back seats of many vehicles, and a $185 powder-coated camping table that can be deployed from a tire. According to Stellantis, “It easily holds up to 50 pounds and features a retractable leg for extra support.”

To check out the other items on Mopar’s 2025 Holiday Gift Guide, click this link. I know what I want under my Christmas tree, but I don’t think a Jeep Grand Wagoneer Series III will fit there.

In the world of 1950s Chevrolets, there was a unique sub-model that featured a stylish, all-vinyl interior that contrasted with the typical vinyl and cloth interiors of the era. Interestingly, this special interior was available for the 210 and not the Bel Air. Known as the 210 Delray Club Coupe, this vehicle featured an interior “smartly fashioned in two-tone combinations to harmonize with a wide range of exterior colors,” according to the brochure. At the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction, this spectacular 1955 210 Delray sold for $49,500 plus fees.

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Thanks to plentiful windows and a roll-back convertible rooftop, there is no better vehicle for a scenic safari than a Volkswagen Type 2 Bus. It’s basically a rolling fishbowl. Featured on AutoHunter is a 1966 Volkswagen Type 2 Bus 23-Window Replica that has been fully restored both inside and out. It is being sold by a dealer in Gladstone, Oregon, and the auction will end Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 12:15 p.m. (MST).

The Type 2 Bus holds a devout enthusiast following, and over the last 70-plus years since it debuted, it has become synonymous with carefree living, a sense of adventure, and a dose of counterculture. Depending on the model year and the region in which it was sold, the Bus was known under a variety of other names, including Transporter, Kombi, and Microbus. There were also camper conversions, panel van variants, and even pickups. To say that the Type 2 was a versatile platform would be a massive understatement.

This two-tone Bus was originally built for the Brazilian market and was later imported to the United States. According to the AutoHunter listing, it went through frame-off restoration and was converted to its current 23-window configuration. Many of the windows pop out for the ultimate in open-air motoring—even the front windshield has fold-out panes (a feature that would later be discontinued). Exterior features include dual side mirrors, luggage racks, roll-up canvas roof, and step ladder. The 14-inch steel wheels wear dog-dish-style hubcaps and are wrapped in 175/65 radial tires.

The cabin, which has been completely redone in white and brown vinyl upholstery, is cavernous. Thanks to the triple-bench-seat setup, it’ll haul the whole family and more. One of the advertisements for the Bus said, “The bigger your family, the more you need to take the Bus. It’s the one vehicle that lets you carry the most for the least.” Window curtains have been installed in case you decide to block out some of the views via those 23 windows.

Motivation comes from a rebuilt, air-cooled, rear-mounted 1,500cc flat-four mated to a four-speed manual transaxle. Extensive service has gone into the drivetrain, according to the listing: the engine received work to the crankshaft, rods, bearings, and bushings. In addition, the wiring system was redone.

Whether your vacation plans involve a cruise to the desert southwest, a beachfront highway, or a mountain pass, the ’66 Bus will let you—and your entire family—enjoy the view from every possible angle.

The auction for this 1966 Volkswagen Type 2 Bus 23-Window Replica ends Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 12:15 p.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Quick! What was the biggest hit on the American charts in 1969? The Archies’ “Sugar, Sugar,” a song taken from a top-rated cartoon (“The Archie Show”) based on the classic comic strip. One of the other popular Saturday morning cartoons was “The Bugs Bunny and Road Runner Show,” which just so happened to inspire the naming of a certain Chrysler Corporation car that was introduced for 1968. That car and our Pick of the Day, the Plymouth Road Runner, would surpass the traditional best-seller of the segment in 1969. One of these cars is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Columbus, Ohio.

The Road Runner character had its start in 1949 in the Warner Brothers cartoon “Fast and Furry-ous,” which also starred a determined wild dog named Wile Ethelbert Coyote. The run lasted through 1966, though about a dozen more cartoon shorts or movie appearances have been made since 1979. Kids in the 1960-80s were able to get their fill post-1966 from “The Bugs Bunny and Road Runner Show” on Saturday mornings. This show was the impetus for a Plymouth executive to suggest a name for the 1968 vehicle being created to “build an affordable, stripped-down mid-size performance car with a big engine.”

This car was developed to chase the youth market, according to Car and Driver’s Brock Yates, who had been consulted for advice. If you looked at the performance car market in 1967, you’d note that the Pontiac GTO and even Plymouth’s GTX were upscale models, but there were practically no companies that offered a downscale performance car. By basing the model on the austere Belvedere, including a beefy 383 and four-speed, and keeping the base price below $3000, Plymouth exploited a blind spot in the high-performance market. A buyer could have purchased a Belvedere with a 383 four-barrel and basically have the same thing, but marketing played a strong role—compare the 44 thousand Road Runners to the 43 U.S.-spec Belvedere coupes built with the 383 four-barrel. (If you think comparing the Belvedere to the Road Runner is an unfair comparison, it should be mentioned that 1966-67 Belvedere I sedans equipped with the 383 numbered under 100 each year.)

The heights the Road Runner would achieve in the following model year marked a turn for the market, as the Pontiac GTO was no longer the king of sales. With over 84,000, there’s bound to be many Road Runners that appear the same as each other, but there’s also a lot of room to find one that’s slightly different from the rest. This 1969 Plymouth Road Runner hardtop is typical among Road Runners, featuring a bench seat, four-speed, vinyl top, and V21 hood stripes, but how it’s trimmed is what makes it unique—can’t be many “A4” Silver metallic Road Runners with a white vinyl top. Also noteworthy is the bench seat in Pewter, a color not often seen as an interior choice among manufacturers though it’s quite neutral and was available with most exterior colors Plymouth offered in 1969.

Additionally, this Road Runner was originally ordered with “V6W” longitudinal Sport Stripe, though the car currently sports the thinner “V7W” accent stripe. This Road Runner was also built during the season when Plymouth was offering a spring value package. Coded “A14,” the Spring Special Group gave you a vinyl top, wheel-lip moldings, drip-rail moldings, and bright beltline moldings—a little chrome candy to make the Road Runner appear a bit more premium than it really was. Note the accessory under-dash air conditioning inside too!

“Sugar, Sugar” was peak bubblegum created by a studio group. It could be said that the Plymouth Road Runner was its automotive incarnation, a vehicle targeting enthusiasts 18-20 that blasted to success thanks to its cartoonish appeal. Even if you think you’re too old for bubblegum and cartoons, this sugary $73,995 Plymouth is bound to appeal to both young and old when you take it out.

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

In a previous life, I was living in South Central Los Angeles, waxed poetically by countless rappers, and just a quarter-mile from the epicenter of the 1992 LA riots where Reginald Denny was pulled from his truck. Nearby is Inglewood, home of The Forum (now the Kia Forum), and the relatively new SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome. My local Costco was in Inglewood, and cutting through the neighborhood—a car-hunter’s pastime—brought a certain Pontiac Firebird to my attention.

Immediately what came to mind when I first set eyes on this F-body was that it had a Formula hood but Trans Am air extractors on the front fenders. A hood is much easier to install than new fenders, so chances were good that this was a Trans Am. What if this was a 1970 Ram Air IV Trans Am with a repaint, and the owner doesn’t have a clue? These things happen!

I was hot and bothered by this, so I decided to stop and take a look the next time I needed to make a Costco run. The nose featured the distinctive grille from a 1972, which meant the original engine would have been a 455 HO—not as cool as a RAIV but ‘72 Trans Ams are quite rare. Moving to the rear, I noticed post-1973 taillights, though admittedly I missed the wrap-around backlite, which was the most obvious sign of this vehicle’s age. Nonetheless, this Firebird clearly was a hodgepodge of parts.

I discreetly checked the VIN that confirmed this vehicle being a 1976 Formula Firebird.

Or, as I like to call it, a Firebird Trans-Gendered.

On the way home from the office the other day, the Brad Paisley and Keith Urban song “Start a Band” came on the radio. It’s a musical tutorial on how to figure out what to do with your life, spend time with your buddies, get girls, and possibly “buy your mama that Cadillac.” That particular line struck me and made me ask myself this question: What is the modern version of a “new Cadillac”?

A car from Cadillac used to be an aspirational vehicle. It was a rolling status symbol that showed the world you had made it—or a family member how much you loved them. Investor and “Shark Tank” star Robert Herjavec said the best thing he ever bought was a pearl white 1989 Cadillac for his father, who viewed a Cadillac as a sign of success. That way of thinking is present in movies such as “GoodFellas,” in which one of the mobsters buys his wife a pink Cadillac—at the worst time: right after pulling off the lucrative Lufthansa heist at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1978.

That’s not to say modern Cadillacs aren’t aspirational vehicles. I’m sure plenty of people want a CT5-V Blackwing or an Escalade, but those are far from the massive, cushy sedan or coupe or convertible that a Cadillac dream car used to be. And keep in mind that the company killed off the CT6, its largest, most luxurious sedan, several years ago.

There’s definitely a generational component to this, although I’d argue it’s not universal. For many people of a certain age group, a new Caddy might still be a goal to reach, but my “Baby Boomer” parents are not among them. When my mom was able to drive, her dream car was a Jaguar. My dad would rather have a new Toyota truck to help him with his never-ending home improvement projects, but I know he wouldn’t complain if a new Lexus LS 500 showed up at his house with a massive bow on it.

What is the modern “new Cadillac” to you? Is it an Escalade or something from a different brand? Tell us in the Comments section below.

For a long time, any General Motors performance car after 1970 was looked down upon due to its lowered compression. Pontiac especially suffered from this because, if you look at the 1971-72 GTO Endura nose, it simply lacks the grace of the ‘70’s—that’s two scarlet letters.

But people started coming around to what great vehicles the high-performance 1971-72 Pontiacs were. It started with Dan Jensen’s T-37 powered by a 455 HO in the 1980s. Then others with similar cars were compelled to race—and beat—more substantial high-compression machinery. By the 2000s, GTO godfather Jim Wangers was singing the praises of the 455 HO, even claiming it was Pontiac’s best. Huh?

Talk with Pontiac folks today and they may have a slight difference of opinion, but all will agree that the 1971-72 455 HO is a fantastic street engine. To those who are not familiar, the 455 HO was an upgrade from 1970’s engine due to the round-port heads from the Ram Air IV, which made it a better, faster engine despite the ’70 having high compression. It comes off as counter-intuitive, but it’s true, plus the 455 HO was a stepping stone that lead to the Super Duty 455 for 1973-74.

Join Muscle Car Campy as he shows us the charms of Rob Timken’s unrestored 1972 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Equipped with the standard 455 HO and a four-speed, this racing-inspired pony car was arguably the fastest American car that year, plus the model would reach even greater heights later in the decade thanks to a certain movie. If you dig this video, be sure to look for your favorite car in other Muscle Car Campy videos.

We’ve made it to the weekend! It’s time for another installment of Car Connections, a game in which I take three words from the Random Word Generator and somehow link them to automobiles.

Today’s words, spine, birthday, and ghostwriter, were more difficult than I thought they would be, especially the last one. This is going to be a little clunky, but I’ll get the job done.

Spine: The 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe I tested several years ago had such a harsh suspension that I thought my spine was going to shatter. Next!

Birthday: Two years ago, Bugatti released the Chiron Super Sport 57 One of One, which was—as its name states—a one-off. If its color looks familiar, that’s because it was inspired by the paint on the Type 57SC Atlantic that the One of One owner saw on display in the Mullin Automotive Museum. What’s the connection to birthday? The lucky lady received the bespoke Chiron Super Sport as a 70th birthday present from her husband.

Ghostwriter: This was a tough one. Follow me on this winding path. After novelist V.C. Andrews died in 1986, a ghostwriter began writing books under her name. Hmmm . . . Andrews. Andrew McCarthy was in “Weekend at Bernie’s.” Bernie . . . as in Bernie Taupin. He writes lyrics for Sir Elton John, a legend who’s owned various Bentleys, including a 1956 S1 Continental Sport Saloon and a 1975 Corniche Convertible.

Whew! I’m tired from all that stretching!

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.