Journal Classic Cars

Back in 2021, Jeep announced that it would do something that it had never done in the 34-year history of the Wrangler: offer it with a V8. It wasn’t just a regular 5.7-liter Hemi, though—Jeep went up a notch and stuffed the massive 392 between the JL Wrangler’s hood latches. Just a few years later, Jeep broke the news that the limited-production (3,700 units worldwide) 2024 model would be the Final Edition of the off-road monster. It didn’t take long for Jeep to change its tune: the 2025 Wrangler Rubicon 392 would be the end of the line. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to review one while I still could.

EVOLUTIONARY CHANGE

Since it debuted, the Wrangler Rubicon 392 has become progressively better equipped and more capable. It started off with upgraded frame rails, unique suspension geometry, heavy-duty brakes, FOX shocks, and 33-inch tires on 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels. For 2024, all Wranglers received a new seven-slot grille design, updated interior with standard 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, standard side curtain airbags in the first and second rows, and more. Rubicon models came equipped with a Dana 44 full-float rear axle designed for greater strength and easier worst-case-scenario repairs. The same year, Jeep upgraded the Rubicon 392 for its send-off by adding a Warn 8,000-pound winch, rock sliders, tool kit, a half inch to the existing two-inch lift, and a triple-hoop grille guard.

The Rubicon 392’s price has increased with those improvements. With the $1,495 destination charge included, the 2021 launch edition had an MSRP of $74,995. According to the window sticker, my 2025 Final Edition test vehicle had a starting price of $99,995. Adding the Hydro Blue Pearl-Coat paint, Sky One-Touch power-retractable soft top, and the built-in Mopar air compressor took the final price up to a stratospheric $108,475.

WHERE THE MONEY WENT

What hasn’t changed is the thing that makes the Rubicon 392 the ultimate factory Wrangler: the 6.4-liter Hemi, which fires 470 horses and 470 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic and Selec-Trac full-time four-wheel drive.

Given how high it stood on its 35-inch BFGoodrich KO2s and the malevolence coming out of the dual-mode exhaust’s four outlets, there was no mistaking the Rubicon 392 for a regular Wrangler. But the engine that made it special also highlighted the relative ordinariness of everything around it. Although my media loaner had Nappa leather seats and the fancy retractable roof, it didn’t feel like I was in a $100,000-plus vehicle.

And even though the big Hemi gave the Wrangler a huge boost in power, the changes seemed to stop there. Yes, the Rubicon 392 was as quick as some sports cars, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds, but its engine didn’t magically transform it into a fundamentally different vehicle. The sum was not greater than its parts: the Rubicon 392 felt like a Wrangler with a giant engine in it. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. In hindsight, that simplicity was refreshing in an age in which so many companies try to make their SUVs haul people and cargo like a utility vehicle yet accelerate and handle like a performance sedan—there’s nothing wrong with a dedicated, specialist vehicle. Despite its extra grunt, the Rubicon 392 is still undeniably a body-on-frame rig focused on dominating whatever it encounters in the wild. The combination of that singular focus with nearly 500 horsepower makes the Rubicon a ridiculous, wild, indulgent, over-the-top cartoon of a vehicle rendered in metal and rubber. It felt like an absolute tank and made me feel as if I could roll over anything. If I didn’t feel like doing that, I could blow past it with a quick stab of the throttle and a big grin on my face, the 392 roaring furiously the whole way.

JUST GO WITH IT

To my pleasant surprise, my weekend with the Rubicon 392 coincided with my pal Brad and his friend Chris having rare openings in their busy schedules. After I picked them up, we blazed our way to the Four Peaks trail in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest. The plan was to test the Rubicon 392 much like my colleague Luke and I did when we had the 2025 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter. I had no concerns about getting stuck because we aired the tires down with the Mopar air compressor and the front and rear lockers could get the rest done.

For better traction and throttle control, I muscled the transfer case lever into 4LO and started the ascent up the main trail. The higher we climbed, the more stunning the views were—and the further we kept going. The idea of going back down to find an obstacle that would ultimately fail to challenge the Rubicon 392’s grip and ground clearance became less and less appealing. All I wanted to do was go higher. Luckily, Brad and Chris felt the same way. At one point, we reached a pull-off area that gave us an unforgettable view of Roosevelt Lake. By the time we turned around to go back down, we were roughly 5,800 feet up.

A part of me felt uneasy about not having conducted a technical test of the Rubicon 392, but then I thought about our excursion and what the Wrangler is all about. It’s built to take you anywhere you want to go, no matter how remote, no matter how challenging the journey there may be. Swept away by the spirit of adventure, Brad, Chris, and I wanted to go where the trail ahead took us. The Rubicon 392 got us there, just as V8-powered CJs in decades past transported their passengers to distant peaks miles away from awe-inspiring horizons.

MORE TO COME

It seems even the second iteration of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition is a point on a timeline, not the end of it. Back in August, Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf said, “We will extend the availability of the 392 Wrangler, and in fact, we will tap the power and performance of the Hemi across Jeep products as new projects are already underway.” While that means the 2025 Final Edition won’t be a singular piece of Jeep history, the trade-off is that future V8 Jeeps will give more people a chance to tap into a significant part of the brand’s past—something that has always been a part of its vehicles, especially the Wrangler.

Click above and watch our full video review on YouTube!

Does status and prestige build a better car? That’s the question to keep in mind as we dive into Consumer Guide’s overview of 1970s Lincoln vehicles in the used car market.

While it may seem the initial 1970 Lincolns were unique, the truth is that the Continental shared a chassis with full-size Ford Motor Company vehicles, and the Mark III shared its platform with the four-door Thunderbird. And don’t forget the Versailles! Through the end of the decade, Lincolns would share platforms with Ford and Mercury vehicles even when they were being downsized. By association, we can assume Consumer Guide’s recommendations should mirror those it had for Ford and Mercury vehicles, but we also know nothing can be assumed.

Let’s take a look at Lincoln, then you can compare the ratings below with those for Ford and Mercury models. Please note the CG rating scale of 5 being Excellent and 1 being Poor.

Lincoln
“Virtually any car from … Lincoln will deliver a full 100,000 miles of useful life with a minimum of major repairs.”

• Continental: “Impressive size, ride, and comfort. Note less-than-glowing recall history [but] above-average repair record.” CG rating: 3
• Continental Mark III: “Handling ponderous, steering feels a contradiction in terms.” CG rating: 3
• Continental Mark IV: “Workmanship above-average, as is the overall repair record for this series.” CG rating: 3
• Continental Mark V: “Less back seat space [than the Mark IV] … Average overall repair record improves to above-average for ’79.” CG rating: 3
• Continental Mark VI: “Far less distinctive than Marks III through V, but better for it.” CG rating: N/A
• Versailles: “If you are looking for a car of this type, consider a first-generation Seville instead.” CG rating: N/A

Pity American Motors. The company had set its sights on competing toe-to-toe with the Big Three, but its participation in the sporty car segment left a lot to be desired. Your gut may suggest this is not true, so let’s examine the market and see.

In 1968, AMC introduced sporty cars such as the Javelin and AMX that competed nicely with the best pony cars on the market, but AMC had nothing that competed with the likes of the Pontiac GTO. You could claim the Rebel Machine did, but that was a one-and-done model for 1970, and the 1971 Matador with the Machine Go Package was half-baked, with nothing visually to indicate it was a performance model – not to mention it’s likely fewer than 100 were built.

There also was the Hurst-derived Rambler SC/Rambler, which was a nice competitor to the Plymouth Road Runner and Chevrolet Nova SS 396, but it too was a one-hit wonder.

For 1971, AMC introduced the Hornet SC/360, a nice competitor to the Plymouth Duster 340 and even the Duster Twister. Standard was a 240-horsepower 360 and a three-speed, but add the Go Package and you’d get a four-barrel paired with an air induction system, plus the choice of a four-speed in addition to the standard three-speed or automatic. Alas, sales were poor in a year that should have embraced this sort of machine, so AMC discontinued it in the middle of the model year after 784 were built.

Join Muscle Car Campy as he tells us more about this Limelight Green metallic 1971 Hornet SC/360. As you can tell by the scoop, it features the Go Package, plus a four-speed manual, a reclining split bench seat, and several vintage parts underneath the hood.

If you enjoy this video, you can view more from Muscle Car Campy.

You may be like me, in denial about the decline of the global automotive industry (thanks to the gradual elimination of manual transmissions and the rash of EV adoption), but it became clear the canary in the coal mine had already been on life support when Porsche announced that the 718 models (Boxter and Cayman) were going to be replaced by EV sports cars. Now, it seems Porsche will offer ICE engines in the next-gen versions of the 718 after all.

If you recall, Porsche announced in May that the next-gen 718 would not have an ICE replacement, giving you five months to figure out how to purchase Lithium without a prescription. The current crop of 718s are a bit long in the tooth, having originated in 2016, but we’re talking about Porsche here, a company that makes so many marginal improvements to a vehicle that no one thinks, “I can get an identical five-year-old car for less” because it’s simply not true.

Yet this is the same company that went on record saying that the next-gen 718 was going to be electric, which boggles the mind. To a point, that’s not a bad thing because the EV landscape still has plenty of room for promise, and Porsche is likely the beacon of hope in an automotive segment that struggles to be interesting to enthusiasts.

However, several months later, Car and Driver reports that good sense has returned to Porsche, as the company has confirmed that the next-gen 718 will include ICE versions. It is claimed that this is a “strategic realignment” attributed to slowing EV demand, adjustments in the Chinese market, and American tariffs.

The Ann Arbor-based periodical adds that the ICE versions “will be limited to the top-spec versions.” That does not bode well for those who are hoping to stretch a little for their dream car (aka “moi”), though it is in line with the upward march of Porsche’s sports car pricing.

Hopefully, the next-gen, ICE-powered 718s will be available with a manual transmission.

For six decades, the Ford Mustang has captured the spirit of American performance, freedom, and style. Now, in honor of its 60th anniversary, the Mustang Dream Giveaway is offering one lucky winner the chance of a lifetime: two iconic Mustangs, separated by sixty years, united by the legendary Blue Oval badge.

This isn’t just a prize package—it’s a celebration of heritage and horsepower. On one side, you’ll find an expertly restored 1966 K-code Mustang GT Fastback, a rare muscle-era masterpiece that defined what a pony car could be. On the other, a limited-production 2025 Mustang GT Convertible 60th Anniversary Edition, built to mark the milestone year with modern power and exclusive style. Together, they represent the ultimate garage pairing—vintage muscle and cutting-edge performance. Click here to enter now!

The Vintage Legend: 1966 Mustang GT 2+2 Fastback K-code

With just 5,469 produced, the K-code fastback is the stuff of Mustang legends. Under its Wimbledon White paint and GT badging lies a 271-horsepower solid-lifter 289ci V-8 paired with a four-speed manual transmission—built for purists who crave authenticity and classic performance.

Step inside, and the red Pony interior transports you back to the golden era of Detroit iron.

It’s a rare piece of muscle-car history waiting to go home with you.

The Modern Milestone: 2025 Mustang GT 60th Anniversary Convertible

Fast forward sixty years, and Ford celebrates Mustang’s diamond anniversary with one of the most exclusive pony cars ever made. Just 1,965 units exist worldwide, and you could drive away in #432 of the build. Finished in Wimbledon White with bold Carmine Red leather seats, it channels the past while roaring into the future with 480 horsepower from a 5.0L V-8.

Exclusive anniversary badging, 20-inch Dark Gravity Gray wheels, and a B&O Premium Sound System make this convertible a true collector’s dream. And with a 0–60-mph time of just 3.9 seconds, this Mustang proves that performance is timeless.

Two Mustangs. One Winner. A Dream Garage.
Owning one Mustang this special would be a dream. Owning both—the rarest of the rare classic and the most exclusive modern anniversary edition—makes this prize package unlike anything else on the planet.
Even better, every ticket you enter supports veterans’ and children’s charities. Past winners have been teachers, truck drivers, mechanics, and veterans. The next name pulled could be yours.

Click here to enter now!

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this 1955 Chevrolet 3100 pickup, which is powered by a 350ci V8 mated to a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission. Finished in Forest Green and white over a black vinyl interior, this Chevy “Task-Force” truck is now offered by the selling dealer in Oregon with a clear title.

The handsome exterior was repainted in a combination of Forest Green with white fender trim and white cab and tailgate accents. Features include chrome bumpers, wrap-around windshield, body-color windshield visor, dual mirrors, wrap-around rear window, wood bed planks, wrapped tailgate chains, and dual exhaust outlets.

This classic truck rides on a set of 15-inch Rally wheels wrapped in 235/70 BFGoodrich Radial T/A raised-white-letter radial tires.

Inside the cab, the black vinyl bench seat is equipped with lap belts. Amenities include power steering, air conditioning, and Bluetooth-compatible RetroSound AM/FM radio. The automatic shifter and emergency brake handles were swapped out for units from Lokar.

Instrumentation consists of a 100-mph speedometer and temperature, amperage, oil pressure, and fuel gauges. The odometer shows 1,009 miles, but this truck is mileage-exempt, according to its title.

The original engine was replaced with a four-barrel 350ci V8. The factory-installed transmission was also swapped out for a 700R4 four-speed automatic.

There are several other upgrades underneath this truck, including a Ford Mustang II independent front suspension, tubular control arms, and power front disc brakes. Power reaches the road through the 3.55:1 rear end.

If you want this upgraded 1955 Chevrolet 3100 to reach your driveway, you need to place the winning bid on it. Do that before the auction ends on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

A few days ago, I was browsing the listings on ClassicCars.com and came across a car that is eligible for any concours event you can think of, has a decent chance of getting a class award, and also is somehow affordable. My Pick of the Day is that car: a 1953 Chrysler Ghia Special Coupe by Ghia located in Auburn, Indiana.

At the sharp end of world of collector cars—more specifically potential concours winners—there are very few bargains. Even to get a class award at many of these events often requires spending a million dollars. I have shown at many concours events over the past 10 years, and every single car we won an award with cost in excess of $400,000 (and most cost over $1 million). This is the sad truth, but when you consider the reason people attend these concours events is to see cars they have never seen before, it starts to make more sense.

The Chrysler-Ghia relationship is an interesting one. The two companies collaborated for over a decade to create some of the most stunning Chrysler-badged products in the entire history of the company. This effort was the result of Chrysler design chief Virgil Exner being tasked with bringing some glamour and excitement to the brand. The end result were the Chrysler Ghia cars.

This Chrysler Ghia collaboration was called the Special Coupe, with just 18 examples crafted by Ghia for Chrysler. Although the company’s board was hesitant to approve the model, Export Manager C.B. Thomas thankfully was able to convince them to go ahead with the build.

This specific car is finished in its original color of Dove Gray and is believed to have received only one professional exterior respray in the correct color since it was sold new in 1953.

The interior is also largely original, with comfortable maroon leather seats that look quite nice. There is wear, but I could call that patina and, in my opinion, it is something that should not be changed, redone, or even redyed. It is almost impossible to come across almost any car of this era with an original interior, and it would be a shame to mess that up by renewing it.

Under the hood is the correct Chrysler 331ci Hemi V8 engine, which is mated to a 1954 PowerFlite automatic transmission that shifts smoothly. I would personally inquire about the original transmission but, if it is indeed lost, I would not let this deter me from purchasing the car. This Special Coupe is currently equipped with a 1954 four-barrel carburetor, but the original carburetor accompanies the sale. 

Like most of the Chrysler Ghia cars, this example has an interesting history. The car was first sold new by France Motors in Paris in 1953 to famous jockey Johnny Longden. Longden shipped the car on the SS Liberte to his residential home in Arcadia, California, in September of the same year. By the 1950s, this Ghia had passed to a resident in the affluent neighborhood of San Marino. Under her ownership, this Special Coupe received supplemental bumpers to protect the hand-formed front and rear body, which explains the holes present today. This Ghia then made its way to the home of well-known Chrysler collector and authority Robert Frumkin of Los Angeles in the 1960s. Frumkin retained this wonderful example for two decades, during which he received a handwritten letter from the original owner confirming the Ghia’s provenance, as well as its originality and color. In 1979, this example traded hands for the last time to the current owner and became a welcome addition to his own collection. 

Chrysler Ghia Special Coupes are absolutely spectacular in person. I have shown a 1954 model myself and have won First in Class awards with it at every concours in which it was shown. In addition, these cars possess the “easy button” when it comes to participating in concours tours and classic car events, as the Chrysler underpinnings make them simple to fix and maintain.

The best part about this specific car is the asking price which, at only $299,000, I am going to call a steal. No, the car is not likely in good enough shape for Pebble Beach, but I can practically guarantee that at any other concours you would come away with some hardware.

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

Part of owning a classic car is recognizing—and accepting—the fact that you have to “expect the unexpected.” When I set out on a recent 2,700-mile road trip from Phoenix to Vermont for this year’s National Acura Legend Meet, I carried a trunk full of replacement parts. After all, I was 100% aware that, at a moment’s notice, I could need an alternator, starter, main relay, gallon of coolant, or a myriad of other things. I’ve also gotten in the habit of carrying a full-sized spare tire. A car with nearly 600,000 miles on the odometer could be a ticking time bomb.

But of all the times to experience to a critical part failure, I didn’t anticipate it would be on the first day of a five-day cross-country adventure . . . in a rural part of Arizona . . . on a holiday weekend, just a few hours from home. That’s how things played out, and it was thanks to a small mom-and-pop car repair facility that I miraculously continued my journey later that same day and made it to my destination three time zones away, on perfect schedule later in the week.

It was about 12 miles west of Holbrook, Arizona, when the battery light illuminated in my car. I had flashbacks of the previous time it had happened 16 years ago, just outside Las Vegas. That had been about 200,000 miles prior, so it was not shocking. It was, however, inconvenient. I managed to get the car to a truck stop just west of town and started the process of running through phone numbers for any and all repair facilities I could find. Unfortunately, Holbrook is a town of fewer than 5,000 people, most of whom were already enjoying Labor Day weekend. I only managed to go through several places, some of which referred me to mobile mechanics or other resources. I did manage to find one shop that would install my part, so I limped the car there using a battery jump pack (another handy lifesaver, I’ve learned).

Unfortunately, after waiting an hour and a half, I determined I’d been stood up. In a bit of desperation, I took to the phone again. This time, I even called the businesses that said “Closed” according to Google. To my surprise, a voice answered the phone at Arizona Auto Service on Route 66. I explained my predicament and they said, “Bring it down.” Somehow, I was again able to start the car and drive about three more miles just before my battery pack lost voltage and I had to coast to the side of the road about a half-block from the facility. (Incidentally, Arizona Auto was located just several blocks from the Wigwam Motel.)

The hospitality that I experienced next was unprecedented. The shop was bustling with activity—deep in preparations for an upcoming demolition derby at the Navajo County Fair. But they dropped what they were doing, helped me push the car to a service bay, and got to work with the install. Meanwhile, I got to know the family members who were there and even watched them paint some accessories for the demolition derby cars. In short order, the shop foreman, Frank, said I was good to go and asked me to fire up the car so he could test the voltage output. Everything checked out, and my sense of optimism reached new heights.

I insisted on paying more for the alternator installation than Frank wanted to charge me. I also insisted on letting him take a picture with the entire crew before I continued my journey. I drove away with a deepened appreciation and respect for the compassion of people in the automotive community who are willing to help one another. The experience solidified my conviction that the automotive community is one big family.

As a follow-up expression of gratitude, I reached out to Arizona Auto the following week to let them know that my new alternator got me to Vermont successfully, and I wished them luck on the demolition derby. Maybe next year I’ll join them!

Collector Car Network Media got a close look at one of the most talked-about concept cars on the Pebble Beach Concept Lawn this year: the Attucks Apex AP-0, which is backed by musician and car enthusiast Wyclef Jean.

In this video, we break down what makes this electric supercar unique, from its ultra-light carbon fiber monocoque and exposed aero-focused design to its 650-horsepower rear-mounted motor and sub-2.5-second 0–60 mph time. What could this mean for the next generation of supercars? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

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

Subscribe to the CCN Media YouTube channel for more Monterey Car Week 2025 content.

Sometimes, the only thing “classic” about a classic car is the model year listed on its title. Here’s one example of a car that went through a nut-and-bolt refresh and is just as youthful as the day it was new: this 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Convertible featured on AutoHunter. It is being sold by a dealer in Paso Robles, California, and the auction will end Friday, September 26, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. (PDT).

While staying true to its original body lines, the car has modernized and enhanced in every mechanical aspect. During a frame-off restoration that was completed in 2024, it received a custom chassis from Newman Car Creations. Take a look at the underbody photos included in the listing—it’s essentially a brand-new car despite its “official” age being 70 years old.

The 1955 Chevrolet is undisputed American icon; it paved the way for the 1956 and 1957 models that would complete the “Tri-Five” series. The American Tri-Five Association is just one of any nationwide organization dedicated to the display, restoration, preservation, and appreciation of such cars. Next year’s Tri-Five Nationals will be held August 15, 2026, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. A 1956 Chevrolet will be given away too!

Exterior features for this clean, custom machine include a Cobalt Blue and Pearl White two-tone paint job, dark blue power-retractable top, chrome brightwork, and dual side mirrors. Grip comes from a set of BFGoodrich tires wrapped around 17-inch American Racing polished aluminum wheels.

The cabin has its share of upgrades, too, starting with front bucket seats and a custom center console, courtesy of Dave Stoeckel of Fresno, California. Features include a Vintage Air A/C system, power windows, tilt steering column, and Bluetooth-compatible audio system. The odometer reads 1,630 miles, but title reads mileage-exempt.

We’ve talked in the past about how GM “LS” engines have become so popular in restomod-type restorations (here’s a story from a number of years ago that gives an overview of LS history). True to tradition, this car employs an LS2 6.0-liter V8 mated to a 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission. But the build doesn’t stop there, as the Chevy also has a Magnuson supercharger and has been dyno-tested to produce 450 horsepower.

For those not familiar with Magnuson Superchargers, the Ventura, California-based company was founded about 40 years go. It produces a wide range of supercharger systems, most of which are straightforward bolt-ons that use Eaton rotors. While results vary by application, Magnuson says most applications elevate a stock vehicle’s performance by as much as 45%.

The engineering upgrades don’t stop there, as the build sheet also includes a carbon-fiber driveshaft, C4 Corvette suspension, Wilwood four-wheel power disc brakes, and Flowmaster dual exhaust system. Overhauled? I’d say so. In fact, I’d dare say this ’55 is ready to drive to Bowling Green for next year’s Tri-Five Nationals—no matter how far that drive may be.

The auction for this 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Convertible ends Friday, September 26, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. (PDT). The winning bidder will receive restoration photos, an owner’s manual, and build receipts.

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery