Journal Classic Cars

Sure, that’s a headline you’ve probably seen on many other websites, but here at The ClassicCars.com Journal, we try to offer a take that’s different from the usual tired cliché words and phrases such as “iconic” and “legend.” Nonetheless, Muscle Car Campy raises a valid question regarding Chevrolet’s LS6 Chevelle, the car that carried the highest horsepower rating in the era.

Though the 1970 Chevelle SS 454 with the LS6 engine is not rare, there are several variations that are rarer than others. The quintessential version is red with Cowl Induction with black stripes, but that was not the standard configuration. If you ordered any Chevelle with the SS package (Z25 for the 396 or Z15 for the 454), you’d receive a domed hood, among other equipment. If you wanted the stripes, that was code D88, but if you wanted the ZL2 Special Ducted Hood Air System (a.k.a. Cowl Induction), the stripes were included. Many will agree that the latter was the most popular configuration, though there’s no way to support that with factory documentation.

If you’re like me, you like stripes on a performance car, but there’s something to be said about a Chevelle Super Sport without the stripes—your eyes focus on it differently. To my eyes, the lack of stripes makes the Chevelle look ripped, like it’s wearing a shirt bursting at the seams.

Join Muscle Car Campy as he guides us through David Povio’s 4.10-geared LS6 Chevelle. Aside from featuring the standard domed hood without stripes, it is also a bench-seat, four-speed car, making it more distinctive than all the red and black Chevelles out there.

Imagine winning two brand-new cars – a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro and a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette – in a sweepstakes. That was a very real opportunity in late 1968 as a grand prize award at a Texas dealership. While our high-level internal research didn’t uncover the names of those who won the cars, hopefully one of our savvy readers will have information – or at least a recollection.

The inquiry came about because I was reviewing some artifacts left behind by a family member who passed away some years ago. One of them was a yellowed old newspaper – the Fort Wolters Trumpet, dated Friday, September 27, 1968. Jack Ferrill, of Jack Ferrill Chevrolet in Weatherford, about 30 miles west of Fort Worth, had reserved the entire page 8A for an advertisement about the “Super Sport Sweepstakes.” The prizes were laid out as follows:

• Grand Prize: 1969 Corvette Coupe + 1969 Camaro SS Rally Sport Coupe + $1,000 cash
• 2nd Prize: 1969 Impala SS 427 Sports Coupe + $500 cash
• 3rd Prize: 1969 Chevelle Malibu SS 396 Sports Coupe + $500 cash
• 4th Prize (50 Winners): Magnavox Townsman portable color TV
• 5th Prize (6,500 Winners): Kodak Instamatic Hawkeye R-4 camera

At the time, Ferrill’s dealerships were offering a $1,500 discount on all 1968 Chevrolets – the newer models were landing, after all. The fine print said that entries (for which no purchase was required) were due November 9, 1968, and winners would be notified by December 15, 1968.

I did find out that other dealerships had the same promotion, so this was a bigger event than just a Jack Ferrill marketing tactic. One was W&J Chevrolet in North Canton, Ohio, which ran an ad in the Sun on September 25, 1968. Another was House Chevrolet Co in Silverton, Texas, which ran an ad in the Briscoe County News on September 19, 1968. They were collectively pushing this promotion pretty hard at various dealerships around the country.

Being a numbers geek, I had to crunch the values of the prizes at stake. As we would have expected, the cars ranked in values from high to low in order of prize hierarchy. The grand prize winner received about $8,209 worth of vehicles and $1,000 in cash. The Magnavox televisions (quantity of 50) and the Kodak cameras (quantity of 6,500) were big-ticket items at $79 and $40 each respectively. The cameras alone came out to $260,000 in prize winnings.

So, the total? $280,828 in January 1969 dollars, which comes out to $2,530,567 in 2025 dollars.

Yeah, this was a pretty big deal – which makes me wonder if any such giveaway has been attempted prior or since. Incidentally, I did come across a website that mentioned something about Jack Ferrill’s dealership going bankrupt by 1970. Oh, and along the way, I learned that the word Magnavox is Latin for “great voice.” I love these little investigations.

So, where are those sweet Super Sports today?

When I entered the world of motorcycles and began to shop for my first one, I found it difficult to keep track of model names because almost nothing was memorable—it’s easier to remember “Impala” over “Z400.” Yet today it seems there are so many awful car names out there that I’d rather settle for something uninspired and alphanumeric.

Look at pre-war American cars; they started off being uninspired. Model T, Series 75, and the like were typical, though model names did exist (Studebaker being a fine example with the Dictator, Commander, and President—notice the theme?). In the 1950s, names began to take center stage with most brands, often invoking the image of a fancy hotel, a sunny island or far-away place, an animal, or anything that could be considered exotic. Sometimes they were made-up names, but nonetheless, they invoked an image.

More recently, we’ve had to bear Detroit’s misguided attempts at thinking a name inspired by European automotive companies would make up for quality or dynamic misgivings, such as J2000 (Pontiac) and 400 (Dodge), but Detroit was able to sort itself out as both horsepower and quality increased—that is, until Cadillac went with CTS, SRX, etc. and then CT5, XT5, etc.

Still, none of that is as bad as several of the names applied to car models today. I blame the trend on the Volkswagen Touareg. Does it make me look up what a Touareg is? Sure (they’re nomadic people from North Africa), but I don’t want to have the indignity of telling the car lot guy, “Mine’s the Touareg.” Since then, there’s been a rash of horrible car names. The culprits tend to be European—and Miuras they’re not. I don’t want to fall into the trap of being Ameri-centric and demanding all car names match my sensibilities, and I certainly understand the skill needed to come up with a name that works for most markets (though different markets sometimes have different names), but why is there a trend towards stupid names that don’t help the brand?

Here’s a list of the current culprits:

• Alfa Romeo Stelvio was named after a mountain pass in Italy, but it sounds like a Nescafe pod.
• Bentley Bentayga was inspired by a rock formation in the Canary Islands, yet it comes off as too obscure and disconnected from the brand.
• Lamborghini Revuelto, like many Lamborghinis, was inspired by a fighting bull, but the word can mean “scrambled” (eggs) in Spanish.
• Maserati Grecale’s name was derived from a Mediterranean wind, but Grecian Formula is what pops up in my mind.
• Maserati Levante is another name for a Mediterranean wind. I appreciate the theme, but here in Arizona we have desert haboobs, which would be embarrassing to drive.
• Rolls-Royce Cullinan makes sense to a point as it was named after the world’s largest diamond, but I had to look up the name while images of pelicans swirled in my head.
• Volkswagen Tiguan appears to be a portmanteau of the German words Tiger (same in English) and Leguan (“iguana”). Say what?

We need more animals, like Ocelot and Komodo, or more inspiration and alliteration, like Honda Horizon. Wait…that was a Plymouth at one point. Can you think of some good ones?

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this 26K-mile 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, which is #3,178 of 6,400 First Edition models produced. As the high-performance version of the Challenger, the SRT8 comes equipped with a Hemi 6.1-liter V8, which is paired with a five-speed automatic. Finished in Hemi Orange over a Dark Slate Gray leather and microfiber interior, this garage-kept Challenger SRT8 is now offered by a private seller in Minnesota with the original window sticker, service records, clean CARFAX report, and clear title.

The Hemi Orange body is accented with carbon fiber-style stripes on the nose and hood. Additional exterior features include black front and rear spoilers, fog lamps, high-intensity discharge headlights, dual hood scoops, power-folding and heated mirrors, an exposed fuel cap, and dual exhaust outlets.

The wheel wells are filled with 20- by 9-inch forged aluminum wheels wrapped in 245/45 (front) and 255/45 (rear) Goodyear Eagle F1 tires.

Inside the cockpit are a pair of heated Dark Slate Gray leather and microfiber bucket front seats and matching seating for three in the back. Comfort and convenience features include a power-adjustable driver’s seat, tilt and telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls, universal garage door opener, power sunroof, GPS navigation, 13-speaker Kicker SRT audio system with amplifier and subwoofer, and front and rear center armrests.

Instrumentation consists of a 180-mph speedometer, 8,000-rpm tachometer, and gauges for the fuel level and temperature. The digital odometer shows 26,523 original miles, a figure only slightly above the 26,262 miles most recently logged on the CARFAX report from October 2022.

Under the hood is a naturally aspirated Hemi 6.1-liter V8 that was factory-rated at 425 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. A five-speed automatic with Autostick transfers the big Hemi’s output to the 3.06:1 rear end.

Traction, stability control and four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes keep this SRT8 from going STR8 into a ditch or tree.

The auction for this this 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 ends on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

The idea of an affordable coach-built Italian sports car is just about a nonsensical statement. Add the name Alfa Romeo to the equation, and you may think there is no such car. Unbelievably, though, there is a classic coach-built Alfa Romeo that is not only affordable but also fun to drive and easy to live with on a daily basis. That car is our Pick of the Day – a 1970 Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato on ClassicCars.com.

The Alfa Junior Zagato is based on the Alfa 105 chassis made famous in the GT and GTV coupes of the 1960s and ’70s. It was penned by designer Ercole Spada, whose first design while at Zagato was the legendary Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato. The Junior Zagato, introduced at the 1969 Turin Motor Show, was sold and marketed by Alfa Romeo. Alfa would build a total of only 2,618 total Junior Zagato cars over the car’s 7-year production run, making it a very rare 105 Series Alfa.

The best part of the Junior Zagato is that even though it is a coach-built Italian car, all of its mechanicals are the same as any other 105 Series Alfa, meaning the cost to run one of these special cars is the same as a 1974 Alfa Spider, yet it qualifies for most of the world’s top concours events, as it is a coach-built car.

The seller’s description of this Alfa Junior Zagato states it is a very well-sorted, long-term California car with numerous performance upgrades and benefits from expert care by a series of devoted marque enthusiasts. One notable past owner of this car is Ken “Mr. Alfa” Shaff, best known as co-founder of both Autoweek magazine and the California Mille rally (with fellow Alfa enthusiast and classic car legend Martin Swig).

The seller adds that this Junior Zagato was treated to extensive engine-out mechanical refurbishment work in 2019 done by Stewarts Automotive in Sacramento, California. Since early 2022 the car has been in the care of an experienced Alfa specialist and vintage racer, who expertly dialed it in to be a reliable classic tour car. According to the seller, the blue paintwork is in very good condition overall and is done to a level that encourages regular driving. They disclose there are minor cracks around the A-pillars, C-pillars and near the tailgate opening – something quite common on these cars.

The interior trim is said to be well-preserved and in good condition and features correct instruments, switchgear and cockpit fittings, though an aftermarket radio has been added.

I owned one of these cars many years ago and found it to be one of the most fun Alfas I have ever owned. It sounds amazing, has adequate power to be able to keep up with modern traffic and has incredible handling for the era. Although quite small, even my 6-foot-4 self found the Junior Zagato comfortable for hundreds of miles of driving. It drives as good or better than any Alfa GTV and looks like no other Alfa ever built. (It is said the Junior Zagato was the design template for the Honda CRX, which to me only adds to the car’s allure.)

Now for the best part. The Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato has always been the single most affordable entry into the world of coach-built Alfas, and this car – with an asking price of only $85,000 – represents a good deal on what sounds to be a fully sorted vehicle with an interesting ownership history.

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

In the annals of American road rallies, we have had the Cannonball Run, which led to the One Lap of America. More recently, we have had the goldRush Rally, an event that’s in its 16th year. The 2025 Gold Tour had its kickoff several days ago and will run through June 8.

The goldRush Rally bills itself as “a gathering of passionate individuals who share a love for luxury and the thrill of the open road.” Per the website, it’s synonymous with “opulence, adventure, and unforgettable experiences. Our world-renowned luxury and exotic vehicle rallies are more than just drives; they’re immersive journeys curated to leave lasting memories, forge lifelong friendships, and will have you coming back year after year.” As you can see, this is a different kind of rally, not so hell-bent on finishing first as much as enjoying putting exotics (really, anything) through their paces beyond the local Cars and Coffee meet.

On Friday, May 30, 2025, drivers left Beverly Hills for Las Vegas. Every day is a new stop, continuing on to Park City, Vail, Denver (alright, I lied—two days for that), Kansas City, St. Louis and, finally, Chicago. “This epic journey … showcases breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cities, and lavish accommodations.”

There are three options for participants, which include hotel room, secured parking at all locations, luggage transportation, gifting suite, “The Gold Tour” gear, VIP entrance to all planned events, private lunches and dinners in select cities, and CIP entrance to all nightly entertainment and clubs, plus attendance to the awards ceremony and professional photography of cars and their drivers:

• Team of two for the whole rally costs $23,000
• Team of two, going halfway to Denver, costs $12,000
• Team of two, going halfway starting in Denver, costs $12,000

Considering this is “The Ultimate Luxury Lifestyle Automotive Rally in the USA” and the high bar of entry, chances are there will be several interesting vehicles driven by participants. If you live near a destination city and fancy yourself as an enthusiast for McLarens, Lamborghinis, Ferraris and more, it’s worth visiting www.goldrushrally.com to see how you can catch some Gold Tour action.

Barrett-Jackson, our parent company, is a sponsor of the goldRush Rally.

Pace cars are somewhat of a curiosity. There was a time when manufacturers did not exploit the honor, but during the mid-1960s, they started to take pace cars seriously and use their status as a selling point. Our AutoHunter Spotlight, this Mercury Cyclone GT Indianapolis Pace Car convertible, is one of the first pace cars marketed to the public. Like all Cyclone GTs, this one is powered by an S-code 390, which is connected to a Merc-O-Matic automatic with “Sport Shift.” Other features on this Cardinal Red ragtop include a matching white power top and vinyl interior, fiberglass hood, Styled Steel wheels, an AM radio, and more. Documentation and a clear title will be included as part of the sale.

Only 2,158 Cyclone GTs were built in 1966; pace cars were painted in Cardinal Red with white trim such as the GT stripes, pinstriping, and convertible top. The non-functional twin-scooped hood was unusual for its time because it was fiberglass, so perhaps Mercury could be considered an early adopter in this case. Other features include a driver-side mirror and Cyclone badges with racing flags. Wheels are the very stylish 14-inch Styled Steel wheels wrapped in F70 Firestone Redline radials.

The cabin features white vinyl seats with buckets up front, complemented by red components. The console houses the Sport Shift mechanism that allows you to hold a gear, much like Hurst’s His and Hers shifter. Other features include a woodgrain steering wheel, power steering, and an AM radio.

Instrumentation includes a 120-mph speedometer and gauges for the temperature, amperage, and fuel. The odometer reads 51,763 miles, though the mileage is not indicated on the title.

The 390 V8 offers 335 horsepower with a four-barrel carburetor and 10.5:1 compression. It is paired with a Merc-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission.

The underside consists of four-wheel drum brakes, 3.25 single-traction gears, and dual exhaust outlets.

This 1966 Mercury Cyclone GT Indianapolis Pace Car convertible reflects everything that was great about the Ford Motor Company during the early days of “Total Performance.” Open-air driving and a Formula 1 connection are characteristics that never go out of style. Combine those with big-block power and you have the makings of a very sweet collectible. Be sure to place your bid on AutoHunter right away because the auction ends on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Front-wheel-drive has been a part of automotive technology for so long and been in so many vehicles that we take it for granted. We now live in an age in which even certain trucks, like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, come standard with FWD. But back in the 1920s, sending power through the front end was a novel idea, at least for road cars made in America. In 1929, Cord changed that with its L-29, which is credited as the first American front-wheel-drive production car.

Many people fear what they don’t understand, especially when it comes to their safety. Cord seemed to understand that, which explains why it tried to educate the car-buying public on FWD’s benefits. In a 1929 brochure, company founder E.L. Cord himself said, “Its exclusive advantages in safety, easy handling, comfort and durability have already won a host of converts!” The captions under certain technical illustrations mentioned how the L-29’s engine/transmission/differential/front brake packaging allowed for greater efficiency, and the universal joints were capable of sharper steering angles and longer service life compared to rear-wheel-drive hardware.

Cord went into even more visual and technical detail in its 1931 promotional materials, literally going from the bottom up detailing how Cord Front Drive was better than a RWD layout. According to the automaker, its frame architecture made it more rigid and allowed for a lower body and center of gravity, as well as a more comfortable ride for rear passengers.

The lack of a prop shaft and rear differential and axle meant passengers were “not disturbed by noise, rumble or vibration of these operating parts.” Sending power to the front wheels also helped the L-29’s directional stability and enhanced its traction on difficult terrain.

The reality is that there is so much about automotive history we’ll never know because certain documents and experts have been lost to time. Fortunately, not only did Cord choose to educate consumers on its Front Drive technology, but its promo materials also continue to exist (thanks to dedicated people) and show enthusiasts of all ages just how much the industry has changed.

The hit song “Shake, Rattle and Roll” was written in 1954 by Jesse Stone and swiftly made its way to the Rolling Stone magazine list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. It was performed by Joe Turner, Bill Haley & His Comets and even the legendary Elvis Presley at one time or another.

The song also captured the rebellious spirit and freedom associated with hot rod culture. It had a youthful energy about it, which is one of the reasons why one classic-car builder decided to airbrush the song name inside the engine bay of this car:

The Pick of the Day is a custom 1951 Ford convertible listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Radcliff, Kentucky.

“Won many Best of Show awards,” the listing says. And we believe it. The longer you look at the car, the more details you start to notice: The frenched headlights, louvered hood, dual spotlights, shaved door handles, wide whitewall tires and rear wheel skirts are just a few. To say that it’s a unique build is putting it very mildly.

The interior, too, received its share of enhancements as part of the restomod-style overhaul. The dash and upholstery are accented in pinstriping, the steering wheel is body-colored, the floor mats wear embroidered Ford logos, power windows have been added, and a Panasonic AM/FM/CD player is cleverly hidden inside the glove compartment.

Power comes from a rebuilt flathead V8 paired with an automatic transmission. (When new, a 239ci V8 was available for 1951 Rod cars, but the listing doesn’t call out the specifics in terms of displacement (or whether it’s numbers-matching). One thing is for sure – the engine bay is loaded with lots of chrome, including the valve covers, air cleaners, pulleys and radiator support. Mechanical improvements include a 12-volt electrical system, an electronic distributor and front disc brakes. The seller says, “Everything works as it should.”

A hot rod can be an expression of style and individuality, and this car has an identity unlike any other. Its inside-and-out customization – even including rock ‘n’ roll lyrics – will make it a conversation piece at any cruise or show. Bill Haley would be proud to own and drive it!

The asking price is $39,500 or best offer.

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

Bentley retired its unusual W12 engine last year, but that hasn’t stopped it from making incredibly powerful and fast vehicles. Just look at the new Bentayga Speed. Even though it’s down two cylinders compared to the outgoing Speed model, it’s both more powerful and faster.

According to Bentley, “The Bentayga Speed’s new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine delivers exceptional performance, with peak power of 650 PS/641 bhp/478 kW and a 0-60 mph time of just 3.4 seconds. These figures comprehensively surpass those of the Bentayga V8 S (4.4 seconds) as well as the 3.9 second mark set by the previous W12-engined Bentayga Speed. Peak torque of 850 Nm (627 lb.ft) is delivered between 2,250-4,500 rpm.” Flat out, the Bentayga Speed can reach a top speed of 193 mph (310 kph).

Bentley couples that enhanced engine with a standard sports exhaust system with either a pair of elliptical exhaust finishers or an optional titanium Akrapovic exhaust that ends in quad outlets. Torque vectoring, tweaks to the Sport drive mode, and a 15-percent stiffer suspension add up to sharper steering and better handling, which is further enhanced by all-wheel steering that turns the wheels in the same direction at low and medium speeds and turns them opposite directions at high speeds for better stability. Opting for carbon ceramic brakes unlocks a Dynamic (a.k.a. less intrusive) setting for the stability control in Sport mode, which allows for throttle-on slip angles or oversteer. Another bonus? Launch Control—a first for the Bentayga.

The new Bentayga Speed’s more obvious distinguishing characteristics are its dark-tinted headlamp internals and brightware, chrome Speed badging, and gray taillights with darkened bezels. Twenty-two-inch Speed wheels (in either silver or dark tint) are standard; selecting the carbon ceramic brakes also opens up the option of 23-inch wheels in a variety of finishes. A gloss or satin black roof is available, depending on the color of the body.

Inside, the Bentayga Speed gets a unique driver information display, special badging, Speed embroidery on the seats, and new Precision Diamond quilting. Chrome is the standard finish for the air vents and organ stops but, like the exterior trim, those can also be covered in dark tint.

Yes, the new Bentley Bentayga is more powerful than it’s ever been, but the question is: How will it fare against the 717-horsepower Aston Martin DBX S?