Journal Classic Cars

You can’t relive the past, but you can buy pieces of it. If you were a kid who thought the Hummer H1 was the coolest vehicle on the planet in the mid-2000s or you had one and regret selling it, be sure to register to bid at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction. That’s where you can win one of the ultimate H1s: a one-year-only 2006 Hummer H1 Alpha Open-Top Custom.

Several years after purchasing the Hummer brand from AM General, General Motors announced that the 2006 H1 would receive its new Alpha treatment, a series of upgrades designed to maximize performance. One of the most significant modifications was swapping out the previous Optimizer engine for GM’s Duramax 6.6-liter turbo-diesel V8, which cranked out 300 horsepower at 3,000 rpm (a 46-percent increase) and 520 lb-ft of torque at 1,500 rpm (up 18 percent). GM channeled that grunt through an Allison M74 1000-series five-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive.

Those major switches not only dropped the H1 Alpha’s 0-60 mph by three ticks to 13.5 seconds, but they also added to its towing capabilities: the Gross Combined Weight Rating went up an entire ton to 17,300 pounds. Hummer paired the Duramax’s higher fuel economy with an extra 9.5 gallons of fuel tank capacity (for a whopping 51.5 gallons), boosting the H1 Alpha’s potential driving range from 400 to an estimated 570 miles.

Installing the Duramax required Hummer to raise the H1 Alpha’s aluminum body by two inches, putting more space between it and the rugged terrain it was made to traverse. A larger set of 12-inch hydroboost power disc brakes brought the Alpha to a stop no matter where it went. The H1’s trick portal axles were equipped with beefed-up half-shafts; new helical-cut gears helped them engage more easily and quietly.

This particular Bright White H1 Alpha Open-Top Custom is even more capable thanks to the optional Adventure Package. This added a 12,000-pound front winch, front and rear Eaton electronic locking differentials, and 17-inch wheels with dual beadlocks to keep the 37-inch Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs in place.

Aftermarket side steps assist entry into the cabin, which features black leather seating for four, heated front seats, power everything, cruise control, front and rear air conditioning, and switches for the Central Tire Inflation System. A Pioneer touchscreen infotainment system with aftermarket speakers and dual Alpine headrest screens also has been installed. Listening to the sounds of nature instead of the radio is as easy as removing the black soft top and stuffing it under the bed’s tonneau cover.

Sadly, the 2006 model year was the first and last for the Hummer H1 Alpha—and the end of the civilian version of the H1 as a whole. The good news is that you can get this 2006 Hummer H1 Alpha Open-Top Custom when it crosses the block at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction, running October 15-18.

Register to bid at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction—choose your various options here.

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SL, which was originally a Canadian-market car and imported into the U.S. earlier this year. It’s powered by a 5.5-liter V8 connected to a four-speed automatic. Finished in Desert Taupe Metallic and equipped with a dark brown convertible top over a Brazil Brown leather interior, this final-year R107 SL is now offered by the selling dealer in Phoenix. It comes with a color-matched removable hardtop, car cover, owner’s manual, service log, maintenance records, ownership history, clean CARFAX report, and clear title.

The tasteful, reserved Desert Taupe Metallic body features fog lights, black bumpers with bright trim, quad round headlights, power driver-side mirror, trunk lid-mounted third brake light, and a pair of exhaust outlets.

A dark brown manual soft top with three plastic rear windows covers the passenger compartment. For a more coupe-like roofline, the soft top can be stored under the tonneau cover and replaced with the included body-color hardtop.

Whether the top is up, down, soft, or hard, this SL cruises down the road on a set of 15-inch “Gullideckel” wheels and 205/65 Continental ContiTouring Contact tires. Behind the wheels are power four-wheel antilock disc brakes.

The cabin offers Brazil Brown leather seating for two. Amenities include cruise control, power steering, heated seats, woodgrain trim, power antenna, Becker Grand Prix AM/FM/cassette radio, automatic climate control, and power windows.

Instrumentation consists of a 260-kph speedometer, 7,000-rpm tachometer, clock, and gauges for the temperature (in Celsius), fuel level, oil pressure, and fuel economy. The odometer shows 136,451 kilometers (84,786 miles), which is slightly above the CARFAX report’s latest mileage reading of 84,556 miles from April 2025.

The M117 5.5-liter V8 is fuel-injected and paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Earlier this year, the engine was fully serviced, the A/C was recharged, and the fuel pumps, gas tank, air injection pump, and main engine computer were replaced.

If you want to own this 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SL roadster, bid on it right now. The auction ends on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Back in 2011, Joe LoCicero of Maine became known as “Million Mile Joe” when his beloved blue 1990 Honda Accord rolled one million miles. It looked a lot like this one, but with 20 times the miles. The Pick of the Day is this low-mileage 1992 Honda Accord EX-R sedan listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Champlain, New York.

LoCicero’s hometown of Saco held a surprise parade for him, and Honda presented him with a brand-new 2012 Accord (also in blue) as a congratulatory gesture. Unfortunately, Joe passed away not long afterward at the young age of 58 in the summer of 2016, but his legacy lives on among Honda high-mileage aficionados (including myself). Honda continues to display Joe’s Accord in its Torrance, California, museum.

At the other end of the mileage spectrum, there’s this car. “One owner, only 49,988 original miles, never seen winter,” the listing says. Finished in Granada Black over a gray cloth interior, this vehicle is essentially barely broken in by Honda longevity standards.

For 50 years as of 2026, the Accord will have been a key member of the Honda family, and it has consistently been one of the best-selling cars in the United States. By the 1990s, the Accord held a sizeable chunk of its very competitive market segment (Ford Taurus, Nissan Altima, and Toyota Camry were some of its rivals). One magazine advertisement from the period asked, “When’s the last time you saw a car chase that lasted 17 years?” It went on to say, “While the competition remains relentless in their quest to catch us, we remain dedicated to building a car that’s a few years ahead of them. Which means this chase might be just getting started, after all.”

The “CB7” chassis Accord—the model’s fourth generation—debuted in September 1989 for the 1990 model year. One of the main design changes involved replacing the prior model’s pop-up headlights with fixed units. In addition, the car grew into the midsize segment with a longer wheelbase and increased overall length. Body styles were offered in coupe, sedan, and station wagon variants. One of the things to mention about this sedan is that the EX-“R” was a Canada-only trim level, and it aligned with the U.S.-specification “EX” models. Equipment included a driver’s-side airbag, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, and a power moonroof. Notice the instruments are in kilometers, consistent with its Canadian origin.

Under the hood is an “F22A” 2.2-liter inline-four mated to an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transaxle. Honda rated the EX at 140 horsepower and 137 lb-ft of torque. Accords from the 1990s are known for exceptional reliability, and Joe’s car was a testament to that.

So, what are you waiting for? The long road ahead is calling, and this Accord’s ready to tackle it provided you are willing to pay $12,999.

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

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!

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.

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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.