Journal Classic Cars

The Classic Ford Dream Giveaway is in its final lap, and entries officially close at 11:59 PM ET on May 27. Get ready to bring home not one, but two legendary Fords and the best news is: They are both 4-speeds.

Let’s look at each of these amazing classic rides. Remember one person will score both. Click here to enter now!

Grand Prize #1: K-Code 1965 Ford Mustang GT 2+2 Fastback – This rotisserie-restored marvel began life at Sanders Motor Co. in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has since been transformed by Mustang Restorations, Inc.—the largest Mustang restoration shop on the planet. Finished in Caspian Blue with matching two-tone Pony interior, Rally-Pac gauges, floor-length console and every original K-Code option, it’s more stunning than any showroom Mustang of 1965—and rarer too. Under the hood sits the 289 ci solid-lifter V-8 and factory four-speed transmission that made this model the ultimate performance pony car, even at its original $3,866 MSRP.

Grand Prize #2: Restored 1977 Ford F-150 Custom 4×4 – From a one-owner Southwest collection comes this breathtaking F-150 Custom, dressed in Midnight Blue over Light Blue Two-Tone bench seating. Powered by its numbers-matching 351 ci V-8, a four-speed manual gearbox, two-speed transfer case, plus power steering, power brakes and tow package. Modern comforts include Vintage Air A/C, dual exhaust and a custom bed liner—ready to cruise or conquer off-road trails.

So how do you do it? How do you become the envy of your car buddies? Donate today for your chance to win both of these turnkey, stick-shift classics—and support military veterans and children’s charities in the process.

This is the first time in nearly 20 years a first-generation K-Code Mustang has headlined Dream Giveaway’s grand prize—and it’s paired with an equally stunning F-150 Custom. Don’t miss your chance to own two of the coolest four-speed Fords ever built.

ENTER NOW! Time is running out, and these classic beauties won’t wait.

Nothing becomes a classic randomly and without reason. Take the Porsche 911 as an example. Its looks, performance, and driving experience have impressed enthusiasts—and, most importantly, buyers—for decades. Another great example is a convertible, which makes spirited drives even more stimulating. Our Pick of the Day, a 1996 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet posted on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Georgia, is both of those types of classic—with a twist.

When you read the words “classic” and “Porsche 911,” you probably envision the car in Guards Red. That’s understandable because Guards Red is a great color for a Porsche.

But one of the things that makes classics so cool is that one minor change can make them refreshingly distinctive yet comfortably familiar at the same time. Think of an oxford cloth button-down shirt in a color other than white or light blue, or a pair of Chuck Taylors in dark green leather. That’s what’s going on with this Turquoise Metallic 911 Carrera Cabriolet. Given the power-operated black soft top, you might assume it has a black leather interior, but once again, this Porsche goes a different direction – in this case, with its Marble Grey leather upholstery.

As a whole, the 993 generation of the 911 (1994-1998) was a variation of the tried-and-true formula for Porsche’s signature sports car. Although it had the same general silhouette and air-cooled engine layout as its 964 predecessor, the 993 was fitted with wider and flatter front fenders that housed polyellipsoid headlights, broader haunches with higher-mounted taillights, and a new 3.6-liter flat-six. According to Porsche, “The 993 was the first 911 with a chassis designed around the LSA concept, which stood for Light, Stable and Agile. The new aluminium chassis married lightweight materials with a complex, motorsport-derived, multi-link suspension set-up. It featured a particularly flexible fifth link that helped evolve the ‘Weissach effect’, which was found in the engineering of the Porsche 928. In the days before active rear-wheel steering, this helped manage both longitudinal and lateral forces to stabilise the car’s handling and reduce lift-off oversteer.”

Porsche remembered its history when it created the 993; the three previous owners of this particular 993 kept its history intact by hanging onto its service records from new. Those should reflect this six-speed car’s low mileage (25,568), new Hankook Ventus tires, new power convertible top hardware, and recent oil change.

Summer is almost here. If you want to cruise through it in this 1996 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet, expect to put down $96,900—then drop the top and go.

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

Honda once said, “How many cars does it take to change the world? Just one, perhaps.”

On March 6 of this year, the Antique Automobile Club of America formally welcomed a new group of cars to the collectible vehicle community: “AACA recognizes the Class of 2000, which has crossed the 25-year threshold because the New Millennium is already the now Millennium. In addition, a whole host of recently imported Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) models are included as well, as long as they remain original and unmodified.”

AACA said about the Insight:

“The Honda Insight slipped in ahead of the Toyota Prius as America’s first modern hybrid. But instead of relying on a redundant gasoline engine and electric powertrain, it included a motor between the 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine and transmission, which provided additional energy (boost) on demand like a turbocharger.

The Insight was optimized extensively for utmost fuel economy, exotically engineered and built alongside the NSX supercar. It was only available as an aerodynamic coupe, sans door pockets to save weight, and even gasoline robbing air-conditioning was a hard-to-source option.”

Insight on Insights

We touched a little bit on the Insight during a feature from the Kyusha Club last fall. My friend Kai, featured in that story, has recently become a little Insight-obsessed, so when the opportunity came up to acquire a first-year, introductory-color Insight with relatively low miles, he had to have it. The car is a “Citrus Yellow” 2000 Insight with a five-speed manual transmission. There were about 13,000 first-generation Insights sold in the United States between 2000 and 2006. Kai says that, according to his research, there were only 350 Insights in Citrus Yellow, so any such survivors 25-plus years later have become sought-after rarities.

Engineering

Cutting straight to the chase, the Insight is a fuel-economy wizard. The car was rated when new at 61 mpg in the city and 70 on the highway. Contributing factors included a lightweight aluminum monocoque body along with streamlined aerodynamic styling that reduced drag.

Power came from a teeny 1.0-liter inline-three paired with an electric assist motor. Together, they produced 73 horsepower and 91 lb-ft of torque. Clearly, the original Insight was not designed to deliver blistering acceleration, but rather, with the intent of optimizing economy.

A five-speed manual transaxle sent power to the front wheels, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) was offered as an option in subsequent years. Honda included a number of innovations on the Insight, including an auto-stop system, regenerative braking, integrated motor assist (IMA), electric power steering and even lightweight wheels to reduce rolling resistance. The car had a curb weight of only 1,878 pounds.

Lasting Influence

The Insight was one of the first hybrid vehicles offer to the public, and it paved the path for the many similar vehicles that would follow – even 25 years later. It was an affordable, fuel-efficient and innovative car that was truly ahead of its time. The styling, while polarizing to some, follows a “function over form” mindset, and it’s an unmistakable eye-catcher on the roads today.

Just as citrus fruits are bright, tangy, and refreshing – the Citrus Yellow Honda Insight is a car that stands out. And its sky-high mpg credentials are shocking even today.

What other cars from the Y2K era are you excited to see becoming official classics? According to the AACA, these vehicles are on the newest list: 2000 BMW X5, the 2000 BMW Z8, the 2000 Ford Excursion, the 2000 Lincoln LS, the 2000 Morgan Aero 8, the 2000 Nissan Xterra, the 2000 Qvale Mangusta, the 2000 Rolls-Royce Corniche V and the 2000 Saturn L-Series.

It may be difficult to fathom that a car brand that soared to such heights—Pontiac—is no longer with us, but that’s the nature of business. Nonetheless, there’s no automotive American brand whose impact was larger than itself than Pontiac. While there have been books and articles published that have presented Pontiacs in this moment of ripeness, none have connected the historical dots and presented the proper context of Pontiac’s ascension until now. Noted Pontiac expert Don Keefe has undertaken this task to positive results.

Before 1955, Pontiac was perhaps the least interesting brand within General Motors, but a group of engineers and a new general manager helped change Pontiac’s trajectory. Several years within the merging of both groups (1956), Pontiac became the number-three sales leader in the American market, outselling both the traditional number-three brand (Plymouth) and unseating the surprising bearer of the spot (Rambler). From exploits from the racetrack (Super Duty) to the street (GTO), Pontiac was the brand that everyone in Detroit admired.

Pontiac, like other GM brands, had the unfortunate situation of having cubic-inch limits for certain platforms. Unique among American automotive brands, Pontiac marginally improved its engines, especially with the heads and exhaust manifolds, to help mitigate the disadvantages Pontiac faced against competitors with larger engines. This manner would lead to the development of the Super Duty 455 in a time when performance had taken a huge hit thanks to lowered compression and emission controls.

The pictures—both current and vintage—are plenty and tell a visual story of postwar Pontiac history, but it’s the narrative that truly makes this book seminal. Whether you’re a Pontiac enthusiast or simply a fan of the era, this book is indispensable.

Note: The writer of this review knows the author. You can purchase signed copies via PayPal or visit your local book store.

Currently listed on AutoHunter is this restored 1965 Chevrolet Malibu SS Sport Coupe. As the sportiest and most upscale of Chevelle models, the Malibu SS came standard with bucket seats and console when equipped with Powerglide or four-speed manual. In these early years, the SS could be powered by a six-cylinder or V8, with this one being powered by a 327 V8 paired to a four-speed manual. Other features include American Racing mags, power steering, aftermarket Alpine AM/FM stereo with CD/USB/Bluetooth/SiriusXM, and more. Painted Regal Red with black interior, this Malibu is offered by the selling dealer with a branded title.

The Regal Red hue is complemented by include dual chrome side mirrors, chrome and black rear trim, Malibu SS and 327 engine badges, and chrome exhaust extensions. A set of 15-inch American Racing Torq Thrust wheels is wrapped in 225/60 BFGoodrich Radial T/A raised white letter tires.

The interior is furnished in black with bucket seats up front. As this is an SS with a Hurst-shifted four-speed manual, this vehicle includes a console. Other features include wood-grain three-spoke steering wheel, power steering, and aftermarket Alpine AM/FM stereo with CD player, and USB, plus it’s SiriusXM- and Bluetooth-capable.

The instrument panel consists of a 120-mph speedometer, 6,000-rpm tachometer, and fuel gauge; aftermarket AutoMeter gauges mounted under the dashboard include oil pressure, coolant temperature, and voltage. The odometer shows 75,874 miles though the true mileage is unknown.

The replacement Turbo-Fire 327 V8 is equipped with a four-barrel carburetor and is backed by an M20 Muncie wide-ratio four-speed. It breathes via a dual exhaust system. Power front disc brakes help make stopping a cinch.

These first iterations (1964-65) of the first-generation Chevelle are quite popular in the hobby, and it’s not hard to see why—they look good, plus they have an infinite supply of available aftermarket equipment. There’s a lot fun to be had with this restored 1965 Chevrolet Malibu SS Sport Coupe as equipped, so don’t be caught snoozing and miss this auction—bid before its conclusion on Friday, May 23, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

About a month ago, I featured a remarkably clean Nissan 300ZX as my Pick of the Day. It was a sweet car with only 52,000 miles on it – but it was lacking something: max power. Any Z enthusiast knows the most coveted cars from this era are the ones with the “VG30DETT” 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6. And, as luck would have it, I just found one:

The Pick of the Day is a 1991 Nissan 300ZX twin-turbo listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Nashville, Tennessee.

“This beautiful all-original 300ZX features the legendary VG30DETT 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 300 horsepower and 283 lb-ft of torque,” the listing says. “This particular example has been properly maintained with no expense spared. I’ve invested in all the critical maintenance.” More on that in just a bit.

The “Z32” chassis 300ZX was produced from model years 1990 through 1996, and it was also referred to as the Fairlady Z in some markets. It was a car known for its brisk acceleration, precise handling and vast aftermarket support. The popularity of the Z in the modification arena is one of the reasons why many/most surviving cars are no longer original. And with only 35,500 miles, this one is very much a time capsule.

The Z was marketed for being “180 degrees from everything,” and one of the advertisements for the car said, “You’ll discover that while in a Turbo Z, no matter which way you’re going, it will feel like a whole new direction.”

As the seller mentioned, a great deal of maintenance has already been performed on the car, so it’s ready to rock and roll with elevated peace of mind. Included on the checklist were the timing belt, water pump, tensioner, drive belts, brake rotors and pads, brake master cylinder, compression rods, shifter bushings and Pirelli tires. The car has an accident-free CARFAX and is said to be “ready to enjoy immediately.”

From the Aztec Red paint finish to the Charcoal leather upholstery, the car looks the part of a low-miler. Perhaps my favorite feature is the period-correct mobile phone affixed to the center console. Although, on second thought, I’d probably rather put life on hold and just focus on experiencing that seamless gearbox instead.

“Don’t miss this opportunity to own a turn-key 300ZX twin-turbo that’s been properly cared for,” the listing concludes. “These are becoming increasingly rare in this condition, especially with documented maintenance history and all original components.”

The asking price is $41,500.

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

The saga of late-model Dodge Chargers has taken an interesting turn. No, no official announcement of the Hemi returning to the portfolio, but the Charger EV is on a death knell of sorts thanks to President Trump’s tariffs.

Unless you’re an absolute Dodge-head, it’s difficult to keep track with Dodge’s marketing for the redesigned Charger. There are two primary Charger models: the first is the Charger Daytona, the EV variant that has been part of the initial roll-out. Within the Daytona are the Daytona R/T and the Charger Daytona Scat Pack, with the latter offering 174 more horsepower for a total of 670. Both are currently only available as an all-wheel drive two-door coupe. A four-door is supposed to reach dealerships shortly.

Also due sometime in 2025 is the SixPack—this is the one for the Dodge purist, as it is powered by an ICE powerplant. Though past Six Packs (note the difference in spelling) have suggested three two-barrel carburetors, the modern definition means that a vehicle is equipped with a “Hurricane” twin-turbo inline-six in one of two flavors: a four-door with 420 horsepower, and a high-output two-door with 550 horsepower.

However, Dodge CEO Matt McAlear tells Car and Driver that “production of the Dodge Charger Daytona R/T is postponed for the 2026 model year as we continue to assess the effects of U.S. tariff policies.” This is due to the Dodge Charger Daytona being built in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Sure, it’s just a short bridge or tunnel jaunt from the Motor City, but crossing the border will subject the vehicle to a 25 percent tariff.

As such, Dodge says the EV-powered Charger Daytona will be reduced to just the Scat Pack for 2026, with the R/T being postponed. Blame the tariffs? Considering only 1,947 Charger Daytonas were sold in the first quarter of 2025, no one would consider it an auspicious start. Additionally, the Daytona four-door will be delayed until the 2026 model year.

Also confirmed is the delay of the Charger SixPack, now slated for the second half of 2025. Two trim levels will be available out of the gate: GT and Outlaw, and we bet the standard-output version will be the former, with the high-output version being the latter. No word whether it will debut as a 2025 or 2026 model.

For years, the Thunderbird was one of the more important cars for Ford. The original 1955 T-Bird was initially designed to compete with the new-at-the-time Chevrolet Corvette. In a lot of ways, these first-generation T-Birds were the better car in every way, not only featuring g better build quality, but also more performance, as they came equipped with a V8 engine from the start. After the first three years of the two-seat T-Bird, Ford switched the focus to more of a personal luxury car as opposed to a sports car, adding two seats and focusing more on high-end options and comfort. This proved to be a great move, as these second-generation Thunderbirds outsold the Corvette by a huge margin. Sure, it was no longer a sports car – but it was a sales success. These personal luxury Thunderbirds lasted until the end of production for the model in 1997.

Then, a few years later, a funny thing happened in the car world. Chrysler introduced the Dodge Viper and Plymouth Prowler, followed closely by Volkswagen with their new Beetle. Almost overnight, manufacturers started to build retro-modern takes on their classic cars, including the Chevy SSR and the BMW Z8, among many others.

Ford, not wanting to be left out of the game, decided to bring back the T-Bird – not just a new version of the old four-seater, but a flashback to the first-generation two-seaters. Ford anointed Jack Telnack as the lead designer on the project, but after Telnack’s retirement, J. Mays brought it to completion. The project was well received, with MotorTrend naming the new Thunderbird their 2002 Car of the Year.

The AutoHunter Spotlight for today is one of these cars, a 2002 Ford Thunderbird. The auction ends Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).

The seller states that this Thunderbird is powered by its original 3.9-liter V8 (Ford owned Jaguar at the time, and the car has a detuned version of the Jaguar V8 under the hood) mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. It is painted in its original Evening Black with a black convertible top over a Midnight Black leather interior and includes its factory hardtop. This T-Bird has covered a total of 73,044 original miles from new and is offered by the selling dealer with the color-matched hardtop, clean CARFAX report and a clear title.

The exterior of this T-Bird features a hood scoop and dual side mirrors. All the panels look to be in good driver-level condition. The seller notes there are minor scuffs and discoloration on front bumper, a minor dent on driver’s-side door, and a few other minor exterior scuffs and scratches.

The interior looks to be in good shape as well, with some minor bolster wear on the driver’s seat. The carpets, door cards and dash all look to be in nice condition. The leather looks good on the seats and everything appears clean. Looking at the photos of the convertible soft-top, I’m guessing it will need to be either cleaned or replaced at some point.

Under the hood, the engine compartment is quite tidy, with the 280-horsepower 3.9-liter V8 looking to be leak-free. The photos of the engine compartment and underside of the car reveal nothing that would cause me any serious concern.

These final 11th-generation Ford Thunderbirds were one of my more favorite cars from the whole retro-modern car design era of the 1990s to 2000s. The T-Bird was a great mix of classic design with modern convenience. It has the look of the original with none of the hassles. It is in no way a sports car, but instead a nice two-seat drop-top GT car that would be fun for road trips.

This 2002 Thunderbird is the perfect car for someone who loves the idea of a classic T-Bird but doesn’t want to deal with the reality of classic car ownership. Over the years, these cars have proven to be reliable and easy to own. This 2002 Thunderbird takes all of the old and combines it with the new to make for a modern classic car that is in many ways the “easy button” to classic Thunderbird ownership. Sure, it’s not a 1955 – but it is simply a better-driving and more comfortable car that offers much of the look of the old model. At the same time, it’s becoming a true classic itself.

The auction for this 2002 Ford Thunderbird ends on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT), so if you are interested, why not make a few bids?

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Yet another puzzle for Tuesday! Here we have four vehicles listed for sale on AutoHunter or ClassicCars.com. They all share something in common though, by initial impressions, they have no connection. Can you tell us what that may be?

You can post your answer in the Comments section below. While you’re at it, why not tell us the make, model, and year for bonus points?

Click on a photo to reveal each car

Every Tuesday, The ClassicCars.com Journal offers automotive fun like this puzzle. You can play previous car games for more challenges!

In some classified ads, it’s straightforward to call out specific features that have been modified, added, or upgraded with a vehicle. With others, it would probably be easier to call out the few things that haven’t been changed. One seller in particular has an “Equipment Features” paragraph that is over 500 words long, encompassing everything from mechanical, to cosmetic, to interior – and everything in between. In fact, it uses the word “custom” an incredible 46 times. We’ll highlight some of the key items and let you take it from there! Let’s dive in. The Pick of the Day is a custom 1948 Chevrolet 3100 pickup listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Bakersfield, California.

From front to back, the truck has been put through a comprehensive cosmetic rework. The front bumper has been deleted, and exterior upgrades include a custom grille, frenched-in headlights, tinted glass, chrome side mirrors, a smoothed and filled body, shaved door handles, a tubbed bed, and a chopped top (2.5 inches were deleted at the front, and two inches in the rear). Capping it all off is a Matador Red Mica paint job that does well to accentuate the clean body lines. And traction comes from a set of Hankook tires wrapped around Billet Specialties 17-inch polished aluminum wheels.

The interior, upholstered with black leather bucket seats and a custom center console, benefits from a fabricated dash, a Classic Instruments gauge set, cruise control, Vintage Air HVAC, a Flaming Rivers tilt-adjustable steering column (with a Lecarra steering wheel), power windows, a wool carpets, Lokar pedals, and a modern audio system with kick-panel speakers and a Pioneer 10-inch subwoofer behind the passenger seat. Many other in-cab features abound, but those are some of the basics. It is no wonder this truck is a National Street Rod Association (NSRA) show winner – and the windshield has a sticker to prove it.

Power comes from a BluePrint 355ci small-block crate motor that was rated at 375 horsepower. Performance upgrades include aluminum heads, a Speed Demon 650cfm carburetor, an Edelbrock “EnduraShine” intake manifold, a March Performance polished pulley system, Accel Extreme 9000 spark plug wires, and MSD ignition components.

One thing is for sure: This truck’s builder picked a popular platform: Chevrolet’s Advance Design trucks were sold from 1947 through 1954, and they were indeed advanced for their time. One of the advertisements from the period said: “More than a farm day’s work – in less than a farm day’s time. Yes, you can do more farm work in less time with these latest and greatest Chevrolet trucks.” The trucks were promoted for what Chevrolet called “Triple Economy.” The three aspects of that model included low operating cost, low upkeep cost, and the lowest list prices in the volume field.

Our guess is that this Matador Red truck won’t spend much time working around a farm. Rather, it will be an eye-catching conversation piece at parades, shows, and everywhere it goes. The asking price is $54,900.

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