Journal Classic Cars

A 1969 Pontiac Firebird Custom built by Troy Gudgel of BBT Fabrications was crowned Ultimate Best in Show of the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Cup competition, presented by Castrol with support from Summit Racing Equipment, Meguiar’s, TMI and Robert Graham, which recognizes the talent and craftsmanship of custom car and truck builders, as part of the 2023 Scottsdale Auction at WestWorld.

The Firebird is powered by a 482ci twin-turbo Butler Performance Pontiac crate engine backed by a T56 6-speed transmission prepped by Bowler Transmissions. This Firebird sits on a Roadster Shop Fast Track independent rear suspension and rides on a set of one-off wheels by EVOD Industries.

What makes the McLaren Racing Green Firebird so unique is that it was built to be a streetcar and also to be used for land-speed racing. It is a class record holder for ECTA standing mile with 199.027 mph.

The Firebird received the $20,000 cash purse, among other prizes. The top five finalists included a 1956 Ford F-600 custom pickup built by Classic Car Studio, a 1948 Chevrolet Loadmaster 1.5-ton pickup built by Ringbrothers, a 1934 Chevrolet custom roadster built by Devlin Rod & Custom, and a 1958 Lincoln Continental convertible built by Kindig-it Design.

Renowned builders Bobby Alloway and Troy Trepanier selected the Top Five finalists and ultimately the Best in Show winner; however, Barrett-Jackson fans had the opportunity to select the People’s Choice winner, which was a Burgundy Velvet Pearl 1964 Buick Riviera Custom built by Cruzer Customs, LLC.

The Buick is powered by a 376ci LS3 built by Don Hardy. The engine is backed by a 4L70E Bowler transmission. It sits on a Roadster Shop suspension and rides on one-off EVOD wheels.

Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is a 1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4. 

This VR-4 is finished in Monza Red and features pop-up headlights, a wing, vented body panels, and polished quad exhaust outlets. It rides on aluminum 17-inch five-spoke wheels with 245/45/ZR17 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

“The cabin is equipped with black leather bucket seats up front, a pair of seats in the rear, and matching colors for the door panels, dash, console, and carpeting,” the listing states. “Amenities include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic climate control, cruise control, power windows, and an AM/FM/CD/cassette stereo with a graphic  equalizer.”

Under the hood is a 6G72 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged and intercooled V6 with a factory-rated 300 horsepower and 307 lb-ft of torque when new. This Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 features all-wheel drive and a five-speed manual transmission.

It rides on an electronically adjustable suspension, and the chassis has four-wheel steering. Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes slows this 3000GT down.

The six-digit mechanical odometer reads 48,100 miles, which is in line with the mileage shown on the CARFAX report.

The sale includes a clear title, owner’s manual, documentation, two keys, and a clean CARFAX report.

This Mitsubishi’s auction ends on February 2, 2023, at 3:20 p.m. (MST)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery

As sporty as a Camaro looks on mag wheels and raised-white-letter tires, sometimes a lower-trim example on steel wheels and hubcaps can draw even more attention – maybe just because we aren’t used to seeing them preserved that way.

The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1976 Chevrolet Camaro listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Stow, Massachusetts. (Click the link to view the listing)

“Documented one-owner 1976 Chevrolet Camaro sport coupe powered by its numbers-matching 8-cyl 305cid 2bbl motor mated to the automatic transmission,” the listing reads. “44,000 original miles with documentation!”

This muscle car comes from the Camaro’s second generation which spanned model years 1970 through 1981. It shared the F-body platform with the Pontiac Firebird and was longer, wider, and lower than the prior generation. In 1973, federal regulations required updates to the front and rear bumpers for impact absorption so cosmetic changes were applied. For 1976, the base engine was a 250cid six-cylinder, and V8 powerplants were available in both 305cid and 350cid displacements. Power brakes became standard for all V8 models that year.

The exterior of this well-preserved coupe is painted Fire Thorn Red, and the listing describes the cosmetic condition in greater detail: “Floors, trunk, frame, and rockers are 100% solid and rust-free. The only rust present is at the bottom of the front fenders. If this is an issue, new OEM fenders can be included in the sale. Car is all original and unmolested, original sheet metal.”

The documentation accompanying the car states that it was sold to a John W. Moore on June 2, 1976, from Means Chevrolet-Olds, Inc in Ipswich, Massachusetts. An odometer mileage statement, maintenance schedule, warranty booklet, brochure, and owner’s manual are included. I looked up some history on the facility (located at 96 County Road) and learned that it was last sold in 2014 after changing hands a few times prior. It would be a lot of fun to buy this Camaro and take it over for a few photos in front of the building where it was originally delivered new 47 years ago.

The seller has provided a two-minute video demonstrating a start-up, functionality of some of the features, an interior/exterior walkaround, and a look inside the engine bay.

As for those 14-inch steel wheels, if those aren’t your cup of tea, the sale includes a set of 15-inch honeycomb style wheels (as well as a rear spoiler) to dress the car up a little.

“Runs and drives excellent, needs nothing,” the listing concludes.

The seller is asking $16,900 or best offer for this largely-original Camaro.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

DPC is back on the road and covering the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction. Part five of his odyssey from Phoenix to WestWorld of Scottsdale is available here.

Sincerest apologies for not posting a diary entry yesterday. Friday and Saturday are a hurricane for reporters and media types at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction and I didn’t want to do a rush job on my favorite post to write.  

It’s been a week of minimal sleep, perpetual hustle, skipping meals and subsisting on a diet with Monster energy drinks as the foundation of my food pyramid. I haven’t seen my family too much lately and I think my dog is upset with me for the long nights and early mornings. Who knew that burning the candle at both ends would upset a Siberian Husky? I don’t blame her because the last few days I’ve only been home to sleep, shower and find a change of clothes.

Covering events is fun, I love it and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I often apologize to the people I love (my pets too) during these long stretches in the press box but I have their unwavering support to chase my dreams and passion. My love for covering events and sharing the experience with you is because it took me about 17-years to get here. Let’s jump in the Wayback Machine and review my journalistic history.

I graduated from the University of Nevada (Go Wolf Pack!) in 2005 with a BA in journalism and assumed any media outlet would want me on its staff. I was completely wrong and took a claims adjuster job to pay the rent until I could find a steady writing gig to cover my bills. Nothing came to fruition, but I got steady freelance work covering the Arizona Coyotes, NASCAR, and the Barrett Jackson Scottsdale auction a few times. Years rolled by, and I kept chugging along working by day in the insurance industry and freelancing at night. My opportunity at The ClassicCars.com Journal came in 2022 and here we are now. I’m not bitter about taking a long time to make it as a writer. Quite the opposite because the sweet is never as sweet without the sour.

As I write this it’s Sunday afternoon and the last day of the auction. Even as this event winds down the crowds are here to take in one last day of a great collector car event. I figured people would be watching the NFL Playoffs this afternoon but the strong attendance here lets me know that our hobby is stronger than ever.

Even with the long nights, missing my wife and son, and a lack of sleep it’s a privilege to sit in the press box and write this for you.

Porsche’s new 911 Dakar launched at the 2022 Los Angeles auto show last November was originally meant to be called the 911 Safari, according to the person in charge of the off-road sports car’s development.

In an interview with Edmunds published last week, Thomas Krickelberg, director of the 911 Dakar program, said the car was originally called the 911 Safari during the early days of development but Porsche had to abandon those plans after being refused permission to use the name by Tata Motors. Tata is the rights holder of the Safari name when it comes to automotive applications and uses it on a mid-size SUV sold in India.

According to Krickelberg, Porsche also needed permission for the Dakar name, as its rights for anything automotive related belong to the Amaury Sport Organization, the organizer of the Dakar Rally. This time a deal could be made.

The Safari name comes from the East African Safari Rallies in which Porsches were entered during the 1970s. The name has been associated with rugged 911s ever since the 1978 rally in which a 911 SC Group 4 racer was entered by Swedish rally champion Björn Waldegård, and in recent years some companies building rugged versions of old 911s have referred to the cars as 911 Safaris.

Similarly, the Dakar name is a nod to Porsche’s participation in the Dakar Rally, particularly Porsche’s victory in its first attempt back in 1984 using a 911-based 953 rally car. It was the first time a 911 had been fitted with all-wheel drive.

In his interview with Edmunds, Krickelberg revealed that his team was ready to launch a rugged 911 in 2016, when the previous 991 generation of the 911 was still in production. Porsche started investigating the idea as early as 2012 and built a concept based on the 991 generation, dubbed the 911 Vision Safari.

According to Krickelberg, the sales team didn’t think the project would be profitable. For the current 992 generation of the 911, the sales team were convinced after they decided to cut back on development costs and boost production from an original plan of 2,000 cars to 2,500 cars.

Should the program prove popular, there could be more rugged 911s, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said last month in an interview.

This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com.

Saturday was primetime for the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction with four cars selling for more than $1 million each and a 1989 Ferrari F40 set the pace for the evening with a $2.75 million hammer price. The collector car auction runs through Sunday, January 29 at WestWorld of Scottsdale.

Top 10 sales from Saturday

My car guy dad had a wide variety of really cool cars in his days. Around the time of the mid-sixties popular TV Show Batman my dad had a a sleek black 1960 Chevy Impala 2-door hardtop that looked very similar to the Batmobile. That was the first of two ‘60 Impala hardtops my dad owned in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

It’s been my lifelong dream, ever since I learned to talk, to one day have my own ‘60 Chevy Impala 2 door. Sometimes dreams come true. In June of 2000, my wife Susan and I flew out to New Mexico to visit my eldest brother and look at a recently restored White ‘60 Impala 2-door hardtop! It looked just like my dad’s second ‘60 Impala.

My lifelong dream of owning a ‘60 Impala actually came true, thanks to my dear and kindhearted wife and best friend Susan.

I’m writing this on what would have been my dad’s 86th birthday, January 8. My dad passed on to be with the good Lord just a few days ago. My dad built and owned several really cool street rod and classic cars in his 85 plus years. He was a motorhead, a true hero, and a really fun and funny Dad!

-John G., Virginia

Do you have a classic car with a story to share? Visit this link and fill in the information to submit your story for a chance to be featured on the ClassicCars.com Journal.

This week on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, we have a collection of vehicles handpicked by our Journal writing team. Make sure you check out all of our listings ending January 30-February 3 here.

Monday, January 30

1965 Ford Mustang fastback

This 2+2 Mustang fastback is finished in Rangoon Red with white racing stripes. It’s powered by a 289ci V8 engine paired with a C4 three-speed automatic transmission.  Click here to view this listing.

2006 Pontiac GTO

Under the hood is an LS2 6.0-liter V8 engine paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. The black interior features eight-way leather front bucket seats, air conditioning, and an AM/FM/CD stereo with a six-disc in-dash CD changer.  Click here to view this listing.

Tuesday, January 31

2009 Cadillac STS-V

Power is provided by a supercharged 4.4-liter Northstar V8 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. This black over gray Cadillac has 97,745 miles since new.  Click here to view this listing.

2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 

This Corvette has a LS7 427ci V8 engine upgraded with a belt-driven ProCharger supercharger, titanium connecting rods and intake valves, CNC-ported aluminum cylinder heads, and a hydraulic roller camshaft. The engine is paired with a six-speed manual transmission.  Click here to view this listing.

Wednesday, February 1

1986 Pontiac Fiero GT

A mid-mounted 2.8-liter V6 engine mated to a THM125 three-speed automatic transmission powers this Fiero. It rides on a factory-equipped four-wheel independent suspension and features new power disc brakes.  Click here to view this listing.

1968 Pontiac GTO

This car has good options and few options. The most important ones are 400 HO and four-speed manual. The hidden headlights are great, with Rally II wheels, console, AM radio and tinted windows rounding out the list.  Click here to view this listing.

Thursday, February 2

1970 Plymouth Duster 340

The Duster was the replacement for the 1967-69 Barracuda. The Duster 340 was the only performance variant of this model, capable of killing much more substantial machinery, even with the standard three-speed manual like this example has.  Click here to view this listing.

2002 Ford Thunderbird Neiman Marcus Edition

Department store Neiman Marcus traditionally offers a limited-edition car for the holiday. Most of them have not been affordable to the masses, but this one is different: a one of 200 Thunderbird convertible in black with a silver accessory hardtop.  Click here to view this listing.

Friday, February 3

1994 Land Rover Defender

A short-wheelbase Land Rover with a 2.5-liter turbodiesel inline-four and a five-speed manual sounds like a winner: easy-on-the-gas fun with a stiff upper lip. The only problem is you may need to be ambidextrous to drive it but learning to drive RHD may be fun too.  Click here to view this listing.

1977 Chevrolet Camaro Type LT

Sometimes it’s more about the story than the car. In this Camaro’s case, it’s a Type LT (“Luxury Touring”) that reportedly was originally imported to Germany (though the speedo in mph may suggest it went to a serviceman). Lots of odd accoutrements were added along the way, it seems, making it look like someone raided a Deutsch J.C Whitney catalog.  Click here to view this listing.

While it’s a stretch to call a 2010 model a classic car, the Toyota FJ Cruiser is undeniably worthy of being called a future collectible. Its unique design, off-road capability, and limited-production special editions are increasing in popularity now that the FJ has been discontinued for about a decade.

The Pick of the Day is a 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Omaha, Nebraska. (Click the link to view the listing)

The retro-styled FJ Cruiser launched in 2007 and had a lifespan through 2014 in North America. It was classified as a midsize sport-utility vehicle and came in four-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive variants. Under the hood resides a 4.0-liter V6 mated to either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. Power was rated at 239 horsepower for earlier models and 260 horsepower after 2011.

This 2010 FJ Cruiser is finished in a Sandstone exterior and has reportedly been Kansas-owned for the last nine years. It showed just over 100,000 miles on the odometer and is offered with “no issues, no stories, no excuses, and no disappointments,” according to the listing.

There are a few key engineering aspects that make the FJ Cruiser a strong contender for off-roading. It uses a short 105-inch wheelbase, a strong body-on-frame chassis, and a standard traction-control system called A-TRAC which acts as a locking differential when needed. The FJ shares chassis architecture with other Toyota models such as the Tacoma and 4Runner, and it offers almost 10 inches of ground clearance. Designers tested this vehicle out in Moab and other rugged areas prior to its launch, so it’s been vetted and proven.

One of the interesting design features of the FJ is a short, nearly vertical windshield that uses three windshield wipers for maximum coverage. Another unique feature is the rear-hinged rear doors that can only be opened once the front doors are open.

The interior has been tweaked for all-weather, all-terrain capability: The surfaces are made of rubber materials, and an optional gauge pod at the top of the center dash has readouts with a compass, a thermometer, and an inclinometer.

This FJ comes with special Trail Teams equipment which adds even more to the packaging. It was developed in partnership with Toyota’s inhouse performance division, Toyota Racing Development (TRD) and includes black-finished wheels with BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, Bilstein shock absorbers, and special blacked-out accents for the sideview mirrors, door handles, and bumper caps.

“You won’t find one this nice,” the listing concludes. The asking price is $32,900 for this FJ.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

ClassicCars.com Journal contributor Tyson Hugie was a panelist in the Collector Car Symposium at the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction. The topic? Predicting tomorrow’s collectibles. One of the vehicles on Tyson’s list as possibly being popular (read: more expensive) with collectors in the future is the 1996-2002 Toyota 4Runner. For this reason, this 2002 4Runner SR5 4X4 for sale on ClassicCars.com by an Omaha dealer is our Pick of the Day. (Click the link to view the listing)

4Runners of this generation came with either a 2.7-liter inline-four with 150 horsepower or a 3.4-liter V6 with 183 horses. Today, we can expect 270 horsepower from the V6 that powers the current 4Runner, (which is actually more than the V8 that was available in the previous generation). The six became the only engine available in the U.S. starting in 2001; ditto the four-speed automatic transmission, as the five-speed also was missing from the order form.

Seller claims this 2002 4Runner SR5 4X4 is a “like new” one-owner vehicle with 122,000 miles. It’s loaded with options that include cruise control, AM/FM/CD, limited slip differential and moon roof; not mentioned is air conditioning, but the pictures do show that it is equipped with cold air. This 4Runner also features the Sport package, which consisted of color-keyed fender flares, bumpers and grille, projector-type fog lamps, hood scoop, sport seat fabric, adjustable headrests, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 4.10 rear differential, 16-inch alloys and more.

So, what will it take to get this future collectible in your garage? $17,900. For old-world body-on-frame style with a dose of special interest, it’s worth checking out, so to view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.