Journal Classic Cars

For some, a Rolls-Royce is not special enough—it has to be a one-of-a-kind creation. That explains why the dog-themed Spectre Bailey, Japanese-influenced Phantom Extended Cherry Blossom, and outer space-inspired Cullinan Cosmos exist. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Arabesque is the newest addition to that list and a showcase of the Middle East’s architectural heritage.

A client from that part of the world commissioned the Arabesque through Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Private Office Dubai. From certain angles, it may appear to be just a two-tone Phantom. That’s largely true because it’s finished in a combination of Diamond Black and Silver, although it also has an illuminated Pantheon grille and Spirit of Ecstasy, plus a set of elaborate 22-inch wheels.

But a closer look at the hand-painted Short Coachline reveals a distinctive design. It may seem to be a snowflake, but it’s far from that. Think hotter weather—as in the Middle East. That geometric pattern was inspired by Arabian mashrabiya latticework, which consists of “intricately carved wooden screens that create privacy, allowing those inside to look out without being seen,” according to Rolls-Royce. “The latticework also encourages airflow, providing natural cooling for the building’s interior.”

The Arabesque’s most prominent feature is its hood, not only for its giant mashrabiya design, but also for the time and technology that went into it. The artisans at Rolls-Royce’s Exterior Surface Centre spent five years developing the laser-engraving technique (which, oddly enough, was inspired by the Italian sgraffito technique) that carved those lines. Rolls started by laying down dark paint, then covered it with multiple layers of clearcoat. Once a lighter paint was applied over, the specialists used a laser to engrave the mashrabiya pattern. By carving only 145–190 microns deep, Rolls was able to reveal the darker paint below and give the hood a three-dimensional appearance. Variations in both the velocity and intensity of the laser beam resulted in a surface that seems to change slightly as light passes over it.

Inside, the Phantom Arabesque continues the two-tone theme with Selby Grey and Black leather, as well as Starlight Doors trimmed with Selby Grey piping and Black contrast stitching. Of course, there are also more mashrabiya flourishes, from the lit-up treadplates to the embroidered headrests. The most prominent one is the Blackwood and Black Bolivar woodwork in the Gallery that spans the width of the dashboard.

The Phantom Arabesque is the latest Rolls-Royce Bespoke build that was crafted using a company-first technique but, as history has shown, it certainly won’t be the last.

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this 1995 Ford F-150 XLT Regular Cab, which is powered by a 5.0-liter V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. Highlights include power windows and air conditioning. Finished in Vermillion Red over an Opal Grey cloth interior, this two-wheel-drive, short-bed pickup is now offered by the private seller in South Carolina with the original owner’s manual, a clean AutoCheck report, and clear title.

The Vermillion Red exterior is accented with chrome bumpers, power mirrors with bright caps, and bright trim. Features include a sliding rear window, black bed liner and tailgate protector, single exhaust outlet, and hitch receiver.

As you may have noticed already, there’s even more brightwork underneath this truck, where the factory wheels have been replaced with 20-inch chrome Ion 141s wrapped in 275/45 Delinte Desert Storm II tires.

The cabin is nicely equipped. There’s an Opal Grey cloth bench seat with a fold-down center armrest. Surrounding features include power windows and locks, a switch for the dual tanks, tilt steering column, cruise control, power steering, column-mounted shifter, air conditioning, Bluetooth-compatible Kenwood eXcelon AM/FM/SiriusXM/HD Radio/USB head unit, and a pair of floor-mounted cup holders.

Behind the four-spoke steering wheel is an 85-mph speedometer, 6,000-rpm tachometer, and gauges for the oil pressure, voltage, temperature, and fuel level. The digital odometer shows 89,010 miles, although the AutoCheck report’s latest mileage reading from November 2025 was 8,455 miles. Either way, this truck is mileage-exempt according to its title.

Under the hood is a 5.0-liter V8 that was factory-rated at 195 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. A four-speed automatic with overdrive sends that classic grunt to the rear wheels. If the back end gets a little squirrelly, power front disc brakes and power anti-lock rear drums help keep this truck’s composure.

If you’re looking for a modern classic pickup truck with V8 power and convenient features, bid on this 1995 Ford F-150 XLT Regular Cab before the auction ends on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Pontiac may have the performance image, but Chevrolet was the “Hot One,” seducing the performance market on equal terms with the “Wide-Track” division. However, while Chevrolet’s performance offerings peaked in 1970, the same cannot be said for its full-size cars. Our Pick of the Day is a lingering effect of Chevrolet’s performance image. This 1970 Chevrolet Caprice Coupe is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Addison, Illinois.

Sure, the Hot One was a reference to the 1955 Chevy, but it set the tone for all subsequent Bow Tie vehicles. It also marked an egalitarian view on performance, as horsepower originally was an upper-middle-class or higher thing until then (bear witness to Cadillac’s and Chrysler’s proto-horsepower wars earlier in the decade). Starting in 1956, Chevrolet offered dual quads and, for 1957, fuel injection.

A big-block 348 came for 1958, available with several states of tune and levels of carburetion. The top version started at 315 horsepower and, by 1961, it was rated for as much as 350 horses. However, it was the mid-year introduction of the Super Sport package (RPO 240) for the 1961 Impala that gave Chevrolet its first true high-performance model. Though we normally associate the SS with being a buckets-and-console model, in ’61 it was a true performance model thanks to the requirement of the big-block and other heavy-duty equipment. Nineteen sixty-one also marked the introduction of the 409, which also appeared mid-year.

A mid-year introduction was made again with the 409’s replacement, the 396. The 425-horsepower version was only available for 1965 (the 325-horse version continued for several years), but that was because it was replaced by the 427. In L72 guise, a full-size 427 Chevrolet could give many popular mid-size cars a run for their money. Additionally, in 1967, Chevrolet introduced the SS 427 package for the Impala, which was the perfect companion to the Chevelle SS 396. The SS 427 lasted through 1969, though it was an odd duck of sorts because full-size performance cars hadn’t been a “thing” for several years.

So, when Chevrolet returned to 1970 with the 454, there was no performance model to highlight the big-block. The engine was available as a 345-horsepower LS4 and a 390-horse LS5, both available in any full-size model. And that is what makes cars like this 1970 Chevrolet Caprice Coupe interesting: it’s the last of the high-compression big-blocks, but the manufacturer did not see fit to continue a performance package, though, truth be told, the Caprice was fancier than the late Impala SS 427 anyway. This is reflected by its seats, door panels, woodgrain dashboard, and formal coupe roofline. Though the version is not specified, the engine’s air cleaner appears to suggest that this car is powered by the LS4 backed by a column-shifted TH400 automatic. “Fresh, high-quality restoration. Strong factory drivetrain combination,” says the seller. “Deep black paint with excellent presentation, black vinyl top, and NOS moldings throughout.” Note the polished Torq Thrust mags wrapped in BFGoodrich redlines. Though not seen in pictures, this Bow Tie has Positraction—always a nice feature.

High-compression engines first appeared in 1949. Chevrolet’s small-block first appeared for 1955, coinciding with the beginning of the “Horsepower Race.” This 1970 Caprice is the perfect bookend for the Chevy performance fan.

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

It’s Valentine’s Day, a time of love, flowers, chocolates, and jewelry. Perhaps you and your significant other plan on celebrating tonight at what will undoubtedly be a jam-packed restaurant. For now, you’re checking out this week’s installment of Car Connections because you also love cars. It’s time to get three words from the Random Word Generator and link them to automobiles—no matter how clunky and labored that process may be. This week’s words are reserve, burn, and arise. How would you associate these words with cars? Tell us in the Comments section below.

Here we go!

Reserve: This is easy: The current generation (WL) of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was introduced in the 2022 model year. Why? Because it taught me that there’s a point higher than the summit, at least when it comes to trim levels. The Summit was the most luxurious version of the WK2 Grand Cherokee, but its successor topped that with the Summit Reserve trim. The two-row 2025 Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve has Palermo leather seats with heating, ventilation, and massage in the first row, heating and ventilation in the second row, a 19-speaker McIntosh audio system, 10.25-inch touchscreen display for the front passenger, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, and more.

Burn: The original Dodge Viper RT/10 roadster has muscular curves, cool three-spoke wheels, and a massive 8.0-liter V10. In earlier models, the engine is connected to side pipes, which make one of the most iconic cars of the 1990s look even cooler. Unfortunately, the routing of the exhaust also pumps a lot of heat right under the door sills, which can burn you if you’re not careful while getting in or out of the car.

Arise: Hmmm . . . yeast causes bread to rise. Bread. Sandwich. You know what kind of looks like a sandwich? The two-tone paint jobs you see on certain old trucks, such as this 1986 Chevrolet C10. It appears to have Chevy’s Exterior Decor Package (Combination D), which consists of body side moldings, decal stripes, one color (brown) above the stripes and below the moldings, and another color (tan) in between. I see the brown as the bread and the tan as the filling. Anyone order a dry chicken sandwich on pumpernickel?

If today’s round of Car Connections has you wanting to add a Jeep, Dodge, or Chevrolet to your garage, visit ClassicCars.com and AutoHunter.com. And if you have any ideas for random words to use in a future installment of Car Connections, shoot them our way!

It’s difficult to drive on snow and ice, so the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics may not be the best sporting event for car enthusiasts. However, we have found an automotive element to the Olympics that comes courtesy of Honda—and it’s not curling.

Honda engineers have collaborated with USABS (USA Bobsled/Skeleton) coaches and athletes to enhance their Olympic performance via advanced aerodynamic testing at the Honda Automotive Laboratories of Ohio (HALO). A five-minute documentary has been produced to give a behind-the-scenes look.

“When you work with a team like Honda and see the number of engineers that are here to support our team and the facilities we are working in, it really gets us excited about what we can possibly do for our athletes,” says Aron McGuire, USABS CEO.

The documentary shows how insights from HALO testing influenced fall training at the Utah Olympic Park track facility in Park City and shaped strategies for the team.

“Acura and Honda have a deep heritage of racing, and within that core, we always, always challenge ourselves to win, and we are proud to use this spirit and capability to support USA Bobsled/Skeleton athletes,” says Mike Unger, director of the HALO Wind Tunnel.

You may not know that Honda is the Official Automotive Partner of Team USA, supporting both the United States Olympic and Paralympic teams during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and the LA28 Games. Additionally, USABS has Acura as its official automotive partner.

Convertible lovers – do you prefer a hardtop or a soft top? How about both? Featured on AutoHunter is a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette L75 327/300 Convertible that gives its driver plenty of options when it comes to open-air cruising. The car is listed by a dealer in Denver, Colorado, and the auction will end on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 1:15 p.m. (MST).

To some people, a traditional soft-top convertible brings a few too many compromises to the driving experience (added road noise, hardware maintenance, reduced trunk space, and vulnerability to weather). Having the option to install a hardtop can solve for some of those – and this Corvette delivers.

The exterior is painted Nassau Blue, and the car is accompanied by a black retractable soft top and a color-matched removable hardtop. Exterior features include chrome brightwork, a luggage rack, wheel covers with knock-off hubs, and Hankook whitewall tires. There are some small blemishes noted in the paint, but this car is a solid driver-quality classic for being 60 years old.

By 1965, the Corvette had been out for over a dozen years and was in its second generation. That year, the car received some exterior freshening, including the removal of nonfunctional vents in the hood. It was also the first time that four-wheel disc brakes became standard equipment.

The promotional brochure for the 1965 Corvette said, “From rubber to roof, a sports car for performance- and style-minded individuals.” It also said, “Constant refinement and continual development have gone forward to make the 1965 Corvette Sting Ray more than ever one of the most deeply satisfying driving experiences available in the world.”

Complementing this C2’s Nassau Blue exterior is a blue vinyl-trimmed cockpit, with features including power windows, power steering, a clock, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, a center console, and a unique vertically oriented radio.

Of course, the key to any sports car is its ability to deliver an engaging driving experience. Power comes from a replacement (but date-correct) L75 327ci V8 mated to a four-speed manual transmission. An oil change was performed in December 2025.

The dealer has provided two videos that show an exterior walk-around, an interior overview, and a driving demonstration. The car checks a lot of boxes for enthusiasts, and thanks to those two available convertible tops, it’s a versatile open-air cruiser.

The auction for this 1965 Chevrolet Corvette L75 327/300 Convertible ends Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 1:15 p.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Within the Big Three, Dodge was the only brand that produced a compact muscle car that was available as a convertible. It’s an unusual distinction that is not normally recognized by trivia buffs. Someone out there in Reader Land may claim the Barracuda also had the same high-performance chops, but it leaned into the pony car realm, so let’s chat about the more “proper” compact for now.

In 1967, Dodge redesigned the Dart compact. Enthusiasts could find solace in the 273 four-barrel and the 383 four-barrel, the latter of which would turn the Dodge Dart GT into the GTS. In contrast, there were no convertibles among Chevrolet’s Chevy II models, and the Ford Falcon offered neither performance engines nor convertibles.

The GTS became an official model for 1968—and an upscale model at that—offering a standard 275-horsepower 340 small-block, a new performance engine in the Mopar world. Four-speed 340s received a more radical camshaft, but that lasted only one model year. Those who opted for the optional 383 would recognize a gain of 20 horses to 300, thanks to new cylinder heads, though it still lagged the Super Bee’s 335 horses due to restrictive exhaust manifolds.

For 1969, the 340 remained the same (aside from the milder cam for sticks), while the 383 gained better exhaust manifolds to extract all 330 horses from the mill. A special 440 Magnum version was available for the Dart GTS hardtop, creating a monster without a match from General Motors and Ford.

Join Muscle Car Campy as he features Dave Duell and his very rare Dart GTS convertible, one of 417 built and one of 1 of 73 U.S.-spec ragtops built with the big-block. His family has a strong racing background, which he continues today with the Dave Duell Classic.

If you enjoy this video, be sure to check out others produced by Muscle Car Campy!

At the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, we saw a variety of impressive builds, including this 1950 Volkswagen Beetle in the MST display area. It was customized by The Old Dub Shop of Bristol, England, but before company owner Spencer Pritchard and his crew could even start, they had to fix the preexisting damage to its roof and other areas. Once they did that, it was time for modifications. Those included a custom paint job, four-corner Air Lift air bag suspension, RHD conversion, roll cage, and power rack-and-pinion steering setup. Pritchard and his team also upped this Bug’s performance, installing a fuel-injected 2.1-liter turbo four-cylinder engine and altering the original steel wheels to fit wider tires. There are a lot of vintage VW Beetles out there, but none of them are quite like this one.

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We haven’t reached the age in which everyone has a personal jet pack or a flying car, but you can reserve your very own Velo X Aerospace Velocitor X-1, a single-seat electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

The Velocitor X-1 can take off from a space as small as a driveway. Once it’s airborne, an electric propulsion system with eight independent motors enable it to cruise for 45 minutes (plus reserve) or at speeds up to 70 mph. Velo X Aerospace adds, “Onboard sensors, LIDAR obstacle awareness, and automated stability systems work together to keep you clear of hazards and flying smoothly.” Once it’s time to land, the X-1 can be recharged to 80 percent in an hour.

Velo X Aerospace is currently accepting $5,000 deposits for the first 100 Velocitor X-1s, each priced at $156,000. Production is scheduled to begin in 2027.

Want to learn more about the X-1? Check out company president Galen Geigley’s presentation of it in our Product Showcase video below.

Some vehicles don’t fit neatly into a category — they create one of their own. The 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS396 is one of those rare machines, blending pavement-pounding muscle-car performance with pickup-truck utility and unmistakable Chevrolet Super Sport swagger.

One lucky winner will take home this beautifully restored 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS396, a vehicle that represents the absolute peak of the muscle-truck era. It’s a classic built for drivers who want big-block power, bold styling, and real-world usability. Click here

Picture opening the garage door and seeing this bold El Camino waiting inside. Turn the key, and the deep, unmistakable rumble of a carbureted Chevrolet big-block V8 fills the air. This is the sound — and the feeling — that defined American performance in its prime.

Under the hood lives a 396ci V8 rated at 350 horsepower, delivering effortless torque, confident acceleration, and the kind of presence that still stops conversations at car shows and cruise nights. The 1970 model year sits at the sweet spot of El Camino history, pairing aggressive Super Sport styling with some of the most desirable powertrains Chevrolet ever offered.

This El Camino SS396 was sold new in California and has received a frame-off restoration on a rust-free body, making it as solid underneath as it is striking on the outside. Click here enter now!

This 1970 El Camino SS396 is loaded with factory equipment that delivers both muscle-car performance and everyday comfort:

• 396ci big-block V8 (350 horsepower)
• Automatic transmission
• Factory air conditioning
• Power steering and power brakes
• Power windows
• Tilt steering wheel
• Bucket seats and center console
• Super Sport performance trim and styling

Entries support children’s and veterans’ charities, turning every entry into something meaningful. And for the lucky winner, there’s more good news: $21,000 toward federal prize taxes will be provided, making the win even sweeter.

Don’t Miss This Opportunity

• Entries close: April 23, 2026
• Winner drawn: May 6, 2026

Opportunities like this don’t come around often. Don’t miss the chance to win one of the most iconic Chevrolet muscle machines ever built. Enter now!