Journal Classic Cars

You’ve invested your heart, time, and resources into your dream car. Yet even the finest vehicles can face unexpected breakdowns, rising repair costs, and limited access to specialized service centers. Research indicates that with each passing year, the likelihood of mechanical failure increases by approximately 10.4% for older vehicles. Moreover, vehicles aged 10 years or older are twice as likely to experience breakdowns compared to newer models. (Wiley Online Library, AAA Colorado)

Restoration and maintenance costs can also be substantial. Full restorations often exceed $40,000, with some projects reaching up to $120,000. Even routine maintenance can add up, with annual costs ranging from $600 to $2,000, depending on the make and model.

Finding a trusted service center that understands your vehicle’s unique needs can also be time-consuming. Every day your car sits in a shop is another day it’s off the road – and away from you.

Premier protection for the cars you treasure

Choosing the right protection is a smart decision for anyone who values their vehicle and the road ahead.
A carefully crafted Vehicle Protection Plan shields your investment and ensures its performance and value for years to come. A Vehicle Service Contract (VSC) protects against the cost of unexpected repairs. Unlike auto insurance, which covers accidents and external damage, a VSC covers mechanical or electrical breakdowns.

Today, when vehicle components are more expensive than ever, having a protection plan offers you peace of mind on the road. The right VSC helps mitigate risks, ensures access to certified repair facilities, controls out-of-pocket expenses – and provides lasting protection for both vehicles and drivers.

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Give your prized possession the coverage it deserves. Leveraging over a decade of experience and more than one million vehicles protected, LegendaryCarProtection.com delivers flexible coverage solutions for a wide spectrum of vehicles – from 1960s classics to modern supercars and family SUVs. With over $100 million in claims paid to date, LegendaryCarProtection.com has built a reputation for speed, transparency, and high-quality support.

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To explore tailored protection options for your specific vehicle, visit LegendaryCarProtection.com. By submitting basic information such as make, model, and mileage, you can get a customized quote and select the plan that fits your needs.

Car ownership today comes with high expectations and high risks. A well-designed Vehicle Service Contract not only protects your finances, but also ensures your vehicle receives the care it deserves – no matter how iconic, rare, or routine it may be.

Currently listed on AutoHunter is this restored 1957 Chevrolet 3200 pickup. It’s powered by a rebuilt Thriftmaster 235.5ci inline-six, which is equipped with Holley fuel injection and mated to a heavy-duty four-speed synchromesh manual transmission. Finished in Brewster Green over a tan vinyl interior, this two-wheel-drive Task Force pickup is now offered by the California seller with restoration receipts and a clear title.

In 2021, the exterior was painted Brewster Green. Exterior features include chrome bumpers and mirror housings, a wraparound windshield, and a single driver-side exhaust outlet. The side steps for the bed have been treated with Rhino Linings material; inside is a new wood bed floor.

This truck gets down the road or trail on a set of body-color 15-inch wheels with Chevrolet-branded chrome hubcaps and 31 x 10.5-inch Corsa All Terrain XL radial tires.

New parts inside the single cab include the glass, tan vinyl upholstery on the bench seat, brown carpeting, Vintage Air A/C system, Bluetooth-compatible AM/FM radio, and speakers. Additional features consist of a center fold-down armrest with two cup holders, non-original steering wheel connected to power steering, and floor-mounted manual shifter.

A multi-gauge panel contains a 100-mph speedometer and shows the temperature, amperage, oil pressure, and fuel level. The odometer indicates less than one mile; according to the title, this vehicle is mileage-exempt.

Under the hood is a Thriftmaster 235.5ci I6 that has been rebuilt and converted to run a Holley Sniper electronic fuel injection system. The engine is paired with a heavy-duty four-speed synchromesh manual with a “granny gear.”

Underpinnings include power front disc brakes, leaf springs, and solid rear axle.

This 1957 Chevrolet 3200 is still going after nearly 70 years, but it won’t be available for long. The auction for it ends on Friday, May 9, 2025, at 12:15 p.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

There’s a name I haven’t heard in awhile—One Lap of America, the legal version of the Cannonball Run that also happened to be created by Brock Yates. The idea was to produce a similar race without being thrown in jail for reckless driving. Dodge—you know, the company that had the world’s quickest and most powerful muscle car and continues to make that claim without a Hemi—will be making its first race appearance a specially prepared Charger in the 41^st annual One Lap of America.

By the time you read this, the race will have already started at the Tire Rack corporate headquarters in South Bend, Indiana. Dodge high-performance vehicle dynamics engineer David Carr will be driving a special Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack in Alternative Fuel class, accompanied by Dodge Garage contributor Sean Yoder. This white Charger will feature interesting orange graphics on the rear with a hood blackout featuring the Dodge Fratzog. A standard feature on the Scat Pack are huge 16-inch Brembo vented rotors and red six-piston front/four-piston rear fixed calipers. The only modification to this Charger is the roll cage.

“The One Lap of America is a formidable endurance test, one the 670-horsepower Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack is uniquely equipped to meet head-on, as the all-new Charger is not only designed and engineered for performance on the street, but also at the track and the strip,” says Dodge CEO Matt McAlear. “The One Lap competition will showcase key Charger Daytona Scat Pack features, such as Track Package performance content and best-in-class cargo space in the ‘hidden hatch’ muscle-car design, providing our race team plenty of room to stretch out and bring along important gear as they spend basically an entire week in the Charger.”

Here’s the schedule of the One Lap:

Saturday, May 3

• Tire Rack Corporate Headquarters, South Bend, Indiana (skid pad)
• Grissom Air Force Base, North Central, Indiana (autocross)

Sunday, May 4

• Gateway Motorsports Park, Madison, Illinois (time trials)

Monday, May 5

• Hedge Hollow Road Course, Adrian, Missouri (time trials)

Tuesday, May 6

• NCM Motorsports Park Road Course, Bowling Green, Kentucky (time trials)

Wednesday, May 7

• Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia (time trials)

Thursday, May 8

• Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, Pennsylvania (time trials) 
• Quaker City Motorsports Drag Strip, Salem, Ohio (drag race/bracket drag)

Friday, May 9

• Grattan Raceway, Belding, Michigan (time trials) 

Saturday, May 10

• Tire Rack Corporate Headquarters, South Bend, Indiana (skid pad)

If you’d like to follow the Dodge via online race coverage, you can visit DodgeGarage.com. You can also view the YouTube livestream at onelapofamerica.com.

(And let’s hope next year Dodge will run a companion vehicle with Hemi V8 power!)

Last week, I told you what it was like traveling around Palm Beach with some of my Collector Car Network colleagues in a rented 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe. Its 5.3-liter V8 got us where we needed to go, but we could have saved a hell of a lot of commuting time in a 2025 Hennessey H600 Tahoe or Suburban.

Technically, Hennessey could have called the upgrade package H625. By adding a new Magnuson supercharger with an intercooler, a cat-back exhaust, and upgrades to the air induction and crankcase ventilation systems, the Texas company boosted the output of the 6.2-liter V8-powered Tahoe and Suburban to 625 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 633 lb-ft torque at 4,200 rpm (and dyno-tested them to 600 horsepower, as shown in the video below). While those numbers aren’t as high as the Cadillac Escalade-V’s 682 horsepower and 653 lb-ft, they are substantially greater than the stock specs for the Tahoe and Suburban. According to Hennessey, its enhancements boost horsepower by more than 200 and torque by more than a third.

Hennessey also upgrades the hardware responsible for channeling that kind of grunt to the road. It lowers the Tahoe and Suburban 2.5 inches closer to the ground and installs a set of lightweight 24-inch gloss black wheels with Firestone Firehawk Pursuit tires. Up front, the stock brakes are replaced with heavy-duty Brembos with six-piston calipers. Of course, Hennessey makes it clear these aren’t your normal full-size Chevy SUVs by adding a windshield banner, and special exterior and interior badging.

The 2025 Hennessey H600 Tahoe and Suburban will probably be hard to spot on the road because of their supercar levels of power, but don’t worry. There’s a chance you’ll see them on showroom floors because they’re the first GM models available through Hennessey’s authorized Chevrolet dealers in the U.S. But there’s no guarantee: production is limited to 100 units for 2025.

Below you will find four pickup trucks that are currently listed for sale on AutoHunter. Some are stock, some are modified, but all should be readily identifiable. Up to the task?

You can write your answers in the Comments section below. Be sure to give us the year and make, with bonus points if you can identify the model. If you need an assist, just click on any image and you’ll be taken to the actual AutoHunter auction.

Click on a photo to reveal each car

The ClassicCars.com Journal has a new automotive puzzle every Tuesday. Once you’re done with this one, you can test your knowledge with previous games.

I love the first-generation Pontiac Firebird. It’s the combination of what I think is stellar styling, good performance and ease of use – making it, in my opinion, one of the greatest cars the U.S. has ever produced. You could say that the Camaro is the same car, but it is not. I also like the Camaro – but the Firebird was, to me, the pinnacle pony car of all time.

Our AutoHunter Spotlight of the day is one of these awesome cars, a 1968 Pontiac Firebird Sport Coupe located in Somersworth, New Hampshire. The auction will end Monday, May 12, 2025, at 11:00 p.m. PDT.

The seller describes this Firebird as powered by a GM Performance ZZ6 350ci V8 crate engine mated to a four-speed 700R4 automatic transmission. Finished in Hugger Orange over a black vinyl interior, this muscle car is now offered by the seller with service receipts, parts paperwork and a New Hampshire registration.

The exterior of this Firebird looks to be in nice shape, with only a couple of paint chips on the Hugger Orange paint. The body features a cowl induction hood, rear spoiler and louvered quarter-panels. Upgrades include LED headlights and taillights, as well as 15-inch Rev wheels mounted with 225/60 General radial tires.

The interior is nice-looking with a bit of a Restomod feel. It features factory black vinyl bucket seats in correct upholstery, as well as a custom center console with a B&M automatic shifter. The car also features power steering, a three-spoke steering wheel, a column-mounted Sunpro 10,000-rpm tachometer, Sunpro auxiliary gauges for oil pressure, temp and voltage, and the owner has installed a Bluetooth-enabled aftermarket Jensen stereo.

Under the hood, you see a ZZ6 350ci V8 Chevrolet crate engine with 405 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, which makes this a seriously fast first-gen Firebird. The engine features a Holley four-barrel carburetor mounted to an upgraded intake manifold, with a March Performance serpentine belt system and Patriot headers. Power is delivered to the rear wheels by a four-speed 700R4 automatic transmission.

Under the car is a 10-bolt rear end featuring an Eaton Detroit Truetrac differential with Richmond 3.55 gears, front coilover shocks, and power front disc brakes with drilled and slotted rotors.

This is much more of a Restomod than a stock Firebird, but that only makes it a better and considerable faster car than it ever was new. It looks to be the perfect car for events such as the Hot Rod Power Tour and would be fun to run at a vintage rally like the Copperstate 1000, where I am guessing it would quickly make most of the European cars in attendance distant specks in your rearview mirror.

If you are interested, you might want to log into your AutoHunter account and place a bid, as the auction for this 1968 Pontiac Firebird ends on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Chevrolet made the C3 Corvette for so long (1968-1982) that it can be hard to tell with a quick glance just which model year one of them is, especially if it’s passing you on the highway. But if you become the next owner of our Pick of the Day, a 1982 Chevrolet Corvette Collector Edition posted on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Florida, it’ll be clear where it falls on the Corvette’s timeline.

There are a few reasons for that. Let’s start with the most obvious: the colors. To mark the end of the third-generation Vette, Chevy covered the 1982 Collector Edition in silver-beige metallic paint with pinstripes and fade-away striping on the hood, fenders, and doors. A pair of bronze-colored glass removable roof panels protected passengers from inclement weather. There’s more silver-beige metallic in the leather interior, with the bucket seats and door panels upholstered in an array of neutral colors.

Then there’s the equipment. The center console houses the shifter for the new-for-1982 four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. Elsewhere in the cabin of this particular Collector Edition you’ll find power controls for the windows and mirrors, power locks, power driver’s seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel on a tilt and telescoping column, and air conditioning. Fitting luggage in the back is easy thanks to the lift-up glass rear hatch, another new addition to the Corvette.

The 1982 model’s engine stayed the same size as before (5.7 liters), but came equipped with Cross-Fire Injection, which delivered gas through dual throttle-body fuel injectors. Output for the L83 was 200 horsepower at 4,200 rpm and 285 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 revs.

Over the past 43 years, this final-year C3 hasn’t been mothballed or driven into the ground. It’s actually been enjoyed (as all Corvettes should be), but not much: there are only 32,330 miles on it. For $39,997, you can add this 1982 Chevrolet Corvette Collector Edition to your collection of cool cars, then decide how many more miles you’ll put on the odometer.

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

Atomic Age magnificence and the Red Rocker converged at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Auction! Owned by Sammy Hagar, this 1962 Ford Thunderbird Landau was a new entry for the model year, adding sophisticated formality to the Thunderbird lineup thanks to a standard vinyl top and landau “S-bars” on the C-pillar. Horsepower from the standard 390 V8 was 300, which was more than enough to achieve cruising speeds exceeding 55. This space-age street rocket scored $69,300 for Sammy.

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Currently on AutoHunter is this Shelby-esque 1966 Ford Mustang GT350 replica. This pony car has been transformed into a very nice street car with road-racing aspirations. Originally built as a Mustang hardtop, this vehicle has received a Dynacorn fastback conversion and a 358ci V8 transplant paired with a Toploader four-speed transmission. Finished in PPG Radiance Red with white band-aid and rocker stripes over a black and white “Pony” vinyl interior, this GT350 replica is offered by a private seller in California with restoration receipts and a clear title.

Originally a Mustang hardtop, this vehicle has been transformed into a 2+2 via a Dynacorn fastback conversion kit. The flanks are painted in Radiance Red paint, with overhead white stripes going from nose to tail and matching “GT350” stripes above the rocker panels. Other features include a hood scoop, rear brake scoops, C-pillar louvers, a driver-side mirror, Shelby gas cap, and GT-style exhausts poking out from the rear valence. Fifteen-inch American Racing Torq Thrust mags are wrapped in 205/60 BFGoodrich Radial T/A raised-white-letter tires.

The cabin is furnished with stylish black and white Pony vinyl bucket seats. Other interior features include four-point harnesses, a roll bar (welded to the frame), three-spoke wood-rimmed steering wheel with an Ididit tilt column, Hurst shifter, radio-delete plate, and more.

The instrument panel consists of a set of Intellitronix gauges that include a 160-mph speedometer and gauges for the oil pressure, water temperature, voltage, and fuel level. Auxiliary gauges include an 8,000-rpm tachometer and gauges for the oil pressure, water temperature, and voltage. The odometer currently shows 208 miles; the car’s title indicates it’s mileage-exempt.

The engine, a 358 Windsor V8 bored .040 over, is paired with a Toploader four-speed manual. An Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor sits atop an intake manifold from the same brand. Aluminum heads from Air Flow Research, Hedman shorty headers, and an MSD 6AL ignition box are other modifications to the small-block. The engine bay also features a Monte Carlo bar.

The undercarriage features an eight-inch Traction-Lok differential housing 3.31 gears. Other noteworthy highlights include Scott Drake progressive-rate front springs, Grab-A-Trak rear leaf springs, power front disc brakes, and a dual exhaust system with Turbo mufflers.

This 1966 Ford Mustang GT350 replica has a big bang-for-the-buck quotient that cannot be achieved by a regular Mustang or authentic Shelby. Whether you take it to the next car cruise or through mountain curves, we imagine you will enjoy yourself and that classic small-block burble. Be sure to prepare ahead of time with your bid because the auction ends on Friday, May 9, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

The last several years have been tough for owners of classic cars and trucks. Costs are surging for things like labor and parts while at the same time the average cost for auto insurance has increased 51% over the past 3 years. That is a growth rate six times faster than inflation overall according to The Consumer Price Index (CPI). Adding further strain on collectible vehicle owners is the limited options available when it comes to classic auto insurance. For decades, these owners have been faced with the same old confusing programs and complicated coverage options, not to mention many regularly getting notices of their rates going up even when they have good driving records and haven’t filed a claim. Given these market trends, it’s unsurprising to read reports that today 49% of auto insurance customers are actively shopping for more affordable rates.

Some Good News for Classic & Collectible Vehicle Owners

In all this market turmoil there does seem to be some good news for classic car and truck owners, and word is quickly spreading. Recently the auto enthusiast community has been buzzing about a program being offered by the Dallas-based collector vehicle insurer OpenRoad. Customer testimonials from owners previously covered by standard auto insurers, as well as many previously insured by classic car insurance providers, continue to roll in highlighting significant savings, better coverage, and superior customer service. The collector vehicle insurer has also seen significant interest among insurance agencies and brokerages, registering over 1,000 new partners in the past few months who are keen to have another option for their clients.

OpenRoad’s insurance program not only includes specialized coverages tailored to the unique needs of classic and modern collector vehicle owners, but their pricing models also account for the reduced accident frequency associated with collector vehicles, often resulting in far lower insurance rates. But OpenRoad goes above and beyond on pricing as well, offering additional discounts to car club members as well as customers who transfer their coverage from another classic car insurer.

With so many auto enthusiasts making the switch to OpenRoad, it seems that they have found everything that they have been looking for in a classic auto insurance provider. Just check out these recent customer reviews:

• “Almost half the price (of) your competitors for equal coverage.”
• “Better coverage for less cost than other classic car insurance companies.”
• “Easier to work with than other classic car insurance companies. We didn’t have to jump through hoops to get a policy.”
• “Simple to use, fast to get coverage and very affordable rates! Who wouldn’t recommend such a company!!”
• “Great rates and great service. Highly recommend. We have a lot of car friends!”
• “Pricing was 20% lower than their direct competitor for the exact same coverage on multiple vehicles… These days, when insurance (cost) is outrageous, these people stepped up to the plate … Thank you, Open Road.”

Beyond the significant cost relief, many customers also point to the excellent customer service they received with reviews that include statements such as, “The team went above and beyond to help us,” and, “Overall, the best experience I’ve had setting up insurance.” That’s some high praise for an auto insurance company.

Delivering Superior Customer Service & Specialized Coverage

With OpenRoad, paying less definitely doesn’t mean getting less. In fact, their coverage goes above and beyond what many other programs out there can offer. In addition to getting all the standard coverage you’d expect with an auto insurance policy— think comprehensive, collision, uninsured motorist, and the like — every OpenRoad policy comes with several protections tailored to car collectors. Their agreed value policy guarantees that the insurance payout you’ll receive in the event of a total loss equals the actual worth of your classic car, rather than a depreciated value that most insurance programs use. This guarantees that you’re covered for the true value of your ride, considering the time, effort, and investments you put into your vehicle as well as its condition and rarity.

OpenRoad is also setting a new bar when it comes to coverage for repairs. Under their program you know that if you need to file a claim the repairs will be done right. Not only will repairs be performed with OEM parts specifically tailored to your vehicle, but you’ll also get to choose a repair shop you know and trust, one that specializes in collector vehicles and classic car restorations. This is another differentiator from standard auto insurance programs that often do not guarantee coverage for OEM parts and rarely let you pick a shop outside of their approved body shop network.

OpenRoad also includes a generous emergency roadside cost reimbursement program at no additional cost as well as coverage for the relocation and temporary storage of your ride in the event of major disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires.

Rapidly Expanding Across the U.S.

To keep up with the massive market demand that they’ve seen, OpenRoad has been rolling out its insurance program across the U.S., quickly growing coverage availability to 23. Don’t reside in one of their currently live states? Don’t worry, brand plans to operate in 30 states by the summer of 2025.

Get your quote today and see how much you could save in about 5 minutes.