Journal Classic Cars

Aston Martin is to cast open its doors to women and girls as part of an event to inspire the next generation of talent and highlight employment opportunities in the automotive sector on International Women’s Day.

Celebrating International Women’s Day on Wednesday 8 March, Aston Martin will invite ambitious women and girls from across the country to visit Aston Martin Works, its iconic heritage site in Newport Pagnell, and experience a day in the life of an Aston Martin employee.

The day will include a tour of the Newport Pagnell facility and heritage dealership, as well as a conversation and panel event in partnership with the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One^TM team. Guests will also have the chance to hear from female leaders across Aston Martin’s business, before enjoying a meeting with Aston Martin Formula One^TM team Chief Information Officer, Clare Lansley.

The event is aligned to Aston Martin’s Racing.Green sustainability strategy announced in 2022, with the British ultra-luxury brand setting bold targets across all aspects of the business, from tackling climate change, creating a better environment and building a stronger, more diverse, and more inclusive company. A key component of the strategy is a goal for 25% of all leadership roles at Aston Martin filled by women within the next five years. The company continues to work towards its women in leadership target, while also supporting ongoing efforts to create equitable spaces for all.

Aston Martin Chief People Officer, Simon Smith, said: “Aston Martin is passionate about increasing female leadership at the company as well as inspiring girls to consider the huge career opportunities within the automotive sector. Through initiatives like this event on International Women’s Day and our successful Graduate/Apprenticeship programmes, we are confident that we can find the right talent for the future of Aston Martin.”  

Clare Lansley, Chief Information Officer of Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One^TM team said: “This year the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1^TM team joins forces with Aston Martin in a bid to Embrace Equity and offer opportunities to ambitious women and girls. We are excited to host the event at Aston Martin’s heritage site Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell and look forward to the future generations of women and girls joining our organisations – as we continue to drive an inclusive workplace for all.”

Open to women and girls, the day is aimed at those wanting to find out more about career opportunities within the ultra-luxury automotive sector.

Registrations are open now with places strictly limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sign up at: https://careers.astonmartin.com/cw/en/job/509816/international-womens-day.

1985 was a good year in the film industry. The iconic Back to the Future trilogy got its start on July 3rd of that summer, and over the course of the next five years earned $975 million at the box office. The fantasy of being able to travel through time captured the country’s imagination.

One of the most famous Toyotas in history was the black Toyota SR5 4×4 pickup that was prominently featured in the film. However, another Toyota from the same model year had an equally high cool-factor. The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1985 Toyota Celica listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Edina, Minnesota. (Click the link to view the listing)

“Get a slice of the 80s with this one-owner 1985 Celica GT-S,” the listing begins. “With only 88k miles, the original window sticker, and in great shape – this is the Celica to buy.”

Showing just 88,757 miles on the odometer, this Celica has relatively low mileage for being 38 years old. Cosmetically, there are a couple of small need to address including a broken headlight and marker light, but the car appears unmodified and retains its characteristic 1980s look with pop-up headlights, fender flares, and wedge-shaped silhouette.

The included window sticker shows that this car is finished in “Super Red” with a black cloth retractable top, and it was originally delivered to Rudy Luther Toyota in a Minneapolis suburb called Golden Valley. The car carried an original MSRP of $18,394 including freight and handling. Rudy Luther, incidentally, is still open in the same location today.

This car comes from the Celica’s third generation, dubbed the A60, which launched in 1981. Available initially only as a notchback coupe or a liftback, a GT-S convertible was released in limited production in 1984. The car was manufactured in Japan but subsequently customized by American Sunroof Company (ASC) in California. Between 1984 and 1985, about 4,500 units were produced.

Interior appointments were substantial for the time including air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, an AM/FM/cassette stereo with an equalizer, and a split-folding rear seat. And under the hood lies Toyota’s robust fuel-injected 2.4-liter 22R-E motor mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. “Runs and drives great,” the seller says.

“It is a true time capsule, and this is a stunning example,” the seller says. “This Celica is the real deal.”

The asking price is $16,995 or best offer for this Celica GT-S, which is just as cool of a vehicle as Marty McFly’s pickup.

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

The Pontiac Bonneville first appeared in 1957, with it being mainstreamed into the Pontiac lineup in 1959. That was the first year of the brand to exhibit General Manager Bunkie Knudsen’s efforts. Starting in 1964, a Brougham package became available for those who wished for something fancier. One of those cars, a 1967 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham four-door hardtop listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, is our Pick of the Day. (Click the link to view the listing)

The full-sized Pontiac line was redesigned in 1967, now longer/lower/wider as was the trend of the time. The 1965-66 Pontiacs were athletic-looking and were a tough act to follow but, to contemporary eyes of the time, Pontiac may have pulled it off. Of special note was an interesting grille for the lower part of the front end that had multiple looks — the Catalina, Executive and Bonneville featured the trademark vertical headlights, while the Grand Prix hid its headlights behind the grille and featured unique parking lights.

Underneath the hood, the 389 was bored to 400ci, while the 421 was bored to 428ci. Tri-Power also was put to rest due to some strange edict that restricted multiple carburetion for the Corvette, but the Rochester Quadrajet was up to the task — Motor Trend magazine said that the top GTO was “the equivalent or better in performance” to its Tri-Powered predecessor.

The Brougham package for both the Bonneville two-door and four-door hardtops included Morrokide vinyl blended with Plaza bolster cloth and Princessa pattern cloth, Strato-bench front seat with center armrest., thick nylon-blend carpeting, power windows, door pulls, extra-thick foam seat padding, Carpathian elm burl woodgrain on the door panels and dashboard, electric clock and deluxe steering wheel.

Standard was a 333-horsepower 400ci backed by a three-speed manual on the column, which could also be had on the floor for a fee, as could a manual four-speed; opt for the automatic and horsepower was 325. A step-down option was a 265-horse 400 two-barrel, while two 428s (360 and 376 horsepower) were available as upgrades.

This 1967 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham four-door hardtop features what’s likely the most common combination for this car: 325-horse 400 backed by the TH400 automatic. Though the seller doesn’t give much in the way of description, the color looks like Plum Mist. Air conditioning is a fine addition to the option list, wouldn’t you say?

The seller is asking $19,995 for this plum-hued 1967 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham four-door hardtop. If you like the idea of a Pontiac that thinks it’s a Buick, look no further.

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

A restored matching-numbers 1971 Porsche 914/6 Targa once owned by Motorsports Hall of Fame member Chip Ganassi is being offered at Bonhams’ Amelia Island Auction on March 2, 2023. Bonhams estimates the Porsche 914/6 will sell for $100,000 to $125,000, and its pedigree is backed up by a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity and extensive restoration receipts totaling more than $38,950.

This 914/6 was manufactured in May 1971 and delivered new to Mr. Vernon W. Gurzenoa of Somerset, Pennsylvania on July 20, 1971, with a mere 30 miles on the odometer. It is unknown how long Mr. Gurzenoa owned the Porsche, but service records from the original maintenance booklet indicate the 914/6 was serviced at the same Pittsburgh Porsche dealership from new until recorded service stopped being documented in the booklet after 56,600 miles.  

“Eventually, the Porsche made its way into the hands of former racing driver and race team owner, Mr. Chip Ganassi,” the listing states. “Being the team owner of Chip Ganassi Racing and a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame means the staff and headquarters would be fully prepared to handle a nut and bolt restoration on a car. That is exactly what the Chip Ganassi Racing team did, they completed a full restoration for their legendary owner in the car’s original color combination. The restoration is documented with photos in the CD which is included in the file for this vehicle.” 

Chip Ganassi founded Chip Ganassi Racing in 1990 and, in the ensuing decades, the Indianapolis-based team has competed in the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series, IndyCar, FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Extreme E. His teams have won 21 championships in various racing disciplines, and his extensive list of achievements as a team owner include five Indianapolis 500 wins plus victories at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans, 2010 Daytona 500 and the 2010 Brickyard 400. Ganassi is the first team owner to have Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400 and 24 Hours of Daytona victories within the same 12-month span.

This matching-numbers 914/6 is chassis No. 9141430383 and is powered by the original 1,991cc SOHC flat-six (Engine No. 6414137) with twin carburetors that produced a factory-rated 111 bhp at 5,800 rpm when new. The engine was overhauled during current ownership. This 914/6 features a matching-numbers five-speed manual transmission, four-wheel disc brakes and four-wheel independent suspension.

Bonhams’ Amelia Island Auction is scheduled for March 2^nd, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. (EST)

Every car guy and gal who visits Scottsdale knows about it. During Barrett-Jackson’s three-ring circus in January, the number of cars and spectators is off the hook. We couldn’t be talking about anything other than the Pavilions Rock ‘n Roll Car Show, a weekly event where automotive enthusiasts bring their cars to be social and show off. Vehicles come and go throughout the day, so the mix of cars can change within minutes. It was at the Pavilions (or, as staffer Jalopy Jeff calls it, “The Pavs”) that we caught up with this very interesting 1968 Pontiac Bonneville.

To be honest, any full-size 1968 Pontiac is not the most collectible car out there. Some feel the snout echoes shades of Edsel, while others feel earlier (pre-1967) full-size Ponchos had more style. Plus, it’s a muscle car world out there, so most sporty and performance models garner more enthusiasm. However, 1968 Bonnevilles feature strong land yacht qualities, plus it’s the last full-size Pontiac available with a four-speed. A friend owns a Catalina two-door sedan with a factory 390-horsepower 428 HO and four-speed, so clearly there was someone out there who was attracted to the charms of full-size Pontiac performance in 1968.

This Bonneville convertible that pulled up to the Pavilions is a little different, but no less unique. Take a look and you’ll notice hidden headlights. Hey, who put a Grand Prix grille on a Bonneville? Looks cool but that’s a GP piece, right?

Well, yes and no. In a May 24, 1968 bulletin, Pontiac introduced T83 concealed headlights as an option for all Bonneville models. There is no information on how many Bonnevilles were built with this option, but I bet even the most knowledgeable Pontiac folks aren’t aware it was available. I myself didn’t learn until five years ago when one with documentation appeared on eBay.

Taking a look at this Poncho’s window sticker continues to impress — here’s the complete tally.

• April Gold
• L79 428/375
• M40 Turbo Hydramatic transmission
• J75 power antenna
• U58 AM/FM Stereo
• B93 Door edge guards
• T83 Retractable headlamp covers
• D34 Right-hand vanity mirror
• D33 Left-hand remote mirror
• A39 Custom seat belts
• K30 Cruise control
• N10 Dual exhaust
• A90 Remote trunk release
• N40 Power steering
• N33 Tilt steering wheel
• Y87 Brougham trim group
• J52 Front disc brakes
• A02 Tinted windshield
• A93 Power door locks
• A32 Power vent windows
• A42 Power front bench seat
• A53 Strato-bench seat
• C75 Automatic temperature control
• C60 Air conditioning
• B32 Front floor mats
• B33 Rear floor mats
• T87 Cornering lamps
• U41 Low fuel warning lamp
• UA1 Heavy-duty battery
• K45 Heavy-duty battery
• P26 White sidewall 8.45 x 15 Rayon tires

Base price for a 1968 Bonneville convertible was $3,800. This one was originally ordered with $2,191.12 worth of options plus $65.99 destination fee, this Bonnie stickered at $6,057.11. That’s quite an expensive Pontiac at the time!

Even without the hidden headlights, this is quite a loaded Bonneville with many rare options. It also goes to show that you don’t need to be hung up with Hemi this and solid-lifter that in order to have a fun and interesting collectible.

Today we’re looking at AutoHunter Cinema’s Interesting Find of a heavily modified 1989 Ferrari F40 with racing history. This car was originally finished in Rossa Corsa, as all F40s were, before it was repainted yellow while racing in various motorsports events, including the Ferrari-Porsche Challenge series. Eventually, it would make its way to the Zanasi group in Maranello, Italy, where the car would be finished in Nardo Gray.

Aside from the color change, the car would undergo engine upgrades producing a base tune of 700 horsepower, with the option of turning up the power to 1000 horsepower. The car would feature further mechanical work and interior upgrades like the blue bucket seats intended to pay homage to the early Ferrari racecars of the 1960s. This 1989 Ferrari F40 went on to sell at the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction for $2,750,000. We wish the owner better luck than this guy.

Honda co-founder Takeo Fujisawa has been inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, the Detroit-area shrine to prominent auto-industry figures.

Fujisawa was the business partner of Soichiro Honda and was instrumental in building Honda into a successful company. While Honda supplied the ideas, Fujisawa brought a pragmatic business sense to the operation.

Born on November 10, 1910, Fujisawa originally thought of becoming a teacher but ended up as a salesmen for a steel products company and then a lumber company. He met Honda in 1949, about one year after he founded his eponymous company, which then was a small operation in the Japanese city of Hamamatsu. The company was just transitioning from making small engines for mounting on bicycle frames to making complete motorcycles, having just launched the Dream D-Type.

Despite different personalities (Fujisawa was much more reserved than Honda), the two hit it off. Fujisawa formally joined Honda in October of 1949 as Honda’s right-hand man, responsible for sales, finance, and marketing. He helped steer Honda, who maintained control of product development and engineering, making several crucial decisions to grow the company.

One of those decisions was the 1959 establishment of American Honda, the company’s first overseas branch, something Soichiro Honda wasn’t initially enthusiastic about. He hoped to build the company’s reputation mainly through motorsports, but Fujisawa thought it was more important to enter the U.S. market, declaring that “to succeed in the U.S. is to succeed worldwide.”

Fujisawa also insisted that Honda establish its own U.S. dealer network (initially selling motorcycles and later cars), rather than rely on an importer, as most other Japanese companies were doing at the time. In 1960 he also established Honda R&D as a separate company, ensuring that research would be separately funded and wouldn’t have to rely on the volatile car and motorcycle market.

Honda and Fujisawa agreed to retire together, which they did in March 1973. Fujisawa died in December 1998.

Located next to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, the Automotive Hall of Fame was founded in 1939 to honor individuals who have had a significant impact on the auto industry. It includes not only automaker founders like Ferruccio Lamborghini, but also enthusiasts like Jay Leno and concours organizer Helene Rother. Fujisawa will be formally inducted in July 2023.

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

Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is a 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1.

This Mach 1’s original Bright Red exterior was refinished in Wimbledon White by previous ownership. The Ford’s Wimbledon White exterior is complemented by a functional NASA hood,  black side accent stripes, a matte black rear spoiler, and a matte black lower body.

It rides on new 14-inch chrome Magnum 500-style wheels with BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires.

“According to the selling dealer, the black vinyl interior (trim code GA) is original,” the listing states. “Features include fabric inserts, a center console with a manual transmission shifter, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, a digital AM/FM stereo with an equalizer and a trunk-mounted subwoofer, manual windows, and simulated woodgrain accents.”

Under the Ford Mustang’s functional NASA hood is a Q-code 351ci V8 engine that is paired with a four-speed manual transmission. This Mach 1 features a dual exhaust system that exits at the rear through a pair of outlets, and power front disc and rear drum brakes.

The odometer reads 48,576 miles, which the selling dealer reports to be accurate, and the listing advises that a safety check was performed when the vehicle was added to its inventory.

The sale includes a clear title, and a Marti Report.

This Mustang’s auction ends on Monday, February 27, 2023, at 3:40 p.m. (MST)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery

The 1970s were a time of automotive excess: an era when size, strength, and luxuries were pushed to increasingly high standards just before the fuel crisis caused things to scale back.

The Pick of the Day is a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Buford, Georgia.

“If you’re shopping for a ’76 Eldorado convertible, you already know that 1976 was the last year that Cadillac produced a convertible, and the Eldorado was the ultimate in luxury,” the listing begins.

That statement is only somewhat true: This was the last convertible of its generation, but not the last overall. An Eldorado convertible was reintroduced in 1984, and the 2004-2009 Cadillac XLR was also a two-seat roadster that shared platforms with the sixth-generation Corvette. At any rate, we’ll give the seller the benefit of the doubt because this looks like a remarkable example of a rare car.

The Eldorado was produced for 12 generations over the course of 50 years beginning with the 1952 model year. Today’s feature car comes from the ninth generation which debuted in 1971 on the General Motors E-body platform. The aesthetics reflected significant design updates from the prior car, including a wheelbase that was stretched by six inches. Overall length was pushed to 224 inches in 1976, making it possible for the roomy interior to accommodate six passengers comfortably via two bench seats.

“I’m the second owner and purchased it from a family member in 1996,” the listing states. “It has always been garaged and there’s no apparent rust.” Finished in “Firethorn Red,” this Eldorado shows 38,902 miles on the odometer and was reportedly repainted in 1998. The seller notes that the convertible top and the door panels could use some upholstery work, but the car looks great inside and out.

Moving this big beast down the road is a similarly big motor: Available powerplants were a 425cid V8 and a massive 500cid V8. Either one could be mated only to a three-speed automatic transmission.

Even though General Motors marketed this car as “the last American convertible,” we now know otherwise. Still, these 1976 convertible models have a special place in automotive history as the last of their kind. The final Eldorado, incidentally, rolled off the assembly in April 2002, about 21 years ago. That unit was donated to the Cadillac Museum in honor of one of Cadillac’s dealers, Don Massey.

“The car rides like a dream and always attracts attention,” the listing concludes. The asking price is $24,900 for this well-kept drop-top Cadillac Eldorado that would look right at home in any hometown parade.

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

Automobile security has been a concern on the radars of many vehicle owners in recent years, but during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic worries mounted as auto theft has spiked to astronomical figures across the U.S. Two years after shutdowns caused by the pandemic began, the automotive industry is still grappling with vehicle theft.

LandAirSea Director of Analytics Jared Zientz is seeing an uptick in theft in both big and small cities and across all of the nearly 40 verticals that the company services. LandAirSea provides GPS tracking solutions for automotive dealerships and adjacent industries, as well as any industry in need of monitoring a terrain, air or marine asset on the move.

“Everything is being stolen nowadays. Police can’t even keep up and now, insurance companies are requiring even longer timelines before paying out any claims.” Zientz said.

The number of vehicles stolen by thieves varies by year. Generally, though, you can expect the FBI to report about 720,000 stolen vehicles per year in the United States. Nearly 220 out of 100,000 Americans will experience a car theft within the next year. 

“Small and midsize businesses have to worry about everything from quality workmanship and employees to billing and supply chain. Now, they have to worry about their assets being stolen, how it affects their jobs and how long it will take their insurance — if they even can afford to carry it — on their hard-earned assets,” Zientz said.

Experts are expecting theft activity to remain high during 2022, so vehicle owners must stay vigilant by getting ahead of the issue.

Zientz has, however, also seen positive signs for business owners that indicate now is a good time to invest in asset protection, especially when it comes to GPS tracking. In recent years, GPS hardware has become more affordable and reliable, and easier for the average person to use than ever before.

By installing a GPS tracker, vehicle owners can have peace of mind knowing they can always see where important equipment or shipments are and can provide that data to law enforcement if needed. Mobile device applications connected to GPS software provide flexibility for asset managers to monitor their assets from anywhere, allowing for instant data visibility for quick decision-making.

One company providing modern and affordable GPS tracking devices is LandAirSea, which offers a no-contract solution for transportation and logistics companies and dozens of other industries that need the locations of their equipment monitored. Combining the power of its proprietary plug-and-play GPS tracking hardware and user-friendly software platform, companies can easily track and manage their assets on a single account — whether they have one or 2,000 units. 

With the real-time GPS asset tracker LandAirSea 54, users can receive location updates as frequently as once every three seconds to once every 24 hours. Vehicle owners also have the option to schedule tracking only during the night if assets are in use during the day. 

Using the API-integrative platform, users can set up geofences and receive email or text alerts when assets move outside a designated area. For vehicle owners with multiple assets, such as a dealership with a growing fleet,  managers can label units with a custom icon and name for easy identification.

Other uses of LandAirSea’s GPS trackers include:

• Visibility tool for confirmation that a service or operation has been performed.
• Staff training, monitoring driver behavior and monitoring deadhead miles.
• Reduction in carbon emissions through route monitoring.

As a family-run business, LandAirSea ensures quality customer service. It has an in-house tech support team to assist clients in setting up or adjusting asset tracking requirements as their business grows.

“LandAirSea has spent nearly 30 years working across numerous different markets to create a customizable and easy-to-use software platform and a reliable GPS tracking device.” Zientz said.

Connect with LandAirSea representatives at any of the ways below to learn more about their GPS tracking solutions:

Website: https://landairsea.com

Email: sales@landairsea.com

Sales: (847) 462-8100

Jared Zientz: (815) 347-2229