Trivia: What was the first model year that Chevrolet offered concealed headlights in three series? Nineteen sixty-eight. Did you get the correct answer? The Corvette had them standard, and the Camaro and Caprice had them optional. Our Pick of the Day, a 1968 Chevrolet Caprice Estate Wagon, is the first of two instances that a full-size Chevrolet could have hidden headlights. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Quebec, Canada.
Chevrolet’s wagons fluctuated in the 1950-60s—for example, in the exalted model year of 1955, the wagons were tied to the traditional trim levels of 150, 210, and Bel Air, with the unique Nomad being a special Bel Air model beyond the Bel Air wagon. Starting in 1956, the wagons became the 150 Handyman and 210 Handyman (both two-doors), 210 Townsman, and 210 Beauville and Bel Air Beauville.
For 1959, when Chevrolet settled with Biscayne, Bel Air, and Impala models within its full-size series, the corresponding wagons became Brookwood, Parkwood and Kingswood, and Nomad, respectively. Starting in 1961, the mid-level Kingswood was discontinued, leaving the Parkwood among the Brookwood and Nomad wagons. And then, for 1962, wagons lost their specific names, instead returning to conventional series names like Biscayne, Bel Air, and Impala. When the Caprice became a full-line model and top trim level for 1966 (after its 1965 introduction as a four-door hardtop), a Caprice wagon joined the lineup.
Starting in 1969, full-size wagon models returned to using unique names. In this case, Brookwood, Townsman, Kingswood, and Kingswood Estate reflected the respective Biscayne, Bel Air, Impala, and Caprice trim levels.
Of course, 1969 was the second and last instance a full-size Chevy could have hidden headlights—in fact, a 1969 Caprice appeared as our Pick of the Day earlier this week. The 1969s with this option are much more familiar than the ’68, though neither model year with hidden headlights is rare—for 1968, 14,929 Caprices were built with option “T83” compared to 23,797 built for 1969.
This Capri Cream 1968 Chevrolet Caprice Estate Wagon looks fabulous with its hidden headlights, but there’s more than meets the eye thanks to the big-block 427 backed by a four-speed manual. Seller claims the engine is not original, and he’s unsure about the transmission, but we can recognize that this is a fun family hauler with “mild choppy cam, Edelbrock Performer intake, [and] Holley 750cfm carburetor” to give more than the 385 horsepower that an original 427 may offer. Rally wheels with hubcaps ride on BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires. Inside, the tan interior features a full bench seat, column-mounted aftermarket tachometer, clock, and rear-facing third seat.
Yes, this Bow Tie is located near Montreal—somewhat far for many of you—but the dealership has experience with importation and transportation, so there shouldn’t be an issue. But wouldn’t you rather fly your family to Quebec and drive back home in this? For 35,995 American dollars, it would be the trip of a lifetime.
This 1936 Chevrolet two-door sedan street rod was purchased by the seller out of Tennessee in 2021 and it was subsequently repainted metallic blue. Power is from a 454ci V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission, and the interior is trimmed in tan vinyl upholstery. Additional equipment includes a limited-slip rear differential, disc brakes, power steering, and 15″ American Racing alloy wheels. The interior is outfitted with front bucket seats, Vintage Air climate control, power windows, a Lokar floor shifter, and a Kenwood CD stereo. This Chevrolet street rod is now offered with parts records and a clean Florida title in the seller’s name.
The car was repainted in metallic blue under current ownership, and the rear bodywork has been modified. The bumpers and engine cover side panels have been removed, and other exterior details include a split windshield, tinted glass, dual side mirrors, running boards, and flush-mounted taillights. A portion of the exterior photos were taken in 2022 and 2023.
American Racing 15” alloy wheels are mounted with Blacklion front and Cooper Cobra rear tires. The seller tells us that the car is equipped with a front subframe assembly sourced from a Chevrolet Camaro, while other equipment includes power steering and air-adjustable rear shock absorbers. Stopping power is provided by four-wheel disc brakes.
The cabin has been re-trimmed with front bucket seats and a rear bench upholstered in tan vinyl with beige inserts. Additional appointments include tan carpets, power windows, custom door panels, Vintage Air climate control, a floor shifter, and a Kenwood stereo concealed in the glove box. The windshield wiper components have been replaced per the seller. The interior photos were taken in 2022.
The three-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a polished instrument panel that houses a Dolphin GPS speedometer and auxiliary gauges. The car has been driven approximately 650 miles since the completion of the build according to the seller. True mileage is unknown.
The replacement 454ci V8 was installed under prior ownership and is equipped with a four-barrel carburetor, a CVF serpentine accessory drive system, chrome valve covers, and coated headers that feed into a dual exhaust system.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission. The seller tells us that the rear axle assembly was sourced from a Chevrolet Camaro and is equipped with a limited-slip differential. The underside photos in the gallery that show the car on a lift were taken in 2022.
So I will say at the start that I did not like the Panamera when it was introduced. Maybe it was because the first one I saw was in metallic brown and looked like a big potato to me. I also did not understand why Porsche thought that their 4-door sedan needed to look like a 911. I had not driven one, but it was in many ways an example of contempt prior to investigation.
Then a few weeks ago, while attending The Amelia Concours d’Elegance, I got my first ride in a 2014 Panamera. I was in the car with three other people and was in the back seat. I am 6 feet, 4 inches tall, and sitting beside me was my 6-foot-tall friend Morgan. The driver and front-seat passenger were my friends Alan Galbraith (6-foot-6) and Brian Hengeveld (6-foot-3), who is the owner of the Panamera Turbo S we were in. Unbelievable as it sounds, every one of us was able to sit comfortably in this Panamera ‒ and I don’t just mean the car was comfortable for our short trip back to our hotel, but comfortable enough to be in for hours. That surprised me. It was a nice car, honestly at the level of an Aston for fit and finish.
The second surprise came with the Panamera’s performance. These are not only incredibly well-crafted and luxurious cars; they are also staggeringly fast and handle amazingly well. The ride was an eye-opener. I have since driven another Panamera and can testify these cars are the essence of a 4-door sports car, much in the same way the BMW M5 is.
Also, as time passes, the styling ‒ which I initially did not like ‒ has really grown on me. No, I would not want a brown model, which I still think looks like a potato, but in other colors ‒ gray, blue and red specifically ‒ the Panamera is starting to look better and better to my eye.
The exterior of this Panamera 4S is in Agate Gray Metallic over a Luxor Beige interior. The car has nice options, such as adaptive air suspension including PASM, Lane Change Assist (LCA) with blind-spot detection, Sport Chrono Package Plus, a heated multifunction steering wheel in Tineo wood, an interior Tineo Wood Package, Bose audio and the Premium Package. The price for this 2013 Porsche Panamera 4S when new was $113,900.
The performance of the 2013 Porsche Panamera 4S is quite strong. The 4.6-liter V8 under the hood has 400 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, which gives the 2013 Panamera 4S a 4.6 second 0-60 time and a top speed of 177 mph. Combine that with the amazing grip of the Panamera’s all-wheel-drive system and you have a serious performance car that just happens to have room for four.
This Porsche Panamera 4S looks to be in truly excellent condition with no wear on the exterior or any detectable paint issues. The Agate Gray paint looks great on this car and gives it an elegant look.
The interior is the same, with the Luxor Beige leather showing no wear whatsoever. The wood trim elevates the interior and the options on this car, especially the cool Sport Chrono Package, make the view from the driver’s seat something special.
The underside of the car is somehow as clean as the exterior. I see no signs of any wear or damage and cannot even see any surface rust on fasteners.
I would ask the seller about the service history and see what you can find, as these cars require care and don’t always get the services they need.
Now for the best part. Due to market depreciation, this 2013 Porsche Panamera 4S has an asking price of only $36,995, which is less than one-third of what it cost new. When you take in the fact that the car has covered only 33,000 miles since it was new, this seems like a no-brainer at the price. It would be very difficult to find another model that offers the kind of performance and luxury as this Panamera does for the same price.
I now admit that I was wrong about these cars and have become a bit of a fan, especially at their current prices. My advice is to buy it now before the world wakes up and recognizes just how good the Panamera is.
This ’27 Ford Model T was built into a hot rod by a previous owner with a chopped and channeled steel body painted mint green. The car rides on a modified wheelbase and lowered suspension with deep-dish wire wheels, and inside are bucket seats, a drilled steering wheel, and a custom console. Power comes from a 305ci V8 linked to a three-speed automatic, and the seller recently installed a 600-cfm Holley carburetor and replaced the battery and starter. Acquired by the seller in 2023, this hot rod T is now offered with a clean Texas title in the seller’s name.
The steel body has been chopped and channeled, and the seller notes the solid roof is a replacement component. The mint green paintwork has hand-painted pinstriping and flourishes, and flaws and chips are noted along with touched-up areas.
The modern headlights have integrated turn signals, and a “Flying Eyeball” mascot is mounted on the radiator cap. The aluminum fuel tank is mounted in the trunk.
The car rides on a modified wheelbase, and the front end is comprised of a drop axle, a transverse leaf spring, tube shocks, and radius rods. Out back are adjustable coilovers and a four-link setup according to the seller. The staggered deep-dish wire wheels have Ford-logo hubcaps, body-color pinstripes, and whitewall tires.
The drilled bucket seats have brown pads and harnesses. A body-color console has been added for the shifter, and it has a power outlet. Shrinkage is noted on the headliner.
The steering wheel is made from drilled aluminum and is mounted on a quick-release hub. The seller has added 700 of the ~1,350 miles on the Classic Instruments cluster.
The CPA-code 305ci V8 block is painted gold and topped by an Edelbrock intake and Mickey Thompson valve covers. The seller installed a Holley 600-cfm carburetor under the Cadillac-style air grabber intake recently, and the wrapped lake-style headers have baffles. The aluminum radiator is cooled by an electric fan.
The car has a three-speed Turbo Hydramatic transmission and a 10-bolt rear end.
It is titled as a 1927 Ford in Texas using VIN 211072. The title has a VIN Certification Waived remark.
For the fourth time in a row, I had the opportunity to take a car from the Maine Classic Car Museum (where I am the collections manager) and show it at The Amelia Concours d’Elegance. This year, we chose a 1954 Hudson Italia for the event. This was not just any Italia (already a special car with only 26 built)—it is the only unrestored car out of those 26, being completely original down to its 71-year-old tires.
I went up to Maine prior to the Italia being shipped to Florida and spent four days carefully cleaning and prepping it for the Concours. This might not sound like a big deal but, with a car this old and original, you have to be extra careful as some of the paint is cracking and your job is to clean the car without causing more paint to flake off. After we finished that, we made sure the car was mechanically ready to go, checking all the systems and ensuring that the car was drivable. Everything checked fine, so the Hudson was loaded on the transport trailer bound for the Sunshine State.
On the Monday before the show, while I was still at home in Connecticut, my driver, Mark, called to let me know that the car was at the destination but that there was a problem: while the Italia was being moved off the trailer, it had developed a pretty serious cooling system leak and was pouring antifreeze all over. I asked Mark, whom I knew from previous shipping adventures, if he could find out where the leak was coming from. He said he would check and let me know.
About an hour later, Mark told me it was a broken heater hose. As we had originally thought it might be a blown head gasket, I was thrilled to know it was something simple. I went to my local auto parts store and bought three feet of 5/8-inch heater hose and several hose clamps, gathered some extra tools, and packed it all in my luggage. I also called Mark and let him know I would be by the car by 3 p.m. on Wednesday to fix the issues.
I arrived at the Amelia Island Ritz Carlton at 2:30 p.m. and, with equipment at hand, got a ride to the Peters Point drop-off spot next to the Ritz.
Cooling system repaired but brakes locked up.
After getting to the car, Mark and I got right to work. It turns out that two of the heater hoses were broken, so we replaced both in 42 minutes, added coolant, and started the car. The system was fine—there were no leaks and the car ran as it should. We congratulated ourselves for a job well done . . . and then I slid into the Italia and put it in reverse to back off the ramp. The car had a hard time moving backwards, and the brake pedal felt really hard. Mark and I eventually got the Italia off the liftgate, but the brakes were locked up.
I sat in the Italia for a few minutes trying to figure out what to do next. It was not drivable, so we were never going to make it to the garage at the Ritz, let alone the show field on Sunday. Then I had the idea to call the only person I knew who might have a solution: The Amelia founder Bill Warner. He picked up on the first ring and asked what was going on.
I explained that the brakes on the Italia were locked up and asked if he had any ideas of where to go to get it sorted out as I could not fix it on the back of a truck. He said to call a guy named Al at Eight Flags Autosports in Fernandina Beach, just down the road. I called, but got their answering machine as it was after 5 p.m. I left a message explaining that Bill had said to call. About five minutes later, Al called me back and said that if I could get the car there by 8:15 a.m. the next day, they may be able to help. I thanked him and immediately scheduled a pickup in the morning with Hagerty’s roadside assistance service. The rest of the evening, throughout dinner and while talking with friends, I stressed out about whether or not we were going to be able to show the Italia.
8 Flags
The next day I met my tow driver on time, and we towed the car to Eight Flags. Al was there and said he would handle it. I took a taxi ride back to the hotel as I had an upcoming 11 a.m. lunch. During the entire meal, while talking to various VIPs in the classic car world, my head was spinning thinking about the car. What surprised me is that, during the lunch, I received my first phone call from Al giving me a status report on the work being done and then, at 3:45, I received the call I was hoping for: the Hudson was ready—the brakes worked as they should, and it was time for pickup.
I contacted Hagerty Roadside Assistance and, 45 minutes later, we were unloading the car and parking it at the Ritz.
The next day saw me working as the head judge at the Classic Motorsports Amelia Island Kickoff Show. We had a field of more than 150 cars with everything from muscle cars to BMWs, Porsches, and Ferraris. My amazing judging team did a terrific job in choosing the awards and, by shows end, the Best of Show award was won by a Ferrari 360 Spyder.
Some other standout cars were an amazing E30 M3, one of the best second-generation Fiat 124 Sport Coupes I have ever seen, and a stunning green Viper. That was in addition to the huge turnout of Morgan cars in attendance dating from the mid 1950s to the 2000s.
When we returned to the hotel, we learned that the day of the Concours had been moved ahead to Saturday due to a 90-percent chance of thundershowers on Sunday. This meant that the rest of the evening was spent with friends John Saccameno, Alan Galbraith, and me working to put the final cleaning touches on the Italia, knowing full well that we would have to again go over the car the following morning. That is the nature of concours events! We all turned in early, as being ready to drive on the field at 6 a.m. makes for an early morning followed by a long show day.
Saturday saw me up at 5:15 a.m. to set up for “Concours Day.” I was at the Italia at 5:45 where I found Alan already next to the car in the Ritz garage. He told me our friend Richard Lincoln had just left to line up with his Iso Rivolta, so we got in and headed to the drive in area where we found ourselves second in line behind our friend. We discovered that load-in was not going to happen for about 30 minutes, so we hung out talking with friends who were either in line to get on the field or there to watch the procession of cars.
At 6:30, we returned to the car and made the short trek to our space on the field in the American Limited Production Class. We were one of the first cars to be there and, after parking, started the final cleaning of the car. Alas, the one thing that I forgot to pack was a portable vacuum cleaner. Happily I found an entrant showing a Speed Yellow Porsche Carrera GT who had one to lend us.
Our friends stunning Porsche Carrera GT who loaned us the vacuum.
The first judges showed up at 8 a.m. to look at our car as a candidate for the Preservation Award. The judge from FIVA spent 20 minutes looking at the car and its documents, and went away impressed with its originality.
Our class judges were at our car by 9:15 so I showed them around, pointing out the originality and the documents that included the original bill of sale, as well as period photos of the car with its first owner.
The final judges, the Hagerty Youth Judging group, were the most fun. They were led by my friend Evan Zema. I took about 30 minutes showing them the Hudson, explaining the features, and answering the many questions they had. These kids were so thoughtful and enthusiastic and asked harder questions than the preservation and class judges. It was great fun to be able to show them the car.
The owner of the Italia Miles Prentice and my crew of John Sacramento, Joe Murphy, and Alan Galbraith
Then the waiting began. As usual, on Concours Day, I missed lunch, waiting to see if the Italia would take an award home. One p.m. came and went, then 2 and 3. At this point, the awards were already being given out and the cars were driving up to receive them, so I figured we were out of luck. Sometimes all the hard work in the world ends up finishing last. I asked my friends Alan, Joe, and John (all who helped with the car prep) to pick up our stuff and load it in the car as it appeared we were not going to win anything.
With judge Lowell Paddock, Chris Brewer, car owner Miles Prentice, tech helper John Saccameno, former owner of teh Italia Wayne caring, and friend Ralph Murano
As we were about halfway done, my friend and car collector Ralph Murano came by and suggested we should probably stop what we were doing as a new team of judges were handing out ribbons—including one for the Italia! We then were told to quickly get into our car as we needed to drive across the stage to obtain our award. We had yet to learn what the award was, but owner Miles Prentice hopped into the passenger seat and we took the drive through the show field to line up.
The Amelia – Automotive Concours Photography by Deremer Studios, LLC
The drive seemed to take forever, and proceeding through the crowd was seriously helped by the Hagerty staff and volunteers that guided us in.
The Amelia – Automotive Concours Photography by Deremer Studios, LLC
Finally we arrived at the stage where Leslie Kendall of the Petersen Automotive Museum gave us the Petersen award, and McKeel and Soon Hagerty (along with their daughter) congratulated us. The Petersen award is in a nutshell the award that goes out to a car that they wish they had in the Petersen collection—it is for a car that represents what the hobby stands for. Miles was thrilled and I could finally relax. Despite the many issues of the week, our car was a winner.
The Amelia – Automotive Concours Photography by Deremer Studios, LLCThe Amelia – Automotive Concours Photography by Deremer Studios, LLC
The two Best of Show awards went to a pair of very deserving cars: a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B won Best of Show, Concours d’Elegance, and a 1967 Lotus 49 was honored as Best of Show, Concours de Sport.
Amelia Concours Automotive Photography by Deremer Studios, LLC
The Concours d’Elegance-winning 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B is Chassis No. 412028 and believed to be one of the prototypes built to compete in the 1938 Mille Miglia. When it was restored, it was found that the car was an original short chassis model, and the engine had different characteristics than that of the Sport 8C 2.9, including a larger, different exhaust system. The car was ordered new in 1938 by the famous Italian racing champion Giuseppe Farina. It is the only 8C 2900 bodied by Farina.
Amelia Concours Automotive Photography by Deremer Studios, LLC
The Concours de Sport-winning 1967 Lotus 49 Chassis No. 49/2 is the second Lotus 49 built. It was debuted by the legendary Jimmy Clark at Zandvoort in 1967. In addition to winning with Clark at Silverstone and Watkins Glen, it also was the winner of four Tasman races from 1967-68 while being driven in 1968 by Jackie Oliver and Jo Siffert. It was then raced by Mario Andretti in South Africa in 1969, and afterwards sold to Pete Lovely by Lotus’ Colin Chapman in 1969. Lovely then raced the car in multiple grand prixs from 1969-71. The car was restored by Classic Team Lotus in 2010.
The Amelia – Automotive Concours Photography by Deremer Studios, LLC
After the awards were finished, I drove the Hudson back to the truck load-in area and met my driver, Mark. I thanked him again for all the great help over the week, and even commemorated the weekend with a picture of the two of us holding the award, as he was part of us winning.
The takeaway for you, the reader, is that the next time you go to a concours event and see all the glitz and glamour, the amazing cars and people dressed in expensive clothes, remember that sometimes the lead-up to the show is anything but glamorous and involves a lot of hard work assisted by good people.
Studebaker’s history runs deep in the transportation industry. The company was first incorporated in 1868 as a coachbuilder for wagons and buggies. By the early 1900s, Studebaker began dabbling in motorized vehicles – some of which were electric, and some of which were gasoline-powered. Its operations eventually phased out in the 1960s after a series of mergers and an overall decline in vehicle sales volume. Nonetheless, Studebaker built a legacy, and one of the cars that put Studebaker on the map (at least during the company’s prosperous period) was a Champion in its own right.
“This is a California car and has only had two owners,” the listing begins. “No rust issues and a straight body. Nice chrome and paint, newer rubber.”
Finished in light green with a dark green roof, the body is chrome-laden in typical 1950s fashion. Exterior features include front bumper guards, vented front fenders, a driver side mirror, whitewall tires and chrome wheelcovers. The green theme makes its way to the dashboard and even the steering column. The seller says the upholstery is in “decent condition” but, from the photos, we think it looks solid for a 70-year-old car.
The Champion was produced in South Bend, Indiana, by Studebaker from 1939 through 1958. Units produced between 1953 through 1956 are referred to as fourth-generation Champions. Design language during that era (for the coupes, sedans and station wagons alike) conveyed what Studebaker called a “European look” since the body lines were unique compared to traditional domestics of the era. The two-door coupes from the era with B-pillars were called Starlights, while the pillarless hardtops were called Starliners. Today’s featured car is a Starlight.
Power originates with a flathead inline-six mated to a three-speed manual transmission. The listing says that the car “runs good for [its] age,” and recent mechanical work included a rebuild of the carburetor and replacement of the spark plugs. The odometer shows 51,344 miles, but we aren’t sure if the reading is accurate or if it has rolled over.
Either way, you will be hard-pressed to find a better opportunity for a 1950s Champion at the price point. “Way under what it’s worth, and far less than I have put into it,” the listing concludes.
In the world of American collector cars there is not likely a more popular car than the Ford Mustang. These cars are the best supported collector car for parts, a strong club network and scores of shops that specialize solely in the Mustang.
The reason for this is that the Mustang, especially the 1960s models, have always been popular. Ford has had an uninterrupted production of the Mustang, and they have always been in the public eye. They are also the most identifiable classic car in the world. Ask anyone to identify one, even people not in the car hobby, and they will know what a Mustang is at a glance.
The Mustang is also a fun car to drive, and can be easily upgraded with modern drivetrains, suspension, interiors and brakes, making it a classic car that you can literally drive every day. It’s a V8-powered car that can cruise the highway at speed, get groceries, take you to work and also look great at any local or regional car show you might want to attend. They are usable, comfortable and remarkably modern for a car created in the 1960s and are always my recommendation for someone looking for their first American-made collector car. Every significant car collection always seems to have at least one Mustang.
If you are looking for a Mustang to drive and enjoy, this is one to seriously consider. This car has been upgraded with a 331ci stroker V8 backed by a five-speed T-5 Tremec manual transmission, an eight-inch 28-spline Eaton Truetrac limited-slip differential with 3.55 gears and an upgraded performance suspension. It was restored years ago and is ready to drive and enjoy. It is not in show condition, but with its many performance mods, looks to be an excellent option if you’re looking to enjoy a classic Mustang. It is a car you could buy to drive and slowly make better; a rolling restoration project if you choose – but also quite satisfactory as is.
This Mustang is finished in Poppy Red paint with a black top. The paint is in its original color and, while not perfect (notice the driver’s-side rocker panel and various chips around the body), appears to be presentable. Yes, there are paint issues, but again, these are things you can get to over time as you enjoy driving the car – or perhaps you’ll enjoy surprising people with what looks like an old Mustang but has impressive performance.
The interior is finished in correct white vinyl and is also presentable, though showing one wear. I personally would replace the seat covers with a set of the optional Mustang Pony interior covers, as they make the interior look so much nicer. I love the embossed horses on the Pony interior, and the kit for this is available from tons of places at a very reasonable price of about $800. It can be installed by any quality interior shop and would make the car immediately seem nicer. I not only love the gauge cluster in this car, which includes a tach and full instrumentation, but also the look of the stock steering wheel.
Under the hood is the original 289ci Ford engine, which has been rebuilt as a 331 stroker. This combination results in a very noticeable increase in both torque and horsepower. The specs of this engine rebuild will prove this, with modifications that include a Summit Racing 600-cfm four-barrel carburetor, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold, an Edelbrock Victor water pump, a Comp Cams performance camshaft, Air Flow Research 185 heads, a SCAT crankshaft and rods, Powermaster starter and alternator, Doug’s TRI-Y headers, ARP hardware and a Griffin radiator.
The suspension is more of the same, with modifications that include a front disc brake conversion, Stage 5 front suspension, Bilstein shock absorbers with street valving and 4.5 mid-eye leaf springs. This all works to make this Mustang handle much better than any stock example would.
What I like about this listing is how candid the owner is about the car’s needs. He discloses there are some pinholes in the rear floor pans but is including a proper replacement set. He also states there is a slight engine oil leak that is likely a rear main seal and that the top should be replaced, as the rear window is broken. (I would make this the first thing I would do after buying this car.) This seems to be a seller that will tell you about all the car’s issues – and that is a seller I personally like to buy a car from.
If you’ve been looking for a classic Mustang with thousands of dollars of good-quality performance modifications that still looks stock and can be slowly made a little better each year, this is one I would choose. Place your bid on this 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible before the auction ends on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).
Spring is on the horizon, which means more of the United States will begin having outdoor car shows. We have compiled some interesting events happening from east to west through the rest of March. If your local event isn’t mentioned, please leave a comment below for your fellow readers.
This chopped and channeled ’34 Ford is a steel-bodied pickup that was purchased as a project by the seller and built into a hot rod after 2010. It rides on a boxed ’34 frame with front and rear independent coilover suspension and 15″ aluminum wheels, and power comes from a fuel-injected 4.6-liter DOHC V8 linked to a 4R70W automatic and a Lincoln Mark VIII rear end with an 8.8″ differential. The truck also has headers, a dual exhaust system, an aluminum fuel tank and radiator, bomber-style seats, and a madrone-lined bed with aluminum strips. This hot rod pickup is now offered with spare parts, records, and a clean Oregon title in the seller’s name.
The build utilizes a boxed ’34 frame that has been modified to accept front and rear independent suspension. The front end is a Mustang II-style setup with coilovers, power steering, and disc brakes, and the independent rear end is from a ’93 Lincoln Mark VIII and also utilizes coilovers and discs.
The seller used a ’32 steel cab, a steel ’34 bed, and fiberglass fenders. The top was chopped ~3.5″ and the cab was channeled ~4″ according to the seller, who notes the paint color is Chrysler Dove Gray with a clearcoat. There are paint chips from use, and leather straps secure the hood.
The cowl vent and tilt-out windshield remain operational, and the spreader bar has integrated signals that also act as daytime running lights.
Madrone wood and aluminum strips were used to line the bed.
The seller mounted 15″ alloy wheels and staggered Kuhmo tires. Braking is provided by four-wheel power-assisted discs.
The bomber-style seats are trimmed in diamond-stitched black vinyl, and seatbelts are provided for both seats. The roll-and-pleat headliner is also black, and the custom center console has a cup holder ahead of the shifter.
A tilt column, Grant steering wheel, and Marshall instruments were also used. The 218 miles on the cluster represents the distance driven since completion.
The 4.6-liter modular V8 has dual overhead cams and fuel injection. Hedman headers were installed along with a custom intake and an aluminum radiator and fuel tank. The oil was changed approximately 20 miles ago.
The truck has a four-speed automatic transmission linked to an 8.8″ rear end through an aluminum driveshaft.
The truck is titled in Oregon as a 1934 Ford using VIN 496601.
The Pontiac GTO had a strong advantage: it was both a Pontiac and was a first-mover in the market, inspiring competing brands to bring out their own performance models. However, the GTO also was a victim of General Motors’ success, as GM had instituted several edicts to maintain its stature without the roving eye of the federal government. How the GTO managed to compete with its special mix of strengths while developing some new ones is nicely reflected by this 1969 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV that will go on the block at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Palm Beach Auction April 24-26, 2025 at the South Florida Fairgrounds.
Being a Pontiac in 1964 was like being the popular guy at school—everyone wants to be like you and be around you. Pontiac had the strongest image and styling, which brought the brand up to #3 in sales. That was quite an achievement for a scrappy company that featured fewer dealerships and a higher market position than Plymouth, the traditional #3. And, when the GTO was introduced, it led to a host of copycats that lasted well into the 1970s (even when high-performance was gasping for breath).
Then, there’s the first-mover effect, which often gives a company market advantages not seen by those who follow. It’s doubtful Pontiac would have been able to predict the me-toos that were to come for 1965, but nonetheless the company was able to establish market dominance with a formula that served as a template.
Combine the two and you had a performance model with strong styling and performance, the latter thanks to optional Tri-Power. However, a hint of the GTO’s disadvantage was becoming apparent, and it was magnified for 1967 when GM removed the availability of Tri-Power, instead using the new Rochester Quadrajet. By the middle of 1968, the disadvantage was even greater. GM had enacted an edict in 1964 that limited the cubic-inches of cars in a certain class, so while that Mopar may have had 426 and 440 engines, and Ford a 427 and 428, Pontiac had to make do with a 400 despite offering a 421 and 428 during the same few years.
The way Pontiac worked around this was to improve engine breathing by evolving its cylinder head design, plus having efficient exhaust manifolds didn’t hurt either. The first of the round-port heads came in April 1968 and was called the Ram Air II; after some tweaks, it was called Ram Air IV for 1969-70. These are considered the fastest-ever GTOs out of the showroom, able to take on larger cubes despite the size handicap.
This numbers-matching, Mayfair Maize 1969 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV is one of 700 hardtops built with the Ram Air IV engine (297 of those being Judges). A M21 close-ratio four-speed backed by 4.33 gears is how the first owner spec’d it out, though a subsequent owner has installed a 12-bolt rear with 3.31 gears—easy street, if you will. Features include concealed headlights (with the correct blacked-out grille), Rally II wheels, AM radio, and another fine pioneering item created by Pontiac: the hood-mounted tachometer. Documentation includes the original purchase order, sales contract, window sticker, PHS paperwork, Protect-O-Plate, original California license plate with 1969 registration, engine rebuild invoice, and more.
Sure, it wasn’t until 1970 that Pontiac was allowed to install a larger motor, but the 455 was no match for the fancy engineering dedicated to the 400 Ram Air IV. It’s the little engine that could, and you can become its new owner by having the high bid at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Palm Beach Auction April 24-26, 2025.
