Jeep is waging two campaigns right now. When “Twelve 4 Twelve” concludes later this year, there will be 12 new Wrangler special editions out on the roads and trails. The “Convoy” series focuses on “mission-ready special editions that embody strength, unity and purpose,” such as the stealthy Gladiator Black Ops. The newest addition to Jeep‘s convoy in the 2026 Gladiator Whitecap.

As its name implies, the Whitecap treatment includes a Bright White painted roof, but it also extends to the matching seven-slot grille, 1941 side‑stripe decal, and hood decal (on Rubicon, Rubicon X, Mojave, and Mojave X). Stellantis says the package was inspired by the earliest Jeep vehicles, so that may be why it looks familiar. Or perhaps it’s because December’s Twelve 4 Twelve release was the Wrangler Whitecap (which was reminiscent of the Chief package that Jeep offered on the JK Wrangler in 2017).

Adding the Whiteout trim to the Gladiator Sahara, Rubicon X, or Mojave X will cost $495; ticking the box for it on the Rubicon and Mojave models (when equipped with body‑color fender flares and the body‑color Freedom Top) will set you back the same amount. You can see the two-tone look on 2026 Gladiators in Jeep dealerships starting this spring.

The Roaring Twenties was a decade of modernization and optimism in the United States. Shortly before the stock market crash of late 1929, Ford came out with a successor to its Model T that still garners a collector following nearly 100 years later. One such car is a 1929 Ford Model A Tudor Custom that is listed on AutoHunter by a dealer in Gladstone, Oregon. The auction will end on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 12:15 p.m. (MST).

As a bit of backstory, between about 1908 and 1927, the pioneering Ford Model T had sold over 15 million units, making it the highest-selling vehicle in history until later being passed by the Volkswagen Beetle. Imagine being on Ford’s product planning team and trying to come up with a new car that could even come close to filling the shoes the Model T left behind.

That was where the Model A came into play, boasting a 40-horsepower engine (double what the Model T had), as well as conveniences like a three-speed transmission (replacing the complex two-speed planetary), four-wheel brakes, an electric starter, and hydraulic shocks. Oh yeah – and you could get the Model A in a variety of colors besides black, unlike its predecessor.

This burgundy Model A is full of unique upgrades. While the car is still boxy in shape, the chopped top gives it a sleeker, hot-rod stance. The body is said to be all steel (as opposed to fiberglass replacement parts) and the top is covered in an ivory soft material. Exterior features include turn signals, a pop-out windshield, dual side mirrors, dual exhaust outlets, and 15-inch steel wheels with Coker wide-whitewall tires.

The cozy cabin’s later-model bucket seats (as well as the door panels and headliner) have been reupholstered in ivory vinyl with black accent piping. Features include a floor-mounted shifter, a custom headliner, a Grant steering wheel, lap belts, and dashboard pinstriping.

Another attribute that makes this car stand out is its powertrain. In place of the original engine is a Studebaker 232ci flathead V8 mated to a three-speed manual transmission and a 1939 Ford “Quick Change” rear end. Dual two-barrel carburetors and an electric fan help bring it all together for optimal running and driving condition.

So, after all the Model T’s success, did the Model A live up to expectations? In 1929 alone, there were over a dozen body styles available, encompassing closed cars (sedans/coupes), open cars (convertibles), and commercial vehicles. There seemed to be a Model A for everyone, and indeed, it did sell well – at least until the Great Depression hit. Sales for 1929 topped about 1.5 million units.

If you’ve been considering a vintage hot rod with some period-correct character, your chopped-top Tudor has arrived.

The auction for this 1929 Ford Model A Custom ends Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 12:15 p.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

I don’t know about you, but I think certain colors look best on certain cars. To me, shades of silver, white, and gray fit Mercedes-Benz vehicles well. Yet our Pick of the Day comes in such an interesting shade of red that has made me rethink my stance. You can find this restored 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in St. Louis. It comes with a matching removable hardtop and tool kit.

At the 1954 International Motor Sports Show in New York, Mercedes introduced the 300SL, aka the “Gullwing,” and a prototype of the 190SL. According to the automaker, “In contrast to the famous wing-door coupé, the roadster 190SL was not designed to be a true sports car, but an elegant and sporty two-seated GT car” available as a roadster with a soft top or a coupe with a removable hardtop — with or without a fabric roof. Instead of the 300SL’s 3.0-liter straight-six with direct fuel injection, the 190SL received a new 105-horsepower 1.9-liter I4 equipped with a pair of Solex downdraft carburetors and a four-speed manual gearbox.

Between 1955 and 1963, Mercedes produced 25,881 190SLs, nearly 40 percent of which (10,368) were sold in the U.S. According to the selling dealer, this particular 190 was “completed on June 9, 1956 [and] delivered through Mercedes-Benz of Los Angeles and equipped with several rare factory options, as documented by its original data card. These include a transverse rear seat, color-matched hardtop, Becker FM shortwave radio, and black cloth soft top with matching boot.”

Those are cool features, but it’s a little hard to notice them because you have to look past the gorgeous color of the body. It’s called Erdbeerrot Metallic, which translates to Strawberry Red. I love the 190SL in white so much that I bought a diecast model of it in that color, but this shade of red — which seems to have a little maroon and pink in it — is my new favorite.

Believe it or not, the paint (as well as many other parts) is more than 30 years-old. Mercedes-Benz collector Tom Reiger had it restored by Mercedes specialist Bob Platz in the early 1990s. After that, this SL went on to win a variety of awards, including Best of Show at the International 190 SL Group meet and First, Senior, and Grand National prizes from the Antique Automobile Club of America.

If this 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL looks like a winner to you, buy it for $169,500 — then celebrate your own personal victory as its new owner.

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

Sometimes nicknamed a “junior supercar,” the Toyota MR2 was far ahead of its time when it launched over four decades ago. It was a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive (also, “runabout”) two-seater — thus the “MR2” name — and when it debuted, it was Japan’s first production mid-engined vehicle. It went on to be produced for three generations until 2007. Let’s look at the car that started it all.

The first-generation MR2 (W10 platform) was manufactured for model years 1985-1989 and embodied many of the engineering elements that made the 1980s era so iconic: a distinctive wedge-shaped design, pop-up headlights, and available removable T-tops. The Kyusha Club, an Arizona-based car community with an emphasis on 2005-and-older European and Japanese vehicles, hosted an event in mid-February where an MR2 from each generation was on display. The 1986 model pictured herein caught my eye as an exceptionally well-kept, unmodified survivor.

One of Toyota’s 1985 magazine ads said, “Slide in and prepare to blast off. Punch the accelerator and the tach snaps to the 7,500-rpm redline while the twin-cam, four-valve-per-cylinder, TC-16 electronically fuel-injected engine builds a sweet resonance behind you.” Motor Trend magazine named it the “Import Car of the Year” for a number of reasons. The car had a 45/55 front/rear weight distribution that was said to give it superior balance and road-holding ability. Handling was a strong suit, too, thanks to a four-wheel independent suspension with dual stabilizer bars, gas shock absorbers, and rack-and-pinion steering.

Power came from a 1.6-liter, 16-valve, DOHC inline-four that could propel the small compact (weighing in at only about 2,200 pounds) to 60 miles per hour in about 8.5 seconds. For 1986, the 4A-GE engine was rated at 112 horsepower and 97 lb-ft of torque. A subsequent supercharged variant, the 4A-GZE, would elevate the output to 145 horsepower and make its way to the United States in 1988.

Later MR2 generations, known by the W20 and the W30 chassis codes, implemented several controversial changes to the car that we’ll discuss in a future story. Luckily for us, the Kyusha Club offers us a visual representation of how the MR2 evolved.

By the way, there are rumors starting to circulate about a future Toyota MR2, although, based on the timeline discussed by Gazoo Racing president Tomoya Takahashi during an interview with industry paper Automotive News, the final product is likely still several years away.

We’re eager to see if Toyota can pull it off! And as always, we look forward to seeing what other classic cars the Kyusha Club brings out of the woodwork. You can stay informed about its future events by clicking here.

It’s the weekend! Thank you for checking out this installment of Car Connections before you go for a drive through scenic countryside or head to a local get-together with fellow automotive enthusiasts. If this is your first time reading this series, here’s how it works: I make the Random Word Generator spit out a trio of words, then I use my nerdy mind to link each of those to vehicles in some way. This week’s words are perfume, continental, and digital. How would you associate these words with cars? Tell us in the Comments section below.

Let’s get started!

Perfume: It’s hard to see this word and not think of the Air Balance system that Mercedes-Benz offers in several models, such as the 2026 E 450 4Matic Sedan. What exactly is Air Balance? Essentially, it cleans the air in the cabin, then makes it smell better.

The system uses charcoal filtration with an electrically charged ionizer to remove impurities and odors. An LED-backlit vial in the glove box pumps out the owner’s choice of fragrance through dedicated ducts. In the past, I used Air Balance in a few Mercedes press vehicles, which made the already luxurious cars even more pleasant and indulgent.

Continental: Lincoln. Done! Just kidding. Outside of cars, this word makes me think of a continental breakfast. Hmmm … breakfast. As a native Texan, I have a soft spot for breakfast tacos. Every now and then, I come across a vehicle that has a seemingly random, oddly sized storage space on the dash.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe I tested had one with a sliding cover to the right of the infotainment screen. Yes, the end of a breakfast taco would be hanging out the front of the little cubby, but that just means it would be easier to grab while on the move. Where would the little container of salsa go? In one of the cup holders, of course!

Digital: Every vehicle these days is digital in some way, but let’s look at this a different way. Digits — not numbers, but fingers. Several years ago, I tested a BMW (if I remember correctly, it was a 382-horsepower M340i) with a technology called Gesture Control, which allowed me to adjust certain things using hand movements. If I wanted to turn the volume up, all I had to do was twirl my finger clockwise; going counter-clockwise lowered the volume. Pretty cool, huh?

Well, if you’re like me and “talk with your hands,” that feature can lead to some unwanted adjustments. Trust me — it did. I would’ve told BMW how frustrating my experience was, but since I stopped moving my hands, I was speechless.

If today’s round of Car Connections has you wanting to add a Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet, or BMW 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, send them our way!

Right now on AutoHunter, you can find this 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Sport Coupe, which is powered by a fuel-injected 327ci V8 paired with a Powerglide two-speed automatic. Finished in Tuxedo Black over a white vinyl interior, this restored C2 Corvette comes from the selling dealer in Oregon with a clear title.

As part of the restoration process in 2024, the body was refinished in its original color of Tuxedo Black. Exterior feature include chrome bumpers, pop-up headlights, a driver-side mirror, and dual exhaust outlets.

The stock wheels and tires were swapped out for 17-inch chrome Ridler wheels and 275/50 radials.

Opening the doors reveals a high-contrast interior with a black dashboard and carpeting, and white vinyl door panels and bucket seats. Features include power steering, wood-rimmed steering wheel, AM/FM radio, and center console.

Instrumentation consists of a 160-mph speedometer, 7,000-rpm tachometer, and gauges for the fuel level, battery, oil pressure, and temperature. The odometer shows 2,008 miles, but this car is mileage-exempt, according to its title.

Under the front-hinged hood is a 327ci V8 that’s been upgraded with Holley Sniper electronic fuel injection. A Powerglide two-speed automatic sends the engine’s power to the rear end. The brakes have also been upgraded to power four-wheel discs.

If you’re looking for an upgrade to your garage, bid on this 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Sport Coupe before the auction ends on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 11:45 a.m. (MST). To learn more about the car, check out the video below.

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

When the world seemed stable and the September 1983 issue of Life magazine could be found in all corners of the U.S., the cover highlighted a story on the “the 10 Best  & 10 Worst American Cars Ever!” Looking at the automotive articles within, I imagine the mix of Best and Worst would be quite different today. Some may think our Pick of the Day may qualify for the latter, though there is something to be said for being so bizarre that it’s fantastic. This 1961 Dodge Dart Pioneer two-door sedan is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Elkhorn, Nebraska.

Chrysler Corporation’s “Forward Look” was fine in 1955. The redesigned Forward Look for 1957 was absolutely fantastic. And then quality control became a casualty, with rattles, premature rust, and water leaks being issues that were non-negotiable to consumers. A recession the following year did not help things at all — especially for the corporation’s medium-priced cars—and then General Motors debuted its Forward Look-inspired 1959 offerings to make folks forget about Mopar.

Luck was on Chrysler Corporation’s side, however, as the manufacturer was lucky to have already committed to a new construction technique that was set to debut for 1960 and could regain the public’s trust. The answer was unibody construction, a lesser variation of monocoque construction, but this method (applied to the whole corporation save Imperial) helped address quality issues and bring peace of mind to those concerned. That being said, the 1960s were not embraced as well as the corporation had hoped.

This also was a moment of upheaval at the Chrysler Corporation. First, there was an insider-trading scandal involving several senior executives who sold shares before announcing earnings in 1960. And then there was Virgil Exner’s heart attack in 1956. Though under 50 years old at the time, the styling chief took a leave of absence, which compromised his ability to oversee the 1961 program. Additionally, Exner was caught up in his own bubble and therefore missed some indicators of the direction of the industry. Unstable corporate leadership combined with the corporation’s darling being out of the picture (if not out to lunch) was a concoction primed for disaster.

Starting in 1960, Dodge began producing two series of cars, and this continued for 1961: the longer-wheelbase Polara, and the junior version called the Dart. The Dart was available in three trim levels (in ascending order): Seneca, Pioneer, and Phoenix. The Dart Pioneer “compares in cost with middle-of-the-line low price cars,” which means akin to a Chevrolet Bel Air (say, isn’t that Plymouth’s domain?). “It shares with all 1961 Dodge cars an advanced Torsion-Aire suspension system, a method of ride control that is called by knowledgeable car men, ‘the best in the business.’” Available Pioneer body styles included a two- and four-door sedan, and a four-door station wagon with room for six or nine passengers. An unusual running change was the addition of an accessory taillight, as the original slim ones were not quite luminescent enough to approaching vehicles.

So, was the 1961 Dodge a disaster? You tell us, but the kitsch factor is strong for this 1961 Dodge Dart Pioneer two-door sedan, so the paradigm has shifted to the opposite pole. Upon inspection, you can see several things going on in terms of styling and design, many of which haven’t aged gracefully, but oh well, right? Seen as a whole, this Dodge projected a futuristic vision that seemed to be obsolete by industry standards when it finally hit the streets. That’s part of the charm! “From the space age styled dash, steering wheel and shifter to the rocket inspired go to the moon quarter panels!” says the seller. It is powered by a 318 Poly V8 and backed by TorqueFlite automatic, which means it has the push-button transmission. “Options and mentionables include torsion bar front suspension, power steering, AM radio, heater, dash-mounted rear-view mirror, and dual fender-mounted mirrors,” adds the seller. The tires, body-color wheels, hub caps, air shocks, and dual exhausts are all new.

If this was a Chevy, it would have that “Batwing” roofline, which hasn’t aged well either, even though front and rear styling were among GM’s best for the decade. Instead, you can have a Mopar full of character, a car that was once disposable but can now be celebrated for capturing an odd zeitgeist in Detroit. For $26,500 (OBO), you can feel fortunate that this is one of the few that wasn’t junked.

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