Skip to main content

    ZZ4-Powered Studebaker Dictator Coupe Hot Rod

    This Studebaker Dictator coupe was acquired by the seller in the early 2000s as a disassembled project. The body was subsequently mounted to a custom-fabricated frame, and a GM ZZ4 350ci V8 and 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission were installed as part of a multi-year build completed by the seller’s shop, Street Rod Concepts in Clute, Texas. The car is finished in silver and features a custom-built grille shell, shaved body panels, side-view cameras, rear-hinged coach doors, and tunneled taillights, while the interior features red leather upholstery, a custom-fabricated center console, and a later Chevrolet-style dashboard housing Dakota Digital gauges. Additional equipment includes air conditioning, a high-rise intake manifold, dual four-barrel carburetors, staggered 15” wheels, front disc brakes, power windows, and a Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo. This custom coupe is now offered with a clean Texas title in the seller’s name listing the car as a 1937 Studebaker.

    The steel body was repainted in silver following body modifications that included removing the hood, fenders, and running boards, shaving the trim and handles, frenching the taillights, and fabricating a custom grille shell with integrated headlamp mounts, tunneled turn signals, and a red-finished grille. The car is also equipped with two-piece front and rear glass, side view cameras faired into the cowl, coved exhaust outlets, and electric poppers for the trunk lid and coach doors.

    Staggered 15” steel wheels are finished in red with polished hubcaps and beauty rings and are mounted with Mickey Thompson tires. Stopping power is provided by disc brakes up front and drums out back.

    The cabin features bucket seats trimmed in red leather with diamond-stitched inserts along with color-coordinated door panels and carpets. A 1959 Chevrolet-style dashboard is integrated, and the center console is said to have been fabricated from aluminum. Additional appointments include air conditioning, a rear-view monitor, push-button ignition, a Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo, power windows, and a Lokar shifter with a brushed aluminum knob. The fuel filler is accessed in the trunk, which is also upholstered to match.

    The two-spoke steering wheel features a chrome horn ring and fronts Dakota Digital instrumentation consisting of a 160-mph speedometer with an inset tachometer as well as auxiliary gauges. The digital odometer indicates 410 miles, and true mileage is unknown.

    The ZZ4 350ci V8 sends power to the rear wheels through a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission. Features include a high-rise intake manifold, dual carburetors, finned valve covers, polished accessories, and tubular exhaust headers flowing into a dual exhaust system with side-exit cutouts. An oil change was performed and the battery was replaced in June 2022.

    A reproduction number plaque reads 5556433, which corresponds with the VIN listed on the current Texas title and is consistent with a Studebaker Dictator produced in 1937.

    The Dark Side Of Popularity: Hot Cars That Are Actually Tough To Sell

    The used car market has gained traction like never before after the recent viral pandemic. Due to chip shortages and driver nostalgia, cars that were once nearly worthless are now worth thousands more than before. But even with the popularity of this new used car market, there are still some popular models that are incredibly hard to sell.

    Vehicles like the Acura SLX come to mind. There are also once-popular cars like the Isuzu Trooper and Toyota Prius that are tough to sell nowadays. Buying a car that’s going to be hard to sell is also a very bad investment. You’ll hardly ever be able to recoup the money that you spend on a shoddy vehicle. We looked at some of the most popular cars that are the hardest to sell on today’s market here.

    Photo Credit: Jalopnik

    First-Generation Toyota Prius (1997-2003)

    The first-generation Toyota Prius was made from 1997 to 2003. It was the first mass-produced hybrid electric car and used both gasoline and electricity to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The Prius was a compact car that could seat up to five people. The first-generation Prius had a futuristic design and a unique shape. It had a similar size to the Toyota Echo, which came in at a much cheaper price (via Hot Cars).

    Photo Credit: Toyota

    It also had innovative features like a dashboard display that showed the driver how much fuel and battery power was remaining. When the 2008 recession hit, the Prius offered consumers a smart economical choice. The mid-2000s were the best time to be a Prius owner because the car hit its peak. The first-generation Prius was a groundbreaking car that helped pave the way for future hybrid and electric vehicles. However, the trademark egg-shaped design didn’t appeal to everyone. Some drivers thought that Toyota could have put a bit more effort into the design of the car.

    The post The Dark Side Of Popularity: Hot Cars That Are Actually Tough To Sell appeared first on Motor Junkie.

    Make payments from your Mercedes with just a fingerprint

    You can already make payments with your phone, and soon you will be able to do so with your Mercedes-Benz using just a fingerprint for authentication.

    Mercedes already has its own Mercedes Pay system that allows users to purchase items or services from the car, but now the automaker has teamed up with Visa to make the process easier and more widely available via the new feature Mercedes Pay+. Instead of having to key in a pin or use a phone, all that’s required for authentication is a fingerprint scan. The payment is then handled via Visa’s new Cloud Token Framework.

    Cloud Token Framework is essentially an online payment system where stored authentication data is secured using individual digital tokens that encrypt any sensitive payment information before storing it. This makes payments much easier, for example when using a new service, as you no longer need to enter long card numbers or complex passwords to complete a purchase. It also makes it possible to pair multiple devices with the car, so more than one user can make payments with a fingerprint scan.

    Mercedes Pay+ is being rolled out in Europe initially, starting with Mercedes’ home market of Germany in March. Availability in other markets hasn’t been announced.

    Models available with fingerprint sensors include the EQS and EQE electric vehicles, as well as the S-Class, GLC-Class, and C-Class.

    At present, Mercedes Pay+ can be used to pay for various digital services like improved navigation features or remote connectivity, as well as on-demand vehicle hardware upgrades like rear axle steering with a larger steering angle. Eventually, payments will be expanded to other car-related services, such as fueling, Mercedes said.

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

    Make payments from your Mercedes with just a fingerprint

    You can already make payments with your phone, and soon you will be able to do so with your Mercedes-Benz using just a fingerprint for authentication.

    Mercedes already has its own Mercedes Pay system that allows users to purchase items or services from the car, but now the automaker has teamed up with Visa to make the process easier and more widely available via the new feature Mercedes Pay+. Instead of having to key in a pin or use a phone, all that’s required for authentication is a fingerprint scan. The payment is then handled via Visa’s new Cloud Token Framework.

    Cloud Token Framework is essentially an online payment system where stored authentication data is secured using individual digital tokens that encrypt any sensitive payment information before storing it. This makes payments much easier, for example when using a new service, as you no longer need to enter long card numbers or complex passwords to complete a purchase. It also makes it possible to pair multiple devices with the car, so more than one user can make payments with a fingerprint scan.

    Mercedes Pay+ is being rolled out in Europe initially, starting with Mercedes’ home market of Germany in March. Availability in other markets hasn’t been announced.

    Models available with fingerprint sensors include the EQS and EQE electric vehicles, as well as the S-Class, GLC-Class, and C-Class.

    At present, Mercedes Pay+ can be used to pay for various digital services like improved navigation features or remote connectivity, as well as on-demand vehicle hardware upgrades like rear axle steering with a larger steering angle. Eventually, payments will be expanded to other car-related services, such as fueling, Mercedes said.

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

    Pick of the Day: 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230

    It’s hard to believe, but the first mobile telephone system designed for an automobile was introduced in 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri using the Bell System. The setup weighed 80 pounds and offered just three channels upon which to communicate. This early technology was later overtaken by analog cellular service in 1984. Every so often, a classic car comes along that features a mobile phone.

    The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 roadster listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in San Diego, California.

    “Super well-maintained, smooth-driving Mercedes-Benz SLK Kompressor. Low mileage, no rust, garage-kept, cream puff. A rare turn-key ready beauty,” the listing states.

    Showing just 62,300 miles on the odometer, it’s hard to believe this roadster is 24 years old. The seller itemizes the car’s equipment into a long list. Included are lots of upgrades including a one-touch power-retractable hardtop, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a Sports package, heated and power-adjustable seating, dual-zone automatic climate control, a Bose audio system, and of course, that mobile phone hidden inside the center armrest.

    The SLK-Class originally launched as a compact executive roadster for model year 1996 on the R170 platform. It offered seating for two and used what Mercedes called a “Vario-roof” retractable hardtop which takes about 25 seconds to deploy or retract at the touch of a button.

    The drivetrain is one of the things that makes this example so unique: the Getrag-produced five-speed manual transmission seems to be a rare and sought after find in the collector community. Power comes from a supercharged 2.3-liter inline-four that puts out 194 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. This car is also outfitted with AMG treatment in the form of special 17-inch wheels, accented by body-colored side skirts and a chrome tailpipe. The seller states that the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires are new.

    As far as that phone goes: the analog cell phone system became overtaken in 2008 by more modern “hands-free” systems that used a Bluetooth or wireless link to connect to a network. These days, an analog car phone is more of a conversation piece or novelty than anything else. If I could pair my cell phone with a traditional-looking car phone, I would totally do it just to look like a 1990s executive.

    The seller is asking $12,450 or best offer for this SLK, which includes a Mercedes-branded car cover.

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

    Pick of the Day: 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230

    It’s hard to believe, but the first mobile telephone system designed for an automobile was introduced in 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri using the Bell System. The setup weighed 80 pounds and offered just three channels upon which to communicate. This early technology was later overtaken by analog cellular service in 1984. Every so often, a classic car comes along that features a mobile phone.

    The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 roadster listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in San Diego, California.

    “Super well-maintained, smooth-driving Mercedes-Benz SLK Kompressor. Low mileage, no rust, garage-kept, cream puff. A rare turn-key ready beauty,” the listing states.

    Showing just 62,300 miles on the odometer, it’s hard to believe this roadster is 24 years old. The seller itemizes the car’s equipment into a long list. Included are lots of upgrades including a one-touch power-retractable hardtop, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a Sports package, heated and power-adjustable seating, dual-zone automatic climate control, a Bose audio system, and of course, that mobile phone hidden inside the center armrest.

    The SLK-Class originally launched as a compact executive roadster for model year 1996 on the R170 platform. It offered seating for two and used what Mercedes called a “Vario-roof” retractable hardtop which takes about 25 seconds to deploy or retract at the touch of a button.

    The drivetrain is one of the things that makes this example so unique: the Getrag-produced five-speed manual transmission seems to be a rare and sought after find in the collector community. Power comes from a supercharged 2.3-liter inline-four that puts out 194 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. This car is also outfitted with AMG treatment in the form of special 17-inch wheels, accented by body-colored side skirts and a chrome tailpipe. The seller states that the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires are new.

    As far as that phone goes: the analog cell phone system became overtaken in 2008 by more modern “hands-free” systems that used a Bluetooth or wireless link to connect to a network. These days, an analog car phone is more of a conversation piece or novelty than anything else. If I could pair my cell phone with a traditional-looking car phone, I would totally do it just to look like a 1990s executive.

    The seller is asking $12,450 or best offer for this SLK, which includes a Mercedes-branded car cover.

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

    The Last Of Us: The Best Cars To Own Before The Fuel Runs Out

    As you probably know, the era of fossil fuel-burning cars is slowly coming to an end. After over 100 years of gasoline and diesel consumption in passenger vehicles, the industry and car community will soon go electric. This won’t just change driving dynamics everywhere, but also the urban landscape forever. The change will put gasoline-powered cars into museums. The sad truth is that EVs are not as nearly as fun to drive as gas-powered models even though they have fantastic acceleration figures. The problem is in the detached driving feel of new electric models and the fact that all EV cars are very heavy.

    That being said, it’s time for us to compile the list of cars we recommend you own or drive before it is too late. These vehicles are designed for sheer driving pleasure, speed, and performance. They are cars that will convince you that the ideals of driving are not behind the wheel of an EV, but behind the thumping fossil-fueled engine which roars and spits fire through the exhaust. Here are the cars you should drive before gasoline-powered cars become extinct. Enjoy them right here.

    Photo Credit: Pinterest

    Aston Martin V12 Vantage

    The success of the regular Vantage inspired Aston’s engineers to think further. What if they took the standard V8 Vantage and installed the mighty V12 engine from the top-of-the-line DBS model? There was only one way to find out. Soon, prototypes roamed around Aston’s headquarters (via Edmunds).

    Photo Credit: Pinterest

    Engineers were surprised at how good the new car turned out to be. The V12 engine with 510 HP transformed the nature of this compact sports car and made it a British muscle car with fantastic road manners. The acceleration was brutal as well as the top speed. Also, the big V12 didn’t affect the weight distribution or balance. In an era of robotized automatic transmissions, the V12 Vantage left the factory with a six and later seven-speed manual, which proved to be the enthusiast’s choice. This is one of the last old-school sports cars and a definitive future classic that maintains a high value.

    The post The Last Of Us: The Best Cars To Own Before The Fuel Runs Out appeared first on Motor Junkie.

    The Women of Automotive History

    March 8th is recognized as International Women’s Day around the world. We take this day to honor women’s accomplishments and contributions to society while also bringing attention to the issues and disparity women continue to face. We at the ClassicCars.com Journal want to recognize and remember the women who have been (and continue to be) part of the automotive world. Women have been pioneers, inventors, drivers and executives in transportation innovation throughout history. Here are some women and their accomplishments.

    Bertha Benz

    Bertha Karl Benz in 1870. (Image courtesy Daimler Chrysler AG)

    Not only was Bertha the wife of Karl Benz, but she also played an essential role in the early development of the automobile. In 1888, she made the first long-distance automotive excursion (or, as we say today, “road trip”) by driving 65 miles in her husband’s Benz Patent-Motorwagen vehicle with her two teenage sons.

    Denise McCluggage

    Denise McCluggage (Image courtesy of Road and Track magazine)

    A trailblazing journalist and race car driver in the 1950s and 1960s, Denise participated in sports car and rally competitions, and became the first female winner of a significant sports car race. She began racing after meeting Briggs Cunningham, builder of the first American cars in Le Mans. She also worked as a journalist for various outlets and helped launch the magazine which would become AutoWeek.

    Lyn St. James

    Lyn St. James at the 2000 Indy 500 qualifier. (Image courtesy of Lyn St. James)


    Lyn is a former race car driver who participated in the Indianapolis 500 seven times. She was voted Rookie of the Year in 1992 and became the second woman to qualify for the race. She has been a role model for many women aspiring to become race car drivers, breaking barriers and challenging the stereotypes of women in the sport. In 2022 she was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.

    Mary Barra

    Mary Barra (Image courtesy of Mary Barra)

    In 2014 Mary became CEO of General Motors, making her the first woman to run a major multinational automaker. She has been a part of GM since 1980 and has served in various executive capacities with the company.

    Margie Petersen

    Margie Petersen and her husband. (Image courtesy of Motor Trend magazine)

    To honor her late husband, publisher Robert E. Petersen, Margie founded the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. It houses more than 300 vintage and collector cars in its collection. Her museum has become a vacation destination for many and has helped create a space that celebrates and preserves automotive history.

    Alice Ramsey 

    Alice Ramsey standing beside her car. (Image courtesy of Library of Congress)


    Alice has a few claims to fame in the automotive world: she was the first woman to drive coast-to-coast in 1909, as well as the first woman to be inaugurated into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2000. Coast-to-coast at that time meant 150 or so miles of the 3,600 driven was on pavement. She went on to complete this journey 30 more times.

    Dorothee Pullinger

    Dorothee pictured with a Galloway car. (Image courtesy of BBC)


    The daughter of the early auto designer Thomas Pullinger, Dorothee was interested in engineering her whole life. In 1910, she joined her father at Arrol-Johnston, the oldest and largest Scottish car manufacturer at that time. After WWI, she became the director of Galloway Motors Ltd. and helped produce the Galloway car for Arrol-Johnston, which was the first car designed especially for women. Dorothee was also an enthusiastic racer and won the cup in the Scottish Six Day Car Trials in 1924. The only Galloway car available for publish view in the UK is on display at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow.

    The above women are but a few examples of the role models for upcoming generations of women automotive professionals. Their contributions to the automotive industry have been significant, and we celebrate them on this International Women’s Day. We must continue to recognize the accomplishments of women and advocate for gender equality in all industries. Together, we can create a more equitable and just world for all.

    Interesting Finds: Lightweight 1999 Acura NSX Zanardi Edition

    During the Future Collector Car Show at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, The ClassicCars.com Journal’s very own Tyson Hugie met up with the AutoHunter Cinema team to do a deep dive on this 1999 Acura NSX Zanardi Edition. This edition was a lightweight version of the NSX produced only for 1999 and limited to 51 examples. The car was inspired by Alex Zanardi, a racer who won back-to-back championships in the CART open wheel series driving Honda-powered machines. All Zanardi Editions were finished in Formula Red and featured a fixed roof which, along with lightweight BBS wheels, and lighter spoiler battery, single-pane rear window, and unassisted rack-and-pinion steering, contributed to a weight savings of 149 pounds.

    Click above to watch this and other great finds on AutoHunter Cinema’s YouTube channel!

    Scoring Automobilia on eBay

    The last time I visited Paris was at the end of 2005 when the city was experiencing youth riots. I have always enjoyed the city because kiosks gave me an opportunity to find good automotive reading material. In particular, I enjoy new car yearbooks and classic car periodicals, and the French had a good magazine scene. Two of the titles I picked up were “Gazoline” and “Automobilia.” The latter in particular was your basic classic car magazine, but the inside cover showed special issues on automotive retrospectives focused on one model year per issue.

    Hors-Serie Automobilia was listed at the top, with the title Toutes Les Voitures Francaises and a model year. I know practically no French other than sacre bleu and Johnny Hallyday n’était pas Elvis so the cover meant little to me other than the model year but now, 17+ years later, I have Google Translate to tell me it means “Automobilia [magazine] Special-Edition” and “All French Cars.”

    Of course, a few days in Paris would never give me the opportunity to order back issues and have them sent to the hotel, and having them sent to the U.S. would have been cost-prohibitive. I went home satisfied my American magazine subscription would keep me entertained.

    1935 Delage

    Maybe six years later, I found four issues of Hors-Serie Automobilia on eBay from an American seller. What luck! And when I received the issues, I discovered they were as good as I had hoped. Soon after, I even managed to find an American eBayer selling a single issue, but I felt his price was quite high after spending perhaps a third for the issues I already had. I moved on and then, when I noticed it sold, I had that empty feeling of losing something within reach.

    1957 Grégoire

    Over time, I set up an email response on eBay so that any time someone had an auction with the words “Hors-Serie Automobilia,” I would receive an email alert. However, eBay’s email response is not dependable, so the magazine hasn’t been on my radar for awhile … until recently. A chance encounter with a French guy at Burbank, California’s Autobooks-Aerobooks made me think about the magazines, so I ran a search on eBay.

    1966 Matra Djet

    Could it be true? Are there copies from an American seller? And there are a ton of them! I quickly emailed the seller and asked if he/she could sell them all as one lot, which would make things cheaper for both parties. The planets aligned for me and I scored 25 issues, though included were the four issues I already had. No bother — why make a fuss?

    So now I have most of the collection, and with continued patience I will fill the holes. A quick scan on France’s eBay page shows it ain’t gonna happen soon based on the exchange rate and shipping, but that cost is nothing compared to the joy of finding something I’ve thought about off and on since 2005.