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    Pick of the Day: 1979 Mercury Capri Turbo RS

    The Mercury Capri has experienced several incarnations during its lifetime. Initially it was a German Ford that played the role of import pony car. Then, it actually became an American pony car as a cousin to the Mustang. Finally, it returned to being a captive import, this time as a two-seat convertible from Australia. Our Pick of the Day was the most popular of the trio, though you would have to try hard to remember the last time you saw one. This 1979 Mercury Capri Turbo RS is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Greely, Colorado.

    The architecture underpinning the Capri was Ford’s Fox platform, which was originally designed to replace the architecture that supported the Ford Falcon and, in more recent years, the Ford Maverick and Granada. In the fall of 1978, Ford introduced an all-new Mustang that also introduced the new Fox platform, which would underpin countless other models that included Mercury and Lincoln variants.

    While the Pinto-based Mustang II never had a Mercury equivalent, the 1979 Mustang brought Mercury back to the pony car fold with the Capri. Unlike the Mustang, the Capri was only available as a three-door hatchback, leaving the two-door sedan (and eventually the convertible) for the Mustang.

    There were two Capri models: Capri and Capri RS. Mercury wrote in the brochure that the Capri was “European design philosophy at American prices,” attempting to tie-in the previous German import with its “pure joy of driving.” Engine choices began with a 2.3-litre four for all models; optional was a 2.8-litre V6, 5.0-litre V8, or 2.3-litre Turbo 4. All engines featured a two-barrel carburetor. Depending on the engine, a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic were the only choices.

    A luxurious package for the base Capri was the Ghia, which added a fancier interior, luxury four-spoke steering wheel, special luxury door appliques including map pockets, front passenger assist handle, driver-side vanity mirror, and more.

    For something sportier, the Capri RS added a Radial Sport Suspension with BR78 x 14 tires, rear stabilizer, lower rear spring rates (and increased front spring rates with the V8), upgraded shock absorber tuning, improved control arm bushings, and more. A “power dome” hood and black highlights on all sides gave a more aggressive look, with an optional black lower bodyside paint able to add even more to its looks. Optional Michelin TRX tires increased “roll stiffness without sacrificing ride or harshness control” while working in conjunction with the optional Rally Suspension. Standard interior was high-back buckets in Corinthian vinyl, or Danbury cloth and Corinthian vinyl.

    For the early adopters, there also was the Turbo RS, which boasted several upgrades over the basic RS including Deluxe interior trim, low-back bucket seats in Cariban vinyl, 15.3-inch forged aluminum three-spoke wheels, Michelin TRXs, and Rally Suspension.

    This 1979 Mercury Capri Turbo RS is one of 110,142 Capris built that year, though we don’t have any statistics how many of those were Turbo RSs. The description from the dealer is lacking, but we can see it is painted in Bright Red with Light Orange/Yellow striping and is equipped with the four-speed manual, console, AM/FM Stereo cassette radio, and three-spoke steering wheel with tilt column.

    Nineteen seventy-nine was the beginning of a love affair with Fox-bodied FoMoCo products, culminating with the 1987-93 5.0 Mustangs and respective Capris. However, it all started in 1979 with cars like this Capri. The ad says “Contact Seller” but the dealer’s website says $8,999, which is a low cost of entry for one of the more tech-y cars in the American market at the time.

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

    Supercharged 540-Powered 1941 Willys Pickup Gasser

    This 1941 Willys pickup was used as a drag racer before it was built into a gasser-style hot rod in 2021, and it is powered by a supercharged 540ci Chevrolet V8 with Arias hemispherical heads, a COMP Cams camshaft, dual Holley double-pumper carburetors, and an MSD ignition module. A steel cab with a chopped roof is joined by a single-piece fiberglass front clamshell, and the bodywork is mounted to a fabricated steel frame with a straight front axle, a three-link rear setup with adjustable coilovers, and four-wheel disc brakes with line lock. The cab has been outfitted with black and yellow bucket seats, a TCI shifter, and Classic Instruments gauges, and other highlights include a TH400 automatic transmission, a narrowed 9″ rear end, a limited-slip differential, a wood-lined cargo bed, side exhaust pipes, wheelie bars, and big-and-little tires. This custom Willys pickup was acquired by the selling dealer in 2025, and it is now offered with a display board and a clean Pennsylvania title.

    The steel cab has a chopped roof, and it has been mounted to a frame fabricated from steel box tubing at Vito Antonicelli Race Cars of Buffalo, New York. Bodywork and paint were handled at HarborVette Fiberglass Magic of Pennsylvania, where the truck was finished in House of Kolor Kandy red, according to the selling dealer. Tasmanian Devil-themed artwork and “Charlie’s Chop Shop” graphics were added along with pinstriping on the rear fenders and the back of the cab. Other details include wheelie bars, side exhaust outlets, tinted glass, and blue-dot taillights.

    The single-piece fiberglass front clamshell tilts forward and has a cutout for a polished air scoop.

    The 540ci Chevrolet V8 was built using a World Products cast-iron block, a COMP Cams camshaft, Arias aluminum hemispherical heads, a polished TBS supercharger, dual Holley 800-cfm double-pumper carburetors, a Billet Specialties belt drive, an MSD 6AL-2 ignition module, and stainless-steel headers with 4″ pipes and solenoid-actuated cutouts. The aluminum radiator is cooled by an electric pusher fan.

    Halibrand-style 15” alloy wheels are wrapped in BFGoodrich tires up front and M&H Racemaster slicks out back. The truck rides on a straight front axle with parallel leaf springs and a Vega-style steering box, while the three-link rear setup has adjustable coilovers. Braking is handled by power-assisted discs all around with a line lock.

    Raised Willys script accents the back of the cargo bed, which is lined with wood slats and houses the fuel cell and battery.

    The bucket seats and door panels are trimmed with black and yellow upholstery, and the driver’s seat has a Corbeau harness. The dashboard is painted black, and a TCI shifter has been installed. The glove compartment door handle is missing.

    The three-spoke steering wheel is mounted to a tilt column and sits ahead of Classic Instruments gauges consisting of a 140-mph speedometer, an 8k-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges. The speedometer does not work, and the five-digit odometer has not been calibrated. Total mileage is unknown.

    Power is sent to the rear wheels through a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission and a narrowed Ford 9″ rear end with a limited-slip differential and 4.33:1 gearing.

    When Boring Was Brilliant: 15 Plain-Looking Cars That Drove Like a Dream

    Some of the world’s most exhilarating cars have slipped by unnoticed, quietly blending into the background with their understated, even dull, looks.
    Yet beneath their modest exteriors lurked exceptional engineering and a pure driving spirit.
    These vehicles proved that excitement behind the wheel doesn’t always come with flashy lines or aggressive styling.
    In fact, the most rewarding drives can come from the most unassuming machines, surprising both their drivers and anyone lucky enough to ride along.
    It’s time to revisit 15 plain-looking cars that turned every journey into a memorable one.

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    15 Cars That Sold Like Crazy—Then Vanished Without a Trace

    The automotive world is filled with stories of cars that seemed unstoppable—models that once filled driveways, highways, and dealership lots. These vehicles captured the hearts of drivers, dominating sales charts and shaping entire eras of car culture. Yet, just as quickly as they rose to fame, many of these automotive legends faded away, leaving only memories and a few scattered examples behind.

    This unpredictable cycle highlights the ever-shifting tides of consumer preferences, market pressures, and technological advances. What makes certain cars vanish after meteoric success? Sometimes it’s evolving safety standards, sometimes changing tastes, or even strategic missteps from automakers. The following list explores fifteen such cars—once bestsellers, now mere footnotes in automotive history.

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    A Brief History of the Chrysler Minivan

    Whether you love them or hate them, the truth is that minivans are a major part of automotive history, particularly Chrysler’s 100 years as a manufacturer. Although they’re not as popular as they used to be in the 1980s and 1990s, they’re still available from five manufacturers in America (if you count the all-electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz). As Brandt Rosenbusch, Manager of Historical Services for Stellantis North America, explains in the video below, Chrysler was the first to offer an upscale minivan.

    That doesn’t mean it was the first to market, though. Dodge’s Caravan and Plymouth’s Voyager arrived for the 1984 model year in response to a desire for smaller family transportation that could fit in a regular-sized garage. Chrysler’s Town & Country variant arrived in 1990 with standard leather seating, front and rear air conditioning, and V6 power.

    A second-generation model followed shortly afterward.

    In 1996, the Town & Country was visually overhauled to match the sleeker, cab forward styling of its sedan counterparts.

    This year marks the 20th anniversary of Stow N’ Go seating (a product of the fourth-generation Town & Country), which allows the second- and third-row seats to be folded flat into the floor for more cargo space. The subsequent generation was the Town & Country’s last, but not the end of the Chrysler minivan. The Pacifica was introduced as a 2017 model and is still available today as a gas-only model and a plug-in hybrid variant.

    I can’t speak for any of you out there, but my perception of the minivan has evolved along with the vehicle itself. When I was little kid, I thought conversion vans were the place to be because they were large and felt special, but that may be because the ones I remember had a TV and VCR in them. I didn’t grow up in a minivan family, so I wasn’t familiar with them.

    In my teens and 20s, I thought minivans were lame, boring kid-haulers. That changed in my 30s, when I discovered how convenient, feature-rich, and luxurious models such as the Honda Odyssey Elite and Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle Hybrid could be. Now a parent myself, I totally get why people buy minivans. I would have no qualms about getting one as my next vehicle, but sorry, Chrysler—I’d go with the Toyota Sienna Platinum.

    Interesting Finds: 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Y82

    When you think of the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, chances are that “Smokey and the Bandit” comes to mind—and for good reason! Behind the Hollywood fame is a muscle car with real substance: killer styling, a functional shaker hood, and a big V8 under the scoop. Nineteen seventy-seven was a record-setting year for the Trans Am, thanks in part to its starring role in “Smokey and the Bandit,” which helped lead to more than 68,000 units being produced. The updated design featured a new slanted front end with quad halogen headlights. This one is a Y82 Special Edition, finished in Starlight Black with gold accents, including the famous “Screaming Chicken” hood decal. Today we’re taking a closer look at one of the most memorable American cars of the ‘70s, which sold at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Auction for $106,700! 

    Make sure to subscribe to the ClassicCars TV YouTube Channel for more Interesting Finds!

    AutoHunter Spotlight: 1953 Packard Caribbean

    Today’s AutoHunter Spotlight is this restored 1953 Packard Caribbean convertible. Introduced in 1953, the Caribbean was a semi-custom halo car to help bring attention to the Packard brand, whose reputation had been slipping due to stale styling and lack of V8. Most noticeable were the fully radiused wheel openings and lack of side trim. Power comes from a 327ci “Thunderbolt” straight-eight backed by a two-speed Ultramatic Drive. Features include continental kit, 15-inch wire wheels, power windows, steering, brakes, and top, driver-side mirror, and more. Painted Sahara Sand with a tan top over blue and white interior, this classic chariot is now offered by the selling dealer with a tonneau cover and clear title.

    Sahara Beige was one of several limited colors available for the Caribbean. It is complemented by a tan power convertible top. Other features include a continental kit, driver-side mirror, and bright metal wheel openings and belt moldings. Authentic, 15-inch multi-spoke wheels are wrapped in eight-inch American Classic bias-ply wide whitewalls.

    The cabin is furnished in blue and white upholstery—Caribbeans had leather, but best to ask the sell how it was reupholstered. Interior features include a column-mounted automatic shifter, power windows, power steering, pushbutton AM radio, and aftermarket under-dash battery shut-off switch.

    The instrument panel consists of three dials consisting of a 110-mph speedometer, clock, and gauges for the coolant temperature and fuel. The odometer shows 57,670, though the title reads mileage-exempt.

    Powering this classic Packard is an 8.0:1-compression 327ci straight-eight topped by a four-barrel carburetor. Horsepower was originally rated at 180. It is backed by a two-speed Ultramatic Drive transmission.

    The undercarriage features power front drum brakes and a single-exit exhaust system.

    Packard built only 750 Caribbean convertibles in 1953, quite a respectable number considering the similar Cadillac Eldorado only achieved 532 units. Plus, the ’53 is the only Caribbean that featured radiused rear wheels, which was quite custom and spectacular at the time. Sounds like something that may be hard to resist? Be poised because the AutoHunter auction for this 1953 Packard Caribbean ends on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).

    Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

    Pick of the Day: 1988 Toyota SR5 Xtracab 4WD Pickup

    Before the Tacoma existed, Toyota trucks were simply called “pickups” aside of some regions outside North America, where they went by the name “Hilux.” Toyota pickups of the 1980s became renowned for their ruggedness, reliability, and versatility. Several years ago, I wrote a story about a man who is dedicated to the hobby of restoring 1980s Toyota trucks—in particular, ones that look like the famous black “Back to the Future” movie icon.

    Here’s a silver truck from that same era that looks show (or movie)-ready.

    The Pick of the Day is a 1988 Toyota SR5 Pickup listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Eagle, Idaho.

    “If you’re looking for a pristine example of the legendary Toyota pickup, this is it,” the listing begins. “This 1988 Toyota SR5 Xtracab 4WD is a one-owner, garage-kept, accident-free, and unmolested original truck with just 90,000 original miles. The truck has been babied its entire life and is in excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition.”

    The Hilux/pickup had its fifth generation between model years 1984-88. There were some significant milestones during those years, one of which had to with powertrains. The first time you could get a V6 engine in the pickup came in 1986. A magazine advertisement from that timeframe said, “At 145 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque, the Toyota V6 4×4 makes you the king of the mountain. V6 power plus Hi-Trac independent front suspension lets you take on the meanest real estate. Why settle for anything less?”

    Power for this truck comes from that heavily promoted fuel-injected 3.0-liter V6 mated to a five-speed manual transmission and dual-range transfer case. The seller says that the engine runs strong without smoke, the transmission shifts smoothly, and the four-wheel-drive system is fully functional. The truck has reportedly been regularly maintained, with available service records backing that up.

    The truck has an enthusiast-owned look to it. Upgrades include a sunroof, a color-matched Leer fiberglass shell, and Yakima bike/ski rack. The listing says, “With its low miles, clean title, original equipment, and desirable extras, this truck is ready for its next adventure—or your collection.”

    Toyota SR5 pickups enjoy a strong following among enthusiasts and collectors. Personally, I wish I could time-travel back to the 1980s and buy a brand-new one to outfit with KC auxiliary lights just like Marty McFly had. For now, the next best thing might be finding one like this that’s unmodified and ready for many more on- and off-road adventures.

    The asking price is $27,000.

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

    15 Cars Built for One Type of Driver—and No One Else

    The world of automotive design is as diverse as the drivers who inhabit it. While many cars aim to appeal to the masses, some vehicles are unapologetically crafted for a specific kind of person. These are the machines that prioritize a singular vision or lifestyle, whether that’s conquering mountain passes, living lavishly, or squeezing into city spaces.

    Such laser-focused design often results in cars that feel almost custom-built—vehicles that attract a devoted following while leaving others scratching their heads.

    This exploration highlights fifteen models that embody the spirit of serving one unique driver, and in doing so, create their own distinct category on the road.

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    30-Years-Owned, 502-Powered ’27 Ford Model T Roadster

    This custom roadster began with a steel body from a 1927 Ford Model T that was bought from a farmer in Iowa around 1990. The build started in 1998, and it is mounted on a custom frame from Total Performance. Power comes from a 500-horsepower 502ci Chevrolet V8 that is linked to a three-speed automatic transmission and a Ford 9″ rear end with a 3.50 limited-slip differential. The car rides on 16″ Weld aluminum wheels and has a chromed and drilled 4″ drop axle with hydraulic shocks, a triangulated four-link rear end, front disc brakes, and Vega steering. Inside are ’68 Barracuda seats, a Lokar shifter, a ’67 Plymouth GTX steering wheel, and Stewart-Warner gauges. Acquired by the seller in 1990 and driven 9k miles since completion, this Model T street rod is now offered with service records and a clean Minnesota title in the seller’s name.

    The steel body has been painted black and gray, and it is mounted on a Total Performance frame. The windshield stanchions are polished.

    The chromed and drilled 4″ drop axle is matched with hydraulic shocks, a transverse leaf spring, and radius rods, and the triangulated four-link rear end has adjustable coilovers. Front disc brakes and Vega steering were fitted, and the 16″ Weld wheels have BFGoodrich rubber mounted.

    The 1968 Barracuda seats were recovered, and a Lokar shifter was installed.

    The steering wheel is from a ’67 GTX, and Stewart-Warner gauges were utilized. The seller has driven all of the 9k miles indicated since completion of the build.

    The original build had a 383ci V8 and was driven ~7k miles in that configuration. The 502ci V8 was installed in 2005, with about 2k miles added since. It is topped by aluminum heads and a Holley 4150 carburetor on an aluminum intake manifold. The headers are linked to a side-exit exhaust system.

    The three-speed automatic transmission was rebuilt in 1997, and it is linked to a Ford 9″ rear end with a 3.50 limited-slip differential.

    The car is titled as a 1927 Ford Roadster using VIN T14862119.

    A binder of records is included, with a selection shown in the gallery.