The 1949 models showcased the first new designs for Ford since World War II had ended. Some of the design elements even included aircraft-inspired trim, like a distinctive front grille with a central “spinner.” Our Pick of the Day is a car that rolled off the showroom floor over 75 years ago and is still on the road: It’s a 1949 Ford 2-Door Convertible listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Burlington, Ontario. (Click here to view the listing.)

“A true American classic from the post-war era,” the listing says. “I’ve owned the car for over 20 years, and it has always been garage kept and properly maintained.”

According to historical information from Ford, the 1949 models were of particular significance. The company produced 1,118,762 vehicles that year – a strong recovery from the challenging times of the war. The article reads, “The car was unveiled to the public at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on June 10, 1948. The 1949 Ford won the Fashion Academy award for overall styling. It was advertised as Car of the Year, and its innovative body styling drew in buyers in great numbers.”

Leveraging that “Car of the Year” publicity, Ford included similar language in its magazine articles from the time. Many of them said, “There’s a new Ford in your future,” and talked about the car’s “sofa-wide” seats, optimal visibility, 19 cubic feet of luggage space, “mid-ship” ride, coil-sprung suspension, and available engine choices.

This drop-top is well-presented; some of the features on its streamlined exterior include chrome bumpers, body side moldings, an antenna, a split windshield, rear wheel skirts, a black retractable top, a dual exhaust system, and wide-whitewall tires. The cabin has two bench seats upholstered in saddle-colored vinyl, with matching trim used for the door panels and carpeting.

Up front is a flathead V8 mated to a column-shifted three-speed manual transmission. The listing doesn’t mention the car’s engine’s displacement, so we’ll encourage interested buyers to verify that important detail with the seller, but it is possibly a 239ci flathead that was used in cars of the era and produced around 95 horsepower.

“Smooth, drives great, and gets attention everywhere it goes,” the listing says. “Perfect for cruising, shows, or collectors who appreciate originality and clean presentation.”

Find out what made this Ford “Car of the Year.” Better yet, make it your new car of 2026. The asking price is $25,000 USD or best offer.

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

I would say that I hope you’re out and about, enjoying the weekend, but clearly, you’re here right now. Thank you for stopping by for the latest installment of Car Connections. First time reading it? Here’s how it goes: I have the Random Word Generator toss out three words, then I use my car nerdiness to link each of them to automobiles in some way. Let’s get to it! This week’s words are wheat, strict, and salad.

Wheat: As in bread. Sandwich. Club sandwich. Golf clubs.

Which sports car has a trunk big enough to fit golf clubs inside? The C8 Chevrolet Corvette!

Strict: Hmmm . . . many people try to lose weight with a strict diet. Certain automakers keep their vehicles light with carbon fiber, using it for parts such as the chassis, body panels, and even the wheels. A company that’s particularly famous for this is the Swedish hypercar manufacturer Koenigsegg. Its CC850, a celebration of 20 years of vehicle production and the 50th birthday of company founder Christian von Koenigsegg, has a twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 and a carbon fiber monocoque with an aluminum honeycomb core. That combination gives the CC850 a power-to-weight ratio of 1:1—that’s 1,385 horsepower that propels 1,385 kilograms of Scandinavian exotica.

Salad: Salad needs salad dressing. Hidden Valley’s Original Ranch is a popular option (and to some, a beloved pizza condiment). Ranch, huh? Well, cowboys and cowgirls, there’s only one answer here: Ford’s rugged yet luxurious King Ranch trim level, named after the King Ranch, an 825,000-plus-acre “major agribusiness with interests in cattle ranching, farming (citrus, cotton, grain, sugar cane, and turfgrass), luxury retail goods, and recreational hunting” founded in South Texas back in 1853.

A variety of Ford trucks and SUVs are available in King Ranch form, including the 2026 F-150, which comes with a two-tone finish with Marsh Gray lower-body trim, badging with the King Ranch’s “Running W” brand, wood interior accents, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front captain’s chairs, unique center console, and more.

How would you associate these words with cars? Tell us in the Comments section below. And be sure to share your ideas for random words to use in a future installment of Car Connections. Want to add a Chevrolet, Koenigsegg, or Ford to your garage? Find them in ClassicCars.com and AutoHunter.com.

For 28 consecutive years, RM Sotheby’s has drawn aficionados and collectors from around the country and beyond to metropolitan Phoenix during what’s come to be known as Arizona Auction Week. Held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, the location and cars may be tony but being an enthusiast is an egalitarian affair.

Given the lineage of supercars on the docket, kids would especially appreciate RM Sotheby’s because a dream sequence of Ferraris were waiting to find new owners. Like Bonhams, Sotheby’s can find its origins in 18^th century London, where it was founded almost 282 years ago. Today, there are several subsidiaries of Sotheby’s, with RM Sotheby’s being the automotive arm that has its origins as RM Auctions. Since that first auction in Toronto in 1991, founder Rob Myers continues to be its Ontario, Canada-based CEO.

If you’re keeping your finger on the pulse of the event, you’ll notice a shift in the cars at certain auctions, RM Sotheby’s included. Though prewar classics are not as much of a core attraction as they used to be, you’ll find those and a little bit of everything else here—just be sure to show your kids the cars painted red.

Shelby American announced another special-edition Shelby Mustang at the Barrett-Jackson 2026 Scottsdale Auction. Each release always focuses on a particular segment of the Shelby narrative, with this one being a track-focused Shelby GT350/TA to celebrate 60 years of the Trans Am racing series.

The Trans Am Manufacturers’ Championship debuted in 1966 with help from Shelby American, which built Mustangs with GT350R-spec parts. With talent like Jerry Titus, Peter Talbert, Ira Morrison, and Vic McClain racing Shelby American Group 2 Mustang notchbacks in the inaugural series, Ford clinched the championship in the Group 2 class.

“1966 was a dominant year for Shelby American in motor racing,” said Joe Conway, CEO of Shelby American. “Shelby American helped Ford Motor Company win the FIA World Sportscar Championship, largely thanks to the legendary victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, along with SCCA B-production series with the Shelby GT350. Shelby’s efforts were vital in Ford’s overall Trans Am success, as the Mustangs’ points helped it win the first-ever Manufacturers’ Championship. We’re returning to those racing roots with this limited-edition car, which also portends many elements of our future Trans Am spec race car.”

Starting with the typical 2026 Shelby GT350 (which—let’s be honest—isn’t typical), the Shelby team focused on removing weight, sharpening its overall performance, and keeping everything cool at speed. Key differences include:

• New carbon fiber front splitter, front fender vents, rocker/splitter, grille, and fascia aero dive planes
• Shelby Performance hood with carbon fiber air extraction and painted Shelby ghost graphic
• Quad exhaust outlets with black tips
• Carbon tail panel with GT350/TA and 60^th Trans Am ghost graphics
• Quarter panel Shelby Racing Team matte-finish graphic for the 60^th anniversary package
• Trans Am-spec Forgeline wheels with Pirelli P Zero tires
• Pro-System Alcon Trans Am Cup brake package
• Safety cage with carbon fiber protective covers 
• New colors: Grabber Blue, Oxford White, Shadow Black, Orange Fury, Carbonized Gray, or Race Red with coordinated graphics package
• Shelby GT350/TA door graphic

“The 2026 Shelby GT350/TA is an amazing car that builds upon the 60^th anniversary model Shelby GT350R that we introduced last year,” said Gary Patterson, President of Shelby American. “This sports car is designed to be competitive on both the street and track. Our motorsports roots are deep, and we continue to bring that championship DNA to every car we build.”

Unusual for a street-legal car is the carbon fiber interior “tub” plus integrated roll cage, Trans Am-spec high-speed carbon fiber aero package, fully adjustable race struts and shocks with remote reservoirs, new Alcon racing brakes, numerous chassis upgrades, and more. Power comes from an 830-plus-horsepower supercharged V8 (with the supercharger available for post-title sales only). You can have any transmission that you want as long as it’s a six-speed manual.

Seventy cars are planned for 2026, all built in Michigan in collaboration with Turn Key Automotive/Motorsports. The GT350/TA will only be available directly through Shelby American, with each vehicle documented in the official Shelby Registry. 

“Working with Shelby American has been a great adventure for our team,” said Turn Key owner Rich Rinke. “It is exciting to help Shelby connect enthusiasts with motorsports through limited edition cars that leverage our extensive competition experience. This incredible car will impress any serious racer.”

Pricing starts at $219,970 (including the 401A 2026 Mustang GT used as a base); updates on the Trans Am-spec vehicle that is planned to enter the 2026 race season will come soon. Individuals interested in a Shelby vehicle can visit their local dealer or go to Shelby.com.  

Want to go to a car show this weekend? Of course you do. If you happen to be in Southern California, head to the Fairplex in Pomona for the 76th annual Grand National Roadster Show to check out hundreds of hot rods and customs, muscle cars, classics, and trucks.

Founded by Al and Mary Slonaker in Oakland, California (and previously known as the Oakland Roadster Show), the GNRS has grown to be “longest running indoor car show in the world!”

Expect to see more than 500 vehicles inside the Fairplex competing for a variety of awards. Entrants with 1937 and earlier U.S. production-based roadsters, roadster pickups, phaetons, touring cars, and even designer roadsters that resemble 1937 or older U.S.-built roadsters are eligible to win the most desired prize of the event: the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Award, which the GNRS deems “the ultimate recognition in the world of Hot Rodding.” Officially, the award is $12,500 in prize money and a replica of the nine-foot-tall perpetual trophy. Joining the ranks of greats such as George Barris and Boyd Coddington is a nice bonus.

Those with any vehicle that’s not a roadster have a chance of going home with the Al Slonaker Memorial Award, which recognizes the best non-roadster vehicle at the GNRS. According to the GNRS website, “ARP Fasteners presents the award, which brings a prize of $12,500 and a custom billet trophy.”

Other indoor attractions include the 1940-60s hot rods, customs, and drag cars inside the Suede Palace, and Fat Attack! at the Feature Building, which will be filled with 1935-48 fat-fendered cars and trucks in a variety of styles, from Pro Street machines to race cars.

There will be plenty of outdoor action at the 2026 GNRS, too. You can join the Grand Daddy Drive-In and possibly win an Editor’s Pick award. At the very least, you’ll get an eyeful of 800-1,000 hot rods and customs, classics, muscle cars, and trucks parked outside the Fairplex (which sounds like its own kind of victory).

The 2026 Grand National Roadster Show runs 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. from Friday, January 30 through Sunday, February 1. General admission is $45 for people 13 and older; tickets for kids ages 6-12 are $10 (children 5 and younger get in free). For more information about events, parking, lodging, and more, go to the GNRS website by clicking here.

To many people, the words “station wagon” bring to mind a frumpy, boring family-hauler. But those who are more into cars know that not all station wagons are bland vessels for large cargo. About 15 years ago, GM dropped a 556-horsepower LSA 6.2-liter supercharged V8 into the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon. In the 1990s, GM put a (detuned) version of the C4 Corvette’s LT1 into the Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon. As the 1954 Dodge Coronet Suburban Two-door Station Wagon in a recent “Jay Leno’s Garage” video shows, Dodge had its own dragon wagon decades earlier.

In 1954, Dodge offered six station wagon configurations. You could get the Coronet Sierra Four-door with seating for six or eight passengers, powered by a 230ci “Get-Away Six” or 241ci “Red Ram” OHV V8 with hemispherical heads and 7.5:1 compression that helped it generate 150 horsepower and 222 lb-ft of torque. The six-passenger Coronet Suburban Two-door was available with the same engine options. Surprise, surprise—Leno’s Coronet has the Hemi.

There’s more to the Coronet Suburban than just power, though. Leno also loves it for its bright and fun turquoise and white two-tone paint and old-school wire wheels and whitewalls. The JC Whitney radio signal booster may be more form than function, but it adds to the longroof’s charm.

That explains why Leno largely left the car alone. Although he had the generator converted into an alternator for more power and consistency, the car still runs on a six-volt electrical system and doesn’t have power steering.

Clearly, as you’ll see in the video below, neither of those retained features diminish the driving experience or Leno’s enjoyment of it.

During Arizona Auction Week, several other niche auction houses crash Scottsdale and make The West’s Most Western Town more about automobiles than horses. Bonhams, the global auction house that was founded in London in 1793, always has an assortment of vehicles that leans towards the sporting and luxury set.

Held at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, The Scottsdale Auction had several vehicles worthy of note, including a 2024 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport in a hue called Éléphant Blanc (“White Elephant”). It sold for over $5 million, which isn’t a world record, believe it or not. Porsches dominated, but there always has been a smattering of American vehicles, mainly unusual pre-war classics, several 1950s cruisers, and 1960s muscle and sporty cars like Corvettes, Mustangs and Shelbys, and a lone Hemi’Cuda.

The below gallery shows most of the Bonhams vehicles that crossed the block on January 23, 2026.