Cars have long been more than just transportation in America—they represent freedom, individuality, and the pursuit of adventure. From iconic road trips along Route 66 to daily commutes in bustling cities, automobiles have significantly shaped the American landscape and lifestyle. They reflect societal values, economic shifts, and technological advancements, becoming integral to the nation’s identity. But among the thousands of cars that have graced American roads, certain models stand out for their remarkable popularity and enduring appeal. Join us as we explore America’s favorite vehicles, the all-time best-sellers that have captured hearts and garages across generations.
This 1932 Ford Model B Tudor Sedan was owned by a museum before it was built into a hot rod at Fullerton Fabrication in California according to the seller, who acquired the car in 2022. It is powered by a 350ci Chevrolet V8 with Edelbrock heads, an Edelbrock intake, a Holley carburetor, a hydraulic roller camshaft, and ram’s horn exhaust manifolds, and the engine is linked to a rebuilt ’39 three-speed and a 3.54 ’32 rear end. The car rides on wire wheels with staggered tires and retains leaf springs with a drop front axle. Hydraulic ’40 brakes have been added along with 682 headlights, and the car also has a tilt-out windshield, an electric fan, and a louvered hood. This Model B is now offered with a Oklahoma title in the seller’s name.
The Tudor sedan bodywork wears an older blue lacquer repaint according to the seller, who notes the gas tank and front fenders appear to have been repainted at a later date. The cowl lights have been removed, and 682 headlights have been installed.
The car rides on ’34 front wire wheels and ’32 rears with staggered bias-ply tires. The seller notes the wheels have been powder-coated black, and the tires have been shaved to balance them. ’40 Ford hydraulic brakes were utilized along with a drop axle up front, and the rear spring was de-arched.
The seller believes the driver’s seat has been recovered, and the car retains a tilt-out windshield. The garnish moldings and steering column have been chromed.
The speedometer is set in an engine-turned panel, while a trio of Stewart-Warner gauges have been added to a finned metal cluster under the dashboard. The five-digit odometer shows 33k miles, approximately 300 of which were added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.
The two-bolt main 350ci Chevrolet V8 has a hydraulic roller camshaft and Edelbrock heads. A Holley carburetor is mounted on the Edelbrock intake, and MSD ignition, an electric fan, finned valve covers, and ram’s horn exhaust manifold were utilized. The seller tells us the wiring was also replaced.
The ’39 Ford transmission was rebuilt according to the seller, who notes the clutch was replaced and a 3.54 gearset was installed in the ’32 rear end.
The car is titled as a 1932 Ford Model B using VIN CBC2790. The Oklahoma title carries a Washington Antique note and a Classic notation.
This go-kart was designed to resemble a T-bucket dragster and was built by the seller in 2023. The kart features a bucket-style metal bodywork finished in blue fitted over a custom steel chassis, and power comes from a Predator 301cc single linked with a torque converter and chain drive. Equipment includes staggered wheels, a windscreen, a faux radiator grille, a pull starter, a three-spoke steering wheel, a gold diamond-stitched seat, a hand-operated throttle and disc brake, a dashboard fashioned from the lower grille surround of a 1927 International pickup, and dual exhaust outlets. This custom hot rod go-kart is now offered at no reserve in Springtown, Texas, on a bill of sale.
The metal bodywork was fabricated from a wheelbarrow and is finished in blue with a color-matching fuel tank and faux radiator grille. It is fitted over a white-finished steel frame that has been Z’d at the rear. The windscreen is secured to the polished aluminum frame with brass fasteners. Areas of the paintwork have been touched up. The rear lamp does not work.
Staggered rolling stock consists of heavy-duty utility cart wheels with chrome spokes and bicycle tires up front as well as 18×9.50-8 Trac Gard CR grooved bias-ply tires mounted to polished DWT Blue Label wheels out back. Braking is from a minibike-sourced rear-mounted hydraulic slotted disc brake with a two-piston caliper that is activated by a piston-shaped lever positioned on the outer right side of the cockpit.
The bucket-style cockpit is lined with diamond-stitched gold fabric with a matching removable floor mat. The body-color dashboard is said to be a lower front section of a 1927 International pickup that was molded into the body, and it houses an inoperative AutoMeter fuel-level gauge in place of the International’s start crank hole. There is also an engine cut-off switch. A hand throttle is positioned outside the cockpit on the right.
The kart is powered by a 301cc Predator single that features a hemispherical combustion chamber, a high-flow air filter, and a stage 1 carburetor kit with a larger-than-stock main jet. The custom exhaust features a one-into-two header pipe. Power is routed to the rear wheels via a 40-Series torque converter with a heavy main spring. The kart has a belt- and chain-drive system as well as a 1.25″ live rear axle.
There’s something uniquely satisfying about driving a car that looks ordinary but packs a surprising punch under the hood.
Known as sleeper cars, these vehicles blend in with everyday traffic yet boast performance capabilities that can embarrass iconic muscle cars like the Ford Mustang.
Car enthusiasts love sleepers because they offer the thrill of unexpected victories, turning unassuming sedans, wagons, or hatchbacks into stealthy speed machines.
In this article, we’ll explore ten unsuspecting cars that combine subtlety with impressive speed, easily leaving Mustangs in their rear-view mirrors without breaking a sweat.
Despite headlines heralding the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), gas-powered cars continue to overwhelmingly dominate America’s highways and garages.
While EV sales have surged in recent years, gasoline vehicles still account for the vast majority of cars sold and driven across the nation.
Factors such as affordability, established fueling infrastructure, and consumer familiarity keep internal combustion engines firmly entrenched in the automotive landscape.
As policymakers and automakers push toward electrification, millions of Americans continue to rely on traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, underscoring the complex dynamics at play in the ongoing transition toward a greener transportation future.
In recent years, the automotive market has witnessed an exciting surge in the popularity of high-performance SUVs, vehicles uniquely designed to combine the thrill of sports car agility with the practicality of family-oriented safety features.
Today’s consumers no longer wish to compromise between exhilarating driving experiences and reliable, family-friendly designs.
Manufacturers have responded enthusiastically, infusing luxury, speed, and advanced safety technologies into these versatile vehicles.
This article explores the latest trends shaping the market, reviewing standout models that effortlessly blend dynamic performance and sophisticated safety, setting new benchmarks for what family SUVs can offer.
One of the wonderful (and humbling) things about being a car enthusiast is that you never stop learning. And the more you learn, the stronger your love for cars grows. Last year, while researching for an episode of the Drive the Bid Podcast, I came across an interestingly named accessory that Packard offered. It was a footrest, but the luxury automaker didn’t call it that, instead identifying it as a “hassock.” That led to me wanting to show all of you that and additional noteworthy accessories available from Packard in the late 1920s and 1930s, which you can see below.
COSMETIC
In 1929, you could order your Packard with a “de luxe” (aka “Goddess of Speed“) radiator emblem, or specify a personalized one with your initials on it. If that didn’t impress your passengers upon entry, they would definitely know you had made it in the world when they saw the flowers in your optional cut glass vase inside.
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE – EXTERIOR
I can’t speak for you, but vent visors remind me of the 1990s and 2000s. As Packard’s accessory catalog shows, even back in 1929, people wanted to have their windows down a little yet keep the elements out of their cabins, which they could do with “window eaves.”
The vertical blades of the available Packard-Trico Visionall system kept rain and snow off the windshield; a rumble seat windshield was available to make sure the rear passenger’s smile was free of bugs when they got to their destination.
As long as the weather allowed people to play through, the running board-mounted golf bag holder was ready to transport up to three sets of clubs to the local course.
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE – INTERIOR
Driving into the sun has never been pleasant, so it’s good to know Packard made a glare shield to prevent “blind driving,” according to its 1939 accessories catalog. The company was even kind enough to make it “non-inflammable” (does that mean it was flammable?).
Those fortunate enough to ride in a Packard could make their trip a little cozier by covering up with a “robe” that had plush silk on one side and the same upholstery used in the cabin on the other. They could even put their feet up on one of those hassocks I mentioned earlier.
The biggest surprise of all is that way back in the ’30s, Packard had a hill hold feature, although it gave the technology a much cooler name: NoRoL. It engaged when the driver pressed the clutch and brake pedals down, holding the Packard in place on an incline; to get moving again, all the driver had to do was push the clutch.
*All photos courtesy of PackardInfo.com and Dezo’s Garage.
Affectionately known as the “Screaming Chicken,” Pontiac’s flaming phoenix that initially appeared on the hood of the 1973 Trans Am, is about as iconic as any identifier from the muscle car era. However, did you know that it literally rose from the dead to become the Trans Am’s trademark?
Designer Bill Porter was initially inspired by Hopi art when designing the Firebird logo. However, folks within Pontiac jokingly called it the “Sick Chicken,” so he was motivated to create an update for 1970. Inspired by a Tiffany vase that featured flame-like feathers, Porter designed a new bird that appeared to be rising. He then attached a huge version of it on the hood of a Trans Am and showed Bill Mitchell, Vice President of General Motors Design. Mitchell, who could make a sailor blush with the language he used, was not too kind towards the proposal.
Around two years later, John Schinella, another designer, decided to revive the idea. He modified the bird slightly, then crafted decals for his own car and drove up and down Woodward Avenue to gauge reaction. Everyone loved it, so he applied the new treatment to Mitchell’s custom-built black and gold Trans Am. The car, flanked by Mitchel’s similarly hued motorcycles, were parked by his office. This time, there was no negative reaction, giving Schinella the opportunity to present to Pontiac’s lead designer, Chuck Jordan, and Pontiac executives. Several were not too keen on the Screaming Chicken, but the suggestion to make the decal an option was a compromise solution that was palatable.
This decal soon became synonymous with Trans Ams throughout its lifecycle, though the huge bird was last used in 1981. For the straight scoop, check out the above video from Original Motor Car via Dean’s Garage.
Are you ready for summer? Automakers seem to be. Toyota has a new TRD Pro color for 2026 called Wave Maker. Ford Performance is offering a new Coastal Package for the 2025 Bronco four-door complete with a lift and colorful graphics. Now comes news of a 1-of-1 Palm Beach Edition DB12 Volante from a collaboration between Q by Aston Martin, the British automaker’s in-house bespoke division, and Aston Martin Palm Beach.
If you’ve never been to Palm Beach, Florida before, close your eyes and envision the ocean, sunshine, and palm trees, all of which are represented in this special DB12 Volante. According to Aston Martin, the exclusive Q by Aston Martin Frosted Glass Blue exterior paint was sprayed by hand and “exhibits qualities unique to the use of glass flakes within the topcoat, creating the unmistakeably mesmerising shimmer effect that perfectly encapsulates the south Florida sun.”
The eight-layer fabric power top lowers in 14 seconds to let in the rays and the coastal breeze, which will probably feel like a hurricane when the 670-horsepower 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 is fully opened up.
A palm leaf motif is visible on everything from the aluminum side strakes above the front Gloss Jet Black diamond-turned wheels to the polished aluminum door sill plaques, Aurora Blue and Ivory leather seats, center armrest, and door panels. Although the wood accents were not cut from palm trees, Aston Martin chose open-pore Linear Light Olive Ash book-matched wood trim because its texture is similar. There are even more book-matched veneers – with a palm leaf pattern, of course – on the back of the seats. Should the well-heeled owner of this one-off happen to be far away from Palm Beach, they’ll know how to get there after they punch in the city’s latitude and longitude coordinates embossed on the leather dashboard into the DB12 Volante’s bespoke infotainment system.
If you happen to be in Palm Beach in the near future and see this ultra-exclusive Aston, consider yourself lucky. If you don’t spot it, you’ll still be in Palm Beach so don’t get down (unless it’s hurricane season).
Hybrid vehicles have become increasingly popular among environmentally conscious drivers and those looking to cut fuel expenses.
However, not all hybrid models deliver the benefits they promise.
Some hybrids suffer from reliability issues, unexpectedly high maintenance costs, disappointing fuel economy, or lackluster performance that leaves drivers regretting their purchase.
It’s crucial to carefully research and understand which hybrid vehicles have a troubled history or negative owner feedback before making an investment.
In this article, we’ll highlight eight hybrid vehicles you should avoid, helping you steer clear of costly mistakes and ensuring you make the smartest possible choice for your driving needs.