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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.

    28-Years-Owned 350-Powered 1948 Chevrolet Stylemaster Town Sedan Street Rod

    This 1948 Chevrolet Stylemaster Town Sedan was built into a street rod before the current owner’s acquisition in 1997, and it is powered by a 350ci V8 linked to an automatic transmission. The car is finished in blue over gray cloth upholstery, and highlights include a Holley 650-cfm carburetor, a Mustang II-style front assembly, WELD 15” wheels, front disc brakes, power steering, a Panasonic cassette head unit, and VDO supplementary gauges. This custom Chevrolet is now offered as part of the SawMill Collection on dealer consignment with a clean Washington title.

    The car left the factory finished in Lake Como Blue Iridescent (371), and it has been repainted. Exterior details include a split windshield, a round side mirror, chrome bumpers, and dual exhaust outlets.

    WELD 15” wheels are mounted with 215/65 Grand Am Radial G/T tires. The car rides on a Mustang II-style independent assembly with power steering, and braking is handled by front discs and rear drums.

    The cabin features bench seats and door panels trimmed in gray cloth, and black carpets line the floor. A Panasonic cassette head unit has been installed, and a center high-mounted stop light has been mounted on the rear parcel shelf.

    The four-spoke steering wheel is mounted to a tilt column and sits ahead of a 100-mph speedometer and VDO auxiliary gauges. The five-digit odometer shows 50k miles, approximately 45k of which have been added under current ownership.

    The 350ci V8 is equipped with a Holley 650-cfm carburetor, an aluminum intake manifold, and Holley-logo valve covers.

    Power is sent to the rear wheels through an automatic transmission

    The chassis number 6FJH7337 is shown above. The Washington title lists the VIN as FAA499072, which is consistent with an engine number for a 216ci inline-six produced in 1948.

    Supercharged 350-Powered ’24 Ford Model T C-Cab Pickup Street Rod

    This ’24 Ford Model T C-cab street rod started with a Model T cowl, doors, windshield frame, and mirrors. Reproduction side panels and a pickup bed were fabricated, and a 2×4 steel tube frame was custom-built, boxed, and Z’d. It has 6-71 blower, an intercooler, and twin 750cfm carburetors mounted on the 350ci V8, and the engine is linked to a Turbo 350 automatic transmission and a Ford 9″ rear end. It rides on an independent front end and a four-link rear end with coilovers, Gasser-style front alloys, Weld rear wheels, and four-wheel disc brakes. The exhaust system was custom-built with 2.25″ stainless-steel headers linked to 3″ collectors and stacks. Inside is a billet wheel, two-tone upholstery, and Speedhut gauges. Completed in 2024, this Model T pickup is now offered with a Washington title in the seller’s name listing the truck as a 1924 Ford.

    The build started with a Model T cowl, doors, windshield frame, and mirrors. Reproduction side panels and a pickup bed were fabricated, and a 2×4 steel tube frame was custom-built, boxed, and Z’d.

    Root Beer Brown metallic paintwork is contrasted by orange metallic accents and two-tone pinstriping and flourishes applied by Mitch Kim. Cycle fenders are fitted up front on custom-made mounts, and ’33/’34 commercial lights with internal turn signals were mounted up front.

    The top is made from wood and covered with tan canvas. Sapele wood was utilized for the bed along with hand-fabricated metal hardware. The tailgate was fabricated, and the ’29 Ford-style taillights are LEDs. ’29 Ford bumpers were used, and an aluminum fuel tank is hidden in the trunk mounted in the bed.

    The front 15″ Rocket Racing Launcher alloys have 26×6.00 Mickey Thompson tires, and the Weld Racing 15″ rears have 31×16.00. The truck rides on an independent front end and a four-link rear end with coilovers and four-wheel disc brakes. Wheelie bars are fitted.

    The custom interior has German-style carpeting, a fabricated seat with marine-grade butterscotch and mocha vinyl, and a billet banjo-style steering wheel. The gauges are from Speedhut with a GPS speedometer and auxiliary readouts. Fuel pressure and boost-pressure gauges are mounted on the back of the blower.

    A 6-71 blower, an intercooler, and twin 750cfm carburetors are mounted on the 350ci V8. The firewall is polished aluminum, and the custom four-row radiator is cooled by an electric fan with an original-style grille shell. The exhaust system was custom-built with 2.25″ stainless-steel headers linked to 3″ collectors and stacks.

    Power is routed to the rear wheels through a Turbo 350 with a 2,500-rpm stall converter and a Ford 9″ rear end.

    Photos showing various stages of the build can be seen in the gallery below.

    The Washington State title lists the sequence shown above as the VIN, notes the model as a 1924 Model T, and carries an “Antique” brand.

    Corvette Summer: The California Corvette Concept

    Plenty of cars have been named after places in California: Catalina, Pacifica, and Santa Cruz are but a few. Some cars have even been named after the state itself. Now, you can add another car to the list as the Chevrolet California Corvette concept has been revealed.

    Image courtesy of General Motors

    Naming a Corvette after the Golden State may be fraught with issues these days considering California’s propensity for draconian automotive rules, but the 31st state of the union has been a cultural trend-setter for decades. “Southern California has been at the heart of automotive and design culture for a century, and GM has had a deep design presence here for nearly 40 years. We wanted to ensure that this concept was developed through that SoCal lens, but with a global and futuristic outlook. Duality of purpose is the basis of this concept’s design strategy,” says Brian Smith, design director of GM Advanced Design Pasadena. As such, let’s not get too hot ‘n bothered.

    Image courtesy of General Motors

    “Our Advanced Design teams are dedicated to shaping the future, driving innovation, and exploring what’s possible,” adds Bryan Nesbitt, vice president of global design. “The California Corvette concept is another example of forward-thinking design. We invited multiple GM studios to envision Corvette-inspired hypercars—the first of which was revealed by our UK studio in March. The California team has now delivered a complementary study that honors Corvette’s legendary performance, while infusing it with their own distinctive vision.”

    Image courtesy of General Motors

    This hypercar blends “racing-simulator inspiration” with the Corvette cues that you love to love. The proportions are classic Corvette, while the single-piece front-hinged canopy “enables the entire upper shell to be removed, transforming the concept from an agile, slick sports car to a lightweight, open-air track car,” says Smith.

    Image courtesy of General Motors

    Inside, the California Corvette embraces a minimalist aesthetic—somewhat the antithesis of California’s MO, come to think of it—with performance-focused displays that include an augmented-reality HUD.

    Here’s the lowdown on the California Corvette:

    Body Structure

    • Tunneled underbody with lightweight carbon tub
    • Active aero spoiler and air brake
    • Large, staggered wheels—21-inch front wheels and 22-inch rear wheels
    • Assumed T-shape prismatic battery pack—enabling low seating and better airflow around and through the chassis

    Dimensions

    • 86 inches (2,184mm) width/182.5 inches (4,669mm) length
    • 109 inches (2,767mm) wheelbase

    High Horsepower, Low Ego: 15 Cars That Didn’t Flex, But Could’ve

    In a world where loud exhausts and bold badges often signify performance, there exists a rare breed of car that chooses discretion over display. These silent powerhouses impress not with flashy spoilers or aggressive grilles, but with refined engineering and subtle confidence.

    For many enthusiasts, the appeal lies in the ability to blend in while knowing there’s serious muscle under the hood—a secret only true aficionados recognize. Manufacturers, too, sometimes prefer understated designs, letting performance speak through experience rather than appearance.

    This low-key approach to high horsepower has quietly shaped automotive history, earning these cars a cult following among those who value substance over show.

    Source

    New Book on GM Cars and Harley Earl’s Designs Coming Soon

    I don’t know which books are in your automotive literature collection, but I do know that there are more you may want to add. “Car Guys vs. Bean Counters: The Battle for the Soul of American Business” by Bob Lutz and “Bruno Sacco: Leading Mercedes-Benz Design, 1975-1999″ by Nicholas Greene are on my list. If you’re a fan of GM cars, Harley Earl’s designs, or the Oldsmobile Toronado, “Designing Dreams: Essays on the inside story of GM, Harley Earl and America’s Golden Automotive Age” might be the next addition to your library.

    In this 197-page read, author Dick Ruzzin, former Director of Design for Chevrolet Cars in the United States, shares over one hundred sketches and GM archival images, as well as essays about the creative process and ideas behind certain cars. One of those essays focuses on the Oldsmobile Toronado, a car which Ruzzin had a hand (and pen) in designing.

    No discussion of 20th-century GM styling would be complete without covering Harley Earl. The Automotive Hall of Fame inductee and former head of GM design is credited with introducing the use of clay modeling, the Buick Y-Job (which GM calls “the industry’s first concept car”), and “Project Opel,” which eventually became the first Chevrolet Corvette. According to Veloce, the publisher, Ruzzin’s book “reflects on the profound influence of Harley Earl, the pioneer car designer who elevated automobiles into works of art. Earl’s creativity and design philosophies reshaped the industry, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire.”

    “Designing Dreams” is available to pre-order now before its release on July 29, 2025. Barnes and Noble and Amazon have digital versions priced at $18.99; the hardcover goes for $29.99. Those of you overseas can find it on Veloce’s website for £24.99.

    AutoHunter Spotlight: 1968 Ford Mustang Golden Nugget

    Since the early days of the automobile, manufacturers have tailored cars to market in specific regions of the country. One example is the RAM 1500 Lone Star Edition, sold only in Texas. It’s essentially just a Big Horn-trim level truck with unique badging, but buyers appreciate the exclusivity. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen some “Arizona Edition” Cadillacs with cactus pinstriping, too.

    In the late 1960s, the Ford Mustang was similarly offered in unique variants based on specific regional target markets. Among them were the California Special (sold in the West Coast), the High Country Special (sold in Colorado) and the Golden Nugget (sold in Oregon and Washington). Now is a perfect time to look a little more closely at that last one.

    Featured on AutoHunter is this 1968 Ford Mustang Golden Nugget Special. The car is being sold by a private seller and the auction will end Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).

    A wealth of information (only some of which appears to cite source data) abounds on the Golden Nugget, but from what I was able to gather, Ford’s Seattle sales district made a request for a special edition Mustang, and Ford delivered one in 1968—called the Golden Nugget. Only 481 such cars were produced, and all were directed toward dealerships in Oregon and Washington. Exclusive features included Sunlit Gold paint with black hood stripes (code Y5), black striping, a black vinyl top, and some gold features on the interior. There even was a dash placard featuring the original owner’s name.

    This car was assembled at Ford’s San Jose, California, assembly plant on January 16, 1968, and was originally delivered to a dealership called Smith & Gandy Inc. in Seattle. The Marti Report says its features included the Visibility Group, whitewall tires, wheel covers, console, power steering, AM radio and deluxe seat belts. The original owner took delivery on September 26, 1968. The steelies have been ditched for 16-inch American Racing wheels, and the audio system is upgraded to a Bluetooth setup, but the car is otherwise original to many of its build specifications.

    Power comes from a rebuilt, period-correct 302-4V V8 mated to the car’s reportedly original C4 three-speed automatic transmission. The seller says that the car has been driven just 395 miles since the engine rebuild, and upgrades include a Summit Racing four-barrel carburetor, an aluminum radiator, and shorty headers. The odometer says 71,275, but the title reads mileage-exempt.

    Various people have tried tracking the surviving Golden Nugget Mustangs over the years. Today, the “official” record/registry is apparently a Facebook group managed by Bill Gorman with just 32 members in it. Bill indicates that there used to be a website that served as a repository for the information, but the information was lost when the page was corrupted.

    So, what better way to start with helping the community to rebuild the most current data than by becoming a member of the Golden Nugget Mustang family yourself? You’ve made your lucky strike on the search for rare metal.

    The auction for this 1968 Ford Mustang Golden Nugget Special ends Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).

    Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

    Pick of the Day: 1972 Chevrolet Suburban C10 Custom Deluxe

    If you’re looking forward to the start of fall, you’re not alone—we are too because summer in Arizona is brutal! September will be a great time to visit national parks, such as Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming and Maine’s Acadia National Park, according to Earth Trekkers. It’s a classic American road trip that’s the perfect fit for another American classic: the Chevrolet Suburban, one of which happens to be our Pick of the Day. You can find this 1972 Chevrolet Suburban listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Englewood, Colorado.

    Consider this Suburban part of the end of an era. As a 1972, it’s from the final model year of the legendary model’s sixth generation that debuted for 1967. After this, it was nearly 20 years of the “Square Body” version that ran through 1991.

    The 1972 model year was also the last time Chevrolet offered a three-door Suburban: one door on the driver’s side and two on the passengers’ side.

    The unusual door layout could lead to you being the only one getting in on your side but, once your passengers load into the bright blue vinyl and cloth interior, they’ll have room for their luggage behind the second row bench and enjoy the comfort of the optional front and rear air conditioning system (once it’s recharged).

    As the driver, you’ll appreciate the air conditioning as well as the convenience of power steering, three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic, cup holders, and gauges for the battery, temperature, and oil pressure (there’s never a good time for the engine to overheat, but one of the worst is halfway through a 10-hour out-of-state trip).

    A good, old-fashioned 350ci small-block and a set of Rally wheels with BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires will get you and your family and/or friends on the way to the park of your choice. Power front disc and rear drum brakes will help each of you get there in one piece (it’s much easier to enjoy the view from the top of a mountain that way).

    Fall is getting closer and closer, and this 1972 Chevrolet Suburban C10 Custom Deluxe might not be available by the time it arrives. You can officially start planning your trek to one of our country’s majestic national parks once you buy this iconic people-mover for $36,900.

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

    They Called It a Mistake — We Call It a Masterpiece: 12 Cars That Were Ahead of Their Time

    Throughout automotive history, some cars have been misunderstood or dismissed as failures when they first appeared.
    Designs that seemed too radical, technologies that felt unnecessary, or styles that broke every rule often led to skepticism or ridicule.
    Yet, many of these so-called “mistakes” would later be recognized as masterpieces, paving the way for innovations we take for granted today.
    As the years passed, their influence became undeniable, inspiring future generations of vehicles and reshaping what we expect from the automobile.
    Let’s celebrate 12 such cars that were truly ahead of their time.

    Source

    The 20 Most “Unstealable” Cars — Because No One Wants Them Anyway

    While car theft remains a serious issue worldwide, not all vehicles are equally at risk.
    Some cars are so undesirable to both thieves and buyers that they’re practically “unstealable.”
    A lack of demand for parts, outdated technology, and unremarkable performance often make these models unattractive to criminals.
    Thieves typically target vehicles with high resale value or popular parts, but cars with dated features or a reputation for reliability over excitement are often ignored.
    In fact, the Insurance Information Institute notes that theft rates are closely tied to a model’s popularity and ease of resale.
    It’s ironic—sometimes the best anti-theft device is simply driving a car nobody wants.

    Source