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    No Reserve: Nailhead-Powered Ford T-Bucket “Buford 2”

    This Ford is a scratch-built T-Bucket roadster that was inspired by a build completed by the seller’s father when he was in high school. The fiberglass body is mounted on custom-made 3×2″ boxed frame, and it rides on a custom suspension with a suicide front end, a Magnum 4″ drop axle, Total Performance radius rods, a SuperSlide front spring, and a Posies Model A spring out back. Staggered 16″ Wheel Vintiques wheels are mounted over Buick drum-look Wilwood brakes up front and Lincoln drums out back, and it also has a reversed Corvair steering box and a Corvette master cylinder. Power comes from a 401ci Buick Nailhead V8 with a three-speed Turbo Hydramatic automatic transmission, and inside is a Lokar shifter, a Borgeson steering column, German square-weave carpeting, and a Bell steering wheel. Dubbed “Buford 2”, the car was featured in the May 2015 issue of Hot Rod following completion of the build. This T-Bucket is now offered at no reserve with spare parts, and a clean Nevada title in the seller’s name.

    The May 2015 Hot Rod article highlights the history and build that was performed by the seller’s father.

    The fiberglass body is from Total Performance, and it was painted Cherry Metallic. It is mounted on a custom-made 2×3″ boxed chassis.

    The suicide front end features a Magnum 4″ drop axle, Total Performance radius rods, and a SuperSlide front spring, while a Posie’s Model A spring is used along with custom-made radius rods out back. The staggered 16″ Wheel Vintiques steelies are painted to match the body and mounted with big-and-littles.

    The front brakes have Buick-style finned drum covers over Wilwood discs. Out back Lincoln drums were used, and the system employs a Corvette master cylinder. The steering box is a reversed Corvair unit.

    Tan channeled upholstery covers the bench seat, backrest, and top of the “bed”, which conceals the fuel tank. A 14″ Bell wheel is mounted on the Borgeson steering column; the shifter is from Lokar. German square-weave carpeting lines the floors.

    The Stewart-Warner gauges do not work, though the seller estimates the car has been driven 2,400 miles.

    The seller’s father built the 401ci Buick Nailhead V8 with .030″-over Ross forged pistons, a Delta Cams camshaft, ported heads, Clevite bearings, and ARP hardware. Two 600cfm Edelbrock carburetors are mounted on the Eelco manifold, and Eelco finned valve covers were also used along with a Vertex magneto. The coolant and oil were changed in June 2025.

    Chrome headers flow into sidepipes on both sides. 

    The seller’s father used a big-bearing Ford banjo, Dutchman chromoly axles, and a Winters Performance quick-change rear end. The TH400 automatic transmission has a switch-pitch torque converter.

    Uninstalled Eelco intake manifolds, each with a trio of Stromberg 97s, are included along with linkages.

    The car is titled as a 1923 Ford using VIN T7696446.

    Concepts Give Vision to Future Corvettes

    How many times have we seen crystal-ball claiming to show future vehicles yet none of them ever pan out? Remember the split-window Corvette Centennial from 15 years ago? It didn’t happen, but a mid-engined C8 Corvette did. Fantasies can manifast!

    I’d like to think that, considering the mid-engined C8 Corvette reached production several years ago, that Corvette designers have the opportunity to acknowledge what they’ve learned and refine what they know, leading to even more magnificent Corvette designs. If that’s true, then we have the Corvette CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo concepts as the next step in Corvette design.

    Image courtesy of General Motors

    Both of these cars have been unveiled at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, during Monterey Car Week. “While not intended for production, the pair will serve as inspiration to inform Corvette design language for years to come,” says Chevrolet. “Drawing on more than 70 years of performance innovation, these Corvette concepts honor the heritage of America’s sports car—and propel it into the future.”

    Image courtesy of General Motors

    Both vehicles were designed right in Detroit, specifically Chevrolet Performance Studio in Warren, with an assist from GM Motorsports Aero Group. “While the shape of a Corvette has always been expressive and forward-looking, each crease and line has its roots in the generations that came before it. It is aspirational, it is cultural, it is the reason people want to come and work at Chevrolet,” says Phil Zak, executive design director for Chevrolet. “The CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo demonstrate our design teams stepping away from the constraints of production vehicles and unleashing their creativity. Through this exercise, we’ve added to Corvette and defined the design direction for Corvette moving forward.”

    Image courtesy of General Motors

    The more street-worthy of the two, the Corvette CX, still can handle the track, though it certainly looks much more austere compared with the current crop of road/track vehicles available today, ZR1 included. Call me crazy, but it looks as if the C3 was turned into a modern mid-engined sports car—how can that be bad? “The proportions are long, low, and sleek, with a roofline less than 41 inches high,” says Chevrolet. A flip-up canopy entry system gives Dodge Charger III vibes.

    The cabin is furnished in Inferno Red ballistic textile with silicone leather, milled aluminum, and low-gloss forged carbon fiber accents. A digital windscreen promotes an immersive experience that surrounds occupants with a display offering real-time performance data.

    Image courtesy of General Motors

    And then there’s the Corvette CX.R Vision Gran Turismo. As you may have surmised, this is the track version of the same car, inspired by Corvette GT racing. Painted in the traditional regalia of yellow and black, the CX.R VGT features more aggressive aerodynamic duds, plus a rear spoiler that will shame any SoCal JDM brah.

    Image courtesy of General Motors

    Inside, raw carbon fiber weave and suede-wrapped foam takes over, and more aggressive seats provide the proper head and neck support that’s needed to handle all that power.

    So, here’s the rub: the Corvette CX is an all-wheel-drive electric supercar—perhaps EV packaging is the reason everything looks so tidy. The silver lining is that there’s four motors generating more the 2,000 horsepower, with four-wheel torque vectoring.

    Yet the CX.R VGT is powered by a 2.0-liter DOHC twin-turbo V8 with up to 900 horsepower, so certainly there’s provision for an engine. This one can rev to 15,000 rpm to boot! Not unexpectedly, there’s three electric motors (one for each front wheel, plus a third incorporated in the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission), with the combination offering total horsepower on par with the CX . . . but with a V8 rumble.

    Working with Polyphony Digital Inc. (a subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment), both the Corvette CX and Corvette CX.R Vision Gran Turismo concepts will be available for a virtual spin in Gran Turismo 7 later this month, giving you a chance to experience firsthand the future of Corvette design.

    Interesting Finds: 1953 Chevrolet 3100

    Trucks were made to work, but we’d be willing to make an exception for this 1953 Chevrolet 3100 we saw at the Barrett-Jackson 2024 Scottsdale Fall Auction. As part of a 2011 frame-off restoration, it received a handsome two-tone green finish as well as fresh chrome and an oak plank bed floor with matching side rails. There’s more green inside the cab as well as a bench seat reupholstered in two-tone gray vinyl and cloth.

    One thing you won’t see in there is the fuel tank because that’s been reinstalled underneath the bed. The 235ci I6 under the hood is connected to a four-speed manual transmission. Maybe the person who won this classic American truck with a bid of $44,000 drives it to local car shows. Or maybe they use it to carry building materials for a home improvement project. What would you do with this 1953 Chevrolet 3100? Tell us in the comments below.

    Subscribe to the ClassicCars TV YouTube channel for more Interesting Finds.

    AutoHunter Spotlight: 1967 Mercury Cyclone

    Today’s AutoHunter Spotlight is this 1967 Mercury Cyclone hardtop. As the sportiest car of the Comet series, the Cyclone came standard with bucket seats and was powered by a 200-horsepower 289, though the GT Performance Group added a 320-horsepower 390 and other equipment. If you wanted something in-between, you could opt for a 390 two-barrel and four-speed manual, which is how this Cyclone was originally built, making it one of 209. A lot has happened since 1967, with this vehicle being the recipient of a fuel-injected 4.6-liter and five-speed manual transmission transplant. Other features include a factory GT hood, Eaton Detroit Locker differential, four-wheel disc brakes, and more. Painted Inverness Green with a black vinyl interior, this updated muscle car comes from the selling dealer with a Deluxe Marti Report and a clear title.

    The original color for this Cyclone was Inverness Green, and that’s the color that continues to present itself for your viewing pleasure, though now the front and rear bumpers have been painted black. There’s more black-out happening with the grille, front and rear bezels, and driver-side mirror. Other features include the optional GT fiberglass hood (one of 491 hardtops to be so equipped) and a set of 17-inch American Racing wheels wrapped in 245/50 Nitto radials.

    The black vinyl interior features two bucket seats with a Hurst shifter mounted between them. Other cabin characteristics include the factory AM radio, aftermarket Grant steering wheel, power steering, and padded dashboard.

    Instrumentation includes AutoMeter 160-mph speedometer and 8,000-rpm tachometer, plus the original coolant temperature and fuel gauges. Additionally, a set of aftermarket gauges reside underneath the dashboard. The odometer currently reads 545 miles though the title reads mileage-exempt.

    The original big-block has been replaced by a fuel-injected 4.6-liter “Modular” V8 and five-speed manual sourced from a late-model Mustang GT. A Champion aluminum radiator is a noteworthy addition.

    The undercarriage features a nine-inch Ford rear with Eaton Detroit Locker differential housing 3.25 gears. Other features include power four-wheel disc brakes, Mustang II front suspension, four-link rear suspension, and Heidts crossmember.

    Cyclones never sold in great numbers, with this 1967 Mercury Cyclone being one of only 2,682 hardtops built (those with the GT package were actually more popular). It has a classic look of the era that, when combined with the nifty GT hood and modern mechanicals, make for a very nice modified muscle car. And, lucky you, it was a modified with a five-speed manual instead of an overdrive automatic! Don’t hesitate—get your trigger finger ready and place a bid because after 12:45 p.m. (PDT) on Thursday, August 21, 2025, this Mercury will have a new owner. Will it be you?

    Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

    Pick of the Day: 1978 Chevrolet C10 Silverado Big-10

    American trucks are made to complete difficult, demanding jobs. And since they work, technically, that means they can change careers. Our Pick of the Day, a 1978 Chevrolet C10 Silverado Big-10, started out as a workhorse pickup but is now going in a completely different direction. You can find it on ClassicCars.com listed by a dealership in Roseville, California.

    Do you remember Nissan‘s Titan XD from a few years ago? Available with a Cummins turbodiesel V8, it was a considered a “heavy half-ton” truck: beefier than a half-ton, but not quite as burly as a Ford F-250 or Ram 2500. Think of the 1978 Chevy Big-10 you see here as a sort of American predecessor to that truck. Chevy’s 1978 truck brochure describes the Big-10 as “the heavy-duty half-ton that’s equipped to handle bigger and tougher jobs than a regular half-tonner” with GVWRs (Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings) of 6,050 or 6,200 pounds. To prepare its ‘tweener truck for countless days at job sites, Chevy installed a Massive Girder Beam independent front suspension with a 3,400-pound capacity and heavy-duty front coil springs, rear leaf springs, and power front disc and rear drum brakes. Engine options ranged from a 250ci six to a four-barrel 454 V8.

    This particular Big-10 still has its factory big-block, which is paired with a TH400 three-speed automatic, but now it seems to be a sport truck. Thanks to a professional lowering job, it sits low to the ground on its powder-coated Chevrolet truck Rally wheels and BFGoodrich radials. According to the selling dealer, the original paint was matched, which appears to be a combination of Santa Fe Tan and Buckskin.

    Just because this Big-10 was originally designed to be a work rig, that doesn’t mean it’s completely devoid of frills. As a Silverado model, it comes with a full set of gauges and metallic trim, as well as the power locks and windows, and air conditioning that someone was smart enough to add while configuring this truck. One thing it doesn’t have is a lot of miles; the odometer shows approximately 58,500 original miles.

    If you buy this 1978 Chevrolet C10 Silverado Big-10 for $49,995, you’ll have a fun job to do: putting bigger numbers on the odometer as you burn up the rear tires.

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

    13 Cars That Were Supposed to Be Ordinary… But Accidentally Became Icon

    Throughout automotive history, certain vehicles have transcended their initial designs as practical transportation to become cultural and automotive icons. These models, often introduced with modest intentions, have achieved legendary status through public affection, innovative engineering, or unforeseen influence. Their stories highlight how everyday cars can evolve into symbols of eras, movements, and personal expression.

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    Supercharged Hemi-Powered ’32 Ford Roadster AA/SR Drag Car

    This ’32 Ford roadster was built around 1960 and raced in the AA/Street Roadster class through 1966. The car was converted into a street rod at some point between the 1980s and 1990s, and in 2007 it was returned to the configuration in which it was raced. The tilting fiberglass body is mounted on a modified ’32 frame, and it is powered by a built 392ci Hemi V8 topped by a GM 6-71 supercharger. The engine is linked to a three-speed 727 TorqueFlite automatic transmission and a ’58 Oldsmobile axle with a limited-slip differential. It has coilovers, ladder bars, an anti-sway bar, and wheelie bars, along with a Simpson chute. The driver is provided with a roll cage, bucket seats, harnesses, and afternarket gauges. The car also has line lock, magnesium Torq Thrust wheels, Hurst Airheart front disc brakes, and more as described below. Acquired by the seller in 2007, this ’32 roadster is now offered with a clean Michigan title in the seller’s name listing the car as a 1932 Ford Roadster.

    The car has a tilting fiberglass body that is mounted on a modified 1932 chassis. In 2007 it was returned to its 1960s racing configuration with a period-style AA/SR livery.

    A vintage style roll bar/cage was added to the original mounting points on the 1932 frame. The body is coated with gray primer, and the car retains turn signals, a license plate light, headlights, tail lights, and a horn. The seller advises that the car could use an overall cleanup and touchup, and believes the car was painted five different shades at various times before the primer was applied.

    The seller rebuilt the ’58 392ci Chrysler Hemi V8 in 2007. The block was bored and honed, and Bill Miller pistons and connecting rods were installed, along with a Crower roller camshaft and lifters. The heads were ported, and a Hot Heads high-volume oil pump was used, along with Clevite bearings. The engine is topped by a GM 6-71 supercharger with a Cragar magnesium intake and a 25%-overdrive blower drive. The seller advises that oil drips at the rear of the pan.

    A Hilborn bug catcher scoop is mounted on the twin Holley 660 carburetors, which were modified by Gary Williams. The engine also has dual remote oil filters, a finned aluminum oil pan, Mickey Thompson valve covers, and a Joe Hunt magneto.

    The American Racing magnesium Torq Thrust wheels measure 15×4″ up front and 15×10″ in the rear. The seller notes the tires hold air but are older and require replacement.

    The front end utilizes a ’37 Ford tube axle, a transverse leaf spring, and Ford Pickup shocks. Hurst Airheart disc brakes with line lock were also fitted.

    The fiberglass bucket seats have red covers and Simpson harnesses.

    A combination of Stewart-Warner and Eelco gauges were fitted in the dashboard. The seller has driven the car ~150 of the under 5,200 miles indicated. The Sun tachometer and Stewart-Warner speedometer do not work.

    The DRAGFAST collectors are linked to 3″ stainless-steel pipes and Flowmaster mufflers for street use. For racing, the 2 1/8″ primary pipes dump into 5″ collectors.

    The three-speed 727 TorqueFlite automatic transmission is linked to a ’58 Oldsmobile axle with a 4.30:1 limited-slip differential. It has a B&M shifter with a reverse pattern and a high-stall torque converter. Ladder bars, adjustable coilovers, an anti-sway bar, and wheelie bars were also fitted.

    The seller tells us they raced the car at Knoxville Dragway in 2008, achieving a 100-mph pass to confirm deployment of the Simpson chute. The car has since been used for display and primarily stored.

    A seller-provided history is displayed in the gallery.

    The car is titled as a 1932 Ford Roadster using VIN N40620.

    347-Powered 1934 Ford 5-Window Coupe Hot Rod

    This 1934 Ford is a steel-bodied five-window coupe that was chopped and built into a hot rod around 1977. It has since been redone twice, most recently following the seller’s acquisition in 2021. Now powered by a roller 347ci V8 linked to a Monster Transmission Ford AOD and a 3.70 Ford 9″ rear end, the car rides on a modified suspension with a tubular drop axle, RideTech shocks, and hairpin radius rods up front along with a four-link rear setup with adjustable coilovers. So-Cal hidden disc brakes are mounted behind the 15″ E-T Dragmaster alloys up front, and finned drum covers are fitted over the Lincoln disc brakes mounted behind the rear 16″ E-T Fuelers. The cabin was redone with TMI bucket seats, air conditioning, a Bluetooth-capable stereo, front- and rear-facing cameras, and Stewart-Warner gauges. This 1934 hot rod is now offered with a car cover and a Washington title in the seller’s name listing the car as a 1934 Ford.

    The seller tells us the roof was chopped 3″ and filled with lead in 1977. The trunk lid is fiberglass, and the remainder of the car – including the louvered hood – is steel. Bear claw door latches were used along with LED directionals, and the Chrysler Black Cherry paintwork was applied in 2022. The seller notes there is corrosion under the windshield frame.

    A tubular drop axle is matched with a transverse leaf spring, RideTech shocks, and hairpin radius rods up front, while the four-link rear setup uses RideTech adjustable coilovers. So-Cal hidden front discs and finned rear drum covers were fitted, and the car rides on 15″ and 16″ E-T wheels with Michelin front and Hoosier rear big-and-littles.

    The TMI bucket seats were mounted 8″ further back and are adjustable. Sound insulation was fitted in the cabin, and a hidden remote-controlled air conditioning system was installed. A Bluetooth-capable stereo was installed along with forward- and rear-facing cameras that are GPS-enabled.

    A tilt column, Lecarra steering wheel, Lokar shifter and Stewart-Warner gauges were used. The seller has added 1,300 of the 19k miles shown, though total mileage is unknown.

    The seller tells us the engine started as a 302ci V8 that was bored, stroked, and blueprinted to displace 347ci. It has a roller valvetrain, headers, finned valve covers, and an Edelbrock RPM Performer intake manifold topped by a Holley carburetor.

    The 9″ rear end is from a Lincoln Versailles and has 3.70 gears. The Ford AOD was sourced from Monster Transmissions.

    The car is titled as a 1934 Ford using VIN 15624753. The title carries an Antique brand.

    283-Powered 1939 Ford Deluxe Tudor Sedan

    This 1939 Ford Deluxe Tudor sedan has been modified with a 283ci Chevrolet V8 topped by 305 heads, an Edelbrock intake manifold, and a Carter AFB 650 CFM carburetor. The engine is linked to a three-speed manual transmission and a 4.11 rear end. The frame has been notched to accommodate the 3″ drop, and ’48 Ford hydraulic drum brakes were fitted along with 16″ WheelSmith steelies. The car also has an electric fuel pump, an aluminum radiator, and a dual exhaust system. Acquired by the seller in 2023, this ’39 Tudor Sedan is now offered with spare parts and a clean Arizona title in the seller’s name.

    The steel Tudor sedan has black paintwork, and the seller replaced the running boards as well as the front and rear windows.

    The car rides on a modified suspension with a drop front axle, a Posies spring up front, a lowered buggy-style rear leaf spring, and a notched frame. The seller added ’48 Ford hydraulic brakes along with the 16″ WheelSmith steelies, which were powder-coated bronze and mounted with staggered Firestone tires. The hubcaps are from a ’41 Ford.

    The bench seats have mohair upholstery, and the driver’s seat requires repairs. The banjo-style steering wheel sits ahead of a 100-mph speedometer and auxiliary gauges that have been refurbished. The five-digit odometer has rolled over and now shows 3k miles, approximately 200 of which were added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.

    The previous owner installed the 283ci V8, which was reportedly from a 1957 Chevrolet. It is believed to have been rebuilt and has 305 heads. The seller installed the Carter AFB 650cfm carburetor on the Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold. An aluminum radiator has also been installed, and the electrical system has been converted to 12 volts.

    The seller tells us the three-speed manual transmission has been rebuilt, and it is linked to a 4.11 rear end.

    The car is titled as a 1939 Ford Deluxe using VIN 185044622. The seller is unable to locate the VIN on the car.

    15 Cars That Changed the Industry Without Anyone Realizing It at the Time

    Throughout automotive history, numerous vehicles have introduced groundbreaking technologies and designs that, at their inception, went largely unnoticed. These unsung innovations have since become integral to modern automotive engineering, shaping the way we drive today. From pioneering safety features to revolutionary manufacturing processes, these cars laid the foundation for advancements that have become industry standards. In this article, we explore 15 such vehicles that, despite their initial underappreciation, have left an indelible mark on the automotive world.

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