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Tom Bailey’s twin-turbo 1969 Camaro, nicknamed ‘Sick Seconds,’ is a genuinely street-legal car that has run the quarter-mile in 6.94 seconds at 208 mph on just 20 pounds of boost and over 3,300 horsepower. First shown at the 2013 Detroit Autorama, it became one of the benchmark builds of the street-turbo movement, later followed by an even wilder 4,000-horsepower successor.
Plymouth expected to sell about 20,000 Road Runners in 1968. It sold roughly 45,000, enough to land in third place behind only the GTO and Chevelle SS 396 for muscle car sales that year. The formula was simple: a standard 383-cubic-inch V8 rated at 335 horsepower, a stripped interior, and an optional 426 Hemi for those willing to pay more. It turned out buyers didn’t need luxury trim to want serious performance, they just needed the price to make sense.
‘Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain’ is one of Henry Ford’s most repeated quotes, and it reflects the same pragmatic mindset that built the modern assembly line. Ford wasn’t just a businessman with a knack for slogans, he was solving one of the hardest manufacturing puzzles of his era. Here’s the story behind the man and the philosophy that built Ford Motor Company.
The 2014 Corvette, shedding its “old man’s toy” image, is revving up its appeal to a younger crowd. With its new Stingray logo, it’s not just a car but a youthful icon, making waves in video games like “Gran Turismo.” Sporting a carbon fiber hood and zippy V8 engine, this ‘vette is not just a pretty face. It’s a classic with a twist, boasting high-tech features like direct injection and variable valve timing. And for those who like options, choose between a seven-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.
By 1955, the Hudson badge on this Wasp was covering for a car that was mostly Nash underneath, a product of the 1954 merger that created American Motors. It rode on Nash’s full-size platform and borrowed its 202-cubic-inch six from the smaller Hudson Jet, making up to 120 horsepower with the optional dual-carb Twin H-Power setup. Sales fell to just 7,191 units that year. Here’s the story behind one of Hudson’s last independent-looking cars.
The Maserati Gran Turismo, a sleek 2+2 coupe, burst onto the scene at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show with a Ferrari-designed V8 engine that roared like an Italian opera. Between 2008 and 2012, the Quattroporte teased North America with its 2009 edition, featuring fancy under-door skirts and Bluetooth like a tech-savvy Transformer. Then came the McStradale, a speed demon with a 4.7L engine, achieving 300 km/h while making its predecessors feel like they were on a leisurely Sunday drive in comparison.
In the world of engines, the Vortec 5700 L31 stands out like a rock star at a classical concert, being the final act of the Chevy small block 350 engines. This V8 truck engine, which powers everything from the Cadillac Escalade to the GMC Yukon, is the engine equivalent of a Swiss army knife—versatile and reliable. Despite its lack of reverse flow cooling, it compensates with a robust performance, delivering up to 350 hp. Meanwhile, the 400 cu in engine is the quirky uncle of the family, prone to hot spots but beloved for its torque and racing appeal.
The Ford Falcon 2014 GT, an Aussie legend, continues its journey with a turbocharged XR6 leading the pack. This beastly sedan, quicker than a kangaroo on espresso, boasts a 4-liter V6 engine with 361 hp. While the highway patrol might miss the discontinued V8 interceptor, the XR6 zips from 0-100 km/h in 5.1 seconds, leaving even some European rivals eating its dust. Inside, it offers leather seats and ample legroom, ensuring comfort whether you’re dodging emus or cruising to a barbecue.
The 1952 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery was built for police departments and delivery routes, not car shows, a plain-Jane hauler with an inline six and a manual gearbox. Decades later, its simple shape made it a favorite blank canvas for hot rodders. Here is how a fleet vehicle became a build worth showing off.
Before Mustangs and Chargers, there was the Oldsmobile Rocket 88, the world’s first muscle car. Born in 1949, this speedster sported a Rocket V8 engine in a compact body, making it NASCAR’s darling. Its fame sparked a hit song and the catchy slogan, ‘Make a date with a Rocket 88.’ With a quirky dual ignition and options for both automatic and manual transmissions, it was the car to beat. By 1950, it became Oldsmobile’s star, racing into the hearts of speed lovers everywhere.
The 1968 Camaro looks like a carryover at first glance, but small changes, new marker lights, vent-less door glass, a 396 big block for SS buyers, reveal how fast Chevrolet was reacting to the pony car wars. With 235,147 built that year, it was not just surviving its second season, it was gaining ground.
This 1986 Zimmer Quicksilver started life as an ordinary Pontiac Fiero GT before the factory cut it apart and stretched it into a neoclassic luxury coupe. Buyers paid nearly four times the Fiero’s price for the transformation, and only 170 were ever built. See what a former GM designer did with 29 inches of added sheet metal and a 140-horsepower V6.
A real 1965 Shelby Cobra now costs well into seven figures, so Backdraft Racing built a hand-finished recreation instead — one that can pack up to 535 horsepower, far beyond anything the factory ever offered. Every body is shaped and gel-coated by hand in South Africa before it ever reaches a chassis. See how close a modern turn-key Cobra recreation actually gets to the legend.
“Rebel Muscle” uncovers the saga of the AMC Rebel, the car that went from a one-year V8 wonder in 1957 to a mid-sized muscle contender by 1967. With a wheelbase stretching like a yoga master and a V8 growl that could wake the neighbors, the Rebel transformed into a stylish family ride with muscle car flair. By ’68, it ditched its Rambler roots, gained safety features, and even tried its luck on the race track. It’s the economy-minded muscle car that proves rebels can be practical too!
Ford expected the new Mustang to sell 100,000 units in its first year — buyers blew past that mark in under three months. This gallery traces the first-generation Mustang from its record-breaking 1964 debut through the Boss 302 era, with a surprising twist: the launch year wasn’t even the Mustang’s best-selling one. See which model year actually topped the charts.