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This 1940 Chevrolet Master Deluxe looks period-correct from the outside, right down to the running boards Chevrolet dropped the following year. Pop the hood, though, and the factory 85-horsepower six is long gone, replaced by a fuel-injected 5.7-liter V8 and a modern overdrive automatic — a resto-mod combination that turns a pre-war cruiser into a genuine highway car.
A 1934 Chevrolet Master Cabriolet sitting on a Gateway Classic Cars lot doesn’t look like it should be hiding a 454 cubic inch V8 – but it is. The factory version of this car left Flint with an 80-horsepower six and a three-speed manual; this one runs a modern 700R4 automatic overdrive behind a big block that would embarrass most muscle cars. Here’s what the real 1934 Master was built with, and why resto-mods like this keep turning up in the collector market.
1954 was the quiet last stand of Chevrolet’s six-cylinder-only Bel Air, built the year before the small-block V8 arrived and changed the brand forever. This restored convertible pairs the 235 cubic-inch Blue Flame inline-six with a Powerglide automatic, plus a factory options list that pushed luxury features into a mainstream model. See what the last pre-V8 Bel Air looked like below.
George struck gold in Lisbon, Ohio, when he nabbed a classic 1970 Buick Skylark GSX tribute. The car, already boasting a GS455 engine upgrade, was spotted with a “for sale” sign before its owner had even listed it. George, now a proud MCF, plans to keep the powerful 455 engine under the hood while preserving the original 350 engine for a potential factory reset. With a few tweaks like an electric cooling fan, George is ready to hit the road by summer 2016, promising to keep us updated on his joyride journey!
Rev your engines and travel back to the ’50s with the Oldsmobile 88! From 1954 to 1958, this classic beauty evolved like a fine wine—or maybe more like a chrome-covered rocket. Starting with a modest 165 hp in ’55, it soared to a chest-thumping 310 hp by ’58 with the “J2” package. The ’56 model waved goodbye to the old automatic, saying hello to the “Jetaway Hydra-Matic” with a bonus “Park” position—perfect for those who enjoy not rolling away. And who could forget the ’58’s dazzling “Chrome Mobile” look? Shine on, Olds!
In the late 60s, Chevrolet decided the Chevelle needed a makeover – and boy, did it get one! Shrinking the wheelbase like it was going on a diet, the 1968 Chevelle strutted in with a long hood and a trunk that played hard to get. Meanwhile, the SS 396 and luxury Concours models flaunted hidden wipers like they were hiding a juicy secret. By 1970, the Chevelle was squared up and ready to party with a new 454 engine. It was like the Chevelle was saying, “Who needs subtlety when you can have horsepower?”
Meet the Bugatti Veyron, the street-legal speed demon that once held the record for the world’s fastest car at 267.856 mph. This engineering marvel boasts two mid-mounted V8 engines, four turbochargers, and a bank of ten radiators just to keep its cool. However, owning one is no small feat—its Michelin PAX tires alone will set you back $70,000, and a new transmission? A cool $120,000. So, if you’re planning a trip to France, maybe add a vineyard tour while you’re at it!
Henry Ford’s famous line about paint color was really about efficiency, not aesthetics — so what would he make of this 1936 Sedan Delivery running a Chevrolet engine? The rare, cargo-hauling body style has been fully restomodded with a 350 cubic-inch GM crate V8 and automatic transmission, trading Ford’s original flathead for GM performance. See the full build in the photos below.
Meet the Ford Ranchero of 1968-69, a vehicle with a split personality—part truck, part car, and a whole lot of charm! Sharing a platform with the Torino, this Ranchero offers everything from Spartan simplicity to luxurious GT excess, complete with brushed aluminum dash and a seat belt warning light that says, “Safety first, but fashionably!” Fancy a “Rio Grande” edition? Only 900 exist, sporting grabber colors and a hood scoop for that extra dose of pizzazz. Buckle up, it’s going to be a wild ride!
Ford didn’t change a single body panel on the 1956 Thunderbird, yet dealers had a new selling point that year — a larger V8 hiding under the hood. This restored two-seater pairs that upgraded 312 engine with its original Ford-O-Matic automatic, the exact combination collectors look for when judging whether a Thunderbird’s drivetrain is truly numbers-matching. See the full set of images from this Gateway Classic Cars example below.
To satisfy NASCAR’s homologation rules, Ford built the Torino Talladega with a stretched nose and smoothed bodywork purely to cut drag at superspeedway speeds, then sold roughly 750 of them to the public. The car won a championship in 1969 before NASCAR’s rule changes ended its racing career within two seasons. Here is the story behind one of Ford’s strangest street-legal race cars.
Fifteen years after Hurst and Oldsmobile first teamed up on a specialty muscle car, the partnership was still going in 1984 — just with a lot less horsepower than the original promised. Wearing colors flipped from the year before and built around a distinctive Lightning Rod floor shifter, only about 3,500 examples were produced. Under the hood sat a 307-cubic-inch V8 making a modest 180 horsepower. Was this really a muscle car, or a nostalgia exercise wearing a muscle cars name?
Chevrolet’s small block engines, led by Ed Cole’s 265 cid V8, have been roaring through history since 1955, starting with the Corvette and Bel Air. Known as the “Mighty Mouse,” this engine quickly became a race circuit favorite. From the 283’s groundbreaking 1 hp per cubic inch to the legendary 350, these engines have powered everything from sports cars to boats. Although U.S. production ceased in 2003, the versatile small block, still available in crate form from Mexico, continues to make waves.
Hold onto your hubcaps, folks! The Chevy Camaro’s fifth generation roared onto the scene in 2009, initially track-bound, but ready for retail in 2010. Built in Canada, this beastly beauty started under $25k in 2013—unless you wanted the ZL1, packing 580 horsepower and possibly costing more than your first house! The Camaro briefly vanished from showrooms but returned with a bang, flaunting concept cars and prototypes from auto shows to NASCAR, even dabbling in E85 fuel. It’s a muscle car lover’s dream!
The Ford Mustang’s fifth generation, launched in 2005, rides the nostalgia wave with a nod to the fastbacks of the ’60s. Sporting a mix of retro flair and modern muscle, it features a Macpherson-strut suspension, and a lineup of engines that could make a cheetah jealous. From a humble V6 to a roaring V8, it packs a punch stronger than your morning coffee. With options like a 1000-watt stereo and a Shelby GT500 that could double as a rocket, this Mustang ensures you’re never late for brunch.