Latest Posts Under: History
Nick’s Garage pulled the numbers-matching 440 out of a genuinely rare 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T convertible, tore it down completely, and is now putting it back together piece by piece. The real test comes at the end, when the freshly rebuilt big block gets strapped to a dyno and pushed toward redline. For an engine this scarce, that pull means a lot more than just a number on a screen. Watch to see if the rebuild holds up.
OldCarMemories set out to rank the five best V8 engines of the muscle car era, and immediately ran into the argument every gearhead has had at least once: which 426 Hemi are we even talking about? The factory street version and the ultra-rare racing-spec variant get lumped together more often than they should, and untangling that distinction changes the whole conversation. Watch to see which five engines made the final cut — and whether your favorite survived.
The Chevrolet El Camino, born from a long-gestating prototype, made its grand entrance in 1959 to outsell Ford’s Ranchero, proving that size—and tail fins—do matter. With a “Safety Girder” X frame and engines that could make a speed demon blush, the El Camino was a hit. Yet, the 1960 model, with a tamer rear fin and fewer horsepower, couldn’t keep up with Ford’s Falcon Ranchero. The El Camino was benched, leaving Chevy’s engineers scratching their heads, likely while saying, “We’ll be back.”
Fresh out of the shop and not yet dyno tested, this Challenger SRT8 from Craven Performance runs a supercharged 572 Hemi that is projected to make over 1200 horsepower. RamblinAround caught up with the car at Mega Mopar weekend at Gateway Motorsports Park just days after its first startup. The real numbers are still unknown, but the ambition behind the build is not. Watch to see the car that has everyone talking before it has even been tuned.
In a bid to dethrone the Ford Falcon, Chevrolet introduced the Chevy II in ’62, offering more trims than a barber shop. This rear-wheel drive marvel initially shunned the V8 but later embraced it, turning into a drag racer’s delight. By ’65, the Nova SS strutted with a 327 engine, making it the muscle car world’s new darling. Despite getting a facelift and hitting the gym, the Chevy II couldn’t woo enough buyers, becoming GM’s only model to suffer a sales dip that year. Falcons were clearly the birds of prey!
The Lotus Elise Series Two (2001-2010) was like the cool kid in school who got a makeover. Teaming up with General Motors, the Elise strutted in with a revamped Series 1 chassis and engines courtesy of Toyota. By 2005, it made its U.S. debut, despite a few hiccups with headlights and bumpers. Each model year brought upgrades, from power boosts to a fresh set of LED tail lights and even a “drive by wire” feature. The Elise became heavier over time, but hey, so did we all!
The Porsche Spyder 550, dubbed the “giant killer,” debuted at the 1953 Paris Motor Show, soon making waves with its low-slung design—perfect for dodging railway gates and giants alike. By 1956, the 550A version claimed Porsche’s first major victory at Targa Florio. James Dean’s infamous “Little Bastard” Spyder fueled both his rebellious legend and unfortunate demise. With a 1498 CCM flat-4 engine, this classic car remains a popular choice for replicas, keeping its legacy alive and kicking.
A 10-second Plymouth Cuda and a 10-second Chevy S10 pickup do not belong on the same dragstrip by any traditional measure, but Road Test TV lined them up anyway at Palm Beach International Raceway. Both trucks and muscle cars can hide serious builds under ordinary sheet metal, and this race is a reminder that the quarter mile does not care which one looks faster sitting still. Watch to see which one actually is.
In the world of Caterham, power is not just an option—it’s a lifestyle. From the 1972 Lotus twin camshaft origins to the record-setting 1993 JPE Special Edition, these lightweight speed demons have evolved faster than a caffeine-fueled cheetah. The R500 series, with a Rover K-series engine, rockets from 0-100 mph in just 8.2 seconds, leaving even high-end Ferraris in the dust. These cars are so light, they might just float away if not for their blistering speed!
Back in 1977, a 15-year-old Larry F. embarked on his automotive journey with a $400 purchase of a 1970 Pontiac GTO. Despite needing a bit of love, it roared to life and even survived a Cardinal red makeover. Fast forward to a heartbreaking day in a GTO junkyard, where Larry and his son stumbled upon the skeletal remains of his beloved car. Missing its bumpers, engine, and more, it was a sad sight. Larry joked about almost shedding tears, with his son confirming, “I thought you were going to cry too.”
Buick’s turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 looked like it had run out of road when the Regal went front-wheel drive in 1988, cutting off the platform that made it famous. But the engine got one final assignment for 1989, landing under the hood of a very different GM nameplate for its last hurrah. OldCarMemories.com’s four-part documentary series closes out the full story. Watch to see where this engine ended up.
If you’re a car enthusiast, nothing screams nostalgia like a muscle car. These beasts from the ’60s and ’70s were more about roaring power than nimbleness, embodying the glory of the American auto industry. Here’s a countdown from GenCept’s poll of the top 10 muscle cars: kicking off with the 1970 Buick GSX, and climaxing with the legendary 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500. Spoiler alert: these rides aren’t just fast, they’re fast enough to make your grandma’s hair curl!
In 1976, Pontiac celebrated its 50th year with a sleek black and gold Trans Am. By 1977, they added some drama with a slanted nose and square headlights, immortalizing it in “Smokey and the Bandit.” Pontiac’s engineers played a game of horsepower Jenga in 1978, stacking 350 heads on a 400 block for a power boost. The 1979 Firebird strutted in silver for its 10th anniversary, while Kesha later turned heads, not just with her music, but her gold 1978 Trans Am, proving some classics never go out of style.