Latest Posts Under: History
Bob’s journey with the 1969 Chevrolet Nova SS is a rollercoaster of automotive passion. Originally a drag racer with a 375-horsepower engine, the Nova saw numerous owners and transformations, including a color change to Hugger Orange. Bob traded his Harley for this beauty and embarked on a winter restoration, adding modern touches while keeping its vintage charm. Now, it’s a highway-ready stunner, complete with a new dash and a vinyl top. Bob’s love for his Nova shines through every upgrade and twist in its tale.
Step into the jet age with Cadillac’s Series 62 from 1954 to 1956, where luxury meets aerodynamic audacity! The ’54 model dropped a few pounds—vertically—and flaunted a wraparound Eldorado windshield, making heads turn faster than its 17.5-second 0-60 mph. In ’55, Cadillac added tubeless tires and a “hockey stick” chrome trim, boosting sales to a record 118,190. By ’56, the Series 62 had a grill fancier than a Michelin-starred meal and could sprint to 60 mph in a brisk, for its size, 12 seconds.
In 1968, Ford revved up the Mustang GT/CS, a California dream on wheels. They planned for 5,000, but 4,118 hit the road, with 251 going rogue in Colorado as “High Country Special ’68.” The GT/CS, a Mustang with a beach vibe, featured fog lamps, hood pins, and stripes in a palette of primary colors. Lee Gray, Ford’s SoCal sales guru, crafted this beauty to combat the Camaro and Cougar. And the name? Could stand for “California Special,” but some say it’s a nod to Carroll Shelby’s magic touch.
The 1967 Pontiac GTO Ram Air, affectionately called “the Goat,” roared onto the scene with more muscle than a gym full of bodybuilders. Despite Pontiac’s failed attempt to brand it with a Tiger, fans were enamored. With only 56 convertibles sporting the rare Ram Air option, these beauties are rarer than a unicorn at a petting zoo. Sporting upgrades like a Rochester Quadrajet carb and a sassy chrome mesh grille, this GTO was the ultimate highway king, making car enthusiasts swoon like it was automotive rock ‘n’ roll.
In the world of engines, the Ford FE is like that popular kid in school—everybody wanted a piece of it! From 1958 to 1976, it powered everything from NASCAR champions to your neighbor’s trusty boat. With its side oiler technology and a knack for showing up in unexpected places like industrial pumps, it’s no wonder it’s still the life of the aftermarket party. Just remember, don’t judge a Ford by its cover, especially if it’s an FT 391 masquerading as a 390—those components are not identical twins!
The Pontiac LeMans G3, built on the “A” body platform, strutted its stuff from 1968 to 1972, offering everything from coupes to station wagons—because who doesn’t want to haul groceries in style? In ’68, Pontiac jazzed up the engine, turning the 326 V8 into a sneaky 354.74, proving once again that math is optional in muscle car manufacturing. By 1970, Pontiac was playing musical chairs with engine sizes, and in ’72, they rebadged models like it was a witness protection program.
The 1970 Plymouth 426 Hemi ‘Cuda wasn’t just a muscle car; it was the automotive equivalent of a peacock, strutting its stuff with bright colors and a shaker hood that screamed “look at me!” Under the hood, a 426-cubic-inch Hemi engine made this ‘Cuda a beast, admired even by die-hard Chevy and Ford fans. At $3,164 MSRP, it was a steal—until you added the Hemi for an extra $871.45. Throw in an AM radio with an eight-track for $196.25, and you’d be cruising in style, albeit 1970s style.