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.
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 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.
Revving up the electric scene, the Tesla Roadster from 2010 to 2012 was a high-voltage masterpiece! With a motor as efficient as a squirrel on espresso, this Roadster offered more power per ampere, while its manually adjustable suspension made every ride smoother than a jazz tune. From leather seats to a nifty gull-wing door, it was pure luxury on wheels. Tesla even took this beauty on a global joyride from Geneva to Paris! And while its American curtain call was in 2011, the Roadster kept zipping through Europe and Asia until 2012, paving the way for the Model S to take center stage.
The Studebaker Avanti, born from doodles on a plane ride, was America’s first personal luxury muscle car. Launched in ’62, it boasted a radical fiberglass design, a 289-cubic-inch V8 engine, and was the first U.S. car with standard disc brakes. Despite a bumpy production ride with just 1,200 bodies made, the Avanti wowed at the New York Auto Show. Although Studebaker’s doors closed in ’63, the Avanti’s legacy sped on, breaking records at Bonneville and capturing hearts with its blazing speed and quirky charm.