Classic Restoration | Muscle Car Fan

5 Things to Inspect Before Buying a 1967 Shelby GT500

You’ve found it – a real 1967 Shelby GT500, the car every muscle car buyer dreams about owning. But before you wire a deposit, know this: NHTSA’s records on this exact model include three separate steering-system recalls, a brake-drum installation warning, and a fuel-system complaint that could leave you stranded at a red light. A barn-find restoration currently being torn down on camera shows exactly what four decades of neglect does to a car this complex – and it isn’t pretty under the sheet metal once the panels come off. The seller’s photos will show you the paint and the chrome. They won’t show you what’s underneath, and on a car this old, what’s underneath is everything. This guide walks through what NHTSA has actually documented on the 1967 Mustang platform, what a real teardown reveals, and exactly what to check before you sign anything.

Common 1967 Pontiac Firebird Problems — and What They Mean for Buyers

by Jack Harmon

After sitting for twenty-five years, this 1967 Pontiac Firebird’s TH350 transmission wouldn’t move the car at all — not forward, not backward. Arrowhead Garage walks through the exact diagnostic process, from checking fluid at operating temperature to the often-overlooked torque converter drain-down that happens during long-term storage. It’s a temporary fix with a full rebuild still ahead, but it’s also a detailed lesson in exactly what stored transmissions do to themselves over time.

How to Restore a 1970 Boss 302 Mustang: Key Issues and Where to Start

by Jack Harmon

A Grabber Blue 1970 Boss 302 Mustang, sold in 1975 to pay for college and tracked by its original owner for thirty-six years before he bought it back — that’s the story behind this Legendary Motorcar restoration. Under the hood is one of Ford’s most serious race-bred engines, complete with dry-deck heads, no head gaskets, and a high-riser aluminum manifold built to beat Camaros on a road course. Watch to see how close the shop gets it back to 1975.

The 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda Buyer’s Guide: What Every Enthusiast Should Know

by Jack Harmon

Buying a 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda without doing your homework is one of the fastest ways to turn a dream car into an expensive mistake. Hemmings breaks down the E-body platform, the full engine lineup from the 340 up to the 426 Hemi, and the specific trouble spots and options that separate a great example from an overpriced tribute car. With E-body prices climbing fast, the stakes for getting it right have never been higher. Watch the full buyer’s guide before you write a check.

How to Restore a 1970 Chevelle SS: Key Issues and Where to Start

by Jack Harmon

This 1970 Chevelle 396 Super Sport spent thirty years sitting untouched before Backyard Barn Finds got the call to bring it back to life. Between flat-spotted tires, a fuel system full of decades-old gas, and an engine nobody has heard run since the Carter administration, there’s no guarantee this big-block survived its long sleep intact. What starts as a routine barn find turns into a genuine test of patience and mechanical nerve. Watch to see whether three decades of silence finally comes to an end.

This Rotted-Out Plymouth Barracuda Sat Outside for Decades — Then Someone Finally Gave It a Second Chance

by Jack Harmon

A first-generation Plymouth Barracuda that sat outside for years, its signature wraparound rear glass shattered and its tires flat, gets a second chance in this restoration. Built on a Valiant platform and launched two weeks before the Ford Mustang in April 1964, the Barracuda rarely gets credit for beating Ford to the pony car segment. What the restoration crew found underneath the rust — and one small, rust-prone engine part buried near the carburetor — explains why Mopar collectors still chase clean survivors of this overlooked original.

Common 1969 Camaro SS Problems — and What They Mean for Buyers

by Jack Harmon

Barry White thought he knew what he was buying when he picked up a gutted 1969 Camaro shell from a wrecking yard. Hidden rust, a supercharger that wouldn’t fit, an engine bay fire, and a run of bad luck earned the car its nickname: Christine, after Stephen King’s killer Plymouth. With $40,000 on the line at auction in Jackson Hole, and a rival Camaro selling for far less, watch to see whether the curse finally breaks.

How to Restore a 1969 Chevelle: Key Issues and Where to Start

by Jack Harmon

The RestoMods team spent two years turning a clean 1969 Chevelle into their 22nd giveaway build — and this one went further than most, with a supercharged 427, a six-speed twin-disc manual, and Wilwood brakes built for something twice its weight. Whoever wins it can take the car or $100,000 in cash instead. Watch to see what two years and no shortcuts actually produces.

Posts Tagged: Classic Restoration