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The Shelby display at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals is about more than parking rare GT350s behind a rope line. V8TV caught up with Shelby Program Manager Chuck Cantwell on the show floor for a firsthand account of developing one of Ford’s most legendary Mustangs. Presented by The Brothers Collection and Reliable Carriers, this year’s lineup pairs the cars with the people who actually built them. Watch to hear Cantwell’s story.
Doug Bolton, a young hot rodder and Chevrolet enthusiast, was on a quest for the ultimate engine in 1970. With Roy Price Chevrolet just around the corner in Bountiful, Utah, Doug didn’t have to look far. He needed a Bow Tie powerplant that screamed speed, and naturally, his project car became the proud host of the fiercest engine Chevy had to offer. This 4,300-mile unrestored 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 is now hailed as the finest of its kind on the planet, a testament to Doug’s impeccable taste in muscle cars.
If you’re looking to make a grand entrance at your next car enthusiast meetup, the LA Auto Show has just the ride for you. Meet the Maserati Gran Turismo MC, your new ticket to speeding tickets, boasting a 4.2 V8 engine and a price tag starting at a humble $189,800. This Italian beast accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds, reaching a top speed of 185 mph, all while cradling you in plush Italian leather. This supercar doesn’t just purr; it roars, with a side of carbon fiber to keep things light.
Each November, automotive archeologist Ryan Brutt assembles roughly 25 to 30 of the rarest unrestored muscle cars in the country for the Barn Finds & Hidden Gems display at MCACN. The 2016 lineup included a NASCAR homologation Charger 500, a factory GTO funny car, and a turbocharged 1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire. What sets the section apart isn’t just rarity, it’s the documented story behind every single survivor.
The Brothers Collection has enough drop-top muscle cars in one place that V8TV built an entire summer episode just ranking favorites — a 1967 Mustang K-Code, a 440+6 ‘Cuda in Tor-Red, a factory fuel-injected 1959 Corvette, and a rare Trans Am convertible among them. Convertible muscle cars were always the harder find, built in smaller numbers and lost to rust and neglect faster than their hardtop siblings. Seeing seven of them together says something about just how deep this collection actually runs.
The internet is buzzing with speculation: could the iconic Dodge Challenger and Charger be ditching their beloved V8 engines for a twin turbocharged V6? While purists might be clutching their pearls, rest assured, the roar of the V8 isn’t bowing out just yet. Dodge’s next-gen muscle cars are expected to keep the V8 option alive, ensuring that your morning commute can still sound like an action movie. In the world of muscle cars, some traditions—like the V8’s roar—are just too good to give up.
Lou Costabile’s camera catches a 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, a car most people would stroll right past. That single G on the badge ties it to racing legend Dan Gurney and a tiny production run built by A.O. Smith. Owner Brian Carpenter walks through the rare details and fires up its 390 big-block. Discover why Cougar collectors spend years hunting this exact model.