Posts Tagged: steering
In 1953, Ford celebrated its 50th anniversary with a bang—or rather, a vroom. William Clay Ford, Henry’s grandson, took the wheel as the Indy 500 pace driver, cruising in style in a Sunliner convertible. Ford’s trusty flathead V8 was still the engine of choice, now with power brakes and steering as options. And if you opted for a radio, your dealer would pre-program it with the hottest stations, ensuring your drives were as lively as the engine under the hood. Talk about a ‘tuned’ experience!
Ready to rev up your nostalgia engines? The 1951 Ford Coupe rolled in with a groundbreaking “turn-key” ignition, making it the coolest car on the block. With six slick body styles, from the 2-door sedan to the convertible, it had more options than a ’50s diner menu. Under the hood, it packed a punch with the L-head 226 CID engine, or for those who liked their milkshakes extra thick, the optional 239 CID Flathead V8. Outselling Chevy by 10%, it was the car to make your neighbors green with envy!
The 1973 Ford Mustang Convertible is cruising back from the past in a dazzling Blue Glow, paired with a chic white interior that’s cooler than a polar bear’s toenails. This beauty comes with air conditioning as standard, and it’s not just the breeze that’s powered up—enjoy power front disc brakes, power steering, power windows, and a power convertible top. Under the hood, you’ll find the original 302 engine, with a few tweaks to make this mild muscle car roar just a bit louder.
The Oldsmobile Rocket 88, from 1959 to 1962, was a tale of transformation. It started in ’59 longer, lower, and with less chrome—like a diet plan for cars. By 1960, it had a new grill and a slimmer transmission, proving even cars need to watch their waistlines. In ’61, it swapped leaf springs for coils and introduced the Starfire, the first American car with a console-mounted shifter. By ’62, it had oval tail lights and a color-changing speedometer, ensuring drivers knew when they were speeding—perfect for those with a lead foot!
The Jaguar XKE, a British marvel, underwent some quirky transformations from 1969 to 1974. The Series II ditched glass headlamp covers for a shiner look, while the Series III roared to life with a V12 engine—think of it as two XK6s in a V-shaped tango. The E Type’s evolution also meant more comfort, but alas, U.S. regulations demanded rubber bumper extensions, making it the car equivalent of a sumo suit. Fast and furious, the 1972 V12 could hit 135 mph, leaving you grinning like a Cheshire cat.
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.
Feast your eyes on the 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger, a classic beauty that makes even the most stoic car enthusiast swoon. Produced between 1967 and 1976, this Mopar marvel boasts a buffet of engines, from three six-cylinder options to a whopping six V8s, including the mighty 440 CID big block. Transmission choices range from a leisurely three-speed automatic to a more hands-on four-speed manual. Thanks to Gateway Classic Cars, you can now drool over these images without fear of judgment!
There’s nothing like driving a muscle car, and sometimes, they wear a sedan disguise. These six sedans pack a punch, turning grocery runs into heart-racing adventures. Take the Dodge Durango, for instance—it’s part SUV, part muscle car, like a Clark Kent of vehicles. Or the Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack, offering cheap thrills with its 485 hp V-8. It’s secretly a muscle car in a business suit, ready to unleash a caramel-thick rumble at any moment. Who says practicality can’t have a rebellious streak?