This week’s Friday AutoHunter Picks have absolutely nothing in common — that was done by design. They’re an eclectic mix of vehicles on four wheels (with one powered by four wheels). They reflect different classes of vehicles that appear in the American landscape and, dare I say, three of them may be iconic. Perhaps there’s a connection after all? Let’s start with the odd man out and go from there.
1991 Chevrolet G20 Van
I want to snap up this one, furnish the rear compartment, and add a bumper sticker that says, “Don’t laugh — your daughter may be in here.” That’s much more of 1970s humor than 1990s, which is when this van’s from, but the paint job makes me think of the 1970s. All vans should look like the 1970s by decree.
Power comes from a decidedly 1990s 305ci small-block with electronic fuel injection offering 170 horsepower and 255 ft-lb of torque. Other features include LED fog lights, slotted American Racing mags, rear window louvers, and complementary Saddle interior. There’s the potential for a lot of fun to be had here — fun that any dad would approve.
2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range
Teslas, if not EVs, are not everyone’s cup of tea, but I don’t see why they are so polarizing other than for their nondescript styling. In the U.S., we currently have a huge market that suit the needs of practically every single American consumer, so what’s the problem with someone making the personal decision of choosing an EV for his or her transportation needs? I don’t understand why that seems to be an issue.
Tesla deserves kudos for changing the rules of what we imagine American transportation to be. The approach is more Silicon Valley than Detroit, from conception to sales channel. This ’22 features a neat color-changing matte wrap that makes me think Anthem of the Sun should be in mandatory rotation every time you stop at the charging station. With a driving range of 300 miles, range anxiety should be negligible.
1968 Porsche 912 Coupe
My impression is that many folks sneer at the 912 because it has a flat-four instead of the classic Porsche flat-six, never mind that it’s the engine from the 356 and not some VW-fangled thing. Though down on power, the 912 features better weight distribution and, of course, handling, meaning that perhaps I need a paradigm shift and start thinking of the 912 as an entry-level Carrera rather than a lesser one.
This 206,878-mile 1968 912 with a five-speed manual is in the hands of the daughter of the original owner. The original color was British Racing Green, but it was repainted Guards Red in the 1980s. The stereo has been updated with a Sony AM/FM/CD too, which only adds to the appeal that this is one classic Porsche that begs you to hop in and go anywhere with impunity.
1998 Dodge Ram 2500 ST
Remember when the Chrysler Corporation was brave and did things that everyone admired? This Ram is from that era, and I think these pickups are among the classic American designs of recent memory. When books start looking back at post-Malaise Era production, this Ram is going to be noted for being truly special (just like the Viper and Prowler). There aren’t a lot of vehicles that can say that.
This 1998 Ram 2500 ST 4X4 is powered by a replacement 360 — a nod to the Old World before tech took over under the hood. The Ram was one of the pioneers of the on-site workstation, but clearly this one has the purpose of doing the heavy lifting. In fact, looking at the pics, the utilitarian nature appears to be loud and proud thanks to the lack of brightwork, especially around the wheel wells.
