Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this restored 1969 Pontiac GTO convertible. It is powered by a 400cid V8 backed by a three-speed automatic transmission. Features include power windows, console-shifted TH400 automatic, hidden headlights, and more. Finished in red with a power black convertible top over a gold vinyl interior, this Goat comes with a new convertible top boot and an Ontario (Canada) vehicle permit.
The restoration of this GTO was completed in 2021. Exterior features include non-functional scooped hood, optional hideaway headlights, dual sport mirrors, power-operated black convertible top, and power antenna.
A set of 16-inch replica Magnum 500 aluminum wheels with PMD center caps is wrapped in BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires.
The cabin is furnished with a gold vinyl interior featuring a pair of front buckets. Features include power windows, power steering, center console, left-hand remote mirror, and vintage-look AM/FM stereo with trunk-mounted Rockford Fosgate amplified and subwoofer.
The instrument panel consists of a 120-mph speedometer, fuel gauge, and warning lights for oil pressure, alternator, and water temperature. In addition, an aftermarket 8,000-mile tachometer has been elegantly inserted in the right-hand nacelle. A set of aftermarket gauges resides under the left-hand side underneath the dashboard. Odometer shows 89,690 miles.
The reportedly original 400cid V8 is topped by a single four-barrel carburetor. It is paired with a Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Under-hood features include chrome valve covers, aluminum intake manifold, chrome air cleaner lid, and exhaust headers.
This Pontiac GTO was factory-equipped with an independent front suspension with solid rear-drive axle. Slowing to a crawl is handled by power brakes with discs up front. A dual exhaust system emits emissions underneath the rear bumper.
If you find yourself at Monterey Car Week during August 14-17, 2024, you may want to stop by WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca because the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a very special exhibit of historic race cars.
Yup, it’s been 50 years since Steven Earle formed the Monterey Historic Automobile Races (its original name before sponsorship), an event that eschews professionals for enthusiasts. There’s no awards or trophies or anything like that though, since Rolex started its sponsorship, a watch and original Bill Patterson painting have been presented to the entrant who embodies a particular spirit.
Touring car racers such as this 1967 Alfa Romeo GTA will take part in the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion in August | WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca photo by T. M. Hill
“When Steven Earle founded the event as the Monterey Historic Automobile Races in 1974, it set the wheels in motion with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the world’s most prestigious concours, for the creation of what has become the internationally acclaimed Monterey Car Week,” says John Narigi, president of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Laguna Seca was originally built in 1957. Not only has the track changed shape since its inception, but in 1974 the Laguna Seca Raceway property also happened to be deeded to the Monterey County Parks Department.
The “extraordinary” collection of “significant” race cars (presented by Motul) that will be on display in the paddock will include these confirmed vehicles, with more to come:
1926 Miller
1955 Jaguar D-Type
1956 Maserati 250F
1967 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/2 Fleron
1955 Mercedes-Benz W196
1966 Gurney Eagle Indy Car
1999 BMW V12 LMR
1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe
1988 Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo
1979 Porsche 935
“Each car has incredible race history and are being generously provided by private collectors, museums and automakers who want to be part of the historic racing celebration in Monterey,” says the curator of this special exhibit, Ellen Bireley. “Laguna Seca is America’s birthplace of creating an event solely for historic race cars with proven provenances where owners may enjoy them safely at speed. It’s exciting to work with everyone to bring this from concept to completion.”
The last American convertible was the 1976 Cadillac Eldorado until the 1982 Chrysler LeBaron brought the wind-in-the-hair back. But what was Chrysler Corporation’s last convertible? For Dodge, it was the 1971 Challenger, but its final full-size convertible was the 1970 Polara. Our Pick of the Day is an elegant example of this C-body. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Hilton, New York. (Click the link to view the listing)
Affectionately known as “Sea-bodies” due to their boat-like size, the 1969 “Fuselage” Chrysler products sought to redefine the great American sedan. Featuring greater curvature in its side window glass and body side panels, Chrysler Corporation designers sought to create a more organic design unit. Insides were roomier too despite the physical size being quite similar to the outgoing 1968.
The lineup was the same as before, with the Polara maintaining the bread-and-butter side of production. Four-door sedan and hardtop, two-door hardtop and convertible, and station wagons played the role. The Polara 500 added sportiness in the form of special trim and bucket seats, while the Monaco added a touch of fancy to the four-door sedan and hardtop, two-door hardtop, and station wagons. Add buckets to the Monaco and it became the Monaco 500. There also was a luxurious Monaco Brougham package.
For 1970, styling resembled the ’69 but was noticeably different, with the hood lengthened by three inches and the deck shortened by four. The same could be said for the taillights, which moved to the bumper. Dodge added the Polara Custom line as a complete mid-line series featuring all the base Polara body styles save the convertible and wagons, while the Polara 500 disappeared. As usual, the Monaco featured its own grille and taillights, with the back-up lights being unique in that they were slotted in the sheet metal bumpering both sides of the trunk lid. As before, all full-size Dodges came with V8 power.
A lot was going on in 1970, including a mild recession, but even more notable was the decline of the sporty car market. Convertibles in particular had been making a downward shift, and Dodge convertibles had never been particularly strong in sales anyway. When the dust settled, only 842 were built for 1970 when Dodge called it a day.
This Dark Green metallic 1970 Dodge Polara convertible is a rare open-air chariot that is powered by the optional 383 two-barrel. Nothing initially fancy inside, as the Polara has the standard vinyl bench seat in green and white convertible top, but the option list has some good stuff including the Light Package (which included fender-mounted indicators), tinted glass, air conditioning, belt moldings, front and rear bumper guards, AM radio, bodyside molding, power steering, and automatic transmission.
With this 1970 Polara convertible, you will have rarity and style on your side. Did we mention it’s affordable too? For $19,995, can you see yourself capturing the rays in this thing?
The Lexus SC wasadvertised in marketing materials to be the perfectly-designed “executive decompression chamber.” It was a car that blended aerodynamic design, luxurious appointments, and the characteristic high-quality Japanese engineering of the time. Thirty-plus years later, it continues to deliver all of the above, even after over 200,000 miles, as we will soon see.
One of the cars on the polo field at this year’s Future Collector Car Show (FCCS) was a striking first-generation SC300 owned by Ren Molnar of Gilbert, Arizona. Ren’s car was a prime example of what happens when a fastidious owner goes on a multi-year quest of continuous improvement. Similar to what we saw with the custom Dodge Charger, Ren’s SC build is seemingly “never finished.”
Here is a video of Ren’s sweet ride brought to you by ClassicCars TV.
SC Model History
The Lexus SC first launched as a grand-touring luxury coupe in the United States for model year 1992. It was based on the Japanese Toyota Soarer and had a four-seat, rear-wheel drive arrangement. The car was a marketplace hit, and it was crowned Motor Trend’s Import Car of the Year that first year. In its day, the car was priced in the high $30s and climbed well into the $40,000-plus range in subsequent years.
The crown jewel of the SC was its powertrain. Two motors were offered: the larger of which, appearing in the SC400, was the 1UZFE 4.0-liter V8. The SC300, by contrast, was powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six – dubbed the “2JZGE.” We talked a little about this legendary engine in a prior story about the Lexus IS300. The majority of buyers opted for the automatic transmission, although a five-speed manual was offered.
In 1997, a mid-model refresh was performed that brought both cosmetic and mechanical changes to the table. Sales diminished toward the later end of the decade, and the SC adopted a new generation in 2001 with a new body style as a retractable-hardtop convertible.
Ren’s SC Story
Ren’s car started life as a Diamond White Pearl over tan 1998 SC300 with a five-speed automatic transmission. He acquired it in 2006 from the original owner, and for a long time, he didn’t change anything major. He said, “The car was bone stock when I purchased it, and over the years I have added subtle modifications to it and lots of brand-new OEM parts.”
Things really started to take shape around 2019. Ren explains, “I did a 100% factory manual transmission conversion using all brand-new OEM parts except the W58 transmission. Even the transmission tunnel was changed.” The modification momentum continued, and Ren next moved to the interior where the swapped out some of the tan interior components for black ones. “I will eventually re-wrap the seats with black leather,” Ren said.
Photo by Tyson Hugie
The exterior has been upgraded with front and rear lips from Bigwin. The car sits on a set of custom wheels, and the brakes have been upgraded with a combination of equipment pulled from the Toyota Supra twin-turbo and the Lexus LS400. One area where Ren hasn’t made many changes is under the hood: Ren says the car’s 2JZGE motor is all-original and has 210,000 problem-free miles on it.
Get Connected
If you want to learn more or become part of the Lexus SC community, Ren operates a website called JZZ30 (named for the platform on which the first-generation SC rides) and there you will find resources, specialty parts, and accessories. You can also find Ren on Instagram here.
Thanks for supporting FCCS, and we look forward to seeing you again at the next one!
The “Forward Look” design language in 1950s and 1960s Chrysler automobiles extended to more than just the exterior aerodynamics: Chrysler’s Vice President of Design at the time, Virgil Exner, also worked his magic on the dashboards, seating arrangements, and other interior features. This car is a perfect example of “peak” Forward Look from the mid-century timeframe:
The car was restored in its original shade of Toreador Red Metallic (paint code PP1). Some of the brightwork was rechromed, including the mirrors and trim. The OEM 14-inch hubcaps and wide whitewall tires give the car a clean, original look that would be right at home in a dealership showroom 64 years ago.
I recently raved about the gauge cluster of the C4 Corvette which seemed futuristic for its time. Another instrument arrangement that definitely sits in my top five is the “AstraDome,” which was used on Chrysler cars for three model years between 1960 and 1962. The arrangement was space-age and three-dimensional; it used a glass globe set over a tiered gauge arrangement. Some people called it the “gumball” because it had a sort of resemblance to a gumball machine. Because of the way the cluster was laid out, the controls for the automatic transmission were arranged in push-button format to the left of the gauges, and there was a sliding lever used for the turn signals.
Power under the hood of today’s car comes from a 413cid “Golden Lion” V8 mated to a TorqueFlite 727 three-speed automatic transmission. The list of mechanical improvements is lengthy to say the least. The seller doesn’t specify the timeframe when all of the service was completed, but the items included replacement of the fuel tank, fuel pump, exhaust, radiator, water pump, power steering box, ball joints, sway bar bushings, shock absorbers, driveshaft, U-joints, and brakes.
Aside from the instrument cluster, there is another aspect of the cabin that make this car special: a four-bucket seating arrangement with a full-length center console. The car also has its original AM radio, a new rear package tray, new door panels, reupholstered seating, rebuilt window moldings, and new weather-stripping. The cabin has been insulated with sound-deadening material throughout.
This is a turn-key, show-ready cruiser with one of the coolest interiors in automotive history. The asking price is $77,000.
With the 2024 New York International Auto Show now over, what event is next? The 2024 Beijing Auto Show is currently happening and, of course, Buick is the popular American brand in the Chinese market. If you have found yourself wanting more from Buick’s stateside portfolio, hopefully these two Electra concepts can whet your hope even though there is absolutely no indication North American Buick dealerships will receive a production version of either.
Influenced by the Buick Wildcat show car from 2022, the Electra-L sedan and Electra-LT wagon concepts are the Buicks for which we’ve been pining. But, first, we’ve gotta ask: why the additional letters? Isn’t “Electra” enough for the Chinese, if not GM? Nevertheless, the concept that resonates with us is the Electra-LT because it looks quite smashing and, to be honest, we need more wagon love in the United States.
Before you read further, we should point out these concepts use GM’s Ultium EV architecture, so if the thought of instant torque makes you puke, please skip to the next article. But, if you’re one who can appreciate good design, if not one who has an interest in technology, then keep on reading. The Electra-L is powered by a 342-horse electric motor mounted at the rear, giving it a range of 435 miles—sounds stupendous, though China measures range differently so maybe not? The Electra-LT will have the same motor plus another in front for all-wheel drive, though Buick hasn’t provided any horsepower details.
The Electra-LT clearly has a sportier look and features several styling tricks to distinguish it from the Electra-L. Inside, they are mostly the same, featuring an augmented reality heads-up display so you can remain connected to your Internet world on the fly. Additionally, the infotainment system uses voice recognition and works in conjunction with AI.
2025 Buick Electra E5
Car and Driver logically opines that it’s unlikely the Electras will be sold here because of Buick’s current emphasis on SUVs, which will include the upcoming Electra E5 and the Envista SUV, the brand’s first EVs for the U.S. Yet one can only hope.
“In England, we’re not enthusiastic about driving in a straight line,” said one of Triumph’s magazine advertisements in the early 1970s. “Here, cars must be built with an uncanny ability to handle and perform, safely and accurately.” In marketing materials, the TR6 roadster was touted for its rack-and-pinion steering, four-wheel independent suspension, and front disc brakes. The car was said to perform at its peak even “on the hairiest hairpin turn.”
Today’s featured TR6 has just 60,000 miles on the odometer and comes with a checklist of recent maintenance completed, so it’s ready for canyon-carving on command. It is being listed by a private seller in Phoenix, Arizona, and the auction will end tomorrow, May 2, so get logged in and ready on AutoHunter.com.
Triumph has a rich legacy in both two-wheeled and four-wheeled motoring; once upon a time, Triumph motorcycles and Triumph automobiles were owned by the same parent company. While the motorcycle enterprise continues even today, Triumph stopped building cars about 40 years ago. The last model produced was a compact sedan manufactured by British Leyland from 1981 to 1984 called the Acclaim. Interestingly enough, that car was not much more than a European-built Honda Civic.
The TR6 two-seat roadster was designed by Karmann of Germany in the 1960s and used a body-on-frame chassis. It was built in Coventry, England, from model years 1969 through 1976. In all, there were 91,850 units produced, and about 90% of them were exported – the majority of which were sent to the United States. The TR6 garners a strong collector community even today, about five decades later.
Finished with a newer coat of “Pimento” paint, reupholstered seats, new door panels, and new carpeting, this TR6 comes ready for street or show. The respray took place within the last couple of months, so it is about as fresh as it can be.
Power for all TR6s came from a 2.5-liter inline-six mated to a four-speed manual transmission. The seller says that the mileage reading of 60,099 miles is accurate, and recent mechanical service included a carburetor rebuild, fluid changes, and replacement of the spark plugs, spark plug tires, brake master cylinder, and clutch master cylinder.
“But wait, there’s more,” as a television informercial would say. The car will also come with a brand-new uninstalled soft top. Time to start planning your route to the nearest twisty backroad!
The auction for this 1973 Triumph TR6 ends Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 11:15 a.m. (PDT)
It seems like many people have forgotten that, when it was introduced, the C4 Corvette was the best handling and one of the fastest cars in the world. For the first time Chevrolet had truly designed a Corvette that was capable of taking on, and often beating, the best that Europe had to offer. It was a clean slate design with nothing carried over from Corvettes of the past and yet still had the design language intact in a way that made you know it was a Corvette even if you were seeing it for the first time. The C4 got better as years went on and was always considered a world class sports car in the era. Despite this, the C4 Corvette in all of its forms represents the best bargain on all of Corvette cars and one of the best bargains in the entire segment of 1980s and ’90s sports cars.
The 1991 Corvette featured here is described as a car that has covered only 29,035-mile from new. It was originally sold new by Mente Chevrolet in Kutztown, Pennsylvania and comes with 17-inch wheels, air conditioning, a Delco/Bose AM/FM/CD/cassette stereo, and a Bosch anti-lock braking system. It is finished in factory Dark Red Metallic and equipped with a body-color removable roof panel over a Saddle leather interior.
The seller states that the exterior condition of this car is excellent. They disclose that it has received a replacement front bumper. It features retractable halogen headlights, integrated fog lamps, vented front fenders, a body-color fiberglass removable roof panel, and quad exhaust outlets. Brass gears have been installed in the motors for the pop-up headlights. In addition the aluminum 17-inch factory “saw blade” style wheels are wrapped in 275/40 Goodyear Eagle F1 tires.
The interior looks to be as nice as the exterior as well. Described by the seller as optioned with six-way power-adjustable Saddle leather bucket seats, matched to the door panels, lower dash sections, and carpeting. Features include embroidered floor mats, heated power mirrors, power windows, power locks, power steering, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, automatic climate control, and a Delco/Bose AM/FM/CD/cassette stereo. A speaker amplifier was replaced in 2023. As this Corvette is a 1991 model, it features the revised C4 dash which includes a digital speedometer, digital fuel gauge, a analog 6,000-rpm tachometer, and gauges for the oil pressure, oil temperature, coolant temperature, and voltage. The digital odometer reads 29,039 miles, which lines up with the most recent figure of 28,707 miles recorded on the CARFAX report in 2023.
Under the hood you can see how the C4 evolved over time, as this 1991 model features the Chevrolet L98 5.7-liter V8 with Tuned-Port Fuel Injection that was rated at 245 horsepower and 345 lb-ft of torque when new. This gave it a 5.3 second 0-60 time and a 1/4 mile of only 13.9 seconds, both very quick for the era and still respectable today. Maintenance in 2024 includes the replacement of the belt tensioner and the installation of a battery shutoff switch. In 2023, the alternator, fuel filter, air filter, oil, thermostat, and coolant were changed. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a console-shifted four-speed automatic transmission.
This looks to be a truly great example of a 1991 C4 Corvette that has been extremely well cared for and fully documented and serviced. The seller closes by stating that the CARFAX report begins in 1991 and shows ownership in Pennsylvania, Florida, Arizona, and California. An emissions inspection was performed in March 2023. An accident involving a rear-end collision with another vehicle that resulted in minor damage to the front end of this Corvette was recorded in 2019 which explains the replacement front bumper. The seller has provided a video showing the engine, exterior, interior, and a start-up. The car will come with a cover, a build sheet, an owner’s manual, two sets of keys, and a window sticker showing an original vehicle price of $35,514.
These C4 Corvette have quietly moved up in value in the last few years as people have become aware of what a great value they represent in both the Corvette and sports car market. If I were in the market for a Corvette I would seriously consider bidding on this example.
The auction for this 1991 Chevrolet Corvette coupe ends Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).
Below are four four-wheel drive vehicles that are listed for sale on AutoHunter or ClassicCars.com. It could be said that all of them, in some manner, can trace their lineage to Willy’s Jeep. Can you name the group of four that are powered by four wheels?
You can respond by jotting down your answers in the Comments section below. And if you find yourself stumped, just hover your mouse over any image, click, and you will find your answer.
General Motors’ 1961 “senior compacts” were an interesting trio of Corvair-derived vehicles, each having a certain engineering novelty. In Pontiac’s case, the Tempest featured a rear-mounted transaxle, giving it a near-50/50 weight distribution. The LeMans was introduced mid-year 1961 as part of the bucket seat trend that seems to have been popular with American compacts in the early days. A pillared coupe was the only available body style, adding a convertible for 1962-63, plus Pontiac’s very own 326 V8 added for 1963.
For 1964, as the Tempest series grew to a mid-size platform, the LeMans continued with its place at the top, with a hardtop joining the pillared coupe and convertible. That was the year the GTO package was introduced, which substituted the 326 V8 for the 389 from the big cars. This was a violation of sorts with GM rules that limited cubic-inches in mid-size cars, but the GTO being a package exploited a loophole in the rules. By the end of the model year, sales were such that GM decided to limit cid to 400, paving the way for Buick, Oldsmobile, and Chevrolet.
Styling was refined for 1965 to bring the Tempest series in line with the full-size cars, especially the vertical headlights which was starting to be a Pontiac trademark. A four-door sedan was also added to the LeMans lineup, making it a complete top trim level, though two-doors continued to feature sporty buckets seats standard. Power was a mix of interesting and less so. Interesting was Pontiac’s 326, which was offered with a two-barrel or four-barrel carburetor, the latter a 285-horsepower 326 HO that gave brisk performance. Less interesting was the 215cid inline-six that featured no gee-whiz engineering like the Trophy 4 or Buick’s aluminum 215cid V8. (For 1966, an interesting six would come in the form of the OHC 230).
Due to being overshadowed by the GTO, it’s not easy to find a LeMans in nice shape. All too often they turn into GTO clones, but not this Tuxedo Black 1965 Pontiac LeMans convertible. Though an original 326 car, the engine has been substituted with a 389 with updated cylinder heads, Edelbrock aluminum intake, Quadrajet four-barrel, plus several other heavy-duty parts like radiator and six-blade clutch fan. “This strong-running 389 is backed up with a Saginaw four-speed trans, Hurst Competition Plus shifter, 10-bolt limited-slip rear with 3.31 gears,” says the seller. Imagine that—a LeMans with the GTO’s heartbeat that hasn’t been cloned into a GTO!
Inside, you’ll find Parchment bucket seats with a console. “Dash has been refinished, original instrument cluster with factory in dash tach in very good condition,” adds the seller. “Woodgrain has been replaced, [plus] factory optional passenger grab handle [and working] original AM radio.”
This is basically a GTO without the baggage of pedigree, which would add a lot of dollars. It’s also not a poseur—this LeMans had classic Pontiac style and performance with a top that folds down. Sounds like a win-win for $45,900 OBO.
