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Diego’s AutoHunter Picks

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May 3, 2024

Yup! It’s time for another weekly segment of AutoHunter Picks where we bring you choice special-interest vehicles for your enjoyment. Sure, it’s great to look at pictures, but my purpose here is for you to buy one of these cars or trucks. Is my hard-sell working? Truth be told, I am not privy to who buys what on AutoHunter, but I have no need for you to thank me for turning you on to a particular vehicle – I am happy enough to select and write. Enjoy!

2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500
I don’t understand how the Mercedes SL went from a world-class sports car to what could be considered a personal luxury car, but those are the breaks. That being said, I once was able to drive a 1990s SL500 cross-country from Connecticut to Arizona, and I was pleasantly surprised how solid a vehicle it was even though it was already past a generation. Solid as only a Mercedes could be!

I don’t doubt this 2003 SL500 will be any different. Certainly it’s more attractive, as I’ve always been fond of Mercedes’ four-eyed look of this era. This silver metallic retractable hardtop has only had one owner and features such options as Sport Package, SL1 Wood Package, Active Body Control suspension, and COMAND infotainment system – lots of good stuff here!

1993 GMC Yukon SLE 4×4
I had a conversation not too long ago commenting on the Blazer of this generation, which includes the Yukon. I think these trucks are quite a fine design with their smooth flanks and large glass area that seems to go with the flow. It nicely pairs aerodynamics with style in ways that few vehicles have done even today. Downside? Malaise-era power.

But the upside to this 86,000-mile 1993 GMC Yukon is the five-speed manual. Maybe the horsepower isn’t impressive, but shifting gears with the torque of a big engine in a roomy SUV-before-they-were-SUVs sounds like fun. Other features include fuel injection, locking rear, air conditioning, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, center console, tow hooks and hitch, and more.

1968 Ford XL Convertible
Hidden headlights didn’t hit the “Low-Priced Three” the way it hit more upscale and specialized brands and models in the 1960s, with Ford offering the style to the highest degree – LTDs and XLs enjoyed this feature standard from 1968-70, while Caprice only had it as an option from 1968-69. It’s a look that makes Galaxie 500s and other trim levels appear unworthy in comparison.

So this 1968 XL convertible tugs at my heart. The color appears to be Diamond Blue (if not a similar repaint) with a blue interior. Horsepower is nothing special but, for reliable, economical power, you can’t beat a 390 two-barrel. Power steering and brakes, air conditioning, AM radio are but some of the options. Seller believes 36,904 miles on odometer is legit but I’d drive this forever, low mileage or otherwise.

1998 BMW M Roadster
Maybe the Porsche Boxter looks more exotic, but BMW’s Z3 roadster delivered the goods for quasi-affordable fun. This was when BMW was getting its game on, when horsepower started to rise up after so many years of pathetic products that couldn’t get out of their own way. Overly harsh? Agreed, but we were passing through the light at the end of the tunnel to get where we are now.

This Z3 is actually a superior 1998 M Roadster, the first of the upgraded Z3s. In America, it offered 240 horsepower from a 3.2-liter inline-six, but don’t let that low number (to contemporary eyes) fool you – this is a fine sports car. Only 2,763 U.S.-spec cars were built that year and, with 23,702 miles on the odometer, this is one of those cars that doesn’t seem too old but is ripe for a collector.

Jaguar XJS reborn as 600-plus horsepower TWR Supercat

News and Events

Motor Authority

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May 3, 2024

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Jaguar XJS reborn as 600-plus horsepower TWR Supercat

British performance marque TWR has been revived by the son of the original company’s founder, and on Tuesday it revealed its first project, the wild Supercat based on the Jaguar XJS.

The iconic Jaguar grand tourer, built between 1975 and 1996, was raced by the original TWR in various touring car championships, so it’s a fitting donor vehicle for the new TWR’s first project.

TWR is saving most details until closer to the car’s dynamic debut this summer, but has confirmed a supercharged V12 sits up front and delivers over 600 hp. Drive is to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission.

The body is made entirely from carbon fiber and features a unique wide-body design. The car’s exhaust tips are also mounted at the side, which enabled the designers to fit a massive rear diffuser spanning the width of the body. The interior hasn’t been shown, but has also been fully reworked.

The new TWR, founded by Fergus Walkinshaw, whose father was businessman and motorsports personality Tom Walkinshaw, is made up of engineers formerly of Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, and several Formula 1 teams. It plans a series of bespoke vehicles infused with modern materials but able to deliver an analog driving experience, starting with the Supercat.

The company also employed the talents of car customizers Magnus Walker and Khyzyl Saleem for the Supercat. Walker is known for collecting and restomodding classic cars, particularly among Porsche circles. Saleem, who goes by the online handle Kyza, is an up-and-coming talent famous for designing wild and over-the-top cars as 3D models. He also has his own line of body kits marketed under the LTO brand.

TWR is accepting orders for the Supercat. It is priced from 225,000 British pounds (approximately $282,000), and just 88 examples will be built, the number a nod to the original TWR’s first 24 Hours of Le Mans win back in 1988 with the Jaguar XJR-9. Deliveries are scheduled to start late this year.

HIGH-RES GALLERY: TWR Supercat

This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com

Pick of the Day: 1996 Chevrolet K-1500

Tyson Hugie

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May 3, 2024

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Much like the 1990s Ford F-Series pickup trucks (of which I’ve become a recent owner), the Chevrolet trucks from the same era hold enduring appeal for a strong group of enthusiasts. Here is just one example of a Facebook group called “OBS Chevy Truck Club” with over 16,000 members in it. “OBS,” in truck vocabulary, is loosely defined as Old Body Style – or, an era from around pre-1999.

The Pick of the Day is a 1996 Chevrolet K1500 4×4 pickup listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Downey, California. (Click the link to view the listing)

This truck’s listing is one of the most matter-of-fact, to-the-point summaries I have ever read in my eight years of writing for The Journal: “Original owner, original miles, original paint, very clean, rust free, must see, never used off-road.” That’s it. Does anything else matter? Oh yeah, and it has only 55,000 miles.

The General Motors GMT400 platform that underpinned this truck was also repurposed on many other body-on-frame full-sized vehicles like the Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, and Escalade. The fourth-generation C/K model lineup had been originally introduced in April 1987 for the 1988 model year. A mid-cycle refresh in 1995 applied to the entire GMT400 lineup and added important safety updates like four-wheel anti-lock brakes, a driver-side air bag, and larger sideview mirrors.

Finished in a very-90s shade of Emerald Green Metallic, today’s featured half-ton truck looks about as showroom-fresh as they get. The wheels have been upgraded to newer-model five-spoke alloys, but the rest of the vehicle appears to hold true to its original build. The color-keyed camper shell is a nice touch (and it may be in an indication that the truck wasn’t used for heavy-duty hauling or fifth-wheel towing). One of the things that stood out to me the most was the fact that the carpeting in the cab is protected in plastic. That’s the kind of preservation any potential buyer should be thrilled to see!

Power comes from a Vortec 5.7-liter V8 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, and the window sticker outlines some of add-on equipment such as the Z71 suspension package, an electrochromic rearview mirror, remote keyless entry, a transmission cooling system, a reclining split-bench front seat, and an “easy access” third door. (Worth noting – Chevrolet’s third-door setup came one year before Ford started offering such a thing in 1997).

The asking price is $26,000 or best offer, which is interestingly pretty close to the truck’s original retail price of $27,311. Hey, you don’t always get a second chance to buy a near-new truck that’s almost 30 years old!

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, a library of spotlighted vehicles is just a click away at Pick of the Day.

Car Colors We Created: Drive the Bid Podcast

Diego Rosenberg

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May 2, 2024

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Car Colors We Created: Drive the Bid Podcast

Do you get the impression that car colors today are boring? So many whites, blacks, silvers, and grays litter our parking lots. What we need is a dose of dye to liven up our lives so, for this episode of AutoHunter’s Drive the Bid Podcast, Derek Shiekhi and I each created a color, named it, and applied it to a particular car – we did that three times! Will you like our hues? Only way to find out is to watch the below podcast.

Also high on the fun scale was Derek’s meme on muscle truck drivers and their poor driving habits.

For news, we discussed the recently announced TWR Supercat, somewhat of a Singer-influenced take on the Jaguar XJS. This car will be built by TWR, which stands for Tom Walkinshaw Racing, a team and engineering company that has had success in Le Mans as well as being instrumental in the creation of the XJ220 supercar.

Of course, there’s our AutoHunter picks, which include a five-speed 1993 GMC Yukon SLE 4×4, 427-powered 1965 Factory Five Racing Type 65 coupe, a one-owner 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500, and 1965 Chevrolet C10 pickup.

AutoHunter Cinema has plenty of other videos and podcasts created by the experts behind ClassicCars.com, the world’s largest online collector car marketplace. AutoHunter brings forth a dedicated live customer support team, quicker auction listings and exclusive benefits for both buyers and sellers.

AutoHunter Spotlight: 1969 Pontiac GTO Convertible

Diego Rosenberg

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May 2, 2024

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AutoHunter Spotlight: 1969 Pontiac GTO Convertible

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.

The auction for this restored 1969 Pontiac GTO convertible ends Monday, May 6, 2024 at 11:45 a.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Celebrates Its 50th

News and Events

Diego Rosenberg

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May 2, 2024

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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Celebrates Its 50th

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 50^th 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.”

For tickets and more information, go to WeatherTechRaceway.com.

Pick of the Day: 1970 Dodge Polara Convertible

Diego Rosenberg

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May 2, 2024

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Pick of the Day: 1970 Dodge Polara Convertible

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?

Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.

Interesting Finds: 1998 Lexus SC300

Media

Tyson Hugie

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May 1, 2024

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The Lexus SC was advertised 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.

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!

Pick of the Day: 1960 Chrysler 300F Hardtop

Tyson Hugie

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May 1, 2024

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Pick of the Day: 1960 Chrysler 300F Hardtop

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 Pick of the Day is a 1960 Chrysler 300F two-door hardtop listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Litchfield Park, Arizona. (Click the link to view the listing)

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.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, click on over to Pick of the Day.

Falling in Love with a New Buick Wagon

News and Events

Diego Rosenberg

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May 1, 2024

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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.

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.