Toronado, Firebird, Blazer and more of Bob’s favorites on AutoHunter

The collector cars and trucks being auctioned on AutoHunter are a diverse group, with just about every segment of the hobby represented: stunning classics, fun sports cars, resto-mods and cruisers, and performance machines.

Here are some of my favorites in active bidding on the auction platform of ClassicCars.com:

1967 Oldsmobile Toronado

The Toronado was General Motors’ first foray into front-wheel drive, and the first American car pulled by its front wheels since the pre-war Cord 810/812.  The two-door sedan was also a stylistic tour de force with its elegantly flared fenders, covered headlights and slim horizontal taillights.

The “personal luxury car” is as powerful as it looks, with a 425cid V8 that generates 385 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque.

This second-year example is quite special, a fully documented 33,000-mile survivor in original well-preserved condition, with a straight body, good paint, a great bucket-seat interior and an underside that looks like new. 

The all-original Toronado is a rare find that could star in the preservation class of any car show.

1965 Ford Mustang coupe

The first-generation Mustang is the most-popular American collector car of all time, and this one has been treated to resto-mod updates to make it into a great highway cruiser for enjoyable road trips.  The coupe is a two-owner car that has been driven just 4,000 miles since restoration, which included some modern mechanical updates, the seller says.

“A 302ci V8 now provides power, and it is paired with a 5-speed T5 manual gearbox,” the seller notes in the description. “Upgrades consist of an MSD ignition, four-core radiator, power steering, rebuilt suspension with Shelby drop springs, four-wheel disc brakes with a dual-reservoir master cylinder, 3.80 gears, a modern sound system, and much more.”

The upgrades should make this Mustang into a reliable and nice-driving car without damaging its vintage look and feel.

1967 Pontiac Firebird convertible

Here’s another resto-mod pony car, this one treated to a massively powerful engine, a 455cid high-output big-block V8, linked with a Muncie M20 4-speed manual transmission.  So as well as being a fun-in-the-sun machine, it should provide rocket-sled acceleration that’s sure to impress the muscle-car crowd.

I’ve always liked the innovative bumperless styling of these early Firebirds with the chrome headlight surround providing some level of impact protection.  A great look that has held up well. 

The body has had a recent repaint in its original Cameo Ivory, the seller notes, and the car is in overall good condition, although there are a few small items that need fixing. 

1974 VW Beetle Sun Bug cabriolet

This is one of 300 special-edition Sun Bugs sold in North America, the seller notes, and it looks like the perfect fun-times beach cruiser.  Indeed, the Volkswagen is located in Jacksonville, Florida, which must be the perfect climate and oceanside area for it.

The body retains its original Harvest Gold Metallic finish that is unique to the Sun Bug edition, the seller states, and the VW has been driven just 47,000 miles.  The bug is powered by the correct air-cooled 1,600cc flat-4 linked with a 4-speed manual transmission.

The body and gold paint are in good original condition with no visible rust, the seller adds, and the top is good but has a small tape-covered hole. 

1973 Chevrolet K5 Blazer

Here’s a popular favorite, a 4X4 Blazer in the upmarket Scottsdale edition with 37,000 miles showing on the odometer, which the seller says are unverified but believed to be true. The seller says restoration of the SUV is 90 percent complete with just a few “final touches” needed to finish, including rewiring for the lights, gauges and horn. 

Among the features are an older repaint in Copper Brown Metallic, a cool-looking plaid Cheyenne interior, 33-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires on 15-inch factory wheels, and new shocks and steering stabilizer. 

The truck is powered by a 350cid V8 with a new Edelbrock carburetor. Power goes through a 4-speed SM465 manual transmission with “creeper” gear and a rebuilt 2-speed transfer case with 3.73:1 gears and rebuilt manual-locking Warn front hubs.  

The Blazer seems to be in overall good condition, and because it has some needs, could go for a bargain price.  As they say, some of the best deals can be had on someone else’s not-quite-completed restoration project.

Visit AutoHunter to submit your bids and see what other cars are on next week’s docket.