Classic Car Journal

Featured on AutoHunter.com, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302. 

If there is one kind of sporting car I love, regardless of what company builds them, it is just about any homologation special. The reason is, for those of you who do not speak racing car geek, that a homologation special is the street version of a racing car. They are built to fulfill the requirements that GT class cars be based on one that is sold for road use. Some notable homologation cars are the 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS, the Lancia Stratos, and the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR. All of these cars were built so manufacturers could race the competition versions in professional racing. However, one of the most affordable homologation cars is the Boss 302.

The Boss 302 was built to compete with the Chevrolet Z28 in Trans Am racing. They saw how the Z28 was not only winning on track but also in the showroom and decided to do the same. The result was the Boss 302, which just might be the most sporting and best balanced classic high performance Mustang Ford ever built.

Our AutoHunter Spotlight is described as a restored 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 with over $100,000 invested. It is powered by an original rebuilt and blueprinted 302ci V8 mated to a rebuilt close-ratio four-speed manual transmission. The car is painted in its correct Bright Yellow paint over a refreshed Black Rhino/Corinthian vinyl interior. It is offered by the selling dealer with a build sheet, original owner’s manual, Marti Report, and a clear title. 

The car features Hockey-stick Boss 302 decals, rear window “sport slats” louvers, a factory correct Hurst T-handle manual shifter, an updated RetroSound stereo, Power brakes, and the 3:91 gear set.

Under the hood resides the correct 302ci Ford Boss engine with additions including a K&N air filter, MSD ignition, stainless steel headers, and a Comp Cams vacuum canister reservoir. The photos show a very clean engine compartment and these nice modifications to the powertrain are easily reversible through I would leave the car alone and use it as-is due to the increase in horsepower that they offer.

This Boss 302 is said to be free from any substantial imperfections and included with the car are some important documents which include the factory build sheet.

If you want one of the coolest classic Mustangs that Ford ever built, a car that is fun to drive with great racing heritage and an iconic look, then why not place a bid or two on this awesome Boss 302.

The auction for this 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 ends on Monday, July 22, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).     

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

When the Camaro was introduced, it quickly became a halo car among mainstream Chevrolets. However, the Pontiac Firebird was not afforded that luxury – instead, it played second fiddle to the GTO. Our Pick of the Day is one of those pony cars that resided in the Goat’s shadow yet lacked nothing for it. This 1969 Pontiac Firebird 400 convertible is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Sarasota, Florida. (Click the link to view the listing)

The Pontiac Firebird was introduced several months after the Camaro so as to give the Chevy a lead in trying to ruin the Ford Mustang’s mojo. When the Firebird finally debuted in February 1967, Pontiac liked to think of it as a better-engineered Camaro, especially due to the suspension and the OHC-6.

Pontiac introduced five Firebird models, a team that would last through 1969: Firebird 6, Firebird Sprint, Firebird 8, Firebird HO, and Firebird 400. The Firebird 6 featured a 230ci OHC six with a one-barrel carb. With several hi-po upgrades including a four-barrel carburetor, this car became the Sprint, which would outrun small V8s without issue. The Firebird 8 featured a two-barrel 326, but several hi-po upgrades including a four-barrel carburetor turned it into the Firebird HO. The Firebird 400 was at the top, featuring a standard 325-horsepower 400 that was identical to the GTO’s 350 horsepower aside of a carb whose secondaries would not open all the way. The secret quickly got out that all one had to do was simply remove a tab on the carb to allow all those horses to run.

For 1969, the Firebird was given a restyle that included new body panels and a revised front bumper surrounded by Endura, the malleable plastic that was famous for being used as the entire front bumper for the GTO. Simulated front fender vents were another noticeable tweak. Taillights top and bottom were now uneven in length. Arguably, the interior was the best part of the update, especially the instrument panel. Mid-year, the Trans Am package joined the GTO’s Judge package in offering a be-spoilered and -striped performance vehicle, though the Trans Am also added a handling twist that distinguished it from the Judge. (Of course, the Trans Am would evolve into something even more astounding a year later.)

Engines for 1969 were similar from before, but now the OHC measured 250ci, and the Firebird 8 and HO measured 350ci. The base Firebird 400 was now rated at 330 horsepower, with the 400 HO rated at 335 and the Ram Air IV offering 345 horses on paper. These cars were carried over into the 1970 model year due to development issues with the upcoming second-generation Firebird, with production ending in December 1969. The OHCs and HO were not carried over into the second-generation series, but the others were.

This 1969 Pontiac Firebird 400 convertible is painted in Carousel Red, one of three optional colors available for the Firebird, complemented by a Parchment interior and top. It is also powered by the standard, matching-numbers 400 and TH400 automatic. According to the seller, it features 3.55 gears with Safe-T-Track but, as far as we know, standard gear for cars with air conditioning was 3.08, so we’ll assume it’s his mistake. Other features include AM radio with rear speaker, power steering with Deluxe steering wheel, power top, head restraints, Rally II wheels, console, front disc brakes, tinted windows, and Custom trim, which included a fancier interior. The hood tach appears to be added, but would you kick it out of bed?

“The chrome and trim are all in great shape,” says the seller. “The inside is in extremely good condition, finished in a deluxe white vinyl.” There also is a new gas tank and sending unit, plus fuel lines, distributor, and top. Some maintenance records and receipts are included. Seller is asking $62,900 for this fast cruiser. If you take the dive, you still have several more months to enjoy top-down driving in a very distinctive pony car.

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

Featured on AutoHunter.com, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396. 

Power comes from a 1968 396ci Turbo-Jet V8 and is delivered to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox. Features include bucket seats, power steering, an Edelbrock intake manifold, an Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor, a 12-bolt rear axle, and power brakes. Finished in red over a black vinyl interior, this Chevelle SS 396 comes with a clear title.  

According to the seller, the body was repainted red under previous ownership approximately 10 years ago. Exterior features include a big-block hood, a fender-mounted antenna, dual side mirrors, wheel well and rocker trim, and a black taillight panel. 

This Chevelle rides on a set of 14-inch wheels wrapped in Firestone Redline bias-ply tires. 

The cabin offers black vinyl seating with buckets in the front row, manual windows, power steering, and a floor-mounted manual transmission shifter.  

Important vehicle information is displayed on a 120-mph speedometer, a dash-mounted 7,000-rpm AutoMeter tachometer, and gauges for the fuel level, oil pressure, battery, and water temperature. The odometer shows 79,740 miles, but the true mileage on this vehicle is unknown. 

Under the big-block hood is a 1968 396ci Turbo-Jet V8. That comes equipped with an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold and an Edlebrock four-barrel carburetor. The engine sends power to the back wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. The clutch was replaced and the flywheel was resurfaced recently, according to the seller. 

Handling is performed by an independent front suspension and a solid rear axle with a 12-bolt differential. Power drum brakes help bring this Chevelle to a stop. 

The auction for this 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 ends on Friday, July 19, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).     

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery 

Mercury may be a corporate cousin to Ford, but the latter’s popularity doesn’t always trickle down. Even when it came to Mercury’s participation in drag racing and NASCAR, the “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” credo didn’t quite pan out. As such, Mercurys can often be found begging for love and attention.

In a bid to have Mercury not feel left out, we have Mustang maven Evan Smith to the rescue. Evan paid a visit to collector George Conrad to give us the goods on his menagerie of Mercurys. Take a gander at the Mercurys to be found within:

• 1965 Cyclone
• 1968 Cougar GT-E
• 1968 Cougar XR7-G
• 1969 Cougar XR-7 390
• 1969 Cougar Eliminator 428 Cobra Jet
• 1970 Cougar Eliminator Boss 302
• 1970 Cougar modified like the owner’s high school car
• 1972 Cougar XR-7 convertible 351 Cobra Jet
• 1967 Colony Park wagon that’s loaded and sugar-coated

But wait, there’s more – Mopar fans can also get a view of a few, including 440 3×2 Challenger R/T and ‘Cuda convertibles plus several wing cars. But then Evan pivots back to several Fords, this time mid-sizers that include a rare 1970 Torino GT convertible and an unusual 1971 Ranchero 500, both powered by J-code Cobra Jets.

This is our moment to give respect to Mercury and, maybe, be on the lookout for more Mercurys that matter. And, if you enjoy this video, be sure to check out Part 1 and 2 of George Conrad’s collection in Evan’s REVan Evan YouTube channel.

ClassicCars TV introduces “World Headquarters,” a custom 1958 Chevrolet “Task Force” Step-Van. Powered by a fuel-injected 5.7-liter 350ci V8 connected to a THM700R4 4-speed automatic transmission, it rides on a 1992 Chevrolet Suburban frame with an S-10 front end and a Belltech rear lowering kit.

It features a Master Power Brakes system, custom wiring and cooling fans, and a remote oil cooler. This van even has custom suicide doors with shaved handles and remote door poppers, halogen headlights, new chrome, and 17-inch smoothie wheels. It sold at the Barrett-Jackson 2024 Scottsdale Auction for $44,000.

Make sure to subscribe to the ClassicCars TV YouTube channel for more interesting finds, car reviews, and interviews!

The story of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling” starts with a little bird with self-esteem issues due to abusive animals, only for him to attempt to throw himself towards death until he discovers he’s now a beautiful swan and he has no need to believe the cruel. The story of the Buick Riviera is quite the opposite: arguably the most beautiful 1960s car that evolved into a car that could not compete with its earlier incarnations. Our Pick of the Day is one of these cars, a 1970 Buick Riviera that is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in St. Louis, Missouri. (Click the link to view the listing)

When Buick introduced the personal luxury Riviera for 1963, everyone in America stood still to pause and admire what a beautiful car it was. Influenced by the razor-edged British cars of a previous era, the Riviera had its sights on the Ford Thunderbird. Standard was a 401ci Wildcat 445 “Nailhead” V8 with 325 horsepower, with a 340-horsepower 425ci Wildcat 465 becoming the standard engine for 1964; an optional Super Wildcat with 360 horsepower featured dual-quads.

For 1965, the Riviera was given a facelift, now with headlights hidden behind ribbed vertical covers on both sides of the grille. The simulated air intake on the rear fenders were eliminated, and the taillights moved to the bumper. A new Gran Sport package came with a tweaked suspension and standard Super Wildcat V8. This was arguably the Riviera’s peak, though the 1966 redesign was fantastic and only pales in comparison to the first-generation models.

A new engine design with measurements of 430ci arrived for 1967, and the Riviera was restyled for 1968, its curves bulked up and hardened. Truth be told, the Thunderbird went through a more drastic evolution, with the Riviera arguably managing it with more grace. For 1970, the Riviera experienced another restyle, a one-year look that doesn’t sit in the annals of great Rivieras, though it has its charms.

Sharing a family resemblance with both full-size and mid-size Buicks, the 1970 Riviera featured a new 455ci V8 offering 370 horsepower. Unlike in previous years, this Riviera allowed buyers to make choices in styling that was unique among vehicles from Detroit at the time. Glance at the brochure and you can see Riviera was Bold! With fender skirts, while Riviera II was Gracious! With thin body-side moldings. Riviera III was Vibrant! with a sporty flair thanks to unadorned flanks and no skirts. A Gran Sport package offered a heavy-duty suspension, Positive traction differential with standard 3.42 gears, H78 x 15-inch tires, and GS badges.

The Riviera would regain its mojo in 1971 with the “Boattail,” so this Titan Red 1970 Buick Riviera is the red-headed stepchild of Buick’s personal luxury model because it’s wedged between two glorious Rivieras from different generations. This one features both the side molding and skirts (should we call it Riviera IV?), plus Buick’s famous chrome-plated wheels. It was originally built with a white vinyl top, but the top has been removed. Inside, you’ll find a Pearl White interior with the optional bucket seats and console. Features include air conditioning, variable ratio power steering and power brakes, AccuDrive suspension system, clock, driver’s side remote mirror, three-inch exhaust system, 2.78 gears, plus upgraded Kenwood stereo/CD player with a pair of rear speakers, and under-dash aftermarket gauges.

There’s many vehicles on the Island of Forgotten Collectible Cars, and the 1970 Buick Riviera is probably the only one of this model to call the island home. With a hot engine and unusual styling that will be appreciated from Harlem to Huntington Beach, the 1970 Riviera is the duckling that’s overdue for its debut. For $48,995, you can strut your stuff and get noticed.

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

When I look for a Pick of the Day I often look for cars I feel are great values or are somewhat overlooked and deserve attention. I also look for cars that I would personally buy. The one I picked today is a perfect example of being one that looks like a good deal and I would love to have in my garage.

The BMW Z3 M Coupe was a sort of “skunk works” project at BMW in that it was a car that a bunch of crazy engineers decided to try building versus one that came from lots of product and marketing meetings. Instead the Z3 M Coupe was developed by the M performance group to address many people’s view that the Z3 was not a performance car. What they did was get a Z3 and improve the car’s structural rigidity by incorporating a fixed roof. After doing this they replaced the standard Z3 inline 6 engine with a 3.2-liter M engine. Finally, they went to work on the suspension to make the car handle even better.

The result was a car that quickly gained the nickname “clown shoe” due to its unusual styling. Despite this they somehow got the car green lit for production. You can thank BMW board member Burkhard Goeschel for helping make this happen. In fact Goeschel, who was in charge of M at the time, still calls it his favorite BMW M car.

The Z3 M Coupe was introduced in 1998 as the serious sports car version of the Z3. It was equipped with the 240-hp S52 engine from the U.S. spec E36 M3 under the hood. These are rare cars with BMW building only 5,179 between 1998 and 2000. BMW revised the Z3 M Coupe in 2001 by swapping the S52 engine with the new 315 HP E46 M3 S54 engine. Only 1,112 of these were built between 2001 and 2002.

The Pick of the Day is one of these cars, a 2000 BMW Z3 M Coupe located in Richmond, British Columbia.

The seller offers a great description of this Z3 M Coupe. They state that it is a car that was ordered new without a sunroof and is finished in Estoril Blue over a black and blue Nappa leather interior. Power is from the aforementioned 3.2-liter S52 inline-six paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The car rides on staggered-width 17″ Style 40 wheels with 225/45 and 245/40 Continental Extreme Contact M&S tires.

The car is painted in one of BMW’s best colors ever, Estoril Blue (335), with partially power-adjustable and heated sports seats upholstered in factory original (and super cool looking) blue leather with black inserts. Amenities include a BMW Business cassette stereo, a six-disc CD changer, M-branded floor mats, an illuminated shift lever, and a cupholder in the center console.

This Z3 M Coupe has covered only 45,800 miles or 73,200 kilometers from new and looks to be in amazing condition with a CARFAX report that indicates no accidents or other damage and displays history in New York, Ontario, and Texas before being purchased and imported into British Columbia, Canada, in November 2021.

The Z3 M Coupe is a collector car now but I honestly feel that they have not yet reached their potential in the market, and this one is being offered for a very fair $47,900. At that price is not likely to last long.

Check out the listing for this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com. 

If you go to Lexus’s website and look up the available non-hybrid models, you’ll see nine different offerings, ranging from the base ES 250 AWD to the athletic ES 350 F Sport Handling. Expect that array of choices to grow by one for 2025 with the return of the Black Line Special Edition package.

It’s been four years since Lexus offered it on the ES 350. The F Sport-based 2021 version was limited to 1,500 cars and came with black mirror caps, dark F Sport wheels, and a black rear spoiler. This time around, the Black Line Special Edition package will be available on only 1,000 North American-market ES 350 F Sport Handling models in Iridium, Cloudburst Gray, Obsidian, Caviar, Matador Red Mica, or Ultra White with the choice of a White, Circuit Red, or Black NuLuxe interior.

In addition to the ES 350’s 302-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and eight-speed automatic transmission, standard equipment consists of the F Sport Handling’s Sport+ and Custom drive modes, Intuitive Parking Assist, sport-tuned Adaptive Variable Suspension, heated F Sport steering wheel, Hadori aluminum trim, aluminum pedals, and black headliner.

On the outside, the Black Line treatment adds Obsidian mirror housings, black lower rocker panels, F Sport puddle lamps, and a black rear lip spoiler. Interior features include F Sport door switch plates, Lexus Interface with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a head-up display, Panoramic View Monitor, and a SmartAccess key card. Sadly, the Mark Levinson Premium Audio System is not on that list, but it can be added as an option.

Prices for the 2025 ES will start at $43,190, which includes a $1,150 Dealer, Processing, and Handling fee. The ES 350 F Sport Handling will have a base price of $49,650. Adding the Black Line Special Edition package’s exclusivity, style, and conveniences raises that by another $3,965. Expect to see 2025 ESs on Lexus lots this summer, but don’t get your hopes up for seeing an ES 350 Black Line. Given its limited production run, you may just have to wait another four years for the next iteration of it.

Featured on AutoHunter.com, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 2006 Jeep Wrangler X. It gets down the road and over trails with the help of a Power Tech 4.0-liter I6, which is connected to a four-speed automatic transmission and Command-Trac part-time four-wheel drive. Features include fender flares, 31-inch BFGoodrich tires, air conditioning, and a TeraFlex two-inch suspension lift. Finished in Solar Yellow and equipped with a black removable hardtop over a Dark Slate Gray cloth interior, this TJ Wrangler is now offered with a clean CARFAX report and a clear title. 

The Solar Yellow body is capped off with a black removable hardtop that has a rear window wiper. It comes equipped with front tow hooks, black fender flares, a fold-forward windshield, tubular nerf bars, a rear-mounted swing-away spare tire, and a hitch receiver.  

A set of 15-inch Mammoth wheels with 31” x 10.50” BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tires get this Wrangler over pavement and rougher terrain. According to the seller, the tires were installed in 2023. 

The cabin offers room for four on Dark Slate Gray cloth front bucket and rear bench seats. Features include tinted manual windows, power steering, cruise control, an aftermarket radio, air conditioning, a center console, a roll bar, and a passenger-side grab handle. 

Vehicle information is displayed on a 100-mph speedometer, a 6,000-rpm tachometer, and coolant temperature, fuel, oil pressure, and voltage gauges. The odometer shows 107,286 miles; the CARFAX report indicates 107,146 miles as of August 2021.  

Under the hood is a naturally aspirated Power Tech 4.0-liter I6 that was factory-rated at 190 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque. Output is delivered through a four-speed automatic transmission and Command-Trac part-time four-wheel drive. The most recent service was performed in June 2024. 

Power brakes bring this Jeep to a stop. A TeraFlex two-inch suspension lift and a steering stabilizer have been installed. In July 2020, the following items were replaced: 

• Axle seals 
• Track bar 
• Pitman arm
• Differential fluid
• Front and rear driveshaft U-joints 

The auction for this 2006 Jeep Wrangler X ends on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).    

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery 

On a quiet morning well before the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, opened for business, the earth opened up and swallowed eight vintage Corvettes. A decade later, the Museum has opened a three-month temporary exhibit called, “Ground to Sky: The Sinkhole Reimagined.”

Running through Sept. 15, the exhibit honors the recovery of the 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06, the 1 millionth and 1.5 millionth Corvette ever made, the ZR-1 Spyder, a 2009 ZR1 “Blue Devil”, as well as other artifacts consumed by the 40-foot wide, 60-foot deep hole that opened in the conical Skydome Hall of Fame.

“From the restoration of damaged Corvettes to the ten years of progress that has touched every corner of the Museum, “Ground to Sky: The Sinkhole Reimagined” highlights our commitment to preserving Corvette history while embracing progress,” Robert Maxhimer, Director of Curatorial Affairs and Education, said in a statement.

The sinkhole and recovery process made global news from Feb. 12, 2014, when it happened through 2016, when the recovery and restoration process became a permanent part of a Museum that opened in 1994 in the porous land of southern Kentucky.

Located across the street from GM’s Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green, the National Corvette Museum sits atop karst country, situated about 30 miles from Mammoth Cave National Park, the world’s longest known cave system. Bowling Green is known for Kentucky’s mining country, where caves and underground springs run like veins below ground, and where sediment constantly shifts into recesses in the earth, causing sinkholes. Five days after the Corvette sinkhole opened up, an even larger one opened 15 miles away. 

I witnessed the sinkhole firsthand covering it for the Chicago Tribune. It opened at about 5 a.m., fortunately, before staff or visitors had arrived to the most popular part of the 115,000 square-foot Museum. The Skydome, with its red spindle protruding through the 100-foot glass ceiling, housed 22 of the rarest and some of the most expensive Corvettes, as well as the Hall of Fame honoring such luminaries as Zora Arkus-Duntov, the father of the first Corvette that debuted in 1953. 

Since filled and solidified, and with the Skydome restored to original condition, the new exhibit showcases the five Vettes listed above, hardly even dusted off from storage. The Mallett, which was the last Vette extracted from the sinkhole, is still in its mangled sinkhole condition. The exhibit includes a viewing platform to view the sinkhole, as well as the boulder that hammered the Mallett Hammer Corvette.   

There was something reverential about touring the Skydome and interviewing the engineers responsible for the excavation and the curator in charge of rolling with the changes, much like the Corvette has done in its 70-year existence. The C8 Corvette that launched in 2020 turned America’s supercar into a mid-engine monster. The 2024 Corvette E-Ray electrified the icon with AWD hybrid power. A full battery electric Corvette is expected to debut later this year. 

In the meantime, the Museum expects this limited-run exhibit to put a charge in attendance. 

HIGH-RES GALLERY: Corvettes rescued from a sinkhole in the Ground to Sky: The Sinkhole Reimagined exhibit

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