Diego’s AutoHunter Picks
What is cloning? Are the tributes the same? I'm not trying to define every type of car here, but rather introduce a few cars listed on AutoHunter that could be one of them. What my four AutoHunter picks may lack in pedigree, they make up for it in power, presence or otherwise. Of course, the car hobby is a big tent where everyone is welcome, so the four cars below will suit some but not others. Which one are you most interested in? 1969 Chevrolet Malibu19 Sixty-nine was a strange year for SS 396. It became an optional performance package on four different Chevelle models: 300 Deluxe Coupe, 300 Deluxe Sport Coupe, Malibu Sport Coupe and Malibu Convertible. This means there were potentially four variations of the 1969 SS 396, two of which might look the same until you look inside and discover one has a nicer interior than the other. According to the VIN, this 1969 Chevelle is a…
Twilight Saga: 1972 Oldsmobile 4-4-2
Nineteen seventy-two It's been a tough year for performance enthusiasts as the government mandates that all cars must run on low-lead or unleaded fuel. This emissions move required a reduction in compression ratio, which typically topped out at 8.5:1 in 1972 engines. Oldsmobile's horsepower loss wasn't that severe because GM lowered the compression ratio in 1971. Far-reaching, however, was the return of the 4-4-2 to a package and the inclusion of the 350 two-cylinder as standard engine. Considering the 4-4-2 had at least 345 horsepower since 1965, the low-performance 350 simply fell out of favor. Oldsmobile's product planners are clearly interested in catering to people who want image without the insurance penalties, but it's frustrating. Luckily, Oldsmobile still has them in stock. Upgraded version of the 350 quad-barreled gun - not quite as fast, but more than enough for many. Next up is the 455 four-barrel rated at 250 net horsepower with an automatic transmission; opt for the stick and…
After Party: 1972 Charger Rally
while fighting Fans of the 1968-70 Dodge Charger can get violent at times, but not nearly as violently as those who prefer the 1971-74 Charger. Premium car? Tell that to Steve McQueen, who chased a man through the streets of San Francisco. and Rosco P. Coltrane, who chased another man through the mountains of Hazzard County. While people have pegged the 1968-70 Charger as THE Charger, the 1971-74 version was no slouch either. To be honest, it's a more complex car than you'd expect from its successor, with lines that create tension with each other. With its sleek front end, louvered taillights (on the 1971 Charger 500 and R/T), and simulated louvers on the R/T doors, it perfectly captured the zeitgeist of new cars of that era. A year later, the Charger changed course—no, it was still a sport coupe with high-performance variants, but the lineup was tweaked. The base Charger continues to be available as a coupe or hardtop,…
1972 Lincoln Continental Mark IV
I'm sure A silly kid, because I didn't seem to mind big-bumper cars from the 1970s. My dad had a 1976 Lincoln Continental Mark IV, which influenced my preference for this car with its Federal-style front and rear bumpers. Our pick today is the purest version of this car, a 1972 Lincoln Continental Mark IV. This particular example is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Kentwood, Michigan. (Click on the link to view the listing.) The Lincoln Continental Mark III sold well from 1968-71, but I saw few when I was a kid. The Mark IV? It sold at least twice as many. Of course, everything that was good about the Mark III was exaggerated for the Mark IV. Lincoln claimed, "While the styling changes are revolutionary, they are also striking." The Mark IV had a bolder grille, a longer and lower hood, and a seemingly lower roofline, while still retaining its signature features: hidden headlights and spare tire…
Pick of the Day: 1972 Buick GS Stage 1
Winner The "Most Improved Car of 1970" would have to be the Buick GS 455 with the Stage 1 engine, but 1970 was only one year. The next year, GM lowered the engine's compression ratio, and the Stage 1's reign as the reigning king was over...or was it? Our pick today is a 1972 Buick GS Stage 1, which gives us reason to examine how Buick survived the early Depression. It's listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Reading, Pennsylvania. (Click on the link to see the listing) In 1970, Buick upped its big-block 400 to 455 cubic inches, now allowed in the Model A, after years of being restricted to 400ci (or 401 in the early Gran Sport). Full-size Buick's 455 was rated at 370 horsepower, but the same engine was rated at 350 horsepower when installed in the GS 455. The Stage 1 upgrade was rated at 360 horsepower, but according to Dennis Manner, the chief…
Pick of the Day: 1972 Dodge Charger Rallye
Federal Government In 1972, the U.S. government required all manufacturers to reduce engine compression ratios to run on unleaded fuel. Dodge also took the opportunity to rethink its sports car lineup. Our featured 1972 Dodge Charger Rallye today is a perfect example of how Dodge navigated the darkness. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Traverse City, Michigan. (Click on the link to view the listing.) 1967 Dodge Coronet R/T In 1967, Dodge built the Coronet R/T, the brand's first muscle car in the mold of the Pontiac GTO. Standard was the 440 Magnum, rated at 375 horsepower. In 1968, it was joined by the 440-horsepower Charger R/T, which was based on the same platform but was more of a specialist car. That year, it, the Coronet R/T, the Dart GTS, and the Super Bee (introduced mid-year) formed the Scat Pack, a team of high-performance cars with bumblebee stripes. In 1970, another R/T, the Challenger…
Diego’s AutoHunter Picks
A little ashamed I realized that this week's AutoHunter picks are two of the most popular brands in the world: Chevrolet and Volkswagen. Both brands were born during the glory days of the mid-1950s, when America seemed unimpeachable. And, I don't think you can go wrong with any of these. Prefer a Corvette? We have two, both new and old. Need practicality? The Chevy truck below shows off the talents of Harley Earl's team, with a bed in the back. And a German van that looks like grandma lives in it and never had an interior designer come to her house. Which one do you prefer? 1971 Chevrolet Corvette LS5 454When I was still learning about cars, low-compression 1971s were looked down upon. Some cars, like Pontiac's 455 HO, later became famous for beating heavy machinery, but it took a while for other low-compression performance cars to catch up. On the other hand, you never heard of anyone complaining about…
Today’s Pick: 1972 Buick Riviera
this Daily Selection yes A 1972 Buick Riviera is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Alabama. The third-generation Buick Riviera got me hooked. That was about 20 years ago, when I was a student at the University of Texas at Austin. I was as obsessed with cars then as I am now, but my horizons were much narrower. I was primarily drawn to new European and exotic cars, although I also enjoyed driving around with my best friend, Jacob, in his Honda S2000. While domestic cars from the 1950s and 1960s were part of my childhood, I had yet to develop a greater appreciation for the American cars of the past. That changed one afternoon when I was walking around the University of Texas campus. A classmate of mine roared down the street in a car I had never seen before. It was a huge, hulking car with a candy-like burnt orange paint job. I knew it…
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