General Motors took the dowdy Buick Regal coupe and turned it into a legendary muscle car with the addition of a Garrett turbocharger and intercooler. In this episode of The House Of Muscle, Mike Musto shows us all a pair of the greatest turbo Buicks ever–a 1987 Grand National and the ultra-rare, legend-worthy GNX. These are among my top-ten 1980s American cars, and I’m glad that they’re featured here. Enjoy the video.
Sometimes, winter Cars and Coffee do happen. And just when I was about to leave and get some fried chicken, a Spyker suddenly stands in between me and a fried chicken food coma. Of course, when it’s a blue C8 Spyder like this one, the chicken’s going to lose, and it’s going to lose big. The craftsmanship on these cars is pure artwork from start to finish, with exposed linkages, quilted leather, and impeccable paintwork. It’s truly a treat to see one of these in the flesh and I was not expecting it. But of course, I welcome a Spyker with open arms, just as I would welcome a new pet into the family. Just watch those sharp edges! Continue reading Spyker C8 Spyder at the Morris Plains Cars and Coffee
When it comes to old cars on YouTube, Roadkill’s ability to either make or break cars is second to none. They either go off with flying colors, or fail so spectacularly that words cannot describe what happens. Luckily, it’s all on film. Their “Disgustang”, a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 that had floors made more of rat droppings than steel, is back in action today as they attempt to drive it 1,300 miles from Los Angeles to a rally school north of the state line. Watch all the fun right here.
Triumph fans don’t like the TR7 at all. The cheese-wedge lines, safety bumpers, awkward finishing lines, and too-small wheels don’t combine to make a pretty picture. Luckily, Triumph wasn’t as dim as we all thought, and grabbed the 3.5L Buick V8 that Rover was using. They shoehorned it into the TR7 and made the TR8 a reality. It wasn’t perfect, but it was at least quick enough that no one knew it was a TR7 with a better engine. These are curiosities today, but this example was too nice to pass up.
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Bright yellow has always looked good on RUF Porsches. This 996 R Turbo is no exception, and no one was expecting it when it pulled up at the Bergen Cars and Coffee last month. Enjoy the photos of this magnetic little number. Continue reading RUF R Turbo at Bergen Cars and Coffee
I’ve featured other 190s here before, but to me it doesn’t matter, they’re all special in some way. While it will always be overshadowed by its more powerful brother, the smooth, sculpted lines of the 190 will always find a fan in me. Enjoy the photos of this gorgeous classic. Continue reading Mercedes-Benz 190 SL at the Concours Americana Manhasset
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My Aunt Randi and Uncle Dan have developed not only their ability to spot great cars, but also used their superior photography skills to make sure I’m satisfied. They have a place in Florida, and with their skills they are great at sending me tons and tons of photographs. This time, I had no choice but to share it with all of you wonderful people. If we all go extinct and this Lamborghini Aventador is all that’s left, then the aliens who come to Earth will think pretty highly of us as the human race. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Lamborghini Aventador spotted in Florida
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Triumph’s TR series was excellent, until the bender hit rock bottom in 1980 with the cheese-wedge TR7. Luckily, one of their brightest spots outside of that series was the striking little Stag, released in 1970 and pulled from the lineup in 1978. They weren’t without their flaws, but the body style, looks, and driving dynamics were above par in the Seventies. Just don’t keep it too long, or you’d be seeing your mechanic more often than a home-cooked meal. While far from the best car money could buy, it was a fun car for the times and still had plenty of appeal. This particular brown example shone brightly at the Radnor Hunt Concours last fall.
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-Albert S. Davis
When it comes to my favorite Roadkill cars, it’s hard to beat the Dodge Super Bee owned by Freiburger or the ’55 Chevrolet gasser aka Blasphemi, owned by Mike Finnegan. The story behind each car is excellent (both built up from a production shell, but sharing few original drivetrain parts), they both pack a variant of the monster 426 Hemi (Bee has a 484 ci, Chevrolet has a 426 with all kinds of goodies), and both look and sound like pure evil unleashed upon God’s green earth. Which one will survive this episode? Which one will fall apart for no apparent (or likely, a catastrophic) reason? Watch below, and find out.
Sometimes, simpler is better. This Seventies Ford Bronco features a white stripe, white-letter tires, chrome wheel covers, and a blacked-out grille for a period correct look. So many Broncos get cut up to become off-road beasts or crazy show trucks, so it’s pretty refreshing to see one here that hasn’t been messed with. Continue reading Factory Stock (!) Ford Bronco spotted in Hershey, PA
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President Reagan and his tenure in the White House evokes strong emotions from both the left and right wing of our nation. He was also the very first President to ride along in a downsized full-size American car. Luckily, they picked a winner in the form of the GM full-size D-body platform. When I saw this Caddy parked at the Reagan Library, I was shocked by how tall the roof was–but when the President of the United States is over six feet tall, he’s gotta be comfortable. GM packed in the big block 500-inch Cadillac V8 and the Turbo 400 transmission so that all the extra weight could still move. Dressed in the classic black paint with whitewall tires and draped flags, this Cadillac would look right home even in today’s White House. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1983 Cadillac Presidential Limo at the Reagan Library
The Continental Mark Series is not just the Crown Prince of Lincolns. It is the undisputed king. And the grand marshal of them all in terms of sheer size and grandiose is the Mark IV, especially those with the safety bumpers from after 1974. These cars were big, bad, and in-charge, and this bright red example brings out the best of the breed, including chrome everywhere, whitewall tires, an enormous spare tire hump, and a fittingly ridiculous opera window. Continue reading 1974 Lincoln Continental Mark IV at the Haskell Car Show
Mind Over Motor 