All articles tagged with #classic cars
A Jalopnik round-up of reader-submitted memories about cars people wish they'd bought when they were cheap, featuring classics like the Porsche 944, DeTomaso Pantera, air‑cooled 911, MR2 Turbo, Honda S2000, Dodge Challenger, Porsche 928 GTS, Mazda RX-7, Hemi Cuda, and Acura NSX, and opening with a reflection on soaring new-car prices and the lasting regret of missed opportunities.
A heavily rebuilt 1976 Porsche 914 is up for sale in Fort Lauderdale with a GT-wide body kit and a Subaru EJ25 2.5L flat-four swap, delivering about 155 hp and 140 lb-ft—well over the stock engine. It features gray repaint, a removable Targa roof, 16-inch Fuchs-style wheels, a custom interior, braided cooling lines, and a MagnaFlow exhaust. The known fault is weak 4th-gear synchros in the 5-speed transmission (seal/housing already replaced), so buyers should budget for a fix. Florida title included; listing on Bring a Trailer.
Jalopnik highlights seven ultra-luxury ’70s models that were prohibitively expensive when new but are surprisingly affordable used today, with current values roughly: Chrysler New Yorker Brougham about $9,230; Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 around $30,200–$33,900; Bentley T2 about $13,500; Maserati Merak SS about $46,000; Aston Martin Lagonda S2 around $50,000; Stutz Blackhawk about $28,200; Rolls-Royce Camargue about $33,500. The drop in value is driven by maintenance costs, reliability quirks, and polarizing styling, turning iconic ’70s luxury into usable bargains for collectors and enthusiasts.
A Northern California man is reunited with his black 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle after it was stolen from San Mateo County in 1993; California Highway Patrol, with help from the San Mateo Police Department, used a VIN probe to locate the car in Auburn and confirm ownership.
Monterey Car Week could set a new all-time high for classic-car auctions, approaching $500 million according to Hagerty, driven by a surge in modern supercar demand from Millennials and Gen Z. While Boomer-era models lag, Ferraris and other modern icons command top bids, with standout sales like a 1996 McLaren F1 GTR estimated at $35 million and a 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 selling for $26 million, underscoring both record appetite and rising market volatility.
A curated look at 10 ’80s car models that have transformed from affordable daily drivers into hot collectibles, with auction values ranging from about $13k to well over $2 million. Highlights include the rare 1987 Buick GNX and the Porsche 959, whose values showcase how rarity, performance, and pop culture pedestal the era’s cars into multi‑thousand to multi‑million dollar status, while models like the DeLorean DMC‑12 and Ferrari Testarossa remain highly sought after in the collector market.
A 1980 Triumph TR8 convertible, stored untouched since 1990, has resurfaced in Poseidon Green over tan plaid with just under 38,000 miles. Powered by the Rover V8 with a five-speed manual, it’s one of about 2,750 TR8s built and the last Triumph sports car. It isn’t running because the exhaust and front engine accessories were disconnected, but all parts are present, and the car is structurally solid with light surface rust. The one-owner example is for sale in Flemington, New Jersey on eBay for $8,500, and includes original paperwork and service records.
A nostalgic look at six iconic 1970s machines—the Plymouth Superbird, Chevy K5 Blazer, International Harvester Scout II, Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, Chevy El Camino SS, and Cadillac Eldorado—arguing that their bold designs, big engines, and cultural impact define the era and deserve a place back on today’s showroom floors, with notes on specs and current collector value.
An estimated 12 million classic cars worth about $570 billion will pass to heirs over the next 15 years as part of the US’s broader wealth transfer, with Hagerty counting more than 43 million collectible cars and roughly $1 trillion in insurable value; while most transfers occur without tax issues, emotional attachment and high upkeep costs can lead to disputes and reshape how these historic vehicles are valued and handed down.
Jalopnik profiles nine iconic hot rod styles—Street Rod, Rat Rod, Track Roadster, T-Bucket, Lowboy, Highboy, Gasser, Pro Street, and the Deuce (1932 Ford)—explaining how each differs in purpose and construction, from safety- and reliability-minded street rods and rusty-budget rat rods to aero-focused track roadsters, fenderless lowboys and highboys, high-traction gasers, and showy, drag-inspired Pro Street machines, with notes on origins and how definitions vary across groups like NSRA and magazines.
The Petersen Museum in Los Angeles opens 'World-Class: 100 Years of Mercedes-Benz' on May 23, 2026, a 42-vehicle show spanning the brand’s 140-year history, plus advertising art and trivia. Loans from private collectors and a few Mercedes pieces highlight landmark designs from pre-merger era to modern icons, including prototypes like the Hobel and C112, and celebrity-owned classics (Disney’s Pagoda SL, Clark Gable’s 1956 300Sc). Highlights also include the 540K Cabriolet, 540K Stromlinienwagen, W154 Formula 1 car, 300SL family, and other race cars, with some items never seen in person by many visitors. The exhibit — housed in the Petersen’s largest hall — runs through April 25, 2027, and aims to condense a century of Mercedes engineering into a single, accessible display.
Mecum Auctions will offer a near-pristine 1987 Toyota Supra Turbo with just 5,257 miles (8,461 km) from Swift Current, Saskatchewan; powered by a 3.0-liter turbo inline-six making 231 hp, it sends power to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual with a limited-slip diff, and features burgundy leather interior, a removable targa roof, and pop-up headlights, while still wearing its original factory tires.
A 1979 Ferrari 308 GTS that starred in Tom Selleck’s Magnum P.I. is heading to Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach auction in April, offered with no reserve. The unrestored, patinaed car—carbureted V-8, about 93,000 miles, five-speed manual—was used in the pilot and early seasons (repainted from Fly Yellow to Rosso Corsa) and comes with show provenance, including a cross-country trip for Car and Driver. Prior sale attempts on Bring a Trailer and at a GAA Classic Cars auction topped around $120k but did not sell. Barrett-Jackson emphasizes its iconic status, and a new owner could technically sit in Selleck’s seat while reliving Magnum P.I. nostalgia.
Hagerty editors share six favorite Mustangs spanning the pony car’s lineage—from a Fox-body Bimini blue to Eleanor, the 1969 Sportsroof, the S550 GT350, the Boss 429, and even the 1974 Mustang II notchback—celebrating how each era defines the iconic model.
Global collectors spent more than $600 million on fine art and classic cars last week, as London art sales topped $550 million and Amelia Island posted a $111 million auction, signaling renewed demand for top-tier collectibles despite stock volatility and Middle East tensions. The strength is driven by tight supply, a return-to-quality in bidding, and a new generation of buyers—entrepreneurs and heirs—fueling interest in rare artworks and late-model hypercars.