It's been my experience that both Japan and Europe (Germany) are very tight when it comes to sharing. Sharing is definitely not caring. Try and get a chipped key for a Mercedes without going through the dealership. ... View more

Not a fan of the " investor" mentality. They usually have no love for the used cars that they drive up in price an out of reach of collectors that truly have a love and passion for both the history and the cars. Sure it's nice to have the time and cost spent in restoration maintained in the value of the vehicle. But if that's the only reason you're interested in the car is to make a money from a sale to an investor with disposable income or altering (customized:) and ruining the original art and engineering of the original cars for a quick fad profit you're missing the point of the hobby. I've noticed that fewer and fewer cars from the 60s and 70s for sale are kept original,updated drive trains, brakes, and suspension....no interest in preserving any history or original engineering. It's very disturbing so many great vehicles are being destroyed for a fad based on television and movie influences. Just saying..... ... View more

Absolutely great article, I'll bet any gear head worth his salt can relate.....mine was a 63 Rambler 2 door American when I was in high school....kinda miss it. No working turn signal, add oil, check the gas, floor mat covered floor holes..... ... View more

The new "Batmobile" looks like it would fit better with the Punshier, not The Batman. I know, I'm dating myself but I'm still a fan of the original by Barris. ... View more

It just goes to show that no matter where folks are from or the color of their skin, we all have a bit of Irish in us. Let's sit down today and have pints until the old lady in the corner with no teeth looks good enough to take home 🍺 ☘ 🍀 ... ... View more

Don't get your undies too much in a twist, I like Metallica over opera and DaVinci over Jackson Pollock everyone has their preferences on art and cars. When the two are combined the passion runs pretty high.    ... View more

Most definitely a beautiful static sculpture made of chrome and paint......but not a car in the true sense. Without air filters ground, clearances functional tires of a correct design to actually use the mythic engine horsepower, it will sit in someone's car art collection unlikely to ever be seen on the road. But then again.... I drive everything in my collection at every opportunity. Just saying.... ... View more

The only saving grace going for this "creation" is the Barris name. He was one of the original art car folks of the 50s and 60s. This bit of history has its place and worth saving. These were vanity projects, like the restomod butchery craze today, and not really intended for anyone but their owners egos and shows. ... View more

I disagree with exiting the retro look, just do it correctly. The Mustang and Challenger both worked. The concept Corvette looks like an suv side profile. What killed the Camaro for me was the interior seating you set too low, less visibility than a new Mustang or Challenger, an the interior felt cramped to me versus the other two cars. I also didn't car for the modernize front profile. I test drove all three before purchasing my Challenger. I didn't care for the "euro" styling changes to the Mustang is what ultimately drove my decision. ... View more

I'm not even a Chevy fan and totally agree.  Most of these "creations "  will end up as parts donors for other projects after the novelty wears off and entropy makes it necessary to find replacement parts.  ... View more

Again, this is art....at the expense of gorgeous pieces of history. Not one of these creations will see much road time. The sad part is that every one of these builds took a fabulous driver off the road in order to satisfy someone's ego. Just my opinion. ... View more

In my humble opinion, the high boy sold for more than it should have....fiberglass body, Chevy engine roadsters are about as common (and interesting) as dirt. As for the rest, they are what I would consider market value..the speculation buying is driving prices way over market values. I predict a correction within the next couple years. ... View more

Not to dog Haggerty and Jeff (to much) but I would consider this article more about art than cars. Cars are intended to be driven, the static sculptures in your article seem to only have an engine and drive train as a means to transport them from the garage to the trailer to the auction house.....not actually to be enjoyed as a a (real) car would be... Just saying ... View more

Un.. NO! The reason I want a manual is to DELETE computer control, not include it. When I own a vehicle for literally decades, the simpler the better with less systems dependant on unsupported software. If you can't manage a clutch...learn. My 2005 Dodge has 250k miles on the first generation Hemi I've replaced the clutch twice once was a mechanical failure in the clutch since the other was simply wear. No thanks, I'll stick with do it yourself shifting. ... View more

Amazing, I'm grateful for all of those still preserving as much of the original stuff for future restoration. Much of the muscle car history has been lost on the racetrack and engines stuffed into boats and trucks. It's refreshing to see a stash like this. ... View more

Yawn....boring, anyone with mega bucks can take a classic and turn it into a junk yard parts car after the new wears off. I'm not impressed with the so called restomod trend. Once the dealer stops supporting the computer systems and the new generation engines that aren't really designed for many rebuild efforts wear out all you're left with is a hacked up body and drive train. The only saving grace this car has is it's celebrity connection. So Kevin, enjoy, and when you grow up and learn the value of preserving a bit of automotive history hopefully there are a few unmolested cars left. ... View more

Maverick?  Not to be too harsh on your accolades but the very name demonstrates the lack of imagination both within the marketing team but equally within Ford management.  I’m also not convinced that every silly thing that resembles something of a utility vehicle needs four doors and a trunk without a cover.  Sorry folks but please don’t call them a truck….the El Comino and Ranchero were not “trucks”.   What is wrong with selling an actual truck which is affordable, can be actually used like a truck, repaired economically, and recycled.  In my humble (but accurate) opinion, An actual truck should have a base cost UNDER $30K have an ICE or hybrid powertrain no carpeting, no power door locks, no power windows, and the simplest of (or no) computer control systems with an optional manual transmission.  This would not be intended for the urban warrior looking to keep up with the Jones’s urban assault vehicle (UAV) status symbol but an economical usable vehicle for the masses, much like the pickups of the 50s and 60s or the small Ford Ranger that people still covet. Just saying.... ... View more

For the folks weighing the value of the car value the restoration cost, stick to buying and selling rolling art that's the fruit of someone's else's labor. I have put way more time and money into bringing a car back from the dead that many said wasn't worth the scrap weight only to have the market catch up after my car has been finished. And I still enjoy them! Haven't sold a one. ... View more

I'm hoping to hold out for a Meyers Manx....that, in my humble opinion, set the standard for "Cool" 😎 ... View more

And who's going to turn down an opportunity to have such a beautiful, sexy, and very high maintenance lady, at least once...... Just saying 😁 ... View more

I have an Mercedes SLK, same thing, it's quite a high maintenance lady.... sigh.   Wouldn't part with it for the world.  Looking for a  late 60s-early 79s Jaguar XKE but prices have put that on my wish list.   ... View more

Then why buy one.......just buy a fiberglass kit car for your aftermarket Frankenstein mobile. The price goes down even more as a collector ride.......all high end performance rides are costly to maintain which is why over time, because of the rarity of unmolested cars. The original one's only increased in value while the heavily modified one's serve as part's cars as the original builders tire of them. Not everyone is a Barris car builder. ... View more

And let's not forget their 80000 watt light bars with the silver light beams that have to always be on high beams so they look like a star going nova while riding in bumper to bumper traffic 🙄 ... View more

A little harsh...not inaccurate. i actually like the first generation Bronco, it was everything you described for handling but the 289 and cover gave it an edge over an open jeep. No excuses for taste, I also collect Torinos..... I can remember as a kid riding in a 67 Bronco from Eastern Colorado to Colorado Springs in a blizzard under a blanket the back seat where the heater barely kept the front windshield clear and there was frost on the inside of the back windows 😳 . Good old days?...not so much. ... View more

Truly NOT off road! To many things to break. Heated seats! Really!!!! This is nothing more than another urban assault vehicle. Over priced, overly complicated, designed solely for bragging rights for those that can afford a $60,000.00 monster to fight for a Wal-Mart parking space. Off road = simple, easy for field repairs, and designed to not leave you walking. ... View more

Not to over simplify but it seems that Chevy made the correct decision.....the Corvette is still in production. Everything Ford has decided to "improve" with the bigger is better concept seems to not have had a long production history. Thunderbird, Torino, Fairlane, Falcon, Bronco......and now the Mustang ..... I know ford now is trying a retro look Bronco... over priced over optioned. My opinion ..just saying. ... View more

I absolutely agree...the term (largely) worries me a bit.  Plastics are largely recyclable...look at our ocean.  Just saying "we" need to do better on the front end.  ... View more

for those discussions involving pollution, we...collective WE are doing the same thing that has always been done by trading one problem for another. We traded horse poo for carbon emissions, now we're trading emissions for discarded batteries. Unless I'm mistaken there's no plan in place to handle millions of batteries discarded over the next decade or so. As far as the Lighting goes.. yawn 🥱 ...four doors...REALLY! Ford has definitely lost a life long ford customer and collector. ... View more

How about bringing back, you know....a Truck! 8 foot bed, 2 doors, manual transmission, and manual shift 4-wheel drive option. Engine large enough to haul a trailer without going to a diesel. Manual windows and floor mats instead of carpet would be great. Under $40,000.00. Something you can actually use for a lifetime. ... View more

First off, I am of the opinion that anything with 4 doors is a passenger CAR just because it has something in the back that they didn't put a trunk lid on doesn't make it a truck. A trunk has 2 (Two) doors a minimum of a 4×6 foot bed with the tailgate up. I have three Rancheros, great utes, but not considered a truck. Not totally convinced that a Lighting or Ram SRT should be considered trucks as well they are only slightly more useful than my 71 Ranchero GT factory equipped with a 429CJ. As for the brat not a truck, again great utility vehicle or toy. And PLEASE DON'T introduce a four door Ranchero or Camino. Almost as brilliant as a MACH E "mustang". Just saying. But, each to their own..... ... View more

Un-no, fugly ....glad that never graced the pavement. What was the design team thinking 🤔 . Just imagine if ford made a 4 door mustang SUV 😳 oh......wait!!!! ... View more

Not this "older" client im still dragging cars out of junk yards for restoration.    ... View more

Kyle, please correct me if I'm wrong but if I remember my chemistry, synthetic oils break down once their critical temperature is reached loosing their ability to maintain their viscosity ratings even after cooling. A conventional oil can reach its boiling point and will retain some protection to engine parts as it will not degrade significantly once it cools. A synthetic last longer and provides more protection under normal conditions. ... View more

I've not had any experience with quaker state oil..but after rebuilding several Penzoil engines vs engines that ran Valvoline And Mobile products the Penzoil engines had significantly more wear and sludge internally. The article didn't mention the addition of ZDDP(zinc phosphate) and why it was used in flat tappet engines and the reason for removal in modern oils. ... View more

Jack, great article. But couldn't disagree more about the mach-e wearing the Mustang Moniker and being an actual Mustang. Two words "Four Doors" Call it a Falcon, Fairlane, or Torino if you're too lazy or uninspired to come out with an original name. Ford (in my opinion) is definitely doing the same thing to the Mustang they did to the Thunderbird, Cougar, and Torino by trying to capitalize on a well selling product to make it more "appealing" to a fickle fad market by morphing a specific niche market car into another market it wasn't ever originally targeted for. By the way have you looked back on the last generation produced of the Thunderbird, Torino, or Couger.....point made. ... View more