I’ve got some questions about this next car. But first, I’m going to admit that I’ve been on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster with my feelings about it. At first I was horrified by the front end. But than I started to appreciate the hot-rod rear end. And then I started to appreciate the […]
My parents had a Chevy Vega back before they had a bunch of kids, and to this day my old man claims was the worst car he ever owned. But his didn’t have a 300 horsepower Vette motor, nor a hacked off roof with a rear seat delete and shiny deep dish wheels. Could a […]
This next car comes as a tip from Matt C who write: With a Mopar slant six and a Halibrand quick change rear end that looks like it’s been spill chequed. Running on propane. If you are looking for something that looks like it belongs on the track, but will be home on the street, […]
This next car starts with the body of a new Mini Cooper…which was a front-wheel-drive thing assembled by BMW…but today’s Mini is not longer mini. It sits on an extended wheelbase and features power from an flathead Ford V8. The result is a strange looking combination of classic hot-rod proportions and style of a late […]
This next vehicle is twice the typical cost of the most expensive DT featured ride, but when you consider it replaces two of your vehicles (your custom 30’s hot rod AND your vintage camper) it seems like a deal. And it still costs less than the average vehicle sold in the USA in 2020. Find this 1934 Chrysler Hot Rod Camper offered for $40,000 in Palmer, AK via craigslist. Tip from Zach.
The other day I wrote a meandering diatribe where I claimed that a Volvo 122S was the textbook definition for an honest classic…and I’m going to have to add another honest car to the automotive dictionary, because this next car is an honest hotrod. Its got a small-block-Chevy in a ’41 Ford Coupe body with 3-on-the-tree, drum brakes, and all the best stuff you’d expect from a 40s hot-rod built in the 60s or 70s. And that’s not a bad thing, because HotRodding back in the day was less about pulling out your wallet for the latest/greatest junk you found at SEMA and more about figuring out what would fit with an adapter plate and some good ole American elbow grease. That hole for the original lug-wrench starter-crank might not be useful with the Chevy engine instead of the original flat-head, but man it looks rad. Find this 1941 Ford Business Coupe offered for $9,500 in Sacramento, CA via craigslist.
This next car would easily be mistaken for a Ford Crown Victoria…which makes sense because the Mercury Grand Marquis is a rebadged Crown Vic…except this isn’t a Grand Marquis. This is the Marauder…which starts with a Grand Marquis body and adds a 302 horsepower 4.6 liter DOHC V8 from the Mustang Mach 1, a full compliment of P71 Police Interceptor shocks/brakes, unique Marauder bumpers, no chrome, and smoke headlights/taillights. It was like the guys from Pimp my Ride took over the Mercury design department for a week and I love it. I miss Mercury. Find this 2004 Mercury Marauder offered for $5,750 in Newington, CT via craigslist. Tip from Cory.
What makes a car a “hot rod”? Do you need side exit exhaust, flames painted on the hood, or a skull shift knob? Or do you just need to ditch the original putt-putt engine that was designed when dinosaurs ruled the earth and replace it with a Ford Crossflow “Kent” Formula Racing Engine and stick some discs up front? Yup, leave the Chebby 350 V8 at home and enjoy this next hod rod MG. Find this 1952 MG TD offered for $11,000 in Eagle River, AK via craigslist. Tip from Zach Z.
This next car comes as a tip from Matt C who writes: If I needed to say something nice about it, I’d say that it succeeds much better than attempting to make a 1957 Chevy out of a 2002 Camaro. And it is probably considerably more exciting to drive then when (a small portion of) it […]
What is the last thing you would expect from the classic little Honda S600? Acceleration? Burnouts? Extended wheel base? Yeah. Any single one of those things would get you surprised, but this next car combines all of those attributes into one insane Honda subcompact sitting on a Ford Model A frame with big block V8 […]