1970 CHALLENGER: MAGNUM FORCE FROM MOPAR

Posted on March 16, 2025March 16, 2025 by MartynL

Dodge’s all-new answer to Ford, Mercury, Chevy and Pontiac Ponycars was the 1970 CHALLENGER: MAGNUM FORCE FROM MOPAR. In many ways, 1970 was the storm before the calm. The war in Southeast Asia continued casting a pall over a much-divided country and thinning the ranks of young enthusiasts. Carmakers’ racing budgets were being drastically cut and engineering resources reassigned to prepare for restrictive emissions and safety legislation. And, Ponycar sales had been plummeting and would...

’69 BALDWIN-MOTION PHASE III SS-427 CORVETTE

Posted on March 11, 2025March 11, 2025 by MartynL

After successfully launching SS & Phase III 427 Camaros, Joel Rosen concentrated on Corvettes: ’69 BALDWIN-MOTION PHASE III SS-427 CORVETTE. That’s how author-photographer Randy Leffingwell describes the ’69 BALDWIN-MOTION PHASE III SS-427 CORVETTE in “Joel Rosen’s Saturday Night Special.” The feature appeared in Randy's coffee-table book American Muscle Cars, which is about the late Otis Chandler’s legendary collection. One of the finest examples of Rosen’s cosmetically and mechan...

BONNEVILLE BELLYTANK SURVIVOR

Posted on March 9, 2025 by MartynL

Rocking an authentic fuel jettison tank from an F-86 fighter jet, this BONNEVILLE BELLYTANK SURVIVOR traces its heritage from Sabrejet to the Salt Flats! During the 1940s-1950s, land speed record Lakesters at Bonneville with donor bodies crafted from World War II and Korean War aircraft fuel drop tanks or “belly tanks” flooded the Salt Flats during Speed Weeks. It was the most economical way to build an aluminum-bodied, streamlined racecar. Intact, original Bellytankers are rare vintage...

’67 FORD GALAXIE: 427-CUBE HEAVYWEIGHT

Posted on March 4, 2025March 4, 2025 by MartynL

In 1967, Ford ‘called out’ the GTO with its hot 390 and 427 Fairlanes, put a big-block in its Mustang, and won the Daytona 500, Indy 500, Trans-Am Championship, and Le Mans. And, the ’67 FORD GALAXIE: 427-CUBE HEAVYWEIGHT took no prisoners! Even though all factory drag and NASCAR racing programs were centered around the new 427 Fairlane, Ford still offered customers a choice of W-Code or R-Code 427 side-oiler engines with four-speed transmissions in the full-size Galaxie. Collector Charlie Lill...

DODGE & PLYMOUTH: UNSUNG MUSCLECAR HEROES

Posted on February 28, 2025 by MartynL

While Pontiac unquestionably first exploited the youth market with a targeted high-performance car—the GTO—starting in 1964, credit must also be given to DODGE & PLYMOUTH: UNSUNG MUSCLECAR HEROES for its efforts starting in 1957! Not long after Ford pulled out of the 1957 AMA “agreement”, Chrysler followed suit. But Chrysler did not have Chevrolet and Ford’s racing heritage, nor their budgets and “supported” brand-name racers. They also didn’t have the right image cars to compete wi...

PACERS’ TASMANIAN DEVIL

Posted on February 22, 2025February 22, 2025 by MartynL

The original 1960s PACERS’ TASMANIAN DEVIL has been found and restored by a team led by Scott Snizek, son of the driver – George Snizek – of the NHRA national-record-holding, Hemi-powered AA/Altered. My relationship with Pacers Auto, Charlie Dodge, George Snizek, and TAZ - the PACERS’ TASMANIAN DEVIL AA/A - dates back to 1963 and 1964 when I was covering the NHRA Indy Nationals for CUSTOM RODDER and CARS magazines. That’s when and where I first met Charlie & George. Late in 1964, we...

1969 MERCURY CYCLONE & SPOILER

Posted on February 13, 2025February 13, 2025 by MartynL

Packed with 428 CJ power, the 1969 MERCURY CYCLONE & SPOILER delivered maximum performance and head-turning styling. It was a banner year for Ford Bosses: Boss 302, Boss 429, and Bunkie Knudsen, the new boss of bosses. His passion for racing—and racing what dealers could sell—supported the Boss 429 program, which helped impact Mustang sales. More importantly, it helped move mainstream Mercury Montego/Cyclone/Spoiler and Ford Fairlane/Torino models like those that dominated NASCAR, U...

1970 PONTIAC GTO – MUSCLECAR MAGIC FROM MOTOWN!

Posted on February 1, 2025 by MartynL

The new year ushered in bigger, more powerful engines, and a slicker, more sophisticated 1970 PONTIAC GTO – MUSCLECAR MAGIC FROM MOTOWN! In many ways, 1970 was the storm before the calm. The war in Southeast Asia continued casting a pall over a much-divided country and thinning the ranks of young enthusiasts. Carmakers’ racing budgets were being drastically cut and engineering resources were reassigned to prepare for restrictive emissions and safety legislation. Ponycar sales had been p...

‘67 CAMARO: PONYCAR WITH MAJOR MUSCLE

Posted on January 21, 2025January 21, 2025 by MartynL

Chevrolet was three years late to the Ponycar Party, but the long-hood, short-deck ‘67 CAMARO: PONYCAR WITH MAJOR MUSCLE made up for lost time! When revealed to the public in the fall of 1966, the all-new Camaro could be ordered with engines up to and including the 350 cubic inch small-block V-8. Soon after the Camaro’s public introduction, there appeared a potent 302-inch small-block in Z28 trim and big-block 396 engines with up to 375 horsepower. And, if that wasn’t enough power, Bald...

SUBURBAN SHIELD ASUV: ARMORED SECURITY UTILITY VEHICLE

Posted on January 19, 2025 by MartynL

GM Defense builds the SUBURBAN SHIELD ASUV: ARMORED SECURITY UTILITY VEHICLE for diplomatic security and VIP transport. GM Defense has completed production of the first vehicles in support of the Diplomatic Security Service’s Heavy-Duty armored Sport Utility Vehicle (HD SUV) program. DSS is the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Department of State. GM marked the milestone event with Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security Gentry Smith and other key stakeholders at GM ...