The 1970 Dodge Challenger "Black Ghost," one of the most anticipated classic cars auctioned off in 2023

 The 1970 Dodge Challenger "Black Ghost," one of the most anticipated classic cars auctioned off in 2023, just went under the hammer for $975,000. That's $1.07 million, including buyer premium, a record for 1970 Dodge Challengers of the coupe variety.

The auction kicked off with a $500,000 bid, and the price jumped over the $800K mark in just a few seconds. It then sat for a good while at $950,000 before the seller took off the reserve. One final bid bumped the sticker to $975,000, sending the infamous "Black Ghost" to its first new home since the original owner bought it in 1969.

So what makes this Challenger so special that it almost entered the million-dollar club? Well, for starters, it's an unrestored survivor that still rocks a numbers-matching engine. And it's not just any Mopar mill but the iconic 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI.

The powerplant alone makes it a rare rig. Although the Challenger was quite popular in 1970, moving almost 77,000 units, only 356 were equipped with the HEMI.

Moreover, the owner also specified the optional Special Edition package, which narrows it down to one of 60 cars built like this. Furthermore, the black paint and gator top combo is unique among R/T SE models, so this muscle car is a one-of-one.

But wait, there's more. This Challenger also has a spectacular story to tell. You see, the Mopar belonged to a guy named Godfrey Qualls. A police officer by day, Godfrey raced the HEMI-powered Challenger at night.

Knowing that a police career wouldn't go well with illegal street racing, he showed up out of the blue at local hangouts, challenged other racers, beat them to the quarter-mile, and then vanished into the night.

The mysterious man and his menacing, all-black Challenger became known as the "Black Ghost." And the true identity of the man behind the steering wheel remained unknown for decades because Godfrey didn't share his drag-racing stories with his family until he got old and retired from the police department. The story became public thanks to his son, Gregory, who inherited the car when his dad passed away.

It's been six years since the "Black Ghost" was unveiled to the world, and Gregory decided to part ways with the car. But needless to say, it will remain one of the most iconic classic Dodge Challengers out there, and I'm pretty sure it went to a good home.

And by the way, Dodge paid tribute to Mr. Qualls and his incredible story with a limited edition 2023 Dodge Challenger included in the "Last Call" series.

So is the 1970 "Black Ghost" the most expensive 1970 Challenger ever auctioned? The answer is no, but it's only superseded by a couple of R/T Convertible models. And that's not surprising since Dodge sold only nine drop-tops in 1970.

The most expensive unit was auctioned off for $1.8 million in 2016, followed by an example that found a new home for $1.4 million in 2019.

However, the "Black Ghost" is the most expensive first-generation Challenger coupe ever auctioned, regardless of model year. It's followed by a 1971 HEMI sold for $704,000 and a 1970 HEMI with a sunroof auctioned off for $660,000.

The former is a low-mileage, unrestored survivor, while the latter is the only 1970 HEMI R/T fitted with a sunroof. So, needless to say, the "Black Ghost" story made a big difference. I guess everyone loves a good story, including muscle car collectors.

1962 Rambler American Springs to Life After a 33-Year Hiatus

What's the first thing you think about you hear the words "barn find?" I usually picture a vehicle covered in a layer of dust thick enough to cover the worn-out paint and the surface rust. Because that's how most cars emerge out of long-term storage. And you can only assess their actual condition once you get them cleaned up.

Most of the time, it's worse than expected, with the dust and grime hiding severe rust issues. But sometimes dirt can also conceal a nice survivor that can be returned to public roads without a full-blown restoration.

The Rambler American you see is one of those classics that looked hopeless upon exiting the barn and morphed into a relatively nice rig after a much-deserved wash.

Rescued by the folks over at "WD Detailing," this Rambler was last on the road in 1990. And because it was parked in a wooden barn that didn't provide optimum protection from the elements, it merged coated in dust on the outside and packed with rat nests inside. It was the kind of barn find you wouldn't want to start working on without overalls, goggles, and even a mask.

In fact, given that the Rambler American isn't all that desirable, most people wouldn't have bothered to save it. Fortunately enough, though, our hosts wash and detail everything they can get their hands on, so this Rambler got an unexpected second chance at life after 33 years in improper storage.

And the process revealed a nice survivor that could run and drive for a few more years without a restoration.

Granted, the paint is far from perfect, the interior needs a few bits and pieces, and the floor has a big hole behind the passenger-side front seat, but the Rambler is mostly complete. And as a welcomed bonus, it still has the original engine under the hood.

If you're unfamiliar with the Rambler American, it was produced from 1958 to 1969 by American Motors Corporation (AMC). But the nameplate was actually born in 1950 under Nash Motors and established a new segment. Yes, the Rambler was America's first successful compact car.

Discontinued in 1955, the Rambler was revived by AMC in 1958 using the same Nash platform. However, the company gave it a significant makeover for the 1961 model year, removing the visual connection to the original bathtub-style version.

The drop-top you see here is part of the second-gen Rambler, which remained in showrooms for three years.

While the video doesn't mention a model year, I'm pretty sure we're looking at a 1962 model. How do I know? For starters, it has transparent turn signals, which means we can rule out the 1963 version, which came with amber lights.

And it can't be a 1961 model because it comes with a "400" badge, which AMC introduced in 1962 as a replacement for the Custom trim.

But is the 1962 400 Convertible a rare version? No, it's not. AMC sold no fewer than 125,676 Rambler Americans that year and records suggest that almost 13,500 left the assembly line in this configuration.

It's not very valuable or desirable either, but I think it's a cool and somewhat exotic alternative to the "Big Three" compacts from the era. I'm talking about the Ford Falcon, Chevrolet Nova, and Plymouth Valiant.

Well, if you're in the market for a Rambler American, our host wants to give this two-door drop-top away for free. You just need to follow a few simple steps that you'll find in the first-wash video below.

1963 Chevrolet Impala Showcases Pristine Original Paint, Preserving its Classic Identity

 While the Impala received several refinements in 1963, the most notable event that took place this year was the production of the 50 millionth Chevrolet car.

And, of course, given that Impala was Chevy's main star, the GM brand decided to celebrate this moment with a special Impala Super Sport. Assembled in Tarrytown, New York, the white Impala left the factory with nobody else than Governor Nelson Rockefeller behind the wheel.

The 1963 Impala that I recently discovered on eBay doesn't sport the SS tags, but on the other hand, it's a rough project whose life depends on a hero it must meet online.

The car is currently in pretty rough shape, most likely as it's been sitting in the same place for a very long time. The seller doesn’t provide such information, but the amount of rust on the body (especially on the floors and in the trunk), the ripped seats, and the damaged interior seem to suggest this is exactly the case.

The special thing about this Impala is the paint you see on the body. According to the owner, this is the original finish, and thanks to the years-old patina, it gives the Impala a unique look that perfectly highlights its age.

Unfortunately, the seller does not provide any information on the engine, but based on the photos, it looks like a 283 (4.7-liter) V8. This was the base V8 for the model year 1963, developing 195 horsepower for a decent experience in an Impala.

The small-block lineup also included a 327 (5.3-liter) with either 250 or 300 horsepower (the latter boasted a four-barrel Carter carburetor).

On the other hand, the icing on this case was the 409 big block, and it could be ordered in three different power outputs. The standard version produced 3400 horsepower, while the top-of-the-range configuration generated no less than 425 horsepower.

It's currently unclear if this Impala's engine is still running, but given the car's age and overall condition, you shouldn’t be too surprised if it doesn’t.

The only to figure out everything is to go check the car in person, especially because you also need to determine the shape of the metal to know precisely what repairs it needs.

Unfortunately, despite the original paint, the selling price is way too ambitious. eBay seller skarstens40 expects to get $9,000 for the car. The Make Offer option is also active, so if you have another deal in mind, you can always reach out to the seller to discuss the price or maybe some trades with other classics.

At this point, the Impala is parked in Rockport, Texas, where it's waiting for a new owner. The listing is set to expire in some 27 days.

The 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT was a high-performance variant of the popular

 

The 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT was a high-performance variant of the popular Comet model produced by American automaker Mercury. The car was powered by a 390 cubic inch V8 engine producing 335 horsepower, and came equipped with a four-speed manual transmission and heavy-duty suspension.

The Comet Cyclone GT featured a sporty appearance with a unique grille, hood scoop, and racing stripes. It also had bucket seats, a center console, and a wood-rimmed steering wheel, making it a comfortable and stylish ride.

Despite its impressive performance and design, the Comet Cyclone GT was only produced for one year, making it a rare and sought-after collector’s item today. Its popularity has been further increased by its appearance in various films and TV shows.

Overall, the 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT remains an iconic American muscle car, beloved by collectors and enthusiasts alike for its powerful engine, distinctive styling, and place in automotive history.

The 1969 Plymouth Suburban's Eight-Door Wonder Awaits a Restoration Miracle

 Whenever I hear the word "suburban," I instantly think about the Chevrolet hauler. And I bet you do, too, for one simple reason. The Chevy Suburban came to be in 1934 and is still in production almost 90 years later (as of 2023). In short, it's not only a legendary forerunner to the modern SUV, but it's also the longest-running automobile nameplate in the world.

But Chevrolet is not the only carmaker that used this name. The Chrysler Corporation slapped an identical badge to not one but two vehicles. The long-defunct DeSoto brand produced the first one. Introduced in 1946, the DeSoto Suburban was a long-wheel-base four-door sedan capable of carrying eight passengers thanks to factory-installed jump seats. The model was discontinued in 1954.

Then there's the Plymouth Suburban, which arrived in 1949. Unlike DeSoto, Plymouth used the badge on a station wagon. And I bet you didn't know that it revolutionized the market as the industry's first all-steel body grocery-getter.

The original series soldiered until 1956, when Plymouth decided to group all its station wagons under a separate series. Specifically, the Suburban line included wagon variants of the Plaza, Savoy, and Belvedere.

This strategy lasted until 1961 when the nameplate was discontinued. Plymouth revived the badge in 1968, but not as a separate series. Instead, it was used to designate a station wagon version in the Fury range. The name went into the history books for good in 1978, when the Fury was retired to make way for the Gran Fury.

What's with the history lesson, you ask? Well, YouTube's "Adventures Made From Scratch" just stumbled across one of the rarest and most ridiculous Plymouth Suburbans ever built. And you have to see it because it's an eight-door behemoth with no fewer than four rows of seats.

Is it a factory model? No, coachbuilding companies like Superior Coach and Miller-Meteor handled these elongated, multi-door projects. This Suburban, on the other hand, was manufactured by Armbruster Stageway.

Mainly specializing in funeral vehicles, Armbruster also built limousine versions of various cars and SUVs, including the Chevrolet Suburban, back in the day. But the company's limos weren't open inside, providing loads of room and plush seating for two or three people.

Armbruster focused on more utilitarian stretch vehicles that could haul as many people as possible. For instance, this eight-door, four-row Mopar can seat up to 12 people. And it was most likely commissioned by a hotel that used it to haul guests to and from the airport.

Sadly, this Plymouth Suburban had a rough life once it was decommissioned. Last on the road in 2000, it spent more than two decades outside, long enough for the floor and the body to end up with rust issues.

The interior doesn't look any better either, with both the headliner and the upholstery ruined by decades of use and neglect.

The stretched wagon is based on the 1969 Fury Suburban, the first year of the fifth-generation full-size. And our host claims it's powered by a 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) V8, which was the Fury's range-topping mill at the time.

It wasn't quite as powerful as the four-barrel RB offered in the company's muscle cars in 1969, but it developed a healthy 350 horsepower and 490 pound-feet (664 Nm) of torque when new – enough to haul a fully-loaded limo like this at decent speeds.

Unfortunately, the Suburban is in no shape to hit public roads again. And while our host rescued it from where it's been sitting for more than 20 years, he doesn't plan to restore it. Unless someone shows up to take it a give it a new life, the eight-door Mopar will eventually end up in the crusher.

If you're a fan of rare Armbruster Stageway builds, hit the play button below and keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't end up as scrap metal.

Mustang was already Ford's superstar in 1965, especially as the 1964 1/2 model was selling like hotcakes

Mustang was already Ford's superstar in 1965, especially as the 1964 1/2 model was selling like hotcakes, and the carmaker was prepared for the first refresh as part of the next model year.

But Thunderbird continued to be a head-turning machine, especially thanks to the more luxurious touch that it brought to the market.

Fortunately for all car aficionados (not just for wealthy collectors), an unrestored Thunderbird is right here in front of your eyes, allowing everybody to admire a car that hasn’t received too many fixes throughout all these years.

This 1965 Ford Thunderbird was found in a carport where it's been sitting since 1988. It was discovered as part of an estate sale, and a quick inspection revealed things that you wouldn’t normally expect on a car this old.

The vehicle has never been restored, though it did receive a repaint at some point. It's unclear how professional it was, but you can always go check out the car in person before bidding online.

It exhibits occasional signs of rust, but the car doesn’t by any means look as bad as you'd expect a car sitting for close to four decades to look. The floors and the trunk have no idea what rust actually means, so at some level, this T-Bird managed to pass the test of time with flying colors.

Equipped with power steering, power brakes, and the factory AM/FM radio, this Thunderbird requires the typical refresh that a good mechanic would give to a car sitting for so long. New fluids, new brakes, and so on are a must if you want to get it back on the road.

Now let's talk engines. This Thunderbird comes with a 390 under the hood, but here's the thing. The seller says they "heard" the V8 running, but it seems to work only with gas poured into the carburetor right now.

This probably means that a new tank would be required, but you can check this out in person when you see the car live. The good news is the engine is still alive, as four decades of sitting could easily lead to a powerplant getting stuck.

Given that the Thunderbird wasn’t necessarily the most successful Ford during the '60s, the car is fairly affordable, and eBay seller rpmlrls seems quite realistic. They expect to get $7,500 for this solid T-Bird, but the Make Offer button has also been enabled in case someone has another deal in mind.

At this point, the car is parked in Virginia. It comes with a lot of documentation, including inspection receipts from 1978 to 1988 before the car was eventually parked by its owner. The odometer indicates a little over 86,000 miles (close to 138,500 km).

1953 Packard Caribbean Convertible

 

In 1953 the U.S. auto industry was in full swing and at the beginning of two boom decades.  It manifested its vibrancy and vigor by bringing dream cars to market, including the Eldorado, Skylark, Fiesta and Corvette of GM’s Motorama and Packard’s Caribbean Custom Convertible.

There were just 750 of these distinctive Caribbean convertibles built on the Cavalier convertible chassis by Mitchell-Bentley Corp. in Ionia, Michigan. The design featured an enclosed rear-mounted spare tire, radiused wheel arches, a full-width hood scoop, chrome wire wheels, unique rear fenders, horizontal tail lights and full leather interior upholstery.

This is a fabulous restoration that has been well maintained and recently treated to a thorough detailing. It is painted black and has attractive black and white leather upholstery and a black cloth top.

The 327cid Packard inline 8 breathed through a 4-barrel carburetor which boosted the power to 180hp at 4,000rpm. It drives through Packard’s Ultramatic automatic transmission.

In addition to the standard Caribbean features it has power steering, a set of Packard Unity fog lights, dual remotely operated spotlights, wide white wall tires, Wonder Bar radio, heater, seat belts and power windows. Caribbeans are rare and very special automobiles. This is an example to take note of.