Frozen in Time: This Impala Emerges with a Mere 1K Miles after 52 Years in Seclusion

 After selling over 1 million units in 1965, Chevrolet Impala continued to be one of the models spearheading the American push of the GM brand.

And while its market performance slowly declined, it continues to be a very popular choice in the full-size category. In 1969, for instance, Chevrolet produced close to 770,000 Impalas, whereas the output of the Bel Air, the model that was once the company’s full-size superstar, now included only around 155,000 units.

The V8 configurations remained the preferred choice for the majority of customers, as over 768,000 Impalas ordered this year ended up being fitted with this type of powerplant.

The six-cylinder siblings, however, continued to be a solid option for people interested in mixing the Impala magic with an economic ride, so around 8,700 units rolled off the assembly lines anyway.

Now it’s time for the closest you can get to a brand-new 1969 Impala.

The two-door hardtop that you see here is without a doubt the mother of all barn finds. Moved to storage at some point in 1970, therefore spending no less than 52 years in hiding, this Impala is literally a new car.

It has just 1,245 miles (2,000 km) on the clock and comes with the package that makes collectors spend big bucks on a car: it’s unrestored, all-original, complete, and in impressive shape.

In other words, it’s an absolute survivor, and while it does require some minor TLC, including new tires, it shouldn’t take too long to get it ready for the road.

The engine under the hood, and which still starts and runs, is a 327 (5.3-liter) V8 paired with an automatic transmission. The paint looks great as well, and the original spare tire, which has never been used, is still there in the trunk.

At the end of the day, this Impala is a rare piece of the automotive culture whose place should be in a museum rather than in someone’s garage.

However, the folks over at Dave Brown Classic Rides are looking for a new owner for the car, and anyone willing to pay $48,000 can take it home.

1966 Plymouth Belvedere Camouflages a HEMI V8 Beneath Its Understated Exterior

 When talking about Plymouths from the golden muscle car era, we usually remember the Barracuda, Road Runner, and the GTX. But the Belvedere and the Satellite, which are often overlooked, are just as cool. In fact, they make even nicer sleepers when finished in plain colors and fitted with the mighty 426 HEMI under the hood.

Yup, the bottom-line Belvedere also got the muscular 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8. The nameplate actually joined the muscle car market as early as 1962, when Mopar rolled out the race-bred Max Wedge mill, but the Belvedere got the HEMI as soon as it became available in 1966.

But the HEMI-powered Belvedere wasn't particularly popular that year, because Plymouth sold only about 700 of them. Come 2022 and they're quite difficult to find.

Especially if you're looking for low-mileage, unrestored and unmolested survivors. It's the kind of classic many of us won't get to see in the metal very often, but Mark O'Malia was lucky enough to get his hands on one.

Spotted by Lou Costabile at Carlisle Events 2022, this 1966 Belvedere II Hardtop is one of 531 made that year with a HEMI V8, but its condition and odometer reading make it an incredible classic.

That's because this car is an all-original survivor that hasn't been restored and boasts an odometer that shows only 23,776 miles (38,264 km).

How is that possible? Well, let's just say that this Belvedere was pampered since day one and the previous owners treated it like a garage queen. According to Mark, who bought the car in 2021, the first owner drove it for only 16,000 miles (25,750 km) until 1973.

The second owner gave it even less time on public roads, enjoying it for just 7,000 miles (11,265 km) in 38 years.

But low mileage and fabulous condition aren't the only features that make this Belvedere a great classic. It's also one of the coolest sleepers out there. Painted white and fitted with a black interior with a front bench, this Mopar is anything but mean as far as looks go.

But all that changes when the 426 HEMI roars to life and sends 425 horsepower to the rear wheels. Definitely not your grandma's Sunday driver.

Speaking of spinning the wheels, the HEMI V8 reaches the rear axle through a three-speed automatic, which narrows the production numbers down to only 251 units.

How many of them were finished in this combo and are still around today? Fewer than 20, perhaps? So not only a cool sleeper and an amazing survivor, but this HEMI Belvedere II is also a six-figure collectible.

Did you also notice the blue line tires? That's a one-year-only feature, so you won't see it on Plymouths from different model years unless it's an aftermarket add-on.

Anyway, hit the play button below to take a walk around what has to be the finest 1966 HEMI Belvedere survivor out there.

1967 Olds 442 Convertible was one of the first muscle cars to appear after Pontiac released the Tempest-based GTO

 

The Oldsmobile 442, or 4-4-2 as it was advertised and sold in period, was one of the first muscle cars to appear after Pontiac released the Tempest-based GTO. The 1967 model featured a 6.5-liter V-8 that pushed out 350 horsepower but lacked the styling to match its performance figures.

The 442 debuted in September of 1963 for the 1964 model year as the performance trim level of the Cutlass. As a consequence, it was equipped with the biggest engine that GM would allow on a mid-size car at the time, a 5.4-liter V-8 with a four-barrel carburetor that was rated at 310 horsepower. In fact, the 442 nameplate originally pointed out to the car’s setup: its quad-barrel carburetor, four-speed gearbox, and twin-pipe exhaust system.

Oldsmobile’s first muscle car was available as a two-door hardtop, a two-door convertible, and even a four-door sedan. Up until 1967, you could have the 442 trim level on either the F-85 or the Cutlass base. However, for the first generation’s final production year, the 442 was based on the ultimate version of the Cutlass Supreme, further proving the 442’s special status. It became a standalone model when the second generation debuted in 1968.

Born in 1965, the fifth-generation Coronet was originally offered in multiple trim levels, including the Coronet 440 and the Coronet 500.

 Born in 1965, the fifth-generation Coronet was originally offered in multiple trim levels, including the Coronet 440 and the Coronet 500.

With sales getting close to 210,000 units, it was one of the best years for this Dodge nameplate, especially given the car was originally discontinued after the 1959 model year.

The return of the Coronet, however, was a well-planned moment. Chrysler used three of its biggest factories (Lynch Road, Los Angeles, and Saint Louis Assembly plants) to build the car, and the lineup was fitted with a wide range of engines just to make sure it was appealing to a large array of customers.

The base unit, for instance, was the 225 (3.7-liter) six-cylinder unit, but the series also included more powerful V8s, such as the 426 (7.0-liter) Hemi. The 318 (5.2-liter), however, was one of the most common choices.

And the same engine is also powering the Coronet that you see in these pictures. Listed on eBay by seller gotham_city_sales, this 1965 Dodge flexes the package that many people, including collectors, are looking for.

It’s a survivor in all regards, so the car is still all-original, untouched, unmolested, and unrestored. The original paint is still there, but it obviously requires some polishing, especially if what you’re aiming for is a perfect condition.

The interior also seems to be in decent shape, but the driver’s seat is torn, and the dash pad is cracked.

This Coronet doesn’t seem to exhibit anything other than minor metal issues, so the seller guarantees that what you’ll find during an in-person inspection are none other than small rust spots and no signs of rot. The car is indeed very solid overall, but of course, you should still go check out everything live.

As such an impressive find, this Coronet obviously can’t sell for cheap, so any potential customer should be ready to spend $9,700 for it.

Despite Its Scars, This 1967 Pontiac Firebird Still Captures the Heart

 If you're in the market searching for a Firebird but don't want to spend a fortune on a tip-top shape, here's what you can very well consider plan B.

What if instead of buying a perfect-10 example, you actually go for a project car and then restore it on your own?

Sure enough, this isn't the kind of project for the Average Joe, but with the right skills and time, you could end up building a head-turning machine.

This 1967 Firebird is an intriguing candidate, though as you'd discover in a minute, it's not exactly the dream of people involved in the restoration business.

It all starts with the current condition, as the car is rough, to say the least. In many ways, it's painfully close to becoming a rust bucket, and this says nearly everything about its shape.

Most likely, the Firebird has been sitting for a very long time before making its way to auction, so right now, it looks like it requires most body panels.

The seller claims the vehicle is still complete, and that's surprising, to say the least. However, the body style could set it apart from the rest of the crowd, as only some 15,500 convertibles rolled off the assembly lines in 1967. It's unclear how many of them are still around these days.

Pontiac produced around 82,500 units for this model year, and over 67,000 were born as coupes. The 326 (5.3-liter) V8 was the top choice, as it was installed in over 40,000 cars.

Then, the 400 (6.5-liter) unit also fitted on this Firebird was the second most popular, with close to 17,000 Firebirds getting it.

The original engine is no longer there, though, as the Pontiac Firebird is currently equipped with a 455 (7.4-liter) V8. That's even better if you're specifically interested in a restomod, but you should know the engine is no longer running at the time of press.

Getting this Firebird back on the road is going to be a massive challenge, and the photos clearly speak for themselves.

But on the other hand, a 1967 Firebird could end up costing ten times more than this project's selling price if restored to the original specifications. Unfortunately, the factory engine missing from the car can't be good news on this front.

eBay seller camarospecialties expects to get $7,000 for this Pontiac Firebird, and while I do find the car pretty intriguing, I believe this is ambitious, to say the least.

The car might be complete, but the condition of everything is challenging, and who knows what else needs to be replaced besides the body panels. The listing is set to expire in 19 days, and no other offers are accepted.

A 1963 Ford Ranchero that’s currently sitting in someone’s yard looks impressively solid, even after several years spent in storage.

 A 1963 Ford Ranchero that’s currently sitting in someone’s yard looks impressively solid, even after several years spent in storage.

Described on Craigslist as a barn find, this Ranchero looks to be a rather easy project, especially because the typical rust suspects seem to be missing this time.

Let’s start with the obvious and tell you that the metal appears to be in very good shape. The body is nice, the owner explains, and while no specifics have been provided on the rust you may find during a closer inspection, expect at least the floors and the trunk to struggle with such damage.

Finished in green, the Ranchero most likely flexes the original paint, though it goes without saying it’s far from a perfect 10 condition. This isn’t necessarily surprising after all these years, but if you’re looking for a truck ready for a museum, there’s no doubt that a full respray is going to be required.

The V8 under the hood is still running, but on the other hand, you shouldn’t consider this Ranchero road-worthy just yet. Most likely, additional fixes are required after the long time of sitting, but the seller hasn’t provided too many specifics in this regard.

Without a doubt, a Ranchero that comes in such a solid shape isn’t something that we get to see every day. Unfortunately, other essential details are missing, so we have no clue if the truck is still entirely original.

We also don’t know if any big parts are missing or not, but this is precisely why you should just go check out everything in person.

The asking price seems to be just fair, as the owner is willing to let their Ranchero go for $5,500. It’s parked in Blue Ridge, so you know what you have to do if you believe this truck deserves a place in your garage.

The 1962 Plymouth Savoy Stands as the First Manual Super Stock Max Wedge

 This documented 1962 Plymouth Savoy is the first Super Stock Max Wedge with a manual transmission. Mecum Auctions, the organizer, estimated this blast from the past to go anywhere from $75,000 all the way up to $100,000. Of course, if things get heated for die-hard fans, the price could easily go a lot higher than that.

The first ever Savoy was introduced to the public as a station wagon in 1951. In its early years, it looked more like a Belvedere up until the late '50s. But then, Plymouth decided to test its market appeal in 1960 with some rather uninspired choices, design-wise. In short, they made the front look like it had lashes, and people called them as such.

Luckily, in 1962 they got the front chrome "lashes" phenomenon under control and came out with the Max Wedge model in 1962. It was still a far cry from the likes of the Chevy Corvette C2, but it was nonetheless a clear improvement over the previous squinty-looking 1961 Savoy. (Even though the "lashes" carried on until 1963.)

When it hit the streets, it did so rocking a 413-cubic-inch (6.8-liter) V8 engine based on the RB (raised block) engines. The 413 came as a reply to Chevy's 409ci V8. In 1963 a 426-cubic-inch (7.0 liters) engine option was introduced for those who asked for more power.

In 1964 people said their goodbyes to the production line, for that was the last Savoy nameplate in Plymouth inventory.

Now back to what concerns our auctioned-off subject of the day. This 1962 model is quite a special one because it was the first Super Stock Max Wedge Plymouth manufactured with a three-speed manual transmission. Apparently, it even has the documentation to prove it.

Its all-steel body is painted in DD1-Luminour Blue Metallic and is part of a restoration project that brought the vehicle to its original specifications. However, it did receive some engine upgrades that ups the horsepower to over 500 ponies (507 ps).

According to the listing, this 413ci engine was among the first to get Chrysler’s sonically proven ram induction, called the cross-ram intake, with specifically designed runners to get the most out of the engine. It's also coupled with rarely saved cast-iron header-style manifolds.

Furthermore, the engine was refreshed nearly 300 miles (483 km) ago by Dale Reed in California and has the correct Carter AFB carburetors beneath dual black air cleaners with decal accenting.

It also boasts the floor-mount-shifted manual transmission, full exhaust with aftermarket cutouts, and the 8 3/4 Chrysler differential. The Savoy only has 6,593 miles (10,610 km) showing on the odometer.

The light blue exterior matches the blue cloth-and-vinyl interior. The main theme inside the cabin is a white-and-blue two-tone color design.

It was detailed through and through, trying to retain as many of the 1932-era-appropriate elements as possible. The auction is being held between January 4-15 in Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, Florida.