By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

I guess this shouldn’t be surprising, but I’ve been noticing a ton of really nice-condition 70′s cars for sale lately, but certainly not for 70′s-car prices. If you go on your local Craigslist and simply enter your desired year in the search under “Cars and Trucks”, you can get a pretty good idea of the range of stuff that’s in your area. My search for “1973″ turned up this mint-condition Mercury Cougar XR7. I want it, but not for 6000 bucks! There was also this beautiful mildly-cammed Centurion, which Rob swears should be a 1200-dollar car because of its four doors, for $2900–I think the engine rebuild and the performance goodies alone make it worth it–and this gorgeous 460 cu-in Ranchero for an unheard-of $8500. Why is everyone trying to offload undesirable 70′s rides at Barret-Jackson premiums all of a sudden? To search a particular year nationally on craigslist, go to Google and enter exactly this in the search window:  site:craigslist.org 1973. What year(s) are you searching and what kind of cool stuff have you found?

By Alex Vickers

Katakuna

This edition of “Rust in Silence” features a rarity among enthusiast cars: my grandmother’s 1973 Mercury Capri. When her oldest son, Charlie, died of skin cancer in 1981, my late grandfather flew out to California to bring back his body, both his cars (one of which I have now) and the rest of his things. My grandparents each took one car and proceeded to drive them. My grandmother never took care of the Capri, which is apparent when you see how far it has deteriorated. Wrecked, rotted, rusted through, interior torn to shreds, and for the last fifteen years it has been her ghetto storage unit. The engine turns over, yet the transmission has literally rusted off. The Capri has become a worthless, rusty turd. I’m sorry to say that two weeks ago it was towed to the local scrapyard to be crushed. Very few cars ever come into her possession and come out alive, this one never had a chance. Sorry potential buyers, it’s too late.

Continue reading "Rust in Silence" »

By Brian Lohnes

BangShift.com

It seems like most guys’ hot rods get put into one form or another and live there forever. You built a Pro Street car in the 1980s and it’s probably still sporting steamroller tires out back and that blower is still sticking through the hood.

Greg Frazier is not into that at all. He scored this cherry 1973 Camaro back in 1976 and his been driving the wheels off of it ever since. The car has seen duty on the drag strip, as an autocross competitor (ages before the words G-Machine were ever uttered), and, hell, the thing has even towed a water skiing boat to the lake!

It’s currently packed with a wicked 434ci small-block that runs 10.09 in the quarter without the aid of any type of power adder. If that didn’t get your attention, join the bridge club.

Go here to see the photo gallery with lots more photos and all the tech info, plus a bunch of vintage shots of this same car in the ’70s and ’80s. Watch the video below.

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

A Jalopnik reader spotted this mean Mopar on the streets of San Francisco and snapped some pics with his iPhone. The flat back with mesh ’73 Satellite appeared on the cover of Information Society’s album “Hack” back in 1990. More at Jalopnik

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Kind of sad, but kind of cool, too. Check out all the pics of this hacked-up Vega on Dwight’s ride page.

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

In May 1973, the millionth Vega rolled off the assembly line, and to commemorate this milestone Chevy offered the bright orange Millionth Vega GT Hatchback (option code ZM5). Robert owns one of the 6,100 built (one per dealer) and his is an un-restored, original paint car with just 5,500 miles on the clock. Check out his ride page for more pics and go to h-body.org for more info on this rare package. Oh, and don’t miss Robert’s ultra rare Vega Panel Express, either!

Yesterday, Jalopnik posted their list of the ten scariest-looking cars of all time. I was happy to see that they had a two Mopars on the list, including a ’71 Satellite. I do think the ’71-74 Plymouth B-bodies look somewhat scary, but not nearly as scary as the ’71-74 Dodge B-bodies. Just check out Steve’s Mom’s ’73 Charger SE below. These things are downright menacing. So take a look at Jalopnik’s list, then post your pick for the scariest car ever.

While it was probably the poster of the 930 Turbo, on the ceiling over my bed, that started the relationship, this 1973 911T (with S option package) was my very first Porsche and was the first tangible step into a love affair that has spanned more than two decades and is primarily responsible for my obsession today.

Purchased on a whim without knowing nearly enough, I got very lucky. With only two previous owners and 40k original miles with original paint and interior, this is one special car. Finished in classic silver with guards red interior, she comes complete with the S Option package (includes S interior, S gauges and Cookie Cutter Wheels). Factory installed a/c, power sunroof and front spoiler delete.

What was it that first got your juices flowing for your favorite brand? For that matter, what was it that got you going about cars in general?

Every now and again something pops up on the automotive radar screen that should have been torpedoed at its inception. This 1973 Lincoln you are looking at is such a creation. Apparently someone had a fascination with both Stevie Wonder and blindness, because whoever decided to construct this thing obviously couldn’t see worth a damn. It has a front end similar to Green Hornet’s Black Beauty, a paint scheme that would make any body man crawl into a closet with a pistol, and an interior that is well… hell, I don’t even know where to begin on that one. I mean seriously, a keyboard, mixer, microphone and like the same CD player my Dad had in his living room in 1988… it’s downright scary. Man, SuperFly wouldn’t even roll this heavy. More pics after the jump.

Continue reading "A Lincoln That Would Make SuperFly Cry" »

Brandon Flannery, editor for the Goodguys Gazette, was recently offered the option to telecommute, so he decided to move from California back to his native Georgia. He packed his stuff into a U-Haul trailer, hooked it up to his baby blue Mopar, and headed east. Brandon writes:

The Boss Ride aka Blue Goose had been upgraded with a 360 transplant and a fresh 904, and I drove it out, so I figured the only way to get it back in style would be to drive it. We chucked most of the big stuff, mailed several large boxes and stuffed the rest in the 5×8 U-Haul trailer, the back seat and the ol’ lady’s Jetta. Left on Thursday, got in Sunday night.

Let’s just say a 3,000 mile road trip on the 40 in August with no A/C is an adventure. I earned my stripes…. The only problem I encountered was a blown power steering high pressure hose that I forgot to make a bracket for on Saturday in Arkansas… in the afternoon, at 110 degrees…. Literally…. I foolishly tried to scab it together but it didn’t work. Broke down right in front of a Super 8 and a liquor store so we packed it in for the night.

Actually found a replacement hose in stock at an Advance 70 miles away in Little Rock so we jumped in the chase vehicle and got it, put it on, and kept on truckin’… I averaged 12mpg at about 72-3 mph… 17 gallon tank…. we stopped a lot. I think I used a quart and a half of oil, and had to pull it into low 2 on a few grades, but it never detonated or ran hot.

I hooked up my vintage Cobra CB and it was fun and helpful listening to the trucks for upcoming accidents and cops. I highly recommend one for over-the-road traveling. All in all a fun and a very hot trip.

Thanks Brandon for the cool pics and story. I have a bunch more photos after the jump, and be sure to check out Brandon’s ride page. Oh, and if this all seems vaguely familiar to loyal blog readers, last August Jen moved cross country with a 5×8 U-Haul, too.

Continue reading "Cross-country Move with a '73 Satellite and a U-Haul Trailer" »