The Pick of the Day is a 1973 Ford Mustang convertible with a double-digit odometer reading — somehow, this 48-year-old vehicle has accrued just 84 miles over its lifetime. If ever there existed a “time capsule” example of a 1970s-era Mustang, this is about as close as it gets.
The Mustang “was purchased new from Frederick Motor Company in Frederick, Maryland, and driven to Dover, Pennsylvania, which is 57 miles away,” according to the private seller in Dover, Pennsylvania, advertising the convertible on ClassicCars.com.
The seller said that the Mustang’s ultra-low mileage is genuine and authentic.
“It is unbelievable, but it is real,” the seller declares. “With exception of the battery, this Mustang is all original right down to the tires, which still show the white chalk markings from new. This completely original, unrestored, unaltered car will not disappoint.”
The story goes that the seller purchased the Mustang from the original owner’s son, who is now 82 years old. The listing doesn’t specify why the original owner saw fit to tuck this Mustang away long-term, but the storage strategy included the requisite paper trail; an owner’s manual, warranty booklet, promotional materials, and other documentation items are included with the sale.
The Mustang was garage-kept throughout its motionless life, although started on occasion, the seller says.
Power comes from a 302cid V8 equipped with a two-barrel carburetor and coupled with a three-speed Select Shift automatic transmission. The listing on ClassicCars.com doesn’t discuss what mechanical roadworthiness measures were taken during long-term preservation, but with a change of the fluids and a fresh set of rubber, the Mustang looks like it could be driven without much preparation.
“I was told by the original owner’s son, who I purchased the car from, that the top has never been down,” the ad states. “This Mustang would make an excellent museum car.”
At the start of the 1970s, the original design language of the Mustang was tweaked, and it became larger in most dimensions. The 1973 model year was the last of its generation, so perhaps that was one reason why the original owner decided to put this essentially brand-new example away for safekeeping.
The seller is asking $49,000. The new car smell is included.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
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The concept of a sports car goes back practically to the beginning of automobiles, when those with the wherewithal could indulge in impractical vehicles designed purely for fun, excitement and bragging rights. Such was the Pick of the Day, a 1929 Packard 640 roadster.
Built for the country-club set (note the small door on either side for golf-bag stowage), the Packard 640 runabout is splendidly styled and powered by the 348.8cid Big Eight that generates 106 horsepower and prodigious low-end torque.
“1929 was a big year for Packard and would be one of its best years ever,” according to the Orange, Connecticut, dealer advertising the Packard on ClassicCars.com. “The six-cylinder cars were discontinued and replaced with the small standard-eight engined cars and the large super-eight cars, the 640 and 645 models, (that) would become some of the greatest and one of the most iconic model years for Packard and for the entire classic era.
“The custom eight was available in both the 640 (140-inch wheelbase) and the 645 (145-inch wheelbase) and were both a completely new design for Packard.”
This Packard 640 rumble-seat roadster looks like a gorgeous example that the dealer says is in fine condition and ready to be driven, shown and enjoyed.
“Offered here is a very original 1929 Packard 640 roadster that has been owned by the same family for 65 years and has travelled just shy of 50,000 miles since it was new,” the dealer says. “A very good-looking example with its rear mounted spare wheel and 5 wire wheels, giving it a long, low look that a car with side mounts just cannot match.
“Today wearing a charming older restoration in two-tone blue with cream accents, this 640 is really wonderful.”
As with all Packards, the 640 was built with supremely high quality, and they were known for their rugged reliability. These were expensive cars aimed at a gentrified clientele, and this one looks ready to continue that trend.
This Packard has a rakish appearance with its standard body, rather than the limitless coachbuilt offerings of its day. It looks low, lean and poised to sprint along a country road with a low-pitched roar from its inline-8, top down with a scarf trailing in the breeze.
The red-leather interior seems attractively patinaed and inviting, as does the rumble seat, and on its prow stands the classic Packard mascot depicting the “Goddess of Speed.”
The lovely veteran is price at $95,000.
To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
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The MGA is one of the prettiest little British sports cars of all time, even though the hidebound MG traditionalists were enraged at first by its enveloping, streamlined body in lieu of the pre-war-style separate fenders, open cockpit and upright radiator of the previous T series.
While the lion’s share of MGAs produced were sleek roadsters, there was also a run of attractive hardtops that replaced the al fresco driving experience with a higher level of comfort and convenience.
The hardtop provided rollup windows and external door handles and locks instead of the awkward fabric tops, side curtains and inside-only cable-actuated door latches of the roadsters.
The Pick of the Day is a 1957 MGA coupe, one of just 3,326 coupes delivered to North America in 1957 compared with 13,869 roadsters, according to the Rowley, Massachusetts, dealer advertising the MG on ClassicCars.com.
The MGA coupe is a strikingly handsome design, the rounded, upright roof adding a level of tension with the low, long look of the body. The styling overall is well-integrated and very British, looking spare and adventurous.
“This 1957 MGA Coupe is finished in a black exterior with accenting red interior to create a classic look,” the seller says in the ad. “This MGA went through a painstaking restoration which started in the 1980s and was completed and on the road in the late ‘90s. The restoration of this rare coupe is fully documented with receipts and photographs.”
The sports car is “ready to roll,” the seller adds.
The MGA was not as fast as it looked, powered by a simple 1,500cc OHV inline-4 engine that produced 72 horsepower, although that is enough to motivate the under-2,000-pound car. Manual shifting is provided by a 4-speed transmission.
Under its more modern body, the MGA was not all that different from the previous MGTF, with the body resting on a solid ladder frame with coil springs up front and leaf springs in the rear, lever shock absorbers and drum brakes.
The sports car is fairly diminutive, with a 94-inch wheelbase and 13-foot overall length, and enormously fun to drive, the exhaust providing a bold roar and the sporty handling turning back roads into a romp.
The asking price for the rare MGA coupe is just $21,900.
To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Ah, it was a golden era of American sports cars in the 1950s and early ‘60s when people were putting Detroit power into dexterous European-styled roadsters. Think Carroll Shelby and his Cobras. Or Jim Kellison or Bob Devin and their cars.
And then there was the Bocar, the creation of Bob Carnes, from Denver, Colorado, who raced and competed in hill climbs in his Porsche Spyder and a Jaguar XK120.
To get more power out of his Jaguar, Carnes inserted a Cadillac V8 and called the result the “Jagillac,” and drove it to victory in the 1956 Buffalo Bill Hillclimb.
But what Carnes really wanted was a car with the Jagillac’s power but the dynamic abilities of the Porsche. So he set out to create one, and in 1957 produced the first Bocar, the XP-1, built on a spaceframe chassis with Porsche/Volkswagen suspension and a Chevrolet V8 engine.
The Bocar name came from the first two letters of Carnes’ first name and the first three of his last name.
“While many of Bocar’s contemporaries were destined to be one-hit wonders, Bob Carnes persisted with evolving his design through several series,” the dealership notes in that advertisement.
“The XP-1 through XP-4 were essentially development cars that served to drum up interest in the project. By the time he arrived at the XP-5, Bocar finally achieved a modicum of success and a limited production run. While exact figures aren’t known, most experts agree that about 15 XP-5s were built, and no two were exactly alike.”
Bocar XP-5 has a chromoly chassis, modified VW suspension, finned Buick drum brakes, and a pontoon-style body in fiberglass.
“The most famous Bocar XP-5 is the beautifully prepared blue and white ‘Meister Brauser III’ of Augie Pabst, who ran the car alongside his ex-Reventlow Scarab in the 1959 SCCA season,” the dealer notes.
Of the Bocar XP-5 on offer, the dealership notes that it is “a particularly intriguing example that is offered in exceptional, unrestored condition and with just three owners from new. Thanks to the original owner sharing his story with us, the history of S/N 0004 is known back to day one.
“The chassis was ordered directly from his friend Bob Carnes, but before it ever turned a wheel under its own power, the first owner set about extensively modifying (serial number) 0004 to suit his specifications. Being quite tall, he was not particularly comfortable in the standard 90-inch XP-5, so he set about performing significant alterations.
“He stretched the chassis by about 12 inches, while lengthening the fiberglass body and modifying it with taller sides to balance out the proportions, and preserve the car’s fabulously aggressive looks. He did all the fabrication work himself over the span of a few years, while gathering parts for the remainder of the build.
“While virtually every other Bocar featured Chevrolet power, this is the sole example to utilize a Ford V8. Balancing professional and family commitments meant the project took several years to complete.
“When it came time for final assembly around the end of 1965, the owner settled on a new out-of-the-crate 289 cubic-inch Hi-Po V8 and T-10 four-speed transmission supplied by Garnsey & Wheeler Ford of Greely, CO. The lightweight and compact Ford small block was the ideal engine choice for the Bocar, particularly with this car’s longer wheelbase chassis.
“The car was painted a striking color scheme of Rangoon Red with white rocker stripes taken, fittingly, straight out of the Ford Mustang catalog. The finishing touch were “XP-6” and Ford Cobra badges, though the original owner later referred to the car as the “XP-5R.”
“Following a move from Greely to Littleton, CO, the first owner sold the freshly completed Bocar to Mr. Ivan Frank, also of Littleton. Frank recalled that the Bocar was displayed in several area Ford showrooms in the late ’60s as a local promotion of FoMoCo’s aggressive Total Performance program, and to promote the versatility of the 289 engine. Mr. Frank also raced the Bocar in local SCCA events through about 1972 before retiring it.
“Significantly, it is suggested that this car inspired Bob Carnes to build the XP-6, and some marque experts consider this car the unofficial prototype for the later model.”
In addition to Bocar XP-6, Carnes built several Stiletto models until 1962, when a fire destroyed his workshop.
Frank kept the car until 2015. The seller notes, “Instead of subjecting the car to a full restoration, the new owner chose to honor its preserved, original condition by performing a thorough mechanical overhaul while leaving the marvelous patina intact.”
“As offered today, the body wears its original Rangoon Red paint, trim, and windscreen. Even the ‘XP-6’ badges added in the 60s remain, though this is officially an XP-5 chassis.”
The dealer notes that with its magnesium Halibrand knock-off wheels and period-correct Michelin Pilote-X tires, “it has a fantastic presence and is easily one of the best-looking of the ‘50s sports car specials. The mechanical overhaul was done to make this a safe, fast, and reliable mount for events like the Colorado Grand Rally. The work encompassed a complete engine, drivetrain, and brake system overhaul.
“Weighing approximately 2,100 pounds and with over 250 horsepower on tap, the Bocar is a serious performer and a superb driver’s car. As offered, it is in excellent mechanical condition and remains ideal for rallies, tours, and all manner of driving events.”
The car is offered for $259,500. To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
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Every automotive era has its own stylistic highlights, and the 1990s brought about some unique ways to accessorize. The “gold package” comes to mind as one of the most common ways that premium cars were customized during that decade.
Just like silver and gold jewelry worn as wardrobe accessories, emblem finishes were used to differentiate vehicles from their less-fashionable counterparts.
Proudly wearing its accenting gold logos is today’s Pick of the Day, a 1993 Lexus SC400 advertised on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Kentwood, Michigan. This car’s “bling” goes beyond the emblems, even including the dual gold tailpipes as well as gold center-cap accents for the wheels.
When Lexus launched for the 1990 model year, the brand offered only two models: The flagship LS400 V8 sedan and the Toyota Camry-based ES250 midsize sedan. Two years later, a U.S. version of Toyota’s Soarer 2-door coupe made its way to showrooms, rounding out the Lexus lineup.
The coupe was called the SC400, so-named because of its 4.0-liter V8, which sent 250 horsepower to the rear wheels. An inline-6 version of the SC debuted a few months later, sharing the famous “2JZ” powerplant with the Toyota Supra and receiving the name SC300.
This SC400, gleaming in Garnet Pearl paint, shows just 65,000 miles on the odometer, putting it in low-mileage territory for being nearly three decades old.
“Car is presented nicely with all factory equipment and the only modification we could find was a K&N air filter, gold accents, and the dealer-installed BBS-style wheels with Lexus center caps,” the dealer says.
The seller adds that the Lexus is accompanied by substantial documentation, with “an extensive folder of service records, brag photo book, factory sales brochure, and copy of the original dealer invoice.” That invoice, incidentally, was $44,113. Inflated to 2021 dollars, that sticker price is a jaw-dropping $81,020. Needless to say, the Lexus coupe was targeted to the upper-income classes.
When it debuted, the SC was awarded with accolades in the automotive media, receiving the title as Motor Trend’s Import Car of the Year in 1992 and landing on Car & Driver’s Ten Best list from 1992 through 1996.
It’s no surprise that so many SCs are still on the road today thanks to robust engineering and the meticulous Japanese build quality of that era. Maybe those gold emblems were justified after all, because this Lexus is one piece of precious metal that has withstood the test of time.
The dealer is asking $14,900 for this SC400.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
The 350SL interior has been completely refurbished
In spite of the negative things that the year 2020 has brought so many people, there’s been one reward for automotive hobbyists during the coronavirus pandemic: Additional time for project cars.
With shelter-in-place orders in effect, curfews in place, and the closure of so many social venues, many have turned their attention to the garage or workshop. One such person is a private seller on ClassicCars.com with a Mercedes-Benz SL advertised as a “COVID project.”
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1972 Mercedes-Benz 350SL that has been painstakingly restored, with more than 200 hours invested over the course of this year, the seller says in the ad.
“I have restored it as if I were keeping it, using all high-quality replacement parts and correct spec fluids,” the seller states.
Presented in an image gallery that looks like it came straight out of the Mercedes-Benz promotional catalog, this SL in Cambria, California, rides on an R107 chassis and is powered by a 3.5-liter V8 paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission.
The SL label for Mercedes two-seaters stands for “super light,” with dates back to 1954 and the 300SL Gullwing race car. By the 1970s, the SL model had established a foothold in the luxury marketplace as the must-have roadster for affluent performance enthusiasts. Many SL models, like this one, came with both hard and soft tops.
The odometer on this example shows only about 29,000 original miles, which the seller believes to be original to the car. Among the items on the Mercedes’ 2020 restoration checklist were a number of service items, including recent brakes, tires and ignition work. In addition, the nearly 50-year-old carpet and interior got some much-needed TLC. The results appear to speak for themselves.
The seller has hyperlinked the vehicle ad with his personal website on, which spells out in greater detail the background of the Mercedes and its return to roadworthiness after many years of sitting in a friend’s driveway. Photos from pre-restoration are also included there.
“This SL is a sweetheart,” the seller concludes. “You can literally fly into central CA and drive this car home with no hesitation.”
Without a doubt, this seller definitely made the most of his spare time in 2020. Hopefully, he gets a chance to enjoy a few top-down cruises as a reward for his efforts before the Mercedes is sold. The asking price is $19,200.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
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“Reintroduced as a highly versatile all-steel station wagon for 1951, Chrysler’s Town & Country was offered in a choice of Windsor or New Yorker trim and appointments,” the dealer notes.
“A generous 125.5-inch wheelbase chassis provided plenty of passenger room and cargo space. Styling was essentially unchanged through 1954 and these upscale station wagons remain highly collectible and enjoyable icons of 1950s Americana today.”
The dealer notes that this wagon was sold new in Glendale, California, and at some point found itself in Harrah’s acclaimed collection.
“Colors are excellent, with a refinish in original Pebble Beige and Topaz Tan over luxurious two-tone leather and suede upholstery,” the dealer points out.
“Ready to deliver an outstanding experience, this Town & Country features a rebuilt drivetrain, suspension and steering gear. Ample power is delivered by a meticulously restored 331 Hemi V8 engine equipped with a 4-barrel carburetor and breathing out through a new dual exhaust system.
“A PowerFlite automatic transmission, power brakes and power steering ensure comfortable and enjoyable cruising, along with an original radio and deluxe heater.
“Original mahogany cargo decking and chrome wire wheels with new wide whitewall tires provide additional distinction.”
According to the Standard Catalog of American Cars, Chrysler produced only 1,100 of its Town & Country New Yorker station wagons for the 1954 model year, the last year for this chassis and body.
The dealer adds that the wagon has been driven little more than 85,000 miles since new. The Chrysler is offered for $56,000.
Ford added high style to its 1939 workhorse panel truck
Panel trucks have been around for over a century, and they are relatives in many ways to the sport utility vehicles that have become so abundant on modern roadways.
The idea behind the panel was to provide secure cargo-carrying capacity with a fully enclosed body. Ford was an early pioneer in the movement, and one such panel truck even at 81 years old is still putting in work.
While some panel trucks served as ambulances or even hearses, this Ford has spent the past six years as a road-going advertisement for a construction company. It’s a nicely kept example that went through a complete and professional restoration, according to the ad, and the workmanship in the body shows as “laser straight.” The truck would be ideal for pulling a trailer carrying a collector car while doubling as a business ad.
The asking price is $24,900, which would provide the next owner with the opportunity to customize the truck with a new company logo.
Some of the key items that were addressed as part of the restoration, the seller says, as well as a few things that set this ’39 apart from others, include a rare dual-wheel configuration in back. Double delivery doors give full and convenient access to items stored in the cargo area, and a period-correct flathead V8 gives this truck the motivation it needs to move cargo in style. A 4-speed manual gearbox puts the power – all 85 horses of it – to the road.
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This truck has a people-hauling capacity of just two on leatherette front seats, but the utility of the large cargo area offers abundant options for other cargo. Plus, it’s a truck that won’t blend in with most delivery vans, and it would make a fun conversation piece with vendors or other business partners.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Rectangular headlights and opera windows were all the rage for late-’70s luxury cars
If ever a car were to deliver the ride comfort of a living-room sofa, it might be the 1979 Chrysler LeBaron. It takes just one look at the plush velour front seat to envision what it might feel like to float along on the interstates in smooth isolation.�
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage, well-kept-original 1979 Chrysler LeBaron Medallion from a private seller in Paintsville, Kentucky, advertising the car on ClassicCars.com. This lush 2-door “personal luxury car” might have you plotting a cross-country summer adventure in a mode of transportation that has way more leg room than a first-class flight.
The LeBaron name dates back as far as the 1930s and has always been associated with luxury and sophistication. Chrysler became affiliated with it in 1953 and went on to apply the nomenclature to high-end Imperial models for a couple of decades. By 1977, the LeBaron became a model in itself, and it lived on in various generations until being phased out after 1994.�
LeBaron shares a platform with its sibling Dodge Aspen, but with a different body and higher-class target market. With just 52,000 miles on the odometer, this car with its 225cid slant-6 engine should have lots of life left, and the cosmetic condition of the car appears consistent with that reading. The windshield, tires and battery have all been replaced, according to the seller.�
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As an added bonus to a collector, the car comes with supporting documentation including the MSRP sticker, brochure, build sheet and original sales contract. Aside from some light cosmetic detailing needed as well as an AC conversion, the seller seems confident in its roadworthiness and offers to supply a video of the car running.
This 1979 LeBaron is one of the last of its kind, since as the 1982 model moved to a front-wheel-drive Chrysler K platform. And with that reengineering, the LeBaron also shrunk in every direction. �
World-class room and comfort were definitely at a high point in 1979, and this low-mileage LeBaron might be one of the few still on the road, boasting that couch-like ride and feel. All for just $7,000 or best offer.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
