As I write about cars every day for The ClassicCars.com Journal, I learn many new things. Occasionally, I will learn something I never noticed before, or maybe correct something that I thought I knew. Here’s a list of several that have occurred over the past several months.

1970 Plymouth Barracuda
Buried within the options for the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda was code A46 Exterior Trim Package available for the “BH” Barracuda and not the “BS” ‘Cuda or “BP” Gran Coupe. It consisted of wheel lip moldings, Deluxe wheel covers, grille surround molding and rear surround molding — the latter two only available in this group and not separately. In the pony car world (pioneered by the Mustang and perhaps famously exploited by the Camaro), it was typical to have trim packages to jazz up a particular vehicle.

I had no idea what the grille surround molding was, but I could infer the rear surround molding was the same that surrounded the rear taillight panel, though there were several that were determined by Barracuda model and other trim options. In this case, the A46 package included the Gran Coupe’s three-piece surround.

But the molding for the grille? Yup — the same molding that was used on Gran Coupes and AAR’Cudas! If this seems foreign to you too, it stands to reason because approximately 322 Barracuda hardtops and convertibles were built for the U.S. market with this package.

1970 Chevrolet El Camino
The El Camino is the light-duty pickup truck version of the Chevelle, right? A utility sedan or coupe utility, if you will? Take one Chevelle station wagon, do some chopping and violà — instant ute!

For 1970, they were restyled with a freshlook that today (and already for a long time) many feel is the best-looking of the model’s existence.

One aspect of these cars that I didn’t realize is that the El Camino and wagon didn’t share the same fenders as the regular Chevelle. Ever notice those flares over the wheels? The El Camino and wagon are both more slab-sided. Now it seems so obvious — and I bet obvious to many Chevy fans — but it wasn’t obvious to me.

1991 Oldsmobile 98
For 1991, Chevrolet introduced the redesigned Caprice, the first all-new Caprice since 1977. At the same time, it was joined by the Buick Roadmaster and Oldsmobile 98, with the and Cadillac Fleetwood appearing for 1993. All save the Cadillac also had their respective station wagon version.

At least that has been my perspective since 1991. Yet while reading a recent story by contributor Tyson Hugie, it made me question everything I had known about the 1991 Oldsmobile 98 as he called it a front-wheel-drive car. Wasn’t it rear-wheel-drive like the Caprice and Fleetwood? Didn’t they all have slightly awkward rear fenders?

Apparently not. The 98 continued to be based on the FWD C-body platform that had been downsized for 1985, while the Caprice, Roadmaster, and Fleetwood were on the RWD B-body platform … well, kinda. Remember those huge station wagons? The Custom Cruiser was a B-body. I always associated that model with the 98 (rightly or wrongly — let’s assume the former), so it’s interesting to note that the 98 sedan was on one platform and the wagon was on another.

Can you believe that we’re almost halfway through November?! This year is just flying by, one weekend at a time. As I do every weekend, I’ve written a new installment of Car Connections. I picked three US Top 40 singles for the week ending November 19, 1966, and somehow managed to relate those to automobiles. Those songs are “If I Were a Carpenter” by Bobby Darin (#9), “A Hazy Shade of Winter” by Simon and Garfunkel (#23), and “Louie, Louie” by The Sandpipers (#32). You’ll see how I connected those songs to Chevrolet, GMC, and Checker, but how would you associate them with cars? Tell us in the Comments section below. (And click here for more Car Games!)

“If I Were a Carpenter”: Wood. The floors of the C6 Corvette Z06’s passenger compartment consisted of a carbon fiber skin wrapped around a lightweight balsa wood core. That meant less weight for the 505-horsepower LS7 7.0-liter V-8 to haul around.

“A Hazy Shade of Winter”: This makes me think of another song: “Valley Winter Song” by Fountains of Wayne. That leads me to Wayne, Indiana, which is the home of a GM plant that produces the GMC Sierra 1500. The 2027 model is available with all-new 5.7-liter and 6.6-liter small-block V-8s, the latter of which tops out at 481 horsepower and 501 lb-ft of torque.

“Louie, Louie”: What great timing! I was just listening to an interview with Danny DeVito, who starred as Louie De Palma in the 1978-1983 TV show “Taxi,” a hit sitcom that featured Checker A11 cabs.

Does today’s round of Car Connections make you want to add a Chevrolet, GMC, or Checker to your garage? Find one on ClassicCars.com.

Inspiration can come in many different forms. As an example, 20^th century novelist Agatha Christie would eat apples in a full bathtub and then line the rim with the cores to brainstorm and develop plots for her mystery novels. To cultivate its next supercar, Audi drew inspiration from its involvement in Formula 1 and thus, the 2028 Audi Nuvolari was born. Introduced globally in June 2026 and in North America at Monterey Car Week in August, the Nuvolari will nonetheless be a scarce supercar because only 182 of the 499 will be available for purchase in the United States.

At a manufacturer-estimated output of 987 horsepower, the Nuvolari features a hybrid powertrain that combines a biturbo V-8 with three electric axial flux motors. Two of the electric motors are installed on the front axle and the third is located on the rear. The biturbo V-8 is estimated to put out 789 horsepower at 9,000-9,750 rpm on its own, while the electric motors contribute an additional 198 horses. Audi claims the Nuvolari can go 0-60 in 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed of just over 217 mph, making it the fastest production vehicle Audi has ever produced.

In a slight paraphrase of a well-known movie quote, “With great power comes great ingenuity.” At almost 1,000 horsepower, the powertrain works with the design and other internal components to achieve maximum performance. This is where Audi’s involvement in Formula 1 comes in handy: Audi has brought together its high-performance hybrid architecture, advanced energy management system, brake-by-wire-technology, active aerodynamics, and launch control strategies to maximize the Nuvolari’s capabilities.

Interested parties will have a wide variety of options to customize their Nuvolari. It is reported that the supercar will be available with 60 different exterior color options and 30 different interior colors from which to choose.

The 2028 Audi Nuvolari will be available for sale at a starting price of $700,000. Orders can be placed at an authorized Audi dealership, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the first half of 2028.

The year 2027 sounds so futuristic to me, yet it’s just about here. Before we know it, we’ll be at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale kicking off the new year with some incredible classics. Our Pick of the Day, a 1937 GMC T-14 Truck, is going to turn 90 years old in the coming year. It is currently listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Huntington Beach, California.

The light-duty GMC T-14 pickup was styled by Harley Earl’s team with classic Art Deco design. It shared a platform with Chevrolet’s “Master” trucks, but it was positioned as a slightly costlier commercial vehicle. For decades, trucks from the 1930s have served as popular platforms for customization, and this restomod has a lot of fresh tricks up its sleeve indeed.

The cab has been chopped by four inches, and the body rides on a Chevrolet S-10 frame. Come to think of it, probably very few nuts or bolts are original to the 1937 assembly.

Exterior features include Viper Red paint, antenna, dual side mirrors, custom taillights, and staggered five-spoke chrome wheels. The bed is lined with white oak planks and stainless-steel hardware. The seller says the truck has “Done well in shows — Fallbrook, San Juan Capistrano, Chino Corn Feed, Ruby’s Diner, as well as local car shows around the Inland Empire.”

The interior is equipped with tan vinyl bucket seats, lap belts, Vintage Air A/C, tilt steering wheel, power steering, and manual-crank windows. The odometer in the aftermarket gauges shows 11,800 miles.

Under the side-opening hood is a 350ci small-block V-8 mated to a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission.

The truck’s underside itself is a work of art that most people will never get to see. It features a ceramic-coated dual exhaust system and a pair of Flowmaster mufflers with outlets just forward of the rear tires. Be sure to check out the seller’s minute-long YouTube video showing the truck’s exterior, interior, and rhythmic exhaust note. Wilwood power disc brakes up front add an element of safety.

If you act soon, you’ll have the chance to own this 1937 GMC T-14 Truck and celebrate its 90^th birthday in style very soon — asking price is $42,000 or best offer.

Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com

If you’re a James Bond fan, you may recall our story on the restoration of the 1971 Ford Mustang Mach I that played a supporting role in the movie “Diamonds Are Forever.” Now completed, the Cobra Jet-powered pony car will make its debut at the 2026 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN).

The world of James Bond has featured many interesting automobiles. Considering “Diamonds Are Forever” takes place in Las Vegas, it seemed natural that Ford’s redesigned 1971 Mustang was used for the flick. Truth be told, Ford had a relationship with EON Productions (the company that produced James Bond films), so the appearance of this vehicle in the movie is not quite remarkable.

Nonetheless, Ford could have supplied any Mustang, but would it be just as cool to see a 302-powered Grandé being chased by cops through the Strip? To Ford’s credit, it went with a Mach I SportsRoof powered by the new 429 Cobra Jet engine. Introduced for 1970, the 429 CJ joined the Mustang series for 1971 before disappearing for 1972 when Ford went to low-compression engines per Uncle Sam’s command. In fact, there were seven or eight Mach Is used in the movie, but only three were powered by the big CJ, with this particular vehicle used in the downtown and desert shots.

Time had not been kind to this Mustang, having languished in a storage lot for years, but now it’s fresh out of restoration and will be unveiled on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at MCACN. After the two-day show, the James Bond 1971 Mustang will be on display for the year at the Gilmore Museum in Michigan.

Visit www.mcacn.com for more information on the event.

A Corvette-powered Italian race car shaped by one of the minds behind the Ferrari 250 GTO sounds made up, but that’s really the story of the 1965 Iso Grifo A3/C. We came across this incredibly rare example at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Only a small number of A3/Cs were built, and each one represents a strange mix of Italian style, competition-focused engineering, lightweight construction, and, of course, Chevrolet V-8 power. Giotto Bizzarrini helped develop the car for Iso Rivolta after leaving Ferrari, and the A3/C would go on to compete at Le Mans before the project eventually split off into what became Bizzarrini. It’s rare, beautifully proportioned, mechanically unusual, and one of the most interesting Italian/American hybrids that nobody remembers. 

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For last week’s “Settle The Debate,” I invited you to vote for which striped and spoilered muscle car did it best. This week, we look back to the early 1990s at “sport trucks” to see which one you would purchase. What will it be? Are you going to go with the Ford, 1991 GMC, or 1990 Chevrolet? Money is no object, so the choice is yours.

1993 Ford F-150 Lightning — The first-generation Lightning was powered by a 5.8-liter V-8 upgraded by Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT). It included GT-40-type cast-iron cylinder heads, tuned intake manifold, high-rate fuel pump and injectors, and redesigned air filter. With tubular stainless-steel headers and full-length stainless steel dual exhaust system, the Windsor small-block was rated at 240 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque. The only transmission available was an electronically controlled E40D four-speed automatic recalibrated by SVT; an auxiliary oil cooler also was used. Out back, the power is handled by an 8.8-inch rear with 4.10 gear, limited-slip differential, and Lightning-specific housing with external cooling fins. There were only 5,276 of these bad boys built for the 1993 model year, with 2,691 offered in Raven Black and the rest offered in Bright Red — both without clearcoat, 11,563 were built through 1995. In case you’re curious if the 1993-1995 single-cab F-150 you are looking at is the real deal, you’ll find an “R” in the eighth character of the VIN noting the Lightning-exclusive V-8.

1991 GMC Syclone — This Sonoma-based performance pickup was powered by a turbocharged 4.3-liter Vortec V-6 with port fuel injection. Rated at 280 horsepower and 350 lb-fr of torque, this engine was factory-modified with lower-compression pistons, special intake and exhaust manifolds, twin-bore throttle body (sourced from the Corvette), Mitsubishi TD06-17C turbocharger, and Garrett water-to-air-intercooler. The upgraded Vortec was mated to a four-speed automatic transmission that included a torque converter clutch and lock-up overdrive. Obviously, the Syclone was meant as a performance street truck and not one to be taken romping in the desert, though GMC engineers included a transfer case. Instead of transferring power equally to all four wheels like standard four-wheel-drives, the transfer case splits the torque 35 percent to the front axle and the remaining 65 percent to the limited-slip rear differential with 3.42 gears. There were only 2,998 Syclones produced, which included three 1992 pilot models. According to the International Syclone Typhoon Registry, the VIN must begin with “1GDCT14ZXM880” to identify it as a true Syclone.

1990 Chevrolet 454 SS — The 1990 brochure asked, “Are you ready for this much truck?” The new 1990 Chevrolet 454 SS was based on the C1500 regular-cab pickup packing a 230-horsepower 454ci V-8 (255 horses starting the following year) with 385 lb-ft of torque, mated to a three-speed TH400 automatic (4L80-E 4-speed automatic, again the following year). Equipped with the Performance Handling Package, locking rear differential with 3.73 gears, and Bilstein shocks, Chevrolet ensured its new sport truck would be more than capable beyond its substantial torque. For its first model year, the 454 SS was produced exclusively in Onyx Black with matching blacked-out grille and contrasting chrome-plated wheels. From 1990-1993, Chevrolet built 16,953 454 SS pickups, with the majority being the ’90 with 13,748. There are two ways to tell if what you’re looking at is a true 1990 454 SS: The first is to see if there is an “N” in the eighth position of the VIN, and the second is to discover if the RPO code B4U is present on the Service Parts Identification label stuck to the inside of the glove box door.

Which sport truck would you purchase? Or would you rather build your own? Tell us in the Comments section below.

Depending on who you ask, there are two different ways to get into a pool: The first is to just jump in with reckless abandon, while the second is to ease your way in — maybe after dipping a toe to test the temperature. Toyota appears to be doing the latter by introducing kei trucks through very specific North American channels under a semi-resurrected Scion nameplate.

In case you were hoping for a new Scion xB, that won’t be the case. Instead, Scion (or “Scion by Toyota” as it is known) is “a new brand built around curiosity, possibility and the freedom to explore mobility in new ways,” according to Toyota.

Kei trucks have gained quite the following in the United States. Despite only being fully legal in 25 states, Kei truck exports more than tripled from 2019-2024 according to an NBC News report. With the average new car price now being $51,000, it’s easy to see why these small but capable low-cost pickups have been making headwind.

Instead of jumping into the U.S. market with reckless abandon, Toyota will be offering the Scion KEI-01 through a fleet-focused pilot program. Initial sales will be done through select dealerships with a possible expanded offering in the future depending on market conditions, customer demand, and “operational considerations.”  

Built at Toyota’s Indiana plant, the KEI-01 will offer a 660cc three-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission. It will include a standard selectable four-wheel drive mode with push-button lockup for mud, snow, and uneven terrain. The advertised maximum speed is currently 25 miles per hour, helping it to comply with United States regulations for low-speed-vehicles or LSV, as they are more commonly referred.

The KEI-01 measures about 11 feet in length and under five feet in width. Despite its pocket-sized footprint, the bed is rated to hold a payload capacity of up to 600 pounds, which is impressive considering the vehicle is slightly larger than a Kit-Kat bar. The bed is designed to have three fold-down sides, making it easy for loading and securing whatever you need to haul.

Inside the climate-controlled cab are two adjustable cloth seats with secure interior storage underneath. Judging by the photos, there will be an infotainment system available.

At the moment, Scion by Toyota has not released pricing for these “tiny but mighty” trucks. The KEI-01 will begin to arrive at dealerships in the second half of 2027, first only through fleet channels but it could grow to limited retail availability if demand is high enough.  

Believe it or not, Alfa Romeo made an SUV way back in the 1950s called the 1900 M, aka the Matta (translation: mad). Consider it an Italian Jeep for the military that eventually made its way to the civilian market. That means the Stelvio wasn’t the brand’s first SUV. However, as Alfa’s first premium mid-size SUV, the Stelvio arrived for the 2018 model year with a lot more comfort and convenience features and, as our Pick of the Day shows, significantly better on-road performance. You can find this 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio listed on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In the 2010s, Alfa Romeo made its formal return to the U.S. after being absent from it since 1995. Yes, Alfa built the Ferrari-V-8-powered 8C Competizione in the previous decade, but only a fraction of the limited production run came to the U.S. The 4C and 4C Spider, Giulia sedan, and Stelvio SUV signaled a multi-pronged approach to luring U.S. buyers away from similar BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi models. Named after the 48-turn Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps, the Stelvio mixed curvy sheet metal with standard Q4 all-wheel drive, leather seats, bi-xenon headlamps, and 280 horsepower from a 2.0-liter turbo I-4. Many SUVs try to look sporty with varying degrees of success, but the Stelvio nailed it.

Like some of its predecessors, the 2018 Stelvio was also available as a high-performance Quadrifoglio model. Alfa didn’t just dial up the boost on the regular model’s four-banger — it dropped in a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 that cranked out a lovably ridiculous 505 horsepower and 443 lb.-ft. of torque. Delivered through an eight-speed automatic, torque-vectoring differential, and all four 20-inch wheels, that monstrous output was capable of pushing the 4,360-pound Stelvio Quadrifoglio to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and achieving a top speed of 176 mph. An adjustable performance suspension and Brembo brakes kept it from flying off back roads — and mountain passes.

Inside, the driver faced a Formula One-inspired steering wheel with a red engine start button, and aluminum paddle shifters. Leather and Alcantara 14-way power front seats kept both people up front in place during high-g turns. The standard carbon fiber trim; 8.8-inch infotainment screen with GPS, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay; and 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system were easier to enjoy during more sedate driving.

The seller hasn’t disclosed much about this particular Stelvio Quadrifoglio aside from it being a garaged, one-owner vehicle in “excellent condition” that comes with service records and new brakes.

That last update is especially important considering the power these models have. At the Texas Auto Writers Association’s 2018 Texas Auto Roundup, I took a few laps around the Eagles Canyon Raceway in a Stelvio Quadrifoglio and discovered that it absolutely rips — I had never experienced that kind of speed and excitement in an SUV before. I don’t recall driving on the street, but I did plenty of that in a Giulia Quadrifoglio (which had the same engine) and discovered that the rear wheels kept losing their grip when I got on the throttle hard — and this was on dry, straight roads! If you buy this 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio for $26,500 (or best offer), you’ll have plenty of fun too (and perhaps a new stack of speeding tickets).

Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com

Jeep is proud of its military heritage and has honored it over the years with special-edition models. So it’s only fitting that it collaborated with the Marathon Watch Company (which has a military connection of its own) on the Jeep x Marathon line of watches inspired by the Willys MB and Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

In 1939, Morris Wein founded Marathon in Canada. Two years later, Marathon secured its first military contract to make watches for the British and Canadian armed forces. More than 80 years later, Morris’ grandson Mitchell Wein serves as the president of Marathon, which continues to supply watches to various governments. Marathon builds its timepieces at its factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, a major hub of the watchmaking industry and the home of the International Museum of Horology.

The Jeep x Marathon series consists of two core models: the Willys and Rubicon, both of which have 41mm cases and are available with mechanical or quartz movements. The Willys models are part of Marathon’s General Purpose (GP) collection, which are “Built to U.S Military Standard MIL-PRF-46374 G with direct lineage to the legendary GG-W-113 Spec of the 1960s.”

From the outside, the Willys SSGPQ quartz and SSGPM mechanical watches look the same, with the exception of the former’s rear battery hatch and the latter’s more segmented minute track. Both have a brushed 316L stainless steel case that’s been “parkerized” to make it less reflective and more resistant to corrosion. Under the sapphire crystal, the black dial features Arabic numerals “inspired by the Jeep Wrangler 1941 Limited Edition” and finished in a color called “Aged Radium.” MaraGlo lights up the hour hand, minute hand, and hour markers in the dark. A brown Crazy Horse three-piece leather strap further adds to the vintage look.

Inside, the Willys SSGPQ contains a Swiss-made ETA F06.402 HeavyDrive-PreciDrive quartz movement that’s accurate to ±10 seconds a year. Its SSGPM mechanical sibling is powered by a Swiss-made Sellita SW210-1 18-jewel hand-wound mechanical movement, which has a 45-hour power reserve.

The SAR in the Marathon’s 41MM Rubicon diver’s model names means they’re made to the Canadian Government standards for use in Search and Rescue (SAR) missions. Like their Willys cousins, they’re visually similar: brushed 316L case engraved with Jeep’s seven-slot grille, 120-click unidirectional dive bezel, knurled screw-down crown with the Willys star, caseback engraved with “Go Anywhere, Do Anything,” and a black dial with a date window at 4:30 and tritium gas tube and MaraGlo illumination. Both are also water-resistant to 300 meters (1,000 feet) and come attached to an OD Green three-piece rubber strap.

The similarities extend to the companies that manufactured the internals of the Rubicon models. An ETA F06.412 HeavyDrivePreciDrive quartz movement that’s accurate to ±10 seconds per year powers the Rubicon TSAR. Thanks to its 26-jewel Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement, the Rubicon GSAR can run for up to 41 hours without being wound.

If you want to flash one of these Marathon watches every time you do the Jeep Wave, now is a good time to buy as all four models have been marked down by 10 percent: Prices for the Willy’s line start at $540 for the quartz model, and the Rubicon models have an entry-level price of $1,485. As a bonus, each watch comes with a special Jeep x Marathon duck to put on your dashboard.