When the Porsche 918 Spyder debuted, the automotive world was in the middle of a technological arms race unlike anything it had ever seen. Three manufacturers set out to build the ultimate halo car, each taking a different path toward the future. Ferrari unleashed the ferocious hybrid-powered LaFerrari. McLaren answered with the twin-turbocharged P1. Porsche, meanwhile, approached the challenge with typical German precision, creating a machine that combined race-car engineering, cutting-edge hybrid technology and everyday usability into a package that seemed almost impossible at the time.

Seemingly released simultaneously, the three revolutionary hybrid hypercars were dubbed the “Holy Trinity” by automotive journalists, car enthusiasts and social media influencers at the time. Today, the 918 Spyder stands as one of the legendary vehicles in that equation.

This particular 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder (Lot #736), No. 57 of just 918 examples produced worldwide, represents one of the most significant performance cars of the modern era — and it’s selling with No Reserve at the inaugural Columbus Auction, June 25-27 at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds.

The 918’s story began at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, where Porsche unveiled a concept that looked more like science fiction than a future production vehicle. Public reaction was immediate and overwhelming. With the project approved, engineers set about creating a car capable of delivering breathtaking performance while showcasing the future of the brand’s electrified technology.

The result was extraordinary.

At the heart of the 918 Spyder is a naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V-8 engine derived from Porsche’s RS Spyder LMP2 race car program. Unlike many modern hypercars that rely heavily on turbocharging, the 918’s V-8 revs to a spine-tingling 9,000 rpm while producing an intoxicating soundtrack unlike anything else on the road.

That engine is paired with dual electric motors, one at the front axle and another at the rear, creating a combined output of 887 horsepower and 944 lb-ft of torque. Power is routed through a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transaxle, giving the 918 incredible traction and acceleration.

The numbers remain impressive more than a decade later. Porsche claimed a 0-to-60 mph time of approximately 2.6 seconds and a top speed exceeding 210 mph. The 918 became the first production car to break the seven-minute barrier around Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife, recording a stunning 6:57 lap that sent shockwaves through the automotive industry.

But track-torching speed was only part of the story.

Unlike many hypercars that feel intimidating or uncompromising, the 918 was engineered to be remarkably approachable. Drivers could instantly transform the car into a track weapon with the turn of a dial with adjustable driving modes, adaptive suspension and advanced all-wheel drive technology.

Visually, the 918 remains every bit as dramatic today as it was when new.

Complemented by more than $113,000 in factory options and protected by full-body paint protection film, the sleek bodywork finished in stunning Liquid Metal Silver highlights every curve and aerodynamic surface.

Among the hypercar’s most distinctive design elements are the dual rear upper-mounted exhaust outlets positioned behind the passenger compartment. Inspired by Porsche’s racing prototypes, the unusual placement shortens exhaust routing, reduces weight and creates one of the most memorable visual signatures in modern automotive design.

Additional performance-focused details include 20- and 21-inch center-lock wheels, Weissach carbon-fiber rear diffuser blades, Porsche Active Aerodynamic rear spoiler and carbon-ceramic brakes with signature Acid Green calipers. A front axle lift system helps navigate everyday obstacles, while removable body-color roof panels allow the car to transform into an open-air roadster.

Inside, the cabin blends luxury and motorsport in a way only Porsche could achieve.

The Onyx leather interior is accented with Acid Green stitching and trim, echoing the car’s hybrid performance credentials. Carbon-fiber-backed bucket seats, a carbon-fiber interior package and Alcantara headliner reinforce the race-inspired atmosphere, while premium amenities such as HD navigation, Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth integration and a Burmester high-end surround sound system ensure comfort on longer journeys.

More than a decade after its introduction, the Porsche 918 Spyder remains a landmark achievement. It demonstrated that electrification could enhance performance rather than diminish it, paving the way for today’s generation of hybrid supercars and hypercars.

As No. 57 of only 918 produced and showing just 13,090 actual miles, this example represents a car that helped usher the supercar world into a new era while proving that efficiency, technology and staggering performance could coexist in a single breathtaking machine.

This article was originally published on Barrett-Jackson.com.

I don’t consider myself a [Insert Car Brand Here] guy. I’ve driven cars from Toyota, Acura, Ford, and Hyundai. I like a little bit of everything, from sedans and trucks to convertibles and SUVs, so I’m not aligned with one particular brand. But I recently realized how Buicks have been a part of major moments in my life. (I’m not a Buick guy, but maybe Buick is a Derek brand.)

The Bad Old Days

In the mid-1980s, my mom was driving my older brother Anthony and me back from her sister Clara’s house in Kentucky to our home in Texas. We were traveling in my mom’s old college car, a gray 1970s Buick Skylark (she can’t remember the exact model year, but given the years she was in college, it must’ve been from the early to mid-1970s), when it broke down in Cave City, Kentucky. A local service shop owner told my mom it would be 3-4 days before the necessary part came in. Five days later, we were back on the road, but the Buick brand wasn’t off to a good start in my young mind.

High School Hauler

Back when I was in high school, I cringed at the idea of station wagons. My parents drove a series of boxy, boring Toyota Cressida longroofs, so it was hard for me to get excited about the body style in general. One of my classmates, a friendly guy named Kamal, drove a final-generation (1991-1996) Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon, complete with the faux-wood side panels. At the time, I both cheered him (he had wheels of some kind) and pitied him (for having to be seen in a big, dorky land yacht). Little did I know how time would change my perspective …

Hitting the Road

When I was a teenager, I had no wheels of my own lined up, but I knew a car of any kind was irrelevant until I obtained my driver’s permit. From what I recall, I didn’t get the whole process started as soon as I was eligible — I might have waited a year. Once it was time to get behind the wheel, I found myself piloting what must have been a 2000 or 2001 Buick Century, a sedan that managed to be simultaneously curvy and bland. Perhaps that’s a good thing because I didn’t flunk my evaluation by driving too enthusiastically. Even if I had gotten a little too rowdy with the gas pedal, I doubt the 175-horsepower 3.1-liter V-6 would’ve caused my instructor to clench his clipboard with a white-knuckle grip.

A Life-Changing Night

I can be a pretty awkward guy, but I’ve never had an awkward date with my wife Eli — except one: the night we got engaged in 2020. Although we had selected her engagement ring together, I wanted my proposal to come as a total surprise. I had been lying (lovingly) to Eli for weeks, telling her the finished ring was delayed because of the supply chain issues that were rampant at the time.

Eli had a hair appointment one afternoon, which meant that she wanted to go out on the town afterward with her new ‘do all fresh and styled. That was the perfect time to pop the question. Once Eli got home and I got dressed (with the ring box in the interior pocket of my navy blazer), I started driving my Buick Enclave Avenir review vehicle toward a significant place in the history of our relationship: Café No Sé in Austin, Texas. Shortly after Eli and started dating in 2016, we had tea there. I told her how I pictured her in the distant future; she asked me, “Are you there?”

On the way to the cafe, Eli and I were unusually quiet and tense. I didn’t want Eli to know what I had planned and she was confused. She knew something was off but, fortunately for me, she reasoned everything away — including my uncharacteristically semi-formal attire — as me just wanting to make the most of us getting out of the house. After a few small appetizers and a halting, nervous conversation, I got down on one knee and made it clear that I wanted to be in Eli’s future for the rest of my life. The awkwardness ended and the complimentary Veuve Clicquot started to flow.

Before we celebrated with dinner at Mattie’s, surrounded by the colors and calls of the peacocks that roam the grounds, Eli and I called our parents from the comfort and quiet of the Enclave’s generously equipped cabin to tell them the great news.

I’ll always remember that wonderful night and how a Buick carried both of us to our destiny. And now that I’m older and my tastes have changed, I realize just how wrong I was about Kamal’s Roadmaster all those years ago. As someone who grew up mostly in the ’90s, a fan of Americana, and a father, I daydream about owning one of those massive wagons and carrying my family in it, whether it’s to go on day trips or to pick up a Christmas tree and carry it back home on the roof. Buick has been a part of my life for so long, so why stop now?

Barrett-Jackson’s inaugural Columbus Auction starts this week. This event is filled with great cars, vintage Automobilia, exciting Thrill Rides and more. The auction runs from Thursday, June 25, through Saturday, June 27, at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds. Pre-auction fun starts Wednesday, June 24, with Bidder Preview Day and the Opening Night Party. If you can’t make it to Columbus, you can watch the auction on the Barrett-Jackson Livestream or YouTube channel, as well as on FYI and HISTORY channels.

EVENT AND TV SCHEDULE (all times are EDT)

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Bidder Preview Day
Auction Site at Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds
(For credentialed guests age 18+ only)
8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Opening Night Party
Auction Arena
(By invitation only)
7 to 10 p.m.

Thursday, June 25, 2026

Gates, Food Courts, Sponsor Displays Open
Auction Site at Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds
8 a.m. to Auction Close

Exhibitor Marketplace
In the North Showcase/Kasich Hall
8 a.m. to Auction Close

Lifestyle Marketplace
In the South Showcase/Bricker Building
8 a.m. to Auction Close

Fantasy Bid presented by Dodge
Online at Promo.BarrettJacksonFantasyBid.com
8 a.m. to Auction Close

Automobilia Auction
Auction Arena
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Dodge Thrill Rides
Barrett-Jackson Performance Track
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TV: Barrett-Jackson Livestream
All the cars, all the time.
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Collector Car Auction
Auction Arena
12 p.m. to Auction Close

TV: “Barrett-Jackson LIVE” on FYI
12 to 5 p.m.

TV: International Viewers Only – Barrett-Jackson YouTube Channel
(Includes commentary during FYI broadcast)
12 to 5 p.m.

Adam’s Polishes Detailing Clinic
Detailing Tent adjacent to Vehicle Tent 1
2 to 3 p.m.

TV: Encore Presentation of “Barrett-Jackson LIVE” on FYI
5 to 10 p.m.

Friday, June 26, 2026

Gates, Food Courts, Sponsor Displays Open
Auction Site at Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds
8 a.m. to Auction Close

Exhibitor Marketplace
In the North Showcase/Kasich Hall
8 a.m. to Auction Close

Lifestyle Marketplace
In the South Showcase/Bricker Building
8 a.m. to Auction Close

Fantasy Bid presented by Dodge
Online at Promo.BarrettJacksonFantasyBid.com
8 a.m. to Auction Close

Automobilia Auction
Auction Arena
9 to 11 a.m.

Dodge Thrill Rides
Barrett-Jackson Performance Track
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TV: Barrett-Jackson Livestream
All the cars, all the time.
9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Collector Car Auction
Auction Arena
11 a.m. to Auction Close

TV: “Barrett-Jackson LIVE” on FYI
12 to 6 p.m.

TV: International Viewers Only – Barrett-Jackson YouTube Channel
(Includes commentary during FYI broadcast)
12 to 6 p.m.

Adam’s Polishes Detailing Clinic
Detailing Tent adjacent to Vehicle Tent 1
2 to 3 p.m.

TV: Encore Presentation of “Barrett-Jackson LIVE” on FYI
6 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Saturday, June 27, 2026

Gates, Food Courts, Sponsor Displays Open
Auction Site at Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds
8 a.m. to Auction Close

Exhibitor Marketplace
In the North Showcase/Kasich Hall
8 a.m. to Auction Close

Lifestyle Marketplace
In the South Showcase/Bricker Building
8 a.m. to Auction Close

Fantasy Bid presented by Dodge
Online at Promo.BarrettJacksonFantasyBid.com
8 to 11 a.m.

Automobilia Auction
Auction Arena
9 to 11 a.m.

Dodge Thrill Rides
Barrett-Jackson Performance Track
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TV: Barrett-Jackson Livestream
All the cars, all the time.
9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Collector Car Auction
Auction Arena
11 a.m. to Auction Close

TV: HISTORY
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

TV: International Viewers Only – Barrett-Jackson YouTube Channel
(Includes commentary during HISTORY broadcast)
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Adam’s Polishes Detailing Clinic
Detailing Tent adjacent to Vehicle Tent 1
2 to 3 p.m.

TV: Encore Presentation of “Barrett-Jackson LIVE” on FYI
6 p.m. to 12 a.m.

“Everything about Caprice reflects an elegant departure from the norm,” Chevrolet said about its new-for-1966 standalone model. The Caprice was defined by its formal roofline — something that set it apart from other Chevy full-sized offerings of the time. Featured on AutoHunter is a 1966 Chevrolet Caprice Custom Coupe listed for sale by a dealer in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Caprice name was first introduced in mid-1965 for a luxury package offered on the Impala four-door hardtop under RPO Z18. Included in the equipment list were a heavier frame, suspension changes, and trim updates. Beginning in 1966, the Caprice became a standalone model, although it shared a 119-inch wheelbase with other full-sized models including the Impala, Bel Air, and Biscayne.

The 1966 brochure for full-sized models said, “Choose any jet-smoother 1966 Chevrolet. It’ll be built the Chevrolet way: comfortable, dependable, and good-looking… like the new Caprice Custom Coupe with its one-of-a-kind roofline.”

Exterior features include chrome bumpers, quad headlights, wheel-arch and rocker moldings, dual side mirrors, and 18-inch Rally-style wheels wrapped in Toyo Extensa HP tires. The red paint, fancy footwork, and lowered stance give this otherwise unassuming high-end coupe a racy aesthetic.

The cabin is upholstered in black vinyl. Features include bucket seats, lap belts, center console, woodgrain trim, manual-crank windows, Sparco steering wheel, touchscreen audio system, air conditioning, and power windows.

Contrary to what the badges on the front fenders say (“350”), there’s a lot more going on under the hood than meets the eye. Power comes from a 496ci V-8 mated to a 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission and a 12-bolt rear end with an Eaton limited-slip differential. Equipment includes a Holley Sniper EFI system, aluminum radiator, aluminum heads, long-tube headers, and serpentine belt system. Four-wheel power-assisted disc brakes are employed for confident stopping power.

If the Caprice in stock form was capable of delivering a “jet-smooth” driving experience, this high-horsepower restomod version takes the skillset to all new heights — and speeds. It’s an attractive departure from the norm on so many levels.

The auction for this 1966 Chevrolet Caprice Custom Coupe ends Monday, June 29, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

It wasn’t that long ago when Mercedes-Benz’s AMG performance division made faster vehicles primarily by using big, high-output V-8s. But in the 2000s, AMG starting using forced induction, which led to supercharged V-6s and V-8s, and even twin-turbo V-12s. Our Pick of the Day comes from that power-crazy time in AMG’s history. You can find this two-owner 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Norcross, Georgia. It comes with service and maintenance records. The video below shows an exterior walk-around.

In the mid-2000s, the R230 generation of the SL offered a wide array of performance options. The V8-powered SL 500 was the entry-level model. Its SL 600 sibling offered smooth twin-turbo V-12 power. AMG equipped the SL 55 with a supercharger that upped the 5.4-liter V-8’s figures to nearly 500 horsepower and more than 500 lb-ft of torque. The powermongers at AMG topped that by installing a larger, 6.0-liter version of the SL 600’s twin-turbo V-12 under the hood of the SL 65. Output was a staggering 604 horsepower and an Earth-spinning 738 lb-ft of torque, which a five-speed auto delivered to the (quickly overwhelmed) rear tires.

Car and Driver magazine clocked a 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds and a quarter mile time of 11.9 seconds at 123 mph. As you’ve probably imagined already, those numbers made for an unforgettable driving experience. Our Andy Reid flew down the highway in an SL 65 at face-rippling speeds without even realizing how fast he was going. Another outlet’s 2024 review of the SL 65 pointed out its shocking acceleration — above 100.

Around that monstrous engine, AMG added an aggressive body kit, sport suspension, high-performance brakes, 19-inch multipiece wheels, paddle shifters, and more.

Despite the incredible power they offer, many SL 65s haven’t been driven a lot. Take this 51,644-mile ’06 you see here. Over the past 20 years, it picked up carbon fiber hood and trunk lid wrap, front-end paint protection film, and a set of 19-inch front and 20-inch rear R231 SL wheels. The interior features — massaging and heated and ventilated seats, Active Body Control, dual-zone climate control, fixed moonroof with retractable shade, and Bose audio — make surging past milder machines even more pleasant. Lowering the power-operated metal hardtop will heighten that feeling of flying down the road.

The current SL isn’t available with a V-12. Fortunately, you can buy this 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG for $65,900. If you have a heavy right foot, just be sure to leave some room in your budget for new rear tires.

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

It takes a discerning eye to move from the macro to the micro, so we at The ClassicCars.com Journal are curious if you’re able to identify these vehicles currently listed for sale on AutoHunter. There are four cars with different styling elements to challenge you — rise to the occasion and post your answers in the Comments section below. Be sure to tell us the brand and model; bonus points go to the brave who identify the model year!

Click on a photo to reveal each car

If you like automotive puzzles, you’ll find one at The ClassicCars.com Journal every Tuesday and Saturday. Click here to find more Car Games!

Every car has a list.

Your classic might need a mystery noise chased down, a hard-to-place part identified, or an upgrade you’ve been picturing since the last cars and coffee.

Your daily driver might need brakes, a maintenance round, a warning light read, or a quick fix before Monday morning.

Different cars. Same three questions: What’s going on? What do I need? How do I fix it?

That’s where HowToo comes in.

Meet Orion, the master mechanic in your pocket. Orion helps you understand what’s happening with your vehicle, what to check next, and which parts will finish the job. Describe it in plain English and turn a vague car worry into a real repair plan.

Here’s what people use Orion for:

• Troubleshoot issues — share symptoms or engine codes and narrow down the likely cause.
• Follow a repair — get step-by-step instructions and guided videos for the job ahead.
• Read warning lights — upload a photo and get clear next steps.
• Identify parts — snap a picture and figure out exactly what you’re looking at.
• Plan upgrades — learn how systems work and what to think through before you start turning bolts.

Orion is 100% free and built on real-world vehicle data, repair knowledge, and parts information, so the guidance is grounded in the cars people actually restore, maintain, drive, and love.

Curious what Orion makes of your car? Try it free at HowToo.com/orion.

When the plan turns into a parts list, HowToo keeps the momentum going.

The marketplace carries over 1.5 million parts from brands you already trust, with surprisingly good prices on brake jobs, routine maintenance, upgrades, and the weekend project that’s been waiting its turn.

Replacing worn brake components, tracking down the right sensor, refreshing a tired system, or finally starting that project on the list — the right part is a search away, and the price tends to make the list feel a little lighter.

Browse the marketplace anytime at HowToo.com/shop.

Diagnose the issue, understand the repair, watch the how-to, and order trusted parts — all in one place.

For the classic you love, the daily driver you count on, and every project in between, HowToo gets you to the part of the day that matters most: that satisfying “done.”

Start with Orion, free, at HowToo.com/orion.

It’s been a long time since Chevrolet made an Impala SS (especially one with rear-wheel drive), but that model name still gets people excited. Right now on AutoHunter, you can get this 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS Sport Coupe, which is powered by a 409ci V-8 mated to a four-speed manual transmission. Finished in Ermine White over a black vinyl interior, this restored classic is now offered by the selling dealer in Oregon with an owner’s manual and a clear title.

As part of the restoration process, the body was refinished in its original color, Ermine White. Exterior features include chrome bumpers, bright trim, dual mirrors, rear passenger-side antenna, and dual exhaust outlets.

This Impala leaps away from stoplights on a set of 14-inch wheels with 205/75 Hankook whitewall radial tires. Behind the wheel covers, the braking system now runs four-wheel power discs.

Inside, there are bucket front seats (as there should be in an Impala SS) and a rear bench seat covered in black vinyl. Features include new power steering, metallic dashboard trim, clock, center console with Hurst shifter, and factory AM push-button radio.

Instrumentation consists of a 120-mph speedometer, column-mounted 7,000-rpm tachometer, and gauges for the temperature and fuel level. The odometer shows 9,771 miles, but this car is mileage-exempt, according to its title.

A period-correct 409ci V-8 with the “QB” suffix and dual quads provides 409 factory-rated horsepower to help this Impala outrun its four-wheeled predators. A four-speed manual gearbox equipped with a new clutch sends the big-block’s output to the factory Positraction rear end.

If you get revved up every time you hear the words “Impala SS,” bid on the 1962 Sport Coupe you see here before the auction ends on Friday, June 26, 2026, at 11:45 a.m. (PDT). If you come out on top, you can feel that excitement whenever you go for a drive.

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

It’s difficult to say if my paradigm is based on facts, but I feel that the learning process includes things that we have to pass through our system to achieve a more sophisticated position. Using our Pick of the Day as our example, cars like this 1966 Ford Thunderbird Convertible were among the first of my favorite classics, but then I moved on. Nonetheless, I always have a warm stirring of longing when I see a car like this. This T-bird is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Newburgh, New York.

There are several reasons why the 1966 Ford Thunderbird was a part of my automotive education: First, classic Thunderbirds are awesome, especially a two-seater evolving into a four-seater. Next, many were owned by mature owners, so the rate of attrition was smaller than your average old car and, hence, I was able to catch glimpses of them as a kid. Then, Thunderbird ads were common in the old National Geographic magazines I had access to. Lastly, I was entranced by the sequential taillights of Mercury Cougars, and the 1965-66 Ford Thunderbird was the car that originated that gimmick. Of the two years, I felt the ’66 was superior by far, especially due to its full-width taillights. I even bought the AMT model (the “build custom or stock” version introduced in 1978) and did my best to build it, but when it came to art, I had two left thumbs.

Though I knew the 1966 Thunderbird was the last of its generation, I was not aware of the things that made it an improved model. For example, I did not know 1966 was the first time since 1960 that more than one engine size was available. In this case, Ford introduced the FE-based 428ci V-8 as an option. Ford called this 345-hosepower engine the Thunderbird 428 V-8, an engine also available in full-size Fords as well as the special Galaxie 500 7-Litre that was created to showcase the engine.

I also didn’t know the Town Hardtop and Town Landau were new for 1966. For 1965, the Thunderbird was available as a Hardtop, Convertible, and Landau, but Ford shuffled things around for ’66: A new Town Hardtop and Town Landau featured a formal roof with an extended C-pillar that took real estate where the rear side window used to be. The 1965 Landau shared the raked C-pillar with the Hardtop, but for 1966, the “regular” Landau was replaced by the Town Landau. The standard Thunderbird Hardtop (with raked C-pillar) continued, as did the Convertible.

One of the neat aspects of the Town models was the Overhead Safety Panel, an overhead console that featured lights including alerts for door ajar, low fuel, and fasten seat belts, plus a hazard switch and indicator. This feature would trickle down as a similar option for the 1967 Mustang as part of the Interior Décor Option.

Though it was not possible to have the Overhead Safety Panel in a Convertible, Ford did make the package available for the Hardtop and Convertible, though mounted on the floor console. This 1966 Ford Thunderbird Convertible appears to have this option plus several other notable ones: 428 engine, accessory tonneau cover, and Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels. “New console mounted power window switches and both the driver and passenger side window motors have been replaced,” says the seller. “New top arms for the Convertible were installed when the new white Convertible top replaced the old one. All the mechanics for the top were checked out and fine-tuned by a Thunderbird mechanic with over 50 years’ experience working on Thunderbird Convertibles.” Radio has been replaced with a new RetroSound radio with Bluetooth, along with a dash speaker and new rear speaker.

Sure, maybe my interests have evolved, but it’s nice to come back. Perhaps you, too, are one who’s always been keen on the ’66 T-bird? For $46,595 (OBO), you can feel like you never left.

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

Chances are, you’ve seen at least one of the 11 films produced as part of the Fast & Furious franchise, and you may have even known that there’s a 12^th pending in 2028. The franchise has become of the highest-grossing film series in history. And it’s celebrating an anniversary today.

The iconic cast, including the late Paul Walker as Brian O’Conner, first assembled over 25 years ago and changed the course of the car-film landscape as we know it. The original “The Fast and the Furious” premiered in Los Angeles on June 18, 2001, and hit theaters nationwide a few days later on June 22.

The rest, as they say, is history. Leading up to the F&F debut, “import tuner” car-culture had gained some serious momentum in the 1990s, due in large part to the popularity of sport-compact coupes like the Acura Integra, Honda Prelude, Nissan 200SX, and Toyota Celica. Mitsubishi was vying for a piece of the pie, too, and its Eclipse was a formidable contender.

In particular, the second-generation (1995-99) Eclipse evokes nostalgia for me and for my family. Back in 1999, my brother’s girlfriend drove the above-pictured white Eclipse GS that had period-correct modifications. Notice the chunky 18-inch chrome Niche wheels that likely impeded performance instead of enhancing it. Under the hood, I recall that the car had a cold-air intake, and on the interior, the gauges had been upgraded to white-faced “Indiglo” units.

If cars like the Eclipse were already on a roll in the late 1990s, then Fast & Furious accelerated that roll even more. Many people have gone on to create detailed replicas of cars from the films. I was able see the pink Honda S2000 from “2 Fast 2 Furious” when I visited the Honda campus for an event last June.

To date, the F&F franchise has grossed over $7.4 billion. The top-earning film was “Furious 7” (2015) which brought in $1.5 billion globally. The next installment in the franchise will be officially titled “Fast Forever,” and Universal Pictures has scheduled it for theatrical release on March 17, 2028.

I look forward to checking it out, and I’d love to see a (now-classic!) second-gen Mitsubishi Eclipse in it making a reprise.