hot rods, muscle cars, customs...

[TexRex]

Fat Jack A roadster.

I guess I appreciate it because it's silly. I do like a rake but that front end is just waaaaaay too low. The rear's just about perfect, though.

 

[TexRex]

Pretty Plymouth is pretty.

 

[Gotbeefboy564]

Hemi cars from mcacn 2025 this was their red carpet display

 

[Omnis]

Ringbros are unsurpassed:

 

[ScottPuss20]

BIG DODGY

 

[05XR8]

Always liked the Challenger. It’ll never happen, but I really wish they could drop the weight under 1600kg/3600lbs. I mean even 1600kg would be great. I’d trade power for loss of weight.

 

[TexRex]

Stance.

Also slapper bars.

 

[ScottPuss20]

 

[TexRex]

 

[Gotbeefboy564]

Ringbros are unsurpassed:

Looks nice in person

 

[TexRex]

Appliance Dia-Mags on this '70.

 

[Gotbeefboy564]

Winner of the 2026 Detroit Autorama great 8.

 

[TheCracker]

Always amazes me when someone bothers putting a 1000hp engine in something that will rarely travel under its own steam let alone in anger.

 

[TexRex]

Always amazes me when someone bothers putting a 1000hp engine in something that will rarely travel under its own steam let alone in anger.

But it has 1000hp.

 

[TheCracker]

But it has 1000hp.

Just what it needs to pull out of its climate-controlled garage and up the steep, steep ramp into it's covered trailer.

 

[Gotbeefboy564]

A lot of the great 8 cars this year were twin turbo and 1,000 hp too. No one from Michigan won this year.

 

[TheCracker]

I imagine that 1000hp crate engines are pretty much a thing these days.

Perhaps not direct from the factory, but engine builders will be churning them out for potential customers. 2000hp is the new 1000hp.

 

[05XR8]

I’m surprised many aren’t converting to four wheel drive with that much horsepower. I remember a 4WD hot rod build from a while ago.
Yep, typed it in.

 

[TexRex]

I imagine that 1000hp crate engines are pretty much a thing these days.

Perhaps not direct from the factory, but engine builders will be churning them out for potential customers.

Direct from the factory. Naturally aspirated and on pump gas, even. Just...632 cubic inches or 10.4 liters.

ZZ632/1000 Chevrolet Performance Big Block

Check out the deal on ZZ632/1000 Chevrolet Performance Big Block at GM Performance Motor

www.gmperformancemotor.com

I think Mopar's Hellephant does it as well, but supercharged. Not aware that Ford does one yet but if not they probably have a supercharged Godzilla in the works to compete.

 

[TexRex]

Hnnnngg...

"Colonnade muscle" is a bit of a contradiction--the Colonnade era was pure malaise--but a Century Gran Sport Stage 1 did still pack some punch in 1973 with its 455, a motor that would be neutered considerably before being dropped from the intermediate line after 1976.

 

[05XR8]

I’ve never seen that model. Especially with the manual. Some owners knew what they were doing by ticking those boxes. Good stuff!

No wonder I’ve not seen one. Crazy rare.

1973 Buick Century GS 455 Stage-1 Colonnade Sun Coupe — Audrain Auto Museum

Generously Lent by Philip & Grace Roitman

www.audrainautomuseum.org

While looking up the A-bodies at the time. A four door? Four on the floor?!

 

[TexRex]

I’ve never seen that model. Especially with the manual. Some owners knew what they were doing by ticking those boxes. Good stuff!

No wonder I’ve not seen one. Crazy rare.

1973 Buick Century GS 455 Stage-1 Colonnade Sun Coupe — Audrain Auto Museum

Generously Lent by Philip & Grace Roitman

www.audrainautomuseum.org

While looking up the A-bodies at the time. A four door? Four on the floor?!
View attachment 1522091
View attachment 1522092

Yeah, that would be the "sporty" Grand Am. More-door LeMans got stuck with auto only, the 4-speed going to two-door LeMans and GTO. Grand Am could have a 455, too, but I don't think the more-door got the Trans Am Super Duty motor that the two-door could be optioned with. I love the Endura nose on the Grand Am, but I think I favor the more-door because I just don't like the louvered roof of the two-door; I need the big quarter glass on a Colonnade coupe, no formal roof or louvers.

And yeah the '73 Stage 1 is a rare one. Gran Sport was a trim package for the Century at this point instead of a Skylark-based stand-alone, but it was the only Century that got a manual behind a 455. Stage 1 got more horsepower, too...10 over the regular Century Gran Sport's 270 and like 50hp over any other 455 car from Buick. I love the "canopy" vinyl top, otherwise I'd need full vinyl or a painted roof. Pontiac and Oldsmobile two-door Colonnades got the rear half vinyl and they're kinda 'meh.'

 

[05XR8]

Yeah, those half tops are more like they ran out of material. However, gotta give it to GM and pretty much the big three for just doing stuff. Being creative for better or worse. Meant having so many unique cars year on year.

1973 Buick Century Gran Sport

Bid for the chance to own a 1973 Buick Century Gran Sport at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #49,206.

bringatrailer.com

T-tops(this pace car isn’t too bad) or full glass roof would have been trick for the GS.

 

[TexRex]

Gran Sport was long dead by the time T-tops made it to the Century line, and they were limited to formal roof Regals, likely due to roof strength over that span. That pace car was a '75 and it preceded any factory T-top Regal, which bowed in '76. Gran Sport was gone after '74.

Edit: My god. Motor Wheel Spyders.

Edit: Getting well out of muscle territory and into the malaise, but it's topical. I love the '76-7 Century Custom Coupe body. The rest got a formal roof. Do these wheel arches look familiar?

 

[05XR8]

Gran Sport was long dead by the time T-tops made it to the Century line, and they were limited to formal roof Regals, likely due to roof strength over that span. That pace car was a '75 and it preceded any factory T-top Regal, which bowed in '76. Gran Sport was gone after '74.

Edit: My god. Motor Wheel Spyders.

Edit: Getting well out of muscle territory and into the malaise, but it's topical. I love the '76-7 Century Custom Coupe body. The rest got a formal roof. Do these wheel arches look familiar?

Those arches look a bit rounded for the era. Special model?

 

[TexRex]

Those arches look a bit rounded for the era. Special model?

Not special. Every two-door Colonnade Buick got them for '76 and '77. Century got the slant nose and Regal got a snub nose, but both had those arches.

I think they're very '81-7 Regal.

 

[05XR8]

Yesssss, the slant nose. I nearly mentioned the arches might be a precursor to the downsized model. Without the chrome trim rings the older cars do look more flared than the squared fenders.

 

[TexRex]

Jeebus. That color.

Love the tri-shield mirror on '70 Skylarks. I prefer the chrome mirror to the painted sport mirrors anyway but '70 was the only year that got the tri-shield. Passenger side was optional, and those cars are rare as hens' teeth. I've seen a couple '71-2s with dual chrome mirrors but no '70s.

 

[TexRex]

Love the spread quad headlights on the '68 Cutlass range. Similar to the '67 but a little more subdued for the new body. One year only as the headlights got moved closer together for '69.

S and Supreme got chrome vertical bars in the grille, which is fine but I prefer the black eggcrate insert on the 442. I tend to prefer the '70-2 Cutty hardtop shell but man I love that front end.

 

[Gotbeefboy564]

GM motorama cars are at the Gilmore car museum.