I started to lose interest in late-model cars around 2001 when I left an advertising agency in Detroit. Apparently, I no longer kept my finger on the pulse on the market. International auto show visits became less common. Result? I lost my touch—don’t ask me when the Mustang was redesigned, because I’m unsure if it was 2013 or 2014 (answer: 2015 model year). And don’t ask me the horsepower over the years.
These AutoHunter Picks mostly cater to the muscle memory in my mind: the classics from another era. But that’s not to say my lust discriminates, as the Porsche I’ve selected would make a wonderful daily driver and, unfortunately, may make me forget about the classics, as many of you Hellcat Dodge Challenger owners have discovered.
1968 Buick GS 400 Convertible
I wrote about this car in a past ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day almost 18 months ago, and now it appears on AutoHunter—what are the chances? It’s one of the best values in the muscle car world because its engine is solid, its styling is classic GM, and it’s gives up nothing to other, more popular cars. Plus, the top drops.
But, as you can see, this 1968 GS 400 convertible has received some personalization that just works. The triple black combo, combined with the modern black five-spokes (and four-wheel discs!), looks hot, and the interior has several modern audio conveniences that ensure streaming your favorite tunes with the top down is just as close as your smart phone.
1967 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Holiday Coupe
The cool thing about some products from General Motors is that, even though you may not have documentation for the vehicle, the data plate may show accessory codes. In the case of this vehicle, “5V” means it was built with the L78 4-4-2 package, while the “2L” means it was built with a four-speed manual.
So, what else is there to know about this 1967 4-4-2? It’s a museum car, having spent time at the Blackhawk Collection among the Duesenbergs and Stutzes. Glance at the interior and you’ll notice how Oldsmobile upgraded the 4-4-2’s specification to the Cutlass Supreme. And check out those chalk marks in the engine bay! This is a sweet Olds for the ’67 aficionado.
1973 Ford Gran Torino
These cars showed up on everybody’s radar when Clint Eastwood appeared in a movie of its namesake. To Gen X and older, these are Malaise Era cars but, to the younger folks, these are sexy beasts, Malaise Era (what’s that?) be damned, so they quickly became more desirable and valuable.
This 1973 Gran Torino coupe is in the very 1970s hue of Ivy Glow with complementary tan and saddle interior. It is powered by a 302-2V, so it’s not going to be a screamer, but considering pimpalicious was becoming a thing in 1973, there’s nothing wrong with cruising in style with the AC on and the FM stereo tuned to a random “Have A Nice Day” station.
2005 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet
I swore to my wife that I would buy a 911 one day. She thinks I mean a new one, and that’s true until I caught wind how much the standard one costs these days—they’re no longer 80 grand, sorry to say, though my current life can’t afford that much anyway. It seems I’ll have to deal with an older one, which is never a bad thing when it comes to Porsche.
That’s especially true when it comes to all-wheel drive and a retractable top, both of which can be found in this 51,877-mile 2005 911 Carrera 4. Drivers rejoice, as this car also has the six-speed manual backing the 315-horsepower flat-six! Honestly, I don’t know what other features to list because most Porsches come with everything you need. GPS? Use your phone, silly!