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Almost Lost Forever: The Story of the First Camaro

Many of of our favorite stories involve a redemption arc, where the protagonist falls from grace, goes through a rough patch, and eventually emerges victorious. Such is the story of the very first Camaro officially produced by Chevrolet. This Camaro, which features VIN N100001, was built in secret in May of 1966 and kept under lock and key until the unveiling of the Camaro to the press a few months later. But in the years that followed, it was sold several times, turned into a race car, and nearly faded into obscurity.

1963-67 C2 Corvette: History, Prices, Engine Options, & Production Numbers

Development of the second-generation 1963-1967 C2 Corvette began in the mid to late 1950's. Ed Cole, Chevrolet's General Manager, called it the "Q-Corvette" project. To achieve better handling, the chassis would have a four-wheel independent suspension system. It should also have four-wheel disc brakes, for better stopping power. For better weight distribution and elimination of the transmission hump, a front engine/rear transaxle foundation was planned. Read on as we take a look back at C2 Corvette history, concept cars, racing development, factory options, and model year changes throughout its five-year production run. We'll even share some data on original pricing and how many were sold each year.

1967-1972 Ford F100 Model Years Identification Guide

Car and truck designers and engineers are well versed at evolving and improving vehicles through sometimes subtle and other times dramatic improvements. A vehicle that exemplifies subtle and artful design changes is the 1967-1972 Ford F100. These model years are known as the 5th generation of the world-famous Ford F100. In this identification guide, we'll show you some styling differences that can help you distinguish each of the F100 model years from 1967 through 1972. We'll also take a look at the engine options that were offered for these classic F-Series trucks.

Ford Truck History: From the Model TT to the Modern F-Series

The Ford Motor Company first produced a pickup truck in 1917. The truck was called a Ford Model TT. It differed from the Model T passenger car by having a heavier frame and rear axle, which gave the truck a hauling capacity of one US ton (2,000 pounds). Ever since then, Ford has been building world-renowned pickup trucks, including the F-1, F-100, and bestselling F-150. Read on as we look back at Ford truck history from the early years through the modern F-Series.

Ford Mustang History: Creating the First Pony Car

Some automotive enthusiasts are very familiar with the history of the Ford Mustang and why it has sold so well for its entire existence, dating back to its premiere in April of 1964. But most people just view the Mustang as a sporty car with a clever name. There are perhaps a baker’s dozen reasons that the Mustang was such a resounding automotive triumph right out of the starting gate, and why it continues to be the frontrunner in the hearts and souls of millions of car gals and guys.

True Story: How the "War Camaro" Dodged Bullets and Delivered Humanitarian Aid

Truth is often stranger than fiction. The seemingly-impossible story we're looking at today sounds like something that could only happen in a movie, but it's real. In the early 1990s, a Danish Special Forces officer named Helge Meyer bought a 1979 Camaro from a member of the U.S. military stationed in Europe. With the help of U.S. Army and Air Force personnel, he fitted it with armor, low-visibility paint, night vision and thermal cameras, and even nitrous oxide for extra power. Then he drove it behind the lines of war-torn countries including Yugoslavia, Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo to deliver food and supplies to civilians. He continued these unarmed, high-risk missions for more than a decade, and lived to tell the story.

Dodge Truck History: Early Years Through the D Series / W Series / Ram

The Dodge division of Chrysler has produced quite a stable of rugged, fast, sleek, and innovative 1/2-ton trucks through the years. Classic Industries has also become a leading supplier of Mopar restoration and performance parts, especially for 1960-76 A, B, and E-body muscle cars. There's a constant clamoring from our customer base for Classic Industries to sell parts for Dodge trucks as well. In fact, the Dodge D Series and W Series pickups from 1961-1993 are being restored and customized in ever-increasing numbers. Accordingly, more and more components are becoming available for these pickup trucks. Read on as we take a look back at Dodge truck history from the 1920s through the 1990s.

Gallery: A Few of Our Favorite American Cars from Movies & TV Shows

The sort of vehicles that we get exposed to in our upbringing can influence the kind of cars and trucks that we wish to own later in life. If the vehicle is old enough (and the car's would-be caretaker has sufficient spending cash), it could be the sort of car/truck that an auto enthusiast wishes to purchase as a project vehicle to maintain (if it's running), renovate, or resto-mod. The various forms of media — radio, TV, movies, the internet, video games, etc. — all can contribute in a big way to this sort of automotive exposure and influence. Today, we'll discuss a few of our favorite American classic cars from movies and TV shows.

1947-2013 Chevy Truck Generations - Quick Reference Guide

Over the course of more than six decades from 1947 to 2013, Chevrolet trucks went through many changes. The most substantial of these changes serve as the dividing lines between Chevy truck generations. If you're a classic truck enthusiast, you're probably able to spot these body style cues and recall the corresponding model year ranges, or even their designations such as Advance Design and Task Force. However, those who are new to classic trucks may not be so well-versed. With this in mind, we put together a clear and concise visual guide to 1947-2013 Chevy truck generations.

1979-1986 Mercury Capri History - Mercury's Second Pony Car

Photos Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

The lead photo is of a 1983 Mercury Capri RS. A high-output 5.0L V8 that is backed by a five-speed manual transmission powers the low production Capri RS.

Ford Lincoln-Mercury's second pony car was the 2nd generation Mercury Capri. For the sake of clarity and brevity, its moniker was simply the Mercury Capri, as opposed to the Ford Lincoln-Mercury Capri. Like the Mercury Cougar from 1967-1974, the 2nd generation Mercury Capri (1979-1986) shared the Mustang chassis that Ford produced at the time. This go round though Ford manufactured an all new chassis for the Ford Mustang known as the Fox platform from 1979-1993, it's 3rd generation platform for the original pony car. In this article, we'll examine Mercury Capri history and how it changed from 1979 to 1986.