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Patrick McCarthy

Recent Posts by Patrick McCarthy:

Video: A Retrospective Review of the 1969 Z/28

If you're shopping for a brand new car, it's easy to find reviews from any number of magazines, websites, and YouTube channels. But what if you're shopping for a classic car? With its new video series "Tested: Muscle," Hemmings set out to create new-car-style reviews of timeless classics. Their goal is "to showcase a bit of history and then dive into what it’s like to own, drive, and experience some of the most coveted stock muscle cars ever produced." We like this concept, and host Mike Musto's review of a pristine 1969 Camaro Z/28 is a great example of how it works.

Roadster Shop's Legend Series 1979 C10 - "A New Truck Wrapped in an Old Truck"

The concept of a "restomod" is essentially a fusion of old and new components, taking the best of both worlds to create a vehicle that drives like a modern car but has all the appeal of a classic. Roadster Shop's latest in-house project, a 1979 Chevy C10 nicknamed Ole Blue, is a beautiful example of a high-end restomod. By pairing a completely new chassis and Chevrolet drivetrain with the timeless body and interior of this '79 Chevy, the company created what they call "a new truck wrapped in an old truck."

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.

Roadster Shop's 1,600 Horsepower Buick Grand National

What do you get when you squeeze two more cylinders, nearly double the displacement, and a second turbo into the engine bay of a 1987 Buick Grand National? In the case of Roadster Shop's custom '87 GN,  you get six and a half times the original power output. Yes, you read that right. The original 3.8L turbocharged V6 in this car produced 245hp, which made it very quick compared to most other cars of its era. The car seen here produces more than 6.5 times as much power with its 1,600hp 7.0L twin-turbo V8.

Rare 1971 'Cuda 440 Convertible Sold for $800,000

We've always known our classic cars are special and valuable, but it's interesting to see just how valuable some of them have become in recent years. Auctions of especially rare or noteworthy vehicles have run far into the six-figure range, and some have even broken the million-dollar mark. This 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda convertible, equipped with a 440 Six-Pack engine and 4-speed transmission, recently sold for a whopping $800,000 at a Hemmings collector car auction. On top of its beautiful condition, this car has a pretty cool story behind it.