Most car enthusiasts are familiar with the name ZR1, whether it's from the original run as a high-performance variant of the 1970-72 Corvette C3 or its continuation during the C4, C6, C7, and C8 Corvette generations. But far fewer enthusiasts know about the ZR1's much rarer sibling, the Corvette ZR2. This hardcore, big-block-powered package was offered only during the 1971 model year, and a total of just 12 Corvette ZR2s were ever built — ten coupes and two convertibles. Today, a surviving '71 Corvette ZR2 can sell for over a million dollars.

The term resto-mod has a wide range of possible interpretations. Some enthusiasts believe that anything that isn't restored completely to factory specs is a resto-mod, while others think that only significantly modified cars (like pro-touring builds) should get that designation.ICON 4x4 founder Jonathan Ward created a custom classic truck that pushes this concept to its most extreme limits, so much so that he prefers to avoid the term entirely. "This is not a resto-mod," he explained. "It behaves and acts like a brand new truck because it is a brand new truck." Still, despite its updated underpinnings and enhanced technology, ICON's C Modern Retro Series retains all the timeless style of a classic 1967-72 Chevy C-10.

The 1959 Chevy Impala is a vehicle that has an unmistakable presence on the road. With its long, sleek body, dual headlamps, aircraft-inspired styling, and distinctive tailfins, it looks fast even when it's sitting still. This presents a challenge to any custom car builder: how can this rolling work of art be resto-modded without losing its original style and character? Steve Cook Creations attempted to do just that, and we'd say the result was extremely successful. The judges for the Al Slonaker Memorial Award — one of the most prestigious awards in the automotive industry — agreed, selecting this car as the award winner in 2024.

When tragedy strikes and a car you love gets totaled, it's easy to become discouraged or frustrated. Nick Relampagos felt this impulse when a racing accident caused his pro-touring 1970 Camaro to spin into a concrete barrier. But rather than give up, he chose to rebuild it better than ever. The result is a wild 750-horsepower track machine that's packed with high-end upgrades and custom-built carbon fiber parts. Autotopia LA recently interviewed Nick about the story of his car and how it ended up in its current form.

The classic formula for any hot rod is to take the biggest V8 engine available and drop it into a relatively small, lightweight chassis. General Motors understood this, but rather than starting with a car, it applied the formula to its recently-debuted GMT400 truck platform. The 454ci big block V8 was normally found in heavy-duty full-size pickups, but starting in 1990, GM dropped it into a 1/2-ton short-bed model and called it the 454 SS. This menacing muscle truck was sold under the appropriate RPO code "B4U" and came with a variety of performance and handling upgrades. Its success forged a new market segment for trucks like the SVT Lightning and Ram SRT-10.

When it comes to classic car restomod projects, especially high-end SEMA Show builds, it's easy to go overboard. There's an allure to adding more power, more grip, more tech, and more luxury, and some builders don't know when to stop. For Steve Strope of Pure Vision Design, keeping this 1967 Pontiac GTO true to its roots was priority number one. Many aspects of the car are modernized and improved, but it still looks, drives, and sounds like an old-school Pontiac. When the car's owner suggested an LS swap, Strope flat-out refused, so it still has the Pontiac V8 it was built with.

Classic truck enthusiasts will surely be familiar with the Chevrolet Suburban. Originally introduced in 1934 and still around today, the Suburban is the longest-running automobile model name of all time. But far fewer know about Ford's attempt to capture a slice of that same market: the Ford B-Series Carryall. Better known under its designations B-100, B-150, B-200, and B-250, the Ford B-Series was a line of full-size SUVs based on the F-Series truck platform. However, it was only sold in Mexico and South America, so they're quite rare in the United States. In this article, we'll delve into the history, design, and features of the Ford B-Series Carryall.

In 1966, the Trans-American Championship racing series was created by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). During those early days, manufacturers competed head-to-head with modified versions of their production cars — these included the Ford Mustang, Mercury Cougar, Plymouth Barracuda, Dodge Challenger, Pontiac Firebird (and later the eponymous Trans Am), and of course the Chevrolet Camaro. Competition was fierce, and as is often the case in racing, teams were looking for any advantage they could get. Mark Donohue's Sunoco Camaro Z28 pushed the limits and bent some rules to achieve an incredible winning streak in the 1968 Trans-Am championship.

The third-generation Camaro is certainly one of the most emblematic vehicles of the 1980s. Many of us who grew up in that era can still picture it in its heyday — the high school quarterback rolling up to a game in his red IROC-Z with T-tops open and Van Halen blasting on the stereo. These days, the third-gen is making a comeback as a relatively affordable classic car with a wide selection of restoration parts and performance upgrade choices. On a recent episode from the AutotopiaLA YouTube channel, Jack and his son Pete Avetisyan show off the 1991 Camaro Z28 they resto-modded, including Lamborghini orange paint and a vicious 700hp LS7 under the hood.

"This was probably the most aspirational car you could get in America," remarked Jay Leno while driving a restored 1967 Corvette with the legendary Tri-Power 427ci V8 under its hood. "If you had a plumbing business and you were fairly successful, Ferraris were still out of your reach, but the Corvette was the car that nobody begrudged you." Leno got together with Donald Osborne of the Audrain Museum Network to reminisce about how the big block C2 Corvette changed the American automotive landscape.