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Patrick McCarthy

Recent Posts by Patrick McCarthy:

A Mopar Masterpiece: The '71 Plymouth GTX

When you think of a Mopar muscle car, what comes to mind? Many of us envision a top-of-the-line Hemi-powered Charger, Challenger, or 'Cuda — all excellent cars, but their widespread popularity has made them increasingly costly and tricky to find in good condition. This has drawn attention to some of the less prominent Mopar muscle cars, like this restored 1971 Plymouth GTX. "For some, the styling cues weren't that attractive back in the day, but right now in 2023, these are some of the most popular Mopars that you can actually buy," explains Hemmings' video host Mike Musto.

Video: '66 Nova with a 1,000hp Supercharged LS3

Classic looks, modern handling, and a whole lot of horsepower — that's a wonderful combination. Pro-touring builds like this '66 Nova preserve the timeless style of a classic car while adding track-ready handling, braking, and acceleration. Tony, the owner and builder of this car, originally built his Nova with a 430hp V8, but learned that he still wanted more power. So, he swapped in an LS3 engine with a TVS 2650 supercharger that produces approximately 1,000 horsepower.

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.

Danchuk 1955-57 Chevy Parts Still Available at Classic Industries

In 1976, Classic Industries started from a humble beginning selling reproduction carpet kits for the first-generation Camaro. That very same year, our friends at Danchuk started producing their very first 1955-57 "Tri-Five" Chevy restoration part (a '57 park light lens). Over the decades, both companies have grown in parallel. In 2012, we began working together when we introduced our 1955-57 Chevy catalog containing several parts manufactured by Danchuk. This week, Danchuk announced that it will no longer be selling parts directly to consumers, but don't worry! Classic Industries will continue to carry and sell the Danchuk Chevy 150, 210, Bel Air parts you know and love.

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.

1965-1969 Impala & Full Size Chevy Identification Guide

If you're a fan of the Impala and other Full Size Chevy classic cars, you may have already read our 1958-1964 Impala Identification Guide. That article included illustrations scanned from the original GM documentation, in order to help you spot the differences between these vehicles. Today, we'll provide a similar visual guide to the 1965-1969 Impala, as well as related Chevrolet models such as the Biscayne, Bel Air, and Caprice. From potent Super Sport muscle cars to practical family sedans and wagons, this era of Full Size Chevy vehicles had it all.