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Videos: Top 10 Restoration Mistakes on the 1966–1974 Dodge Charger


Especially the second-generation Dodge Charger is one of the crown jewels of the Mopar world, with the ’68–’70 models commanding center stage at every car show and auction block. Whether you’re working on an early ’66–’67 “Coke bottle” fastback, a winged Daytona, or a smog-era ’74 R/T, restoration blunders can tank both the car’s value and its drivability. Below are the ten most common mistakes restorers make when reviving a classic Charger.

Top 10 Restoration & Modification Mistakes on Ford Trucks 1932–1956

Ford’s light-duty trucks transitioned quickly from car-based haulers (1932–1947) to the first-generation F-Series (1948–1952) and the improved second generation (1953–1956, with the birth of the F-100). Collectors love them, builders customize them, and enthusiasts hot rod them. But whether you’re doing a faithful restoration, a period street rod, or a modernized restomod, the same 10 pitfalls keep showing up - with extra risks when blending old steel and new tech.

T-Tops: The Rise and Fall of a Classic Car Option

If you've ever considered buying a classic American car from the late 1960s through the 1990s, you're likely familiar with the term T-tops. These removable roof panels became an extremely popular option that (literally and figuratively) bridged the gap between a fixed-roof coupe and a convertible. With T-tops, drivers could choose to enjoy the open-air driving experience of a convertible, the comfort and enclosed feel of a fixed roof, and — for models that used transparent T-tops — the ambience of a moonroof. In this article, we'll review the invention of T-tops, how they rose to prominence, and how they faded into obscurity again.

Video: A Wooden Wonder Wins Pebble Beach’s Top Prize

A one-of-a-kind Hispano-Suiza with an aviation-inspired design stole the spotlight at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, taking home the coveted Best of Show award.

Out of 229 cars from around the world - 55 of them shipped in from 22 different countries - the winning entry was a 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Nieuport-Astra Torpedo, lovingly presented by Penny and Lee Anderson Sr. of Naples, Florida.

Video: Hemmings "Square Body Rehab" '87 Silverado Restomod

Historically, pickup trucks have typically been viewed as utilitarian workhorses with a rugged design and no frills. But by the late 1980s, this perception was changing. Automakers introduced more luxurious trim levels with improved interiors and creature comforts, such as the 1987 Chevy Silverado seen here. Hemmings produced a six-part "Square Body Rehab" video series in which they restored and modified this Silverado R10  — the designation for the outgoing '87 body style (formerly known as a C10) during the transition to the all-new 1988 Silverado.

Concorso Italiano 2025: A Celebration of Italian Automotive Excellence

This year, gearheads and classic car fans took over the Bayonet Black Horse Golf Course in Seaside, California to mark the 40th anniversary of Concorso Italiano. On Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 10 AM to 4 PM, the Monterey Peninsula rumbled with the sights and sounds of Italian automotive legends. Now under the International Car Week banner, the show keeps true to its heritage—only with more horsepower, chrome, and car camaraderie than ever.

Videos: Reliving the Glory of Vintage Racing at Laguna Seca Raceway

Every year in mid-August, the crew of Monterey Car Week enjoys a vacation in Central California for the goings on in Carmel by the Sea, Laguna Seca, Seaside, Monterey, and Pebble Beach. For automotive enthusiasts, the moniker of Monterey Car Week and the listing of those magnificent Central California towns should give you a clue as to what the MCW crew is doing during this glorious week. 

Video: A Fighter Pilot's 1965 Mustang Project

Classic car restoration projects are a labor of love, and they often take several years or even decades to complete. For Rodger, the owner of this '65 Mustang, completing the restoration was something he had been waiting for since he was 14 years old. After enlisting in the Air Force, it got put on hold for many years, but he was eventually able to revisit it and build the Mustang of his dreams. Autotopia LA met up with him and documented the build in a recent YouTube video.

Macho Trans Am: How Two Brothers Made the Second-Gen T/A Fast Again

The late 1970s were a difficult time to be a performance car enthusiast. Following the OPEC oil embargo and the introduction of much more restrictive emissions requirements, American gearheads watched their favorite muscle cars wither away. The roaring big-block V8s of the early '70s were either discontinued or choked down to horsepower figures that seemed almost insulting. The EPA even blocked dealers from offering special engine-swapped models like the famous 427ci Camaros from Yenko, Baldwin, and Nickey. However, one Arizona-based Pontiac dealer found a workaround to produce a significantly faster 1977-80 Trans Am called the Macho Trans Am.

Mopar Connection: 1968 Road Runner Electrical System Restoration

Compared to modern cars that are loaded with touchscreen displays, multiple computer modules, and high-tech safety features, classic cars have extremely simple electrical systems. However, even though they're simple, they can still degrade over time and cause serious problems. Our friends over at Mopar Connection magazine found some electrical gremlins and ugly "quick fixes" on their 1968 Road Runner, so they reached out to us for some restoration parts to get the battery and electrical system back to good working order.