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. 

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.

Restoring a classic Mustang from the first generation (1965 - 1973) is both a rewarding journey and a technical challenge. These cars - ranging from early 1965 models to the muscular 1973 fastbacks - are classics of American automotive history. However, many restorers fall into common traps that undermine both the integrity and value of the final build.

Whether you're tackling a numbers-matching 1966 GT coupe or a 1970 Boss 302, here's a thorough guide to the 10 most common and costly restoration mistakes, complete with historical context and technical insight.

The 1967 Mercury Cougar roared onto the scene as a stylish and powerful alternative in the pony car segment. Sharing its underpinnings with the Ford Mustang, the Cougar brought a touch of European flair and a lineup of potent V8 engines to the table. Ford intentionally slotted the Cougar between the Mustang and the Thunderbird. The following narrative is a detailed breakdown of the powertrain choices, transmission options, performance packages, and notable extras that made the Cougar a standout in its debut year.

Above: 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 photo courtesy of Mecum Auctions

If you're an automotive enthusiast, the name James May should sound familiar. As one of the three hosts of the legendary BBC TV series "Top Gear" and later "The Grand Tour" on Amazon Prime, he has driven and reviewed a greater variety of vehicles than almost anyone. He's also well known as someone who has a deep appreciation for the classics, with a collection that has included vintage vehicles from Rolls Royce, Bentley, Jaguar, Triumph, Porsche, and Ferrari. In a recent episode on his YouTube channel, he drives and reminisces about a uniquely American classic: the 1969 Ford Torino convertible.

The years 1966 to 1972 are widely regarded as the golden age of Trans American (Trans Am) racing, a thrilling period that saw factory-backed muscle cars, legendary drivers, and fierce rivalries come together to create one of the most exciting chapters in American motorsport history. The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) launched the series in 1966 to promote showroom stock sedans, but what followed was a war between automakers on the racetrack that would shape the identity of American performance cars for decades.

In the muscle car era, where speed ruled and style was king, no name echoed louder than Mustang. And of all the years in its glorious run, 1969 marked a turning point. It was the year Ford went all-in - expanding the lineup, ramping up performance, and putting rubber to the racetrack. The result was a legendary machine that cemented Mustang’s place in history not just as a pony car, but a true performance legend.

When it comes to restoring a classic car, there are two schools of thought. Some owners prefer to take the car to a restoration shop and let the pros do most of the work. There's nothing wrong with that plan, but for owners who have a tighter budget and more spare time, it often makes sense to take a "do it yourself" approach. That's exactly what Omar Guevara, the owner of this '71 Mustang Fastback, did after buying this car from his father. The result is a cool streetable classic Mustang that didn't break the bank.

The Indianapolis 500 has used an official pace car since its very first race in 1911, setting the pace for what would become one of the most celebrated traditions in motorsport. Here's a detailed look at the evolution—from pioneering makes of the early 20th century to today’s high-performance supercars.

In 2010, a classic car enthusiast stumbled across a forgotten gem that the previous owner had discovered in a ramshackle barn: a 1965 Ford Fairlane 500. The Fairlane 500's current owner, Robert Weber, named her Lainey—a moniker that reflects both her graceful lines and the affection she has earned over the years. Covered in a thick layer of green mold and grime, Lainey at first glance looked like she had seen better days. But what lay beneath was nothing short of remarkable.