Hemmings Classic Car December 2022

“…many still wanted a V-8 for their Mustangs, fuel crisis be damned.” As we planned the elements for our latest tribute to the American “pony car,” the news from Detroit revolved around big changes coming from Dodge, as it was officially announced that 2023 would be the last model year for the Challenger, as well as its Charger stablemate. While our focus around here is vintage vehicles, I’ll still be sad to see these two models go away—I get some sort of Zen sense knowing that there are V-8-powered, rear-wheel-drive passenger cars sitting on showroom floors. The situation with those models is almost strange in a way—an auto manufacturer that has spent untold millions in vehicle development and marketing hoping to win consumer favor, willfully discontinuing a product that’s still…

THE ARIZONA CONCOURS RETURNS TO SCOTTSDALE DURING ARIZONA CAR WEEK at the newly renovated Scottsdale Civic Center. Expect to see collector cars from all over the country with roughly 100 rare and exotic automobiles invited and exhibited. This year’s theme will focus on the art of aerodynamics and pre-aerodynamics with special classes devoted to the Brass Era (pre-1916) and the Vintage Era (1916-1927), plus the “Birth of a Concept” class devoted to pre-war sports and race cars. Plus, two other classes will celebrate 1930s aerodynamics with a nod to American and European coachwork from that decade. Standard general admission tickets can be purchased until January 12 (no refunds) and the Concours d’Elegance will take place January 22, rain or shine. Visit arizonaconcours.com for more details.…

THE 2023 SCHEDULE FOR CARLISLE EVENTS HAS been finalized with more than a dozen shows planned for the upcoming year. Most of the events will take place at The Carlisle Fairgrounds with a handful at the nearby Expo Center. The only event not taking place in Carlisle is the Auto Mania show at the Allentown Fairgrounds in Allentown, Pennsylvania, slated for January 20-22. Most of the events feature swap meets, car corrals, auctions, and a themed car show, with thousands of cars shown across the grounds. There will also be two additional auctions in Lakeland, Florida, at Lakeland’s Winter and Fall shows. The 2023 dates for the events are as follows: January 20-22: AllentownFairgrounds January 27-28: CarlisleExpoCenter February 10-11: SunN Fun Expo April 19-23: CarlisleFairgrounds April 20-21: CarlisleExpoCenter May 12-13:…

THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE IS CELEBRATING the days of America’s pony cars with five new stamps from the popular automotive era. A ceremony unveiling the new stamps took place during The Great American Stamp Show, in Sacramento, California, this past August. Scott Bombaugh, the Postal Service’s chief technology officer, spoke at the ceremony about his mother’s 1970 Mustang. “My brother learned to drive in that car, but by the time I was ready to drive, my parents sold the Mustang and had a Pinto wagon,” Bombaugh says. “Is it any wonder I have bought two Mustang GTs since then?” The five cars to be featured are the 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT, the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302, the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, the 1969 AMC Javelin SST, and…

2/24-26 2023 • Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance Boca Raton, Florida • 954-537-1010 bocaratonconcours.com 3/2-5 • Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Amelia Island, Florida • 904-636-0027 ameliaconcours.com 4/13-16 • Charlotte Auto Fair Charlotte, North Carolina • 704-841-1990 charlotte-autofair.com 5/5-7 • Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia 304-661-1245 • greenbrierconcours.com 5/11-13 • Chickasha Pre-War Swap Meet Chickasha, Oklahoma • 405-224-6552 chickashaautoswapmeet.com 6/11-16 • MAFCA National Convention Breckenridge, Colorado • 303-519-0722 • mafca.com…

Gremwagon THERE’S NO INFORMATION ATTACHED TO THIS IMAGE of a wagon-bodied, Gremlin-nosed AMC small car that was recently posted to Facebook that would suggest the mockup was a serious attempt to make the Gremlin into something other than a chop-back subcompact sedan. In fact, there’s no information attached to it at all, and AMC enthusiasts have been trying to discern whatever they can from the image since. We know, for example, that the schnozz comes from a 1977-1978 Gremlin, though those wheel covers came on 1973-1975 Hornets. We also know that AMC execs were looking to keep Gremlin sales from collapsing during the late Seventies—hence the redesigned front end, along with several other changes. Could the mockup above have been another proposal for juicing Gremlin sales? On the other hand,…