Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2023 i Hemmings Muscle Machines

TOPLOADER TIME SPEEDMASTER • 310-361-0020 • SPEEDMASTER79.COM • $3,150 If you are looking to perform a Toploader conversion to your Ford performance car but don’t want to go through the rebuild of an older unit, there is now an alternative. Speedmaster now has new four-speed wide-ratio (2.78:1) aluminum-case Toploader gearboxes available. Each is made with brand-new components and a case that is compatible with engines that produce up to 500 hp. These are the “short” Toploaders with the short tailshaft length; in terms of shaft spline-count and length, the input diameter is 1-1 ⁄ 16-inch with a count of 10 and the output diameter is 1-⅜-inch with a count of 31. Shifter, yoke, and bellhousing are not included. Ask about p/n PCE646.1002 for your desired application. FEELING FUELISH K&N ENGINEERING…

HEMMINGS AUCTIONS IS OUR LIVE, ONLINE AUCTION site staffed by customer service professionals ready to help bidders and sellers with any questions. A wide variety of classic and specialty vehicles from all eras are up for bid. Auctions run for two weeks, and qualified bidders place their bids electronically. Once a vehicle is accepted into the auction, the seller pays only a $99.95 listing fee. The winning bidder is responsible for a 5-percent fee on all completed auctions. The following are examples of auctions that transpired during the month leading up to press time. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, email Director of Auction Operations Terry Shea: terryshea@hemmings.com. 1999 SHELBY SERIES 1 RESERVE: $125,000 SELLING PRICE: $120,000* RECENT MARKET RANGE: $121,150-$159,550 Squint and you can see the Cobra-inspired touches…

PRODUCTION LINE A year ago, we spent a week in a twin-turbo V-6 Ford Raptor (“Production Line,” July ’22) and suggested that its 450 horsepower felt merely adequate against just shy of 6,000 lbs of truck. Ford knew, and had already announced what you see here: the Raptor R. Fortified with a torquier variant of the Shelby GT500’s supercharged 5.2-liter “Predator” V-8 engine, it offers a useful power boost (700 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque, versus the standard Raptor, up 250 hp and 130 lb-ft) as well as a beefier front axle, retuned front suspension, a recalibrated 10-speed automatic transmission, and a girthier driveshaft. Despite the entire F150 line’s slow-but-steady adherence to the Weight Watchers plan for pickups, the Raptor R still clocks in at an eye-opening 5,950 lbs.…

STOCK THERE’S MUCH TO UNPACK WITH THIS SPECIAL-ORDER 1970 Firebird Formula 400, which incredibly has only 436 miles on its odometer. First is the color — Starlight Black — which was not part of the 1970 Firebird palette. The “Special Paint” order on the invoice (denoted by “- -” symbols on the trim tag rather than the standard numeric code) cost the original owner an additional $115.85. He made up for the extra cost by declining other amenities such as power steering, power brakes, and a radio. No optional wheels were ordered, either, meaning the Formula was delivered with base steel wheels and standard hubcaps. For the record, a rear spoiler could only be had on the Trans Am for 1970, so while it may look like a “delete” item…

AS ALWAYS, BARRETT- Jackson is the big dog on Scottsdale’s front porch during January auction season. Other auctions have come and gone (and with only four to visit in person in 2023, down from seven or eight in recent years past, plenty have gone), but after half a century, Barrett-Jackson remains the auction in the minds of locals. More than 40 hours of TV time across the Discovery and FYI channels play a huge role for the house’s national presence, but in town — even among people who are slightly more than casual car enthusiasts — they mainly know Barrett-Jackson. Such is its dominance locally. Anywhere else this would have been one for the books: $184.2 million in cars from more than 1,900 vehicles sold with a 100 percent sell-through…

In a rare instance, Jeff and I each had the opportunity to sample the same new vehicle at virtually the same time, though on opposite sides of the country. The Raptor R I was able to spend a few days with was notably devoid of the factory graphics package, even calling out “Graphics Delete” as an option on the window sticker, and this is how I’d probably order mine. Both of our trucks were Carbonized Gray Metallic, and you might think that the subdued hue and lack of aggressive decaling would make the R blend with other Raptors — maybe even other F150s — but even in our small town, just pulling into the local pizza place elicited inquiries: “Is that the Raptor R?!” There are lots of Raptor fans…

MODIFIED LET’S GET THIS STRAIGHT FROM THE START: You don’t drive a Dodge Charger to blend into the scenery. That’s just common knowledge. The bold, brash Chrysler-bred B-body has always been a ride that could draw long stares and get the people’s neurotransmitters percolating. To many Mopar-loving purists, and perhaps the general public alike, the Coke-bottle restyling that brought this Dodge model to new heights in ’68 has no muscle car equal. Praised not just in the realm of auto enthusiasts, but in contemporary pop culture, the Charger has become one of the most in-demand collector cars in the world. Don’t believe us? Just go and try to buy one today. The passage of time only seems to further the Charger’s legend and appeal, as the 1968-’70 models have stayed…

TRANSPLANTING A HIGH-TECH ENGINE INTO A classic chassis is de rigueur among enthusiasts who want to update the means to motivate their rides. But there are still a few diehards who insist on keeping yesterday’s memories alive by making the old new again. Breathing renewed life into those legendary engines, however, is not without its challenges. The vaunted engines of yesteryear were created during a different time, and in order to live in today’s low-octane world, they require a bit of redefinition. Matt Johnson’s veins have been pumping Ford Blue for many years, so when he decided he wanted a tad more output than the wheezy 302 currently residing in his ’68 Mustang fastback could muster, he was open to all options. It was a search that led him in…

JULY EVENTS 6-8 Mecum Kissimmee Summer Special Kissimmee, Florida • 262-275-5050 6-8 Iola Car Show Iola, Wisconsin • 715-445-4000 9 Long Beach Hi-Performance Swap Meet Long Beach, California • 800-762-9785 13 Hemmings Cruise-In Bennington, Vermont • 800-227-4373 13-15 Camaro Nationals Morgantown, Pennsylvania • 610-657-0457 14-16 Chrysler Nationals Carlisle, Pennsylvania • 717-243-7855 14-16 Syracuse Nationals Syracuse, New York • 800-753-3978 14-16 Dave & Ed’s Super Swap Meet Canfield, Ohio • 330-477-8506 20-22 GAA Classic Car Auction Greensboro, North Carolina • 855-862-2257 21-23 Ames Performance Pontiac Nationals Norwalk, Ohio • 419-668-5555 22 Somernites Cruise Somerset, Kentucky • 606-872-2277 26-29 Mecum Auction Harrisburg, Pennsylvania • 262-275-5050 28-29 Hot August Nights Virginia City, Nevada • 775-356-1956 Please note that these events are active as of press time. We recommend you verify the status before…