Top 10 Classic Cars
#1
11-08-2010 | 10:40 AM
Top 10 Classic Cars
Hi Member's, do you agree with the below list ? What should be removed ? What Classic cars should be added ?
It's your turn to post your comments/suggestions etc.
Thanks & EnJoy
Top 10 Classic Cars
A lot of American muscle
Created by Debbie Murphy
"Classic" is a relative term. Technically speaking, the only real guideline is age: A car has to reach 25 to warrant the designation. For some enthusiasts, the term is reserved for Stutz Bearcats; for others, it's that rusty thing in the garage, on blocks with its insides strewn about in mid-autopsy.
Putting together a list of the top 10 classic cars is, therefore, a subjective process. My classics may not be yours. In an attempt to qualify our choices, we went to the marketplace where the value of a classic is unfortunately best determined—the car thief. Who else has their finger(prints) on the pulse of the most desirable target? Hagerty Insurance, the largest insurer of collectible cars, put together its own top 10 list of the most stolen classics.
Chevrolet Corvettes, 1966 to 1982
Chevy started production on the Corvette, labeled the poor man's supercar for its combination of raw power and affordability, in 1953. By 1966, the Corvette was at the end of its second generation, powered by a 396-cube big block that punished all comers with 425 horsepower. The third generation, patterned after Chevy's Mako Shark designed by Larry Shinoda, was inadvertently introduced as a Hot Wheels model. While the styling changed subtly over the next 16 years, the power declined to 200 hp with the move to unleaded gas, emission controls and catalytic converters. Only recently have we seen the return of those golden years of mega-horsepower, ensuring that today's Corvette's will eventually be classics as well.
Ford Mustang, 1964 to 1969
The first Mustang rolled off the assembly line in Dearborn, Michigan on March 9, 1964, and into the hearts of then teenaged baby boomers. The chassis, suspension and drivetrain were taken from the much less exciting Falcon, but the Mustang earned immediate attention, including Motor Trend's Car of the Year and a spot as the 1964 Indy 500 Pace Car. The '64 was powered by an inline 6-cylinder engine rated at 105 horsepower and included a long list of options so each owner had the sense of a custom car. Just one year after its introduction, Ford put bigger engines in its new pony, maxing out with a 225 horsepower 289ci powerplant. By the early '70s, the Mustang platform went from compact to midsize.
Chevrolet Impala, 1958 to 1967
The early Impalas were a celebration of tail fins. Following a one-of-a-kind introduction in 1956, the Impala took its official place at the top of the Chevy line two years later, offered as an upscale trim package to the Bel Air coupes and convertibles. That first year, engine options ranged from a 234 horsepower six cylinder to a 315 horsepower Super Turbo Thrust. "Impala" became its own line with more size and maxed out batwing rear fenders in 1959. By 1961, however, the tail fins were basically gone and the styling became more subtle as engineering concentrated on performance. By 1967, the Impala had regained some of its size and weight with a pronounced fastback roof design and a maximum 385 horsepower V-8.
Chevrolet Camaro, 1968 to 1969
Chevy's musclecar was introduced in 1967 in response to the popularity of Ford's Mustang. The most sought-after model years represent the first generation of the Camaro. The top of the line trim package, the Z28, included a 6.5-liter, 350 horsepower V-8 big block. The following year, the drivetrain stayed the same, but the design went sportier with a lower, wider, more aggressive stance and engine options that included a 7.0-liter, 425 horsepower V-8. The '69 model year went all the way to December of that year due to production problems with the onset of the second-generation Camaro. Recently, Chevrolet trotted out a concept car that hearkens back to the Camaro's early days in an effort to recapture some lost youth and excitement.
Chevrolet Nova, 1963 to 1972
The Nova SS, introduced in 1962 as the Chevy II, became the manufacturer's bid for the compact, budget, musclecar market. The Super Sport package introduced in '63 was purely aesthetics. The idea of real performance didn't come to fruition until 1964 with a V-8 option. With the low curb weight of the Nova, the bigger engine added considerably to its performance credibility. The Nova officially joined the musclecar ranks in 1966 with new styling and a 350 horsepower engine. Chevy gave this L79 engine to its new Camaro in '67. From that point on, the Nova, considered the ultimate sleeper, took a back seat to the Camaro. In '72, the SS package coughed up just 200 horsepower and, although the Nova continued through 1976, the '72 model was basically the end of the Nova as a high-performance ride.
Chevrolet Chevelle, 1966 to 1973
Do you see a trend here? Chevy dominated the musclecar era with the Chevelle representing the midsize (as compared to the budget Nova and more muscular Camaro) entry. By 1966, the 396 engine was standard in the Chevelle SS package with its distinctive simulated scoops that became its signature. In '67, politics robbed the Chevelle of 10 horsepower in its top-of-the-line L34 engine. Company policy dictated that only the Corvette would be allowed to generate more than one horsepower per 10 pounds of curb weight. The following year, the Chevelle was restyled with a longer hood and shorter deck. The Chevelle's performance topped out in 1970 with a new 454 engine, the LS5, and 360 horsepower, the highest factory rating ever. By 1971, musclecars were on the wane taking the Chevelle with it.
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 1970 to 1978
This two-door coupe has been one of GM's biggest successes on the NASCAR stock car racing circuit. Built on Chevy's A platform, the design, executed by Elliot Estes, general manager, and Dave Holls, chief stylist, merged the Cadillac Eldorado and Chevelle. Initially, the standard engine was a 350ci small-block V-8 rated at 250 horsepower. Most styling revisions finished out the first generation of the Monte Carlo. In 1973, all GM intermediates, including the Monte Carlo, were redesigned. The Monte Carlo was now a pillared coupe rather than a hardtop, with rear opera windows, frameless door glass and dual headlights flanked by an egg-crate grille. Some of the innovations for '73 included standard radial-ply tires, Pliacell shocks and high-caster steering. For the next four years, the coupe went through modest styling changes, followed by radical downsizing in 1978 with the standard engine reduced to a V-6.
Cadillac DeVille, 1955 to 1965
The early classic years for the Cadillac included the tailfins and wraparound windshields made popular by GM styling chief Harley Earl and inspired by the twin rudders of the Lockheed P38 Lightning. The other distinctive design feature was the Cadillac's front bumper design, known as Dagmars (for the voluptuous actress of the same name), with artillery shell-shaped bumper guards. While other sedans lost the tailfins in the late 1950s, Cadillac held onto the style feature until 1964. Cadillac started out in the early 1900s and became quickly known for top-of-the-line luxury sedans.
Chevrolet Pickups, 1950-1971
Chevy went through a number of truck eras that span the years identified as classics. In 1947 the company went to truck owners to figure out what improvements were needed: This started the Advanced Design era that lasted through the mid '50s. The revisions focused on larger, more comfortable truck cabs. The Chevy half-ton trucks of the '50s were 6-cylinder, 90-horsepower vehicles and led the industry in sales. The V-8 didn't appear until the late '50s, during the Task Force era, and then only as an option. During the '60s, Chevy engineers worked on the suspension systems to smooth out the ride. The big change hit in 1967 when the pickups transitioned from utilitarian workhorses to high-style vehicles.
Mercedes Benz 450, 1975 to 1979
While other auto manufacturers were downsizing in the 1970s, Mercedes upped the ante with the 6.9-liter 450 SEL that included such lush options as a car phone, a true precursor of the future. The 450 was also available as an SE model with a shorter wheelbase. With the 6.9 engine generating 286 horsepower, the sedan was touted for its sports car performance. The '78 model introduced the anti-lock brake system to the automotive world. The SEL sold just over 7,000 units in its four-year run, with most of those in the U.S.
Source
It's your turn to post your comments/suggestions etc.
Thanks & EnJoy
Top 10 Classic Cars
A lot of American muscle
Created by Debbie Murphy
"Classic" is a relative term. Technically speaking, the only real guideline is age: A car has to reach 25 to warrant the designation. For some enthusiasts, the term is reserved for Stutz Bearcats; for others, it's that rusty thing in the garage, on blocks with its insides strewn about in mid-autopsy.
Putting together a list of the top 10 classic cars is, therefore, a subjective process. My classics may not be yours. In an attempt to qualify our choices, we went to the marketplace where the value of a classic is unfortunately best determined—the car thief. Who else has their finger(prints) on the pulse of the most desirable target? Hagerty Insurance, the largest insurer of collectible cars, put together its own top 10 list of the most stolen classics.
Chevrolet Corvettes, 1966 to 1982
Chevy started production on the Corvette, labeled the poor man's supercar for its combination of raw power and affordability, in 1953. By 1966, the Corvette was at the end of its second generation, powered by a 396-cube big block that punished all comers with 425 horsepower. The third generation, patterned after Chevy's Mako Shark designed by Larry Shinoda, was inadvertently introduced as a Hot Wheels model. While the styling changed subtly over the next 16 years, the power declined to 200 hp with the move to unleaded gas, emission controls and catalytic converters. Only recently have we seen the return of those golden years of mega-horsepower, ensuring that today's Corvette's will eventually be classics as well.
Ford Mustang, 1964 to 1969
The first Mustang rolled off the assembly line in Dearborn, Michigan on March 9, 1964, and into the hearts of then teenaged baby boomers. The chassis, suspension and drivetrain were taken from the much less exciting Falcon, but the Mustang earned immediate attention, including Motor Trend's Car of the Year and a spot as the 1964 Indy 500 Pace Car. The '64 was powered by an inline 6-cylinder engine rated at 105 horsepower and included a long list of options so each owner had the sense of a custom car. Just one year after its introduction, Ford put bigger engines in its new pony, maxing out with a 225 horsepower 289ci powerplant. By the early '70s, the Mustang platform went from compact to midsize.
Chevrolet Impala, 1958 to 1967
The early Impalas were a celebration of tail fins. Following a one-of-a-kind introduction in 1956, the Impala took its official place at the top of the Chevy line two years later, offered as an upscale trim package to the Bel Air coupes and convertibles. That first year, engine options ranged from a 234 horsepower six cylinder to a 315 horsepower Super Turbo Thrust. "Impala" became its own line with more size and maxed out batwing rear fenders in 1959. By 1961, however, the tail fins were basically gone and the styling became more subtle as engineering concentrated on performance. By 1967, the Impala had regained some of its size and weight with a pronounced fastback roof design and a maximum 385 horsepower V-8.
Chevrolet Camaro, 1968 to 1969
Chevy's musclecar was introduced in 1967 in response to the popularity of Ford's Mustang. The most sought-after model years represent the first generation of the Camaro. The top of the line trim package, the Z28, included a 6.5-liter, 350 horsepower V-8 big block. The following year, the drivetrain stayed the same, but the design went sportier with a lower, wider, more aggressive stance and engine options that included a 7.0-liter, 425 horsepower V-8. The '69 model year went all the way to December of that year due to production problems with the onset of the second-generation Camaro. Recently, Chevrolet trotted out a concept car that hearkens back to the Camaro's early days in an effort to recapture some lost youth and excitement.
Chevrolet Nova, 1963 to 1972
The Nova SS, introduced in 1962 as the Chevy II, became the manufacturer's bid for the compact, budget, musclecar market. The Super Sport package introduced in '63 was purely aesthetics. The idea of real performance didn't come to fruition until 1964 with a V-8 option. With the low curb weight of the Nova, the bigger engine added considerably to its performance credibility. The Nova officially joined the musclecar ranks in 1966 with new styling and a 350 horsepower engine. Chevy gave this L79 engine to its new Camaro in '67. From that point on, the Nova, considered the ultimate sleeper, took a back seat to the Camaro. In '72, the SS package coughed up just 200 horsepower and, although the Nova continued through 1976, the '72 model was basically the end of the Nova as a high-performance ride.
Chevrolet Chevelle, 1966 to 1973
Do you see a trend here? Chevy dominated the musclecar era with the Chevelle representing the midsize (as compared to the budget Nova and more muscular Camaro) entry. By 1966, the 396 engine was standard in the Chevelle SS package with its distinctive simulated scoops that became its signature. In '67, politics robbed the Chevelle of 10 horsepower in its top-of-the-line L34 engine. Company policy dictated that only the Corvette would be allowed to generate more than one horsepower per 10 pounds of curb weight. The following year, the Chevelle was restyled with a longer hood and shorter deck. The Chevelle's performance topped out in 1970 with a new 454 engine, the LS5, and 360 horsepower, the highest factory rating ever. By 1971, musclecars were on the wane taking the Chevelle with it.
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 1970 to 1978
This two-door coupe has been one of GM's biggest successes on the NASCAR stock car racing circuit. Built on Chevy's A platform, the design, executed by Elliot Estes, general manager, and Dave Holls, chief stylist, merged the Cadillac Eldorado and Chevelle. Initially, the standard engine was a 350ci small-block V-8 rated at 250 horsepower. Most styling revisions finished out the first generation of the Monte Carlo. In 1973, all GM intermediates, including the Monte Carlo, were redesigned. The Monte Carlo was now a pillared coupe rather than a hardtop, with rear opera windows, frameless door glass and dual headlights flanked by an egg-crate grille. Some of the innovations for '73 included standard radial-ply tires, Pliacell shocks and high-caster steering. For the next four years, the coupe went through modest styling changes, followed by radical downsizing in 1978 with the standard engine reduced to a V-6.
Cadillac DeVille, 1955 to 1965
The early classic years for the Cadillac included the tailfins and wraparound windshields made popular by GM styling chief Harley Earl and inspired by the twin rudders of the Lockheed P38 Lightning. The other distinctive design feature was the Cadillac's front bumper design, known as Dagmars (for the voluptuous actress of the same name), with artillery shell-shaped bumper guards. While other sedans lost the tailfins in the late 1950s, Cadillac held onto the style feature until 1964. Cadillac started out in the early 1900s and became quickly known for top-of-the-line luxury sedans.
Chevrolet Pickups, 1950-1971
Chevy went through a number of truck eras that span the years identified as classics. In 1947 the company went to truck owners to figure out what improvements were needed: This started the Advanced Design era that lasted through the mid '50s. The revisions focused on larger, more comfortable truck cabs. The Chevy half-ton trucks of the '50s were 6-cylinder, 90-horsepower vehicles and led the industry in sales. The V-8 didn't appear until the late '50s, during the Task Force era, and then only as an option. During the '60s, Chevy engineers worked on the suspension systems to smooth out the ride. The big change hit in 1967 when the pickups transitioned from utilitarian workhorses to high-style vehicles.
Mercedes Benz 450, 1975 to 1979
While other auto manufacturers were downsizing in the 1970s, Mercedes upped the ante with the 6.9-liter 450 SEL that included such lush options as a car phone, a true precursor of the future. The 450 was also available as an SE model with a shorter wheelbase. With the 6.9 engine generating 286 horsepower, the sedan was touted for its sports car performance. The '78 model introduced the anti-lock brake system to the automotive world. The SEL sold just over 7,000 units in its four-year run, with most of those in the U.S.
Source
Last edited by Space; 11-08-2010 at 10:46 AM.
#2
11-08-2010 | 10:44 AM
THE JUDGE
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 13,335
From: Wauconda, IL
I think the tri-fives should have been included in the list - that was the icon of Americana and will always been. What happened to Mopar - that didn't make the list? 70 Road Runner, 440 w/ a 6pack and an air grabber hood? Hemi Cuda?
No GTO?
No GTO?
#3
11-08-2010 | 10:52 AM
..Hi `Amy, I agree and like your posted vehicles.Below is the author of this articles first paragraph
Created by Debbie Murphy
"Classic" is a relative term. Technically speaking, the only real guideline is age: A car has to reach 25 to warrant the designation. For some enthusiasts, the term is reserved for Stutz Bearcats; for others, it's that rusty thing in the garage, on blocks with its insides strewn about in mid-autopsy.
Putting together a list of the top 10 classic cars is, therefore, a subjective process. My classics may not be yours. In an attempt to qualify our choices, we went to the marketplace where the value of a classic is unfortunately best determined—the car thief. Who else has their finger(prints) on the pulse of the most desirable target? Hagerty Insurance, the largest insurer of collectible cars, put together its own top 10 list of the most stolen classics.
"Classic" is a relative term. Technically speaking, the only real guideline is age: A car has to reach 25 to warrant the designation. For some enthusiasts, the term is reserved for Stutz Bearcats; for others, it's that rusty thing in the garage, on blocks with its insides strewn about in mid-autopsy.
Putting together a list of the top 10 classic cars is, therefore, a subjective process. My classics may not be yours. In an attempt to qualify our choices, we went to the marketplace where the value of a classic is unfortunately best determined—the car thief. Who else has their finger(prints) on the pulse of the most desirable target? Hagerty Insurance, the largest insurer of collectible cars, put together its own top 10 list of the most stolen classics.
I guess the thieves know the Top Ten better then the honest people ? 
#4
11-08-2010 | 11:24 AM
I think they need to divide the list into "classics", "muscles" and things like that. What about 57 Chevies, 32 Ford's? What about hte Mopar and GTO like have already been mentioned?
And why are htey so inclusive in years? What's wrong with the 68-9 Impala? What's wrong with the 70-72 or so Camaro?
And why are htey so inclusive in years? What's wrong with the 68-9 Impala? What's wrong with the 70-72 or so Camaro?
#6
11-08-2010 | 12:08 PM
__________________________________________
They got the list from Hargerty Insurance, and they made their list from the most desired vehicles of professional auto thieves.
Below are the links
Top 10 Classic Cars
Hagerty Insurance, the largest insurer of collectible cars, put together its own top 10 list of the most stolen classics. Chevrolet Corvettes, 1966 to 1982 ...
www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/.../Top_Classic_Cars.aspx - Cached
Top 10 Stolen Collector Cars | BestStuff
Broken down by marque, Chevrolet tops the list by a wide margin at 39.3 percent of all ... Hagerty's data shows that most stolen collector vehicles are never recovered. ... To help its customers improve the odds on the recovery of a stolen ... As the leading insurer of collectible vehicles and boats in the United ...
www.beststuff.com/cars.../top-10-stolen-collector-cars.html - Cached - Similar
#7
11-08-2010 | 01:12 PM
Monte Of The Month -- July 2009
I'M NOT OLD, I'M JUST WELL MARINATED.
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,996
From: Henderson, NV
Its must have been. They forgot about the AMX.
