Unique Automobile Restoration Projects

While there is no limit to the transformations and imaginative features that builders personalize into their machines, there are some definite surprises as to what you may see burning up the local drag-strip, or gleaming in the summer sun at classic car events. They serv as long-forgotten offshoots of some of the Automotive industry’s most successful product lines and introduce a character all their own to the rich legacy of automotive design.

These cars are the apple of their owner’s eye, and many provide a welcome change of pace from the quintessential muscle car persona, and they portray a more accurate view of what the majority of people were actually driving back before these cars became the prized classics that they are today. The Plymouth Satelite, and the Mercury Comet are just two examples of offshoots from a common product line whose success their manufacturers capitalized upon during that period. From the Ford Fairlane family emerged the Galaxie, and then the Falcon, but these are only a few of the unique classic automobiles whose names you don’t hear quite as often as that of the Malibu or the BelAir. Yesterday’s “grandma grocery-getter” is todays drag racer and car enthusiasts are constantly crafting beautiful new renditions of what were once only the baseline choice amongst their production models.

While these cars are not listed in any particular order of desirability, the Monte Carlo is perhaps one of the most successful and sought-after muscle cars that exists just outside of the main group of commonly appreciated classics. The first generation of Monte Carlo’s were made available between 1970 and 1972, and although it shared many production attributes with it’s cousins, the Chevelle and Malibu’s, the Monte Carlo had a longer hood section; a distinct feature that set the car apart from Chevrolet’s other muscle cars. As with many Chevrolet’s of that period the Monte Carlo was most-commonly equipped with the 350 cubic inch engine, as well as the 400″, and 402″. Most desirable of all of the Monte Carlo’s were the SS models, which were endowed with the 360 horsepower 454″ engine. Not only were they powerful however, the Monte Carlo was a rival to Ford’s Thunderbird, comparable machines that were both known for the luxury and consumer comforts that they afforded those fortunate enough to own one.

The true importance of this next automobile may take a minute to soak in, but given its measurements as well as its potential for raw horsepower, the Dodge family of cars produced between 1968 thru 1970 cranked out the powerhouse Hemi-Dart, and the Coronet, two cars that today sport some of the most powerful engines found at the drag-strip. One must realize that there were a lot of Dodge Dart’s coming off of the assembly lines during that period and that is one of the many reasons why they are so abundant today as potential project cars. Only a certain few were born candidates for racing however, most notably being of course, the Hurst Hemi-Dart with it’s ram-air induced 426 cubic inch engine. The Coronet shared similar engine options throughout their production years, with various models having been equipped with 318″, 383″, 426″, and 440″ V8 packages. Bred from the Coronet product line was the Coronet 500 and the Super Bee, two specialty options that established the groundwork for the legacy these cars would forge despite their low popularity when pitted against some of the most infamous muscle cars of that era.

The Plymouth Motor company produced many fine automobiles in its day, beginning in the fifties with the original Fury models, and then running into the sixties with the infamous Roadrunner, Plymouth produced some mighty machines. One such car that today often allows itself to be easily transformed into a clone of one of its more infamous cousins is the Plymouth Satellite, a car that you may, more often than not, see sporting style adaptations of the Roadrunner. The Satelite was not simply an offshoot of the Roadrunner design however, the Satelite GTX model with its 426″ Street Hemi gave it a growl all its own and distinguished itself as its own breed of road warrior. The satelite was also commonly equipped with the 318″, 383″, and the 440″ engines, boasting power that equaled that of the Roadrunner in many cases, a car with which it shares many of the same attributes.

We shall finish this list of unique restoration projects with the Ford Family of automobiles, most notably the mid sixties to early seventies period. It was during this era that not only did the Mustang Pony car dominate sales all across the board, but there came to life several beasts of less notable fame, many of these originating from the Galaxie base model. The Ford “Custom” as it was called, sported a hefty power-plant, and during its peak years throughout its third generation of design, it was most commonly equipped with the 352″ and the 390″ engines. The Galaxie itself was closely related to the Fairlane, which itself spun off a smaller, lighter version called the Falcon. Among all of these cars ran a common thread, a dependable power-plant that lended itself for easy adaptation as a hot-rod, or as an exciting restoration project, first arrived the common 289″, and then the famous Ford 302″. Cars by this time were becoming more and more heavy however, and more power was needed; the Galaxie model soon came equipped with a larger V8 option called the T-Bird V8, or the 428″.

Another Ford classic that is becoming more and more popular among today’s enthusiasts is the Ford Torino, predominately the model years ranging from 1968 to 1972. It was during this period that the Torino enjoyed its day as a high-powered, stylish car whose sleek lines were overshadowed only by its fleet counterpart, the Mustang. The Ford Torino came equipped with the 302″, the 351″ (offered as both the Windsor and Cleveland engine models), the 400″, and the unforgettable 429″ Cobra Jet power-plant. Also available in body packages such as the Coupe, the convertible, and fastback, the Torino wasn’t a car that could be easily dismissed. It’s blistering performance could more than turn heads, making it an increasingly popular choice among restorators today.

These are only a few of the unique cars that sometimes go overlooked by all but the most poignant of car enthusiasts. While the Mustangs and Camaro’s may have dominated in the public’s often-selective memory, there are many cars worthy of praise for their power and sleek design during the glory days of the muscle car; it is these rides that often make for the most interesting conversations among car lovers as well. These cars are basically “the ones that got away”, often overlooked by most, but when properly restored they are given a new life and the attention that they may not have enjoyed their first time around.