I have a friend who owns a 1970 Ford Torino GT convertible with the J-code 429 Cobra Jet engine. Under 100 were built, but his comes off as the quintessential example. Why? It’s painted Calypso Coral with a Laser stripe. It isn’t one of the 19 to feature the Drag Pack, but it presents better than most GT convertibles out there—plus it has the best engine. The owner constantly gets offers from people.
Sure, it’s never a bad idea to hunt for the ultimate engine for a particular model, but when the planets align and all the proper boxes are checked, it puts a car on another level. The first of our AutoHunter Picks is in a color combination that many would consider being among the best available at the time, but all of the four below AutoHunter vehicles should make someone happy.
1969 Pontiac GTO Convertible
You can have a cool car (GTO or otherwise) and gloat all you want, but there is one metric that separates the boys from the men: color combination. Sure, red has mass appeal but, if there’s something I’ve learned, the color combination is what will define the most desirable versions of a particular model.
In the case of this 1969 Pontiac GTO, it’s black with a red interior, a combination that today commands a premium.
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Yenko Tribute
Chevrolet produced 323 COPO Chevelles with the L72 427. Yenko Chevrolet, near Pittsburgh, took 99 of those and created its own Yenko Super Car. They’re out of reach for most collectors, but this tribute may be more attainable for you.
Trivia: the color was Hugger Orange for the Camaro but, for the Chevelle, it was called Monaco Orange.
1964 Chevrolet Malibu SS Convertible
Chevrolet was at a disadvantage when the GTO was introduced, not having anything better than a 283 at the beginning of the year. Soon, a 300-horsepower 327 would appear, and that would be as good as it would get until 1965.
Nonetheless, 1964 Chevelles are quite popular because, let’s be honest, the best thing about Chevys is that they can be a blank slate to create whatever moves you, like what someone did with this 327 four-speed-powered ragtop.
1974 Lotus Europa Special
My first exposure to this vehicle was a damaged, lime green Matchbox model. I’d see one on occasion when I was a kid, always scratching my head why a car needed so much unusable space in the back.
I still am not a fan, but I think these cars would be wonderful to drive (if I could fit) and make me a fan, no doubt due to the twin-cam engine paired to a five-speed.
