I’m back from my trip to Michigan, which means I am still running on Detroit fumes. Hence, the focus for this week’s AutoHunter Picks is on cars from Detroit by proxy. How so?
The Corvette used to be built in St. Louis (aside of the first 300 built in 1953), but it’s now built in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Oldsmobile hailed from Lansing, the state’s capital that’s about 90 miles westward from the Motor City. Buick is in a similar boat, as Flint is 60 miles northward. Visit both of these Michigan cities and you’ll note how different they are from Detroit despite the proximity; visit AutoHunter to find different vehicles from these four I’ve selected.
2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
These were somewhat polarizing when they came out—likely due to its Rubenesque rump—though I’ve warmed up to these quite heavily, especially when seen from the front. The combination of white and black trim, combined with the red striping and matching interior, is stupendous.
Add the track-focused Z07 package and then, after flattening the gas pedal, you’ll ask, “Z06 what?”
1970 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
Two Corvettes this week? This one is several generations removed from the one above, so sue me. If there is a sleeper among C3 Corvettes, this is the one. From 1969-70, a 350 was available with a 350-horsepower rating. It was an engine not available in any other Chevy, but it hits a sweet spot between the base small-black and more exotic engines like the solid-lifter LT1 and big-blocks.
The fact that it was only available with a four-speed manual only adds to its cred. Add the convertible top and this is a Vette worthy of investigation.
1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 4-4-2 Convertible
If the name confuses you, don’t be—the 4-4-2 was an option, so it cannot be determined by the VIN. However, the VIN certainly can tell us this is a Cutlass Supreme equipped with a 270-horsepower 455 and a four-speed manual.
We know only 66 with that combination were built between the regular Cutlass Supreme and those equipped with the 4-4-2 package. Is this a real 4-4-2? Hard to say but it certainly is a legit convertible with an engine and transmission that put it near the top of the heap.
1969 Buick Riviera
Out of all the cars I’ve seen in my life, the 1966-69 Buick Riviera has one of the more interesting ways to hide the headlights. Rather than set them behind a grille, they rest perpendicularly above the grille and swivel downward.
That feature was copped from Harley Earl’s Cadillac Cyclone show car from 1959, but the design of this Riviera has Bill Mitchell written all over it.