Another Friday, another set of AutoHunter Picks! This week’s lot features four American cars from 1950s and 1960s. You may note a 1970 Mustang, but we all know the generation started in 1969 and, besides, decades tend to bleed into the next.
If you’re wanting something fresher, newer, more reliable (read: fuel injection), AutoHunter has alternatives like several Mercedes convertibles, late-model Camaros, a Bentley convertible, and more. But they arguably wouldn’t be as cool as those from the Golden Age of Detroit, would it?
1970 Ford Mustang Convertible
You may be surprised to discover how uncommon the 1970 Mustang convertible is—7,673 built. This is quite a drop from its 1966 peak of 72,119. Even more interesting is the original 351 two-barrel and three-speed combination—only 71 built per Marti Auto Works.
The first thing I’d do is remove the rear spoiler, and then I’d wake up the 351 Cleveland by adding a four-barrel. Then I’d drive the hell out of it because this car hits a sweet spot for those who prefer hitting the streets over watching the paint peel in the garage.
1955 Mercury Custom Station Wagon
Sometimes it’s tough to pinpoint Mercury’s model line as it was adjusted so many times in the 1950-60s. For 1955, the Custom was the bottom-of-the-line. Yet this was a Mercury, so even the Custom had a decent level of equipment.
If you didn’t like wood paneling on your wagon, the Custom was the only way to go. Take a gander at the interior of this two-tone blue hauler—the tartan plaid cloth and vinyl is spectacular.
1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Holiday Coupe
It’s hard to believe Oldsmobile still called its hardtops “Holiday,” a remnant from 1949. This 1968 4-4-2 has several things going for it: a four-speed transmission (meaning it has the higher-horsepower 400), Anti-Spin rear with 3.42 gears, and the correct W36 stripe.
The latter is important because, if you look online, you will see many variations of the stripe and location, but this one is properly centered. Hence, kudos to the restorer!
1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham
There was no fancier car from Detroit than the Eldorado Brougham. In fact, there was little that was fancier anywhere in the world. It’s a difficult car to restore, but it’s also a car worth restoring due to its historical significance.
This ’58 is not for the faint of heart, but an experienced restorer should be able to give this car the justice it deserves. Good luck with the air suspension!