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Curbside Classics Archives
Vintage Reviews Archive
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![For 1970, GM senior management finally rescinded the corporate policy that limited intermediate-size cars to engines no bigger than 400 cubic inches. Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac wasted no time […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1970-Pontiac-GTO-455-RA-Pepper-Green-Mecum-Auctions-S214-front-3q-left.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car Life Road Test: 1970 Pontiac GTO 455 And 400 Ram Air – There IS A Substitute For Cubic Inches")
Vintage Car Life Road Test: 1970 Pontiac GTO 455 And 400 Ram Air – There IS A Substitute For Cubic Inches
Posted on June 30, 2025 | 14 CommentsFor 1970, GM senior management finally rescinded the corporate policy that limited intermediate-size cars to engines no bigger than 400 cubic inches. Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac wasted no time […] -
![Between 1965 and 1969, General Motors corporate policy limited most smaller GM cars to engines no bigger than 400 cubic inches, with no more than 1 rated horsepower per […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1968-Hurst-Olds-AC-Mecum-Auctions-F233.1-front-3q-left.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage M/T Review: 1968 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds – Olds Breaks The Rules, Hurst Runs Interference")
Vintage M/T Review: 1968 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds – Olds Breaks The Rules, Hurst Runs Interference
Posted on June 18, 2025 | 18 CommentsBetween 1965 and 1969, General Motors corporate policy limited most smaller GM cars to engines no bigger than 400 cubic inches, with no more than 1 rated horsepower per […] -
![Ford’s first stab at a mass-market intermediate muscle car, the 1966 Fairlane GT/GTA, hadn’t been any too convincing, but things had perked up with the arrival of the hot […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1969-Ford-Cobra-SportsRoof-Meadowlark-Yellow-Mecum-Auctions-T197.1-front-3q-right.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car Life Road Test: 1969 Ford Cobra 428 CJ – Ford’s Road Runner Fighter “Eats Birds For Breakfast,” But Doesn’t Sell")
Vintage Car Life Road Test: 1969 Ford Cobra 428 CJ – Ford’s Road Runner Fighter “Eats Birds For Breakfast,” But Doesn’t Sell
Posted on June 4, 2025 | 18 CommentsFord’s first stab at a mass-market intermediate muscle car, the 1966 Fairlane GT/GTA, hadn’t been any too convincing, but things had perked up with the arrival of the hot […] -
![(first posted 4/25/2016) In the early 1970s, Volvo really started hitting its stride in the U.S. market. In addition to the brand’s burgeoning reputation for safety, the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/RT0471Volvo142EMainImage.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Road Test: 1971 Volvo 142E Automatic – Road Test Magazine Summarizes A Solid Swede")
Vintage Road Test: 1971 Volvo 142E Automatic – Road Test Magazine Summarizes A Solid Swede
Posted on May 30, 2025 | 33 Comments(first posted 4/25/2016) In the early 1970s, Volvo really started hitting its stride in the U.S. market. In addition to the brand’s burgeoning reputation for safety, the […] -
![For 1967, Plymouth got into the midsize Supercar game by installing the big Super Commando 440 engine in the intermediate Plymouth Belvedere, creating a muscular new high-performance model called […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1967-Plymouth-GTX-hardtop-Bright-Red-Mecum-Auctions-F160-front-3q-left.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car Life Review: 1967 Plymouth GTX — A Hemi Killer On The Street")
Vintage Car Life Review: 1967 Plymouth GTX — A Hemi Killer On The Street
Posted on May 29, 2025 | 14 CommentsFor 1967, Plymouth got into the midsize Supercar game by installing the big Super Commando 440 engine in the intermediate Plymouth Belvedere, creating a muscular new high-performance model called […] -
![(first posted 11/18/2015) In the late 1970s, Lincoln-Mercury tried to build upon the success of the Cougar by marketing their entire Mercury brand as being from “The Sign […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/1979-Lincoln-Mercury-01.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: 1979 Mercury Marquis – Less Fat At The Sign Of The Cat")
Vintage Review: 1979 Mercury Marquis – Less Fat At The Sign Of The Cat
Posted on May 26, 2025 | 64 Comments(first posted 11/18/2015) In the late 1970s, Lincoln-Mercury tried to build upon the success of the Cougar by marketing their entire Mercury brand as being from “The Sign […] -
![It only took Ford until 1967 to stuff a big block engine in the Mustang, but the 390 Mustang didn’t offer the performance to make up for its clumsier […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1969-Ford-Mustang-Mach-I-Candyapple-Red-Mecum-Auctions-F248.1-side-left.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car Life Review: 1969 Ford Mustang 428 Mach 1 – Faster Than A Hemi")
Vintage Car Life Review: 1969 Ford Mustang 428 Mach 1 – Faster Than A Hemi
Posted on May 25, 2025 | 27 CommentsIt only took Ford until 1967 to stuff a big block engine in the Mustang, but the 390 Mustang didn’t offer the performance to make up for its clumsier […] -
![Any automaker can create performance models by discreetly offering its most powerful engines in the smallest, cheapest cars that will accommodate them, but to put those models (and their […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1968-Plymouth-Road-Runner-coupe-Buffed-Silver-Mecum-Auctions-S103.1-front-3q-left.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car Life Review: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner 383 – As Hot As It’s Been Made Out To Be?")
Vintage Car Life Review: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner 383 – As Hot As It’s Been Made Out To Be?
Posted on May 23, 2025 | 33 CommentsAny automaker can create performance models by discreetly offering its most powerful engines in the smallest, cheapest cars that will accommodate them, but to put those models (and their […] -
![As automotive conversation pieces go, few speak louder than the 1969 AMC SC/Rambler, a preposterous limited-edition Rambler, concocted by American Motors and Hurst-Campbell, that offered giant-killing performance in a […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1969-AMC-SCRambler-A-paint-scheme-Mecum-Auctions-F133-front-3q-left.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car Life Review: 1969 AMC-Hurst SC/Rambler – “By George, It Is A Fast Little Car”")
Vintage Car Life Review: 1969 AMC-Hurst SC/Rambler – “By George, It Is A Fast Little Car”
Posted on May 22, 2025 | 31 CommentsAs automotive conversation pieces go, few speak louder than the 1969 AMC SC/Rambler, a preposterous limited-edition Rambler, concocted by American Motors and Hurst-Campbell, that offered giant-killing performance in a […] -
![Dressed in bright orange (“Carousel Red”) and festooned with decals; offering flashy looks, high performance, and a lengthy list of gimmicks; and bearing a name inspired by a popular […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1969-Pontiac-GTO-Judge-RAIV-Carousel-Red-Mecum-Auctions-R309-front-3q-right.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car Life Review: 1969 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV – Here Come “The Judge”")
Vintage Car Life Review: 1969 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV – Here Come “The Judge”
Posted on May 20, 2025 | 33 CommentsDressed in bright orange (“Carousel Red”) and festooned with decals; offering flashy looks, high performance, and a lengthy list of gimmicks; and bearing a name inspired by a popular […] -
![Although the launch of the second-generation Chevrolet Camaro was delayed until the middle of the 1970 model year, it arrived in late February with a splash, earning rave reviews […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1970-Chevrolet-Camaro-RS-Z28-Citrus-Green-Mecum-Auctions-S77-front-3q-left.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car Life Review: 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 – “Close To A Mild-Mannered Race Car”")
Vintage Car Life Review: 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 – “Close To A Mild-Mannered Race Car”
Posted on May 18, 2025 | 21 CommentsAlthough the launch of the second-generation Chevrolet Camaro was delayed until the middle of the 1970 model year, it arrived in late February with a splash, earning rave reviews […] -
![Dodge was decidedly late to the pony car party, waiting more than five years to join the fray with the new E-body Dodge Challenger. The Challenger was just as […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1970-Dodge-Challenger-RT-440-Plum-Crazy-Mecum-Auctions-S134-front-3q-left-top-down.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car Life Review: 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible With 440 Six Pack – “Genghis Grape”")
Vintage Car Life Review: 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible With 440 Six Pack – “Genghis Grape”
Posted on May 16, 2025 | 25 CommentsDodge was decidedly late to the pony car party, waiting more than five years to join the fray with the new E-body Dodge Challenger. The Challenger was just as […] -
![I was recently perusing the road test summary from the July 1969 issue of Car Life magazine, and it occurred to me that it summarized performance figures for some […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1969-muscle-car-lead-GTO-Swinger-Super-Bee-SCRambler.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "1969 Car Life Supercar Performance Figures — How Fast Were These Vintage Muscle Cars?")
1969 Car Life Supercar Performance Figures — How Fast Were These Vintage Muscle Cars?
Posted on May 14, 2025 | 32 CommentsI was recently perusing the road test summary from the July 1969 issue of Car Life magazine, and it occurred to me that it summarized performance figures for some […] -
![If there was one cardinal rule for Dodge Division in the 1960s, it was, “Whatever Plymouth had, Dodge dealers wanted.” Not long after Plymouth introduced the Road Runner, a […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1969-Dodge-Super-Bee-Bright-Green-Fast-Lane-Classic-Cars-front-3q-right.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car Life Review: 1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee 383 – “Lives Up To Its Decals”")
Vintage Car Life Review: 1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee 383 – “Lives Up To Its Decals”
Posted on May 12, 2025 | 24 CommentsIf there was one cardinal rule for Dodge Division in the 1960s, it was, “Whatever Plymouth had, Dodge dealers wanted.” Not long after Plymouth introduced the Road Runner, a […] -
![With 1,288,557 cars sold in just two and a half model years, the original Ford Mustang was the definition of a mass-market success. Car Life magazine compared it to […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1967-Ford-Mustang-GTA-390-Wimbledon-White-Bring-a-Trailer-13-front-3q-left-low.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car Life Review: 1967 Ford Mustang 390 Fastback – All The Toppings, Not Enough Mustard")
Vintage Car Life Review: 1967 Ford Mustang 390 Fastback – All The Toppings, Not Enough Mustard
Posted on May 11, 2025 | 37 CommentsWith 1,288,557 cars sold in just two and a half model years, the original Ford Mustang was the definition of a mass-market success. Car Life magazine compared it to […]
