One or two year wonders that might be cool to have....

There are a lot of cars that for whatever reason-were only produced for a single model year or two. Some of these are unique-and while not worth the major bucks that the premium models are-they are worth having and are cooler than a base model. Here's a list of these that I think are worth buying if you can find one at a reasonable price. # 1. 1967 Pontiac GTO. 81,000 of these were built so you should be able to find a deal on one. These are unique because except for the taillights and minor trim-they have the '66 bodystyle which a lot of people think are the best-looking GTO ever built. But they also have many performance upgrades-for example if you get an automatic model-you get a TH400, which drastically improved performance over the 1964-66 models which had a two-speed ST300 ( A BOP bolt-pattern Powerglide ). Engine size was increased from 389 to 400 cubes and the cylinder heads were completely re-designed and breathed way better than the '59-66 heads. The intake manifold was redesigned to complement the new heads, and the Quadrajet carb flowed 750 cfm-a lot more than 500 cfm the old Carter AFB 4bbl did, and about the same as the 3 Rochester 2GCs.  So-as I said in an earlier post-although people whined about the discontinuing of the 3-2bbl option-the 4bbl '67 model was actually faster than the '64-66 Tri-Power models.  Front disc brakes with 11 inch rotors were now optional and much-needed-the '64-66 models 4-wheel 9.5 inch drums would stop the car from high-speed one time. Then they'd fade badly. In '68 the body was completely changed to the style that would last through 1972. So if you want the "old" bodystyle with the "new" drivetrain this is the way to get it.  # 2. 1967-68 Ford "California Special" Mustang. These are a Mustang coupe with Shelby-style side scoops and taillights, Rally wheels and special striping and badging. Most are 289 powered but there are some 390 versions as well. Expect to pay a lot more for a 390 model. Their not worth GT350 or GT500 Shelby money-but I'd pay more for one of these than I would for a garden-variety Mustang of the same years. Colorado dealers sold some "High Country" specials that are basically the same thing-but you don't see them very often-and their not worth any more than the more plentiful "California" models. # 3. 1970 Olds Rallye 350 Cutlass. 3,527 of these were built-so while their rare-their not a total moon rock. These cars had a super loud Sebring Yellow paint job,body-colored bumpers, a "Judge" type spoiler and body-colored Rally wheels. Power was a 350 V8 rated at 310 hp backed by either a Muncie 4-speed or a TH350. Some Olds enthusiasts insist that 10 or 12 got the vaunted, super-hot "W31" 350-which was grossly under-rated at 325 hp-they were only available with the 4-speed and 3.90:1 or 4.33:1 gears-but I have never seen one, or a window sticker or build sheet for one, and no magazine or Olds engineer has ever verified one. But even with the base engine they are a cool ride. # 4. 1971-72 "Heavy Chevy" Chevelle. About 10,000 of these were built-6,727 in '71 and another 3,000 or so in the strike-shortened '72 model year. They are basically a 2 dr Malibu with a domed "SS" style hood, a blacked-out grille,14" slotted Rally wheels and special "Heavy Chevy" striping and emblems. Most have 350 cubes under the hood, but the 402 big-block was optional as well. For some unknown reason the 454 was not. Obviously you'll pay more for the big-block models, but their still cheaper than an "SS", and a lot cooler than a base-model. # 5. 1971 Dodge Super Bee. For this one-year only the Super Bee package was based on the Charger instead of the Coronet. Roughly 6,500 were built. They featured hidden headlights, special striping, a special domed hood with a huge "Super Bee" emblem on it, and the standard engine was the 383 Magnum. Options included the 340 small-block, the 440 4bbl, the 440 six-pack and the 426 Hemi. Obviously Hemi, 440 and Six-Pack versions are priced in the stratosphere-but 340 and 383 models are still reasonable. # 6. 1971-72 Dodge Demon. I think these are way cooler than the much more prevalant Duster. The grille and double scooped hood on these is meaner-looking than the Duster's, and you got special stripes, a go-wing on the trunk and the cool little grinning "Speed Demon" holding a pitchfork emblems. Power was the high-winding 340 V8 backed by a 4-speed or a Torqueflite. Even in the '70s political correctness ruined fun-a bunch of Christian groups griped about the "Demon" name & graphics-and Chrysler caved in to the pressure. In 1973 you could still get a 340-but the cool graphics and hood were gone, 5-mph bumpers added and the name was changed to Dart Sport. # 7. 1973-75 Pontiac Grand Am. These were touted to have "The luxury of a Gran Prix and the performance of a Trans-Am." However-luxury buyers bought GPs and performance buyers bought T/As which is why they only lasted a couple years. The upside is you got a 400 with either a 4-speed or a TH400, or a 455 with a TH400,bucket seats,front disc brakes, wrist-thick front and rear sway bars (" Radial Tuned Suspension" ) and a swoopy fastback body. Herb Adams campaigned one in NASCAR briefly until the brass made him quit. They are a bargain if you can find one-for some reason even Pontiac buffs snub these cars-and I don't know why-they have big-block power standard-while 99% of the Chevelles and Cutlasses of this vintage have 350s. 34,000 were built in 1973 alone-so you should be able to find one if you look hard enough. # 8 1982 and 1984 Corvette. Like the '67 GTO the '82 was a blend of the old and the new. This was the last of the C3 bodystyle that debuted in 1968 and the first one to have a 4-speed overdrive automatic and a Cross-Fire injected 350 V8. There was no '83 model-the all-new C4 was introduced as an '84 in March 1983. These are the bodystyle that lasted until 1996. The '84 had the Cross-Fire injected 350 and either a 700R4 automatic or the "4+3" manual-a T10 4-speed with an overdrive behind it that could be engaged in 2nd,3rd or 4th-effectively giving you 7 gears. For some reason 'Vette enthusiasts snub these cars in favor of the the '85-91 Tuned-Port Injected models, but that allows you to buy them dirt-cheap. "Corvette" and "Cheap" are not usually in the same sentence-but I have seen these for sale on used car lots for as low as $3995-and my brother-in law bought one from a private party with a spun main bearing for $700!! And the rest of the car was nice-the paint, seats etc. If anyone thinks of some others I missed, let me know. Mastermind