Some one or two year "Oddballs" that might be fun....If you run across one.....

 For whatever reason-almost every manufacturer has a one or two year model that didn't sell well, but was actually pretty cool. If you run across one at a reasonable price they can be great sleepers and great fun to play with-because your not messing up a classic. Here's my list in no particular order.  # 1 1970-71 Pontiac Tempest T37, 1972 LeMans GT.  Often called the "Poor mans GTO" these strippy coupes had a 350 V8 and a 3 speed stick as standard equipment. However a 4-speed or an automatic was available, as were the 400 and 455 inch V8s. For some reason the name was changed to "LeMans GT" in 1972-but the package was basically the same. Dynamite if you can find one at a reasonable price. I say "If" because whenever I see one of these for sale the owner is usually asking more than what you'd pay for a Ram Air III Judge. But their cool if the price is right.  # 2. 1971-72 "Heavy Chevy". These were a Malibu coupe with a domed SS hood, a blacked-out grille, hood pins, 14" slotted Rally Wheels and "Heavy Chevy" badging. Most had 350 power which certainly isn't a bad thing, but the 396 / 402 was an option. 6,727 were built in '71 and another 3,000 or so in '72. Expect to pay substantially more for the Rat-motored model.  # 3. 1971 Dodge Super Bee. For this one year only the "Super Bee" package was offered on the Charger instead of the Coronet. A 383 Magnum was the standard engine, with a 340 small-block optional for the first time, as well as the 440 4-bbl, 440-Six-Pack, and 426 Hemi. Hemi and 440 versions are priced in the stratosphere, but you can still find a deal on a 340 or 383 model. 6,000 or so were built.  # 4. 1971-72 Dodge "Demon". These were basically a 340 Duster with a dual scooped hood, a Go-Wing, and Special "Demon" badging which was a cute little smiling Devil holding a pitchfork. Mr Norm's Grand Spaulding Dodge even put "Six-Pack" induction or Paxton Superchargers on a few as dealer-installed options. Even in the '70's special-interest groups caused trouble. A Christian group complained about the "Demon" name and badging. Chrysler caved into the pressure and the name was changed to "Dart Sport" for 1973. Funny-where were all these loyal "Christian" buyers when Chrysler went bankrupt a few years later?  # 5. 1974 Pontiac GTO. Often called "The best Nova ever built". For this one year-the GTO name was moved from the LeMans platform to the Ventura ( nead Nova )  platform. These had a 350 V8 backed by a 4-speed or a TH350, front disc brakes, front and rear sway bars, and a Trans-Am style "Shaker" hood scoop. The buff magazines-pissed off that the "Goat" nameplate was moved from the LeMans platform where the 400 and 455 V8s were still available-derided and made fun of the car. However since they only weighed about 3,200 lbs-600 lbs less than a Firebird and about 800-1,000 less than a LeMans-performance was decent for the time-15 second 1/4 mile times-it just wasn't as blisteringly fast as an SD-455 Trans-Am-which was now the flagship. On the upside if you get one-any suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Camaro / Firebird fit these, and a 400 or 455 is a bolt-in swap. I can see a Ventura with WS6 suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes, radiused and flared fenders with 17X9 Snowflake wheels and 255/50ZR17 tires, and a snarling 467 inch Pontiac under that "Shaker" hood. Wouldn't that be a sleeper?  # 6. 1975 Plymouth Road Runner. For this one year the "Road Runner name was put on the Sport Fury platform. They had Rally wheels, "Road Runner" badging, a "Tuff" sterring wheel and the "Beep-Beep" horn.  318 models are dogs, but the 360 and 400 versions can be made to run. About 6,500 were built.   # 7. 1977 Pontiac "Can-Am".  Trying to cash in on the Trans-Am's immense popularity Pontiac came up with this performance package for the LeMans. You got "Radial Tuned Suspension"-wrist-thick front and rear sway bars, a "Shaker" hood scoop, a "Ducktail" rear spolier, and "Judge" style striping. Power was a 400 Pontiac ( a 403 Olds in California and High-Altitude Areas ) backed by a TH400. Their fun if you can find one. I'm sure I missed a few-but we'll touch on those another time. Mastermind

Fix the little things....Before they become big things......

 Had some musclecars through the shop in the last couple weeks. I'm amazed at the cars I see with $5,000 paint jobs and $2,000 worth of tires and wheels that can't pull 5,000 rpm in low gear. I had a 1969 Mach 1 Mustang come in. It was a beautfiul car in Grabber Blue. It had a 351W / FMX powertrain. It had 16" Torq-Thrust mags and 245 / 50ZR16 Comp T/A's on it. And it couldn't spin the tires on dry pavement, and coughed and spit under acceleration, and the transmission shifted very hard, when it shifted at all.  Upon inspection I found multiple issues. The vacuum advance was unplugged, the timing was way too slow, the points were closing up. It had bad wires-so it was probably running on 6 or 7 cylinders. The carb was way too rich, the kickdown linkage on the transmission wasn't hooked up, and the vacuum modulator was spewing fluid. After changing the plugs and wires, and the points and condenser and distributor cap, rotor and wires,I set the timing to factory specs, hooked up the vacuum advance and replaced the modulator on the side of the transmission. Then I addressed the carb. It was a 1405 Edelbrock on a Performer Manifold-a stellar combination. I hooked up the kickdown linkage. I then screwed the fuel screws all the way in-they were way adjusted way too rich. I then turned them 2 1/2 turns out. This is the base setting out of the box. Starting the car-it sounded much better. On the test drive-I checked for men in blue. Feeling the coast was clear, I punched it from a light. The Mustang lit up the right rear tire all the way across the intersection, and when the FMX hit 2nd-it laid another 8-10 feet of rubber and made a nice, satisfying,  "Rubber in 2nd" screech. The 351 kept pulling until let off at the top of 2nd gear,-going way too fast for the city street I was on. I punched it up a freeway on-ramp, stayed in it until 3rd gear, going well over 100 mph. I went back to the shop, and let the customer drive it. He was escatic. "Holy crap!" "Did you put a new engine in it?"  "No it was just suffering from neglect on mulitple fronts." "This is how it should run."  He was so happy that he tipped me $50 over the bill I charged him. He promised to send me all his friends. I thanked him.  I see this all the time-a beautiful car that runs like shit because the motor's neglected, and maybe the owner doesn't know it-especially if he's not a gearhead or a mechanic. This Mustang-which was bone-stock except for the Edelbrock carb and intake which replaced a 2bbl setup-just need a thorough tune-up and check up. Once all the small issues were fixed-it ran like a scalded cat. I saw another one-a 440 powered 1973 Charger that idled rough, got crappy ( even for a 440 ) gas mileage and wouldn't run much over 3,500 rpm. It couldn't spin the tires either.  This cars plug wires were so bad that I found three of them almost broke in two. So it was running on 5 cylinders. Further-the Thermo-Quad carb-was bleeding over badly and had multiple vacuum leaks-the bakelite body was badly warped. I replaced the plugs and wires and got a remanufactured Thermo-Quad from Summit. I bolted it on out of the box, and set the idle.  The improvement was unbeleivable. Now it idled at 800 rpm, and would literally spin the tires as long as you wanted to stay on the throttle. The car's owner couldn't believe it. "It's never run like that and I've had it 2 years."  I asked-have you ever had anyone tune it up or look at it?" He was kind of sheepish. "No, not really." "I always thought it was kind of a dog for having such a big motor." "I'm not a mechanic-I guess I should have had someone go over it." "I'll bring it to you from now on."  This guy had been limping this car around for 2 years on 5 or 6 cylinders with a carb that was FUBAR.  I'm amazed it would even start. But he's happy as a clam now. So if your not a mechanic-have a competent one look at your pride and joy once in a while. A little maintenance goes a long way. Mastermind