The Ford Thunderbird is undoubtedly an American auto icon. The ‘bird featured today was gifted to retired NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon back in 1991 after he won the Busch Series Rookie of the Year Award, and it’s currently up for auction on Cars and Bids. It’s got front-engine and rear-wheel drive, and an Essex 3.8-liter supercharged V6 with 210 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque. Unfortunately the seller isn’t Jeff Gordon – but the glove box is signed by him. Check it out, right here.
Sure, everyone wants performance in a sports car, but performance on a budget? Even better. The Ford Mustang has a reputation for being one of the best budget-conscious performance cars money can buy. But even the base model is subject to price creep. Exhibit A: a base GT will set customers back $35,630, and that’s before you add all the bells and whistles. And the cheapest Performance Package Mustang with a V8 will cost over $40,000. With that being said, there’s a cheaper option that will give you all of the performance goodies, but keep you on a budget. Enter: the Boss 302.
The Boss 302 is powered by a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 producing 444 horsepower through a six-speed manual transmission. The performance specs include a 0-60 time of 4.2 seconds, and a quarter-mile time of 11.72 seconds. When the 302 was new, back in 2012, it came with a starting price of $40,145. But now, you can scoop yourself up a used version starting at $20,000. We’re thinking you can get your hands on a decent model anywhere from $25,000 to $30,000.
In 1941, Hudson Motor Company created the Hornet. It took nearly a decade for company president A.E. Barit to approve the model for production. In 1951, the Hornet began its rise to the top. This car was designed with aerodynamics and strength in mind. Extra steel and braces provided some heft while girders were wrapped into the roof to form a safety cage. Referred to as “the best handling car of its time,” the 1951 Hornet was powered by Hudson’s H-145 high compression in-line L-head six-308ci engine. With its two-barrel carburetor, this car can produce 145hp at 3800rpm. If you didn’t spot a Hornet on the street, you’d be sure to see one on the NASCAR track. Hudson was the first automobile manufacturer to get involved in sports car racing. With more than 40 NASCAR wins from 1951 to 1955, the Hudson Hornet was built for leaders.
On this episode of MotorTrend’s Top Gear America, the team gets behind the wheel of their favorite classics to go for a drive. The goal is to cruise from just outside of Sedona, Arizona to California, but as predicted, mayhem ensues. In the funniest way possible, of course. Check out the Future Classics Showdown episode below, you won’t regret it. Enjoy.
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