2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Alfa Romeo's Giulia was the first Alfa sedan sold in the USA since the marque had bailed on the market in the mid-'90s. Available in rear- or all-wheel-drive configurations, the Giulia was a compact executive sedan intended to take on 3-series Bimmers and C-class Benzes.

The flagship of the Giulia lineup was the Quadrifoglio, which drove all four wheels with a twin-turbo all-aluminum V-6. The direct-injected motor had a lot of Ferrari DNA and put out 505 net horsepower at 6500 RPM and could be had with one of two ZF transmissions, a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. 

As one would expect from a 500hp motor in a 3,800-pound car, performance was spicy. In a comparison test against the BMW M3, the Cadillac ATS-V, and the Mercedes-AMG C63 S, Car and Driver clocked a 3.6 second zero-to-sixty. The quarter mile was annihilated in 11.9 seconds at 121 mph through the traps. It circled the skidpad at an even 1.00g and stopped from seventy in only 143 feet. While the brawny Benz pulled ahead over 100mph, the Quadrifoglio was the hands-down performance winner of the comparo.

The 2017 test car stickered at $79,195, which is about $109k in today's coinage. The one in the photos was snapped with a Nikon 1 V2 and a 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f/1.8 lens in September of 2021.

1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

1972 was the final model year for the third generation of Oldsmobile's midsize Cutlass. Styling changes from '71 were minimal and mostly limited to the grille and taillights.

There were the base Cutlass and F-85, the slightly more upmarket and sporty Cutlass S, and finally the Cutlass Supreme, which had a more pronounced notchback roofline, touted as "formal", to distinguish it from the lesser model cars which still sported an aggressively fastback roofline. (Technically, for '72 the 442 was again a Cutlass trim level rather than a separate model.) 

The base engine was the 350 cubic inch L34 Olds Rocket V-8 with a four-barrel Rochester carburetor. With its compression reduced to 8.5:1 so as to run on regular unleaded it was only rated at 180 horsepower  in the newly-mandated SAE Net system. Cutlass Supreme buyers could opt for the two-barrel L32 350 as a credit option, for which they got better economy at the cost of a haircut to 160 horses. Alternately they could spring for a 250 horsepower L75 455 cube Rocket V-8. Three- and four-speed manuals were available, as well as the three-speed Turbo-Hydra-matic slushbox, as were a variety of rear axle ratios.

Since the Cutlass Supreme was aimed at the growing personal luxury coupe market, Motor Trend tested a '72 hardtop coupe with the base L34 Rocket V-8 against a Chevrolet Monte Carlo Custom, a Dodge Charger SE, and a Mercury Montego Brougham. The 350-powered Cutlass was at something of a disadvantage versus the other three, which all packed 400-cube motors, although the horsepower disparity wasn't all that great (the Mercury had a claimed 240, but FoMoCo was still advertising in gross numbers.)

Equipped with a three-speed automatic and a 2.73:1 rear end, the Cutlass Supreme test car turned in an 11.3 second zero-to-sixty time and strolled through the quarter in a leisurely 18.4 seconds at 78mph.

The Antique Pewter one in the photo was snapped in October of 2025 using a Nikon Df and a 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6G zoom lens.

2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Dormant since the late Sixties, Chevrolet revived the "ZL1" moniker for the top performance spec of the Fifth Generation Camaro from 2012 to 2015. After a one year hiatus, a ZL1 option was released for the new Sixth Generation Camaro as a 2017 model.

Like the previous iteration, the 2017 ZL1 was powered by a supercharged version of Chevy's LS-series V-8. This time, it was the 6.2L LT4, rated at 650 SAE net horsepower. A six-speed manual was available, as well as an all-new ten-speed 10L90 automatic transmission. Racy aero, MagnaRide suspension, 20" alloys, and honkin' big Brembo brakes completed the package.

Car and Driver tested the 2017 Camaro ZL1 coupe with the ten-speed auto and recorded a blistering 3.4 second sprint to sixty. The quarter mile was put away in 11.5 seconds, blowing through the traps at 125mph. The electromagnetic suspension and meaty Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tires let the car circle the skidpad at 1.04g.

Price as tested was $67,000 in 2017 money, which is $92,000 in today's coin.

This Garnet Red Tintcoat example was photographed in January of 2023 using a Nikon D2X and an 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR II zoom lens.

2000 Acura Integra LS

The third generation of the Acura Integra, which had debuted for 1994, received a light refresh toward the end of its life cycle. Most notably, the snout was made more aggro by removing the horizontal bar that had previously broken up the yawning intake. The embossed "INTEGRA" name was also moved downward and outboard, now located below the driver's side headlamps.

Power for this 2000 Acura Integra LS sedan in Vogue Silver Metallic came from an all-alloy 1.8L DOHC 16V inline four making 140 horsepower and backed by either a 5-speed manual or, if you were dead inside, a four-speed slushbox. This was good enough to propel the LS sedan to sixty in the high eight second range.

This one was photographed using a Nikon D3 and 85mm f/1.8 lens in September of 2023. 

1996 Ford Mustang Convertible

The fourth generation of Ford's pony car only came in two basic flavors: the base Mustang and the performance-oriented Mustang GT. Both could be had in coupe or convertible form. The car in the photo is a base convertible in Opal Frost Clearcoat Metallic riding on the optional 15" cast aluminum wheels.

Unlike the previous generation, where the lower-zoot LX could be ordered with the 5.0L small block and all the performance goodies, the base Mustangs now were all V-6 powered while the V-8 was exclusive to the GT.

The base motor was a 3.8L sequential fuel injected version of Ford's Essex pushrod V-6 engine family which put out 150 net horsepower.

This one was photographed in August of 2023 using a Nikon D3 and an 80-200mm f/2.8D zoom lens.

1991 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible

For the 1991 model year the third generation of the Camaro was nearly a decade old, but its replacement was still a couple years off, so it was treated to a mild styling upgrade.

With the Camaro having lost its spot as the car of the International Race of Champions, the old Z28 moniker was brought back for the top-of-the-line sporty model, while the entry level version remained the RS.

The Z28 got a prominent wing-type decklid spoiler and aggro... albeit non-functional ...hood bulges. The RS got the IROC's old ducktail spoiler. Both versions got new, more prominent ground effects packages.

The '91 Camaro RS coupe came with a standard 3.1L LH0 pushrod V-6 with multiport fuel injection rated at 140 SAE net horsepower, or an optional throttle body injected 5.0L L03 V-8 that put out 170 horses. The V-8 was standard on RS convertibles, like the Ultra Blue Metallic one in the pictures.

The V-8 could be backed with either a three-speed auto or five-speed manual gearbox. The lackluster output of the TBI small block and extra weight of the convertible structure made for zero-to-sixty times in the high eight second range. But, hey, people bought RS Camaros for the looks; if they wanted to go fast they'd have ponied up for the Z28, right?

Even with the added gingerbread, the basic shape of the 3rd Generation F-bodies was still great looking. If they’d come out of Italy instead of Detroit you wouldn’t be able to get the Professional Car Likers at R&T and C/D to shut up about how perfect their lines are.

The domed hood and chrome wheels on this one are aftermarket. The top photo was made using a Nikon D3 and 24-120mm f/4 VR zoom lens in May of 2023, while the lower one was with a Nikon D3 and 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6G zoom lens in July of 2022.

1975 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Convertible

1975 was the last year for the Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale convertible... and the last Olds ragtop, period, until the 1990 Cutlass Supreme.

Like the 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, Oldsmobile really leaned into the future collectible hype, and they sold just shy of 7,200 units, including this beaut of a Horizon Blue example.

For the Delta 88 Royale, which was more upscale than the base Delta 88, the standard engine was the 350 Oldsmobile Rocket V-8 with a four-barrel Rochester carburetor. Optionally, the buyer could spring for the 455 Rocket four-barrel.

1975 was the first year for catalytic converters at Oldsmobile. This required the use of unleaded gas and saw greatly lowered compression ratios, and also meant dual exhausts went away (the exhaust system in the photo is therefore an aftermarket setup.) All this dropped output to 170 SAE net horsepower for the 350 and only 190 ponies for the big 455. A three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic was the only transmission on offer.

Among the available options was GM's then-new air cushion restraint system, but it couldn't be had on the convertible.

This one was photographed using a Canon EOS RP and an RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS zoom lens in September of 2026.

2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid

Starting in 2006, the mid-sized Milan was the entry level Mercury sedan, sharing its CD3 platform with the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.

It was available in I4 and V6 variants, with both powertrains sold in base, Premier, and AWD trim levels. While the bigger-motored version had the fairly snarly 221hp 3.0L Duratec 30, the I4 made do with the 160hp Duratec 23.

For the 2010 model year, the four-cylinder got a displacement and power bump to the 175hp 2.5L Duratec 25. A new model was also added, the Milan Hybrid. This car paired a 106hp AC motor with an Atkinson-cycle variant of the 2.5L Duratec four cylinder that made 156hp. These fed into an Aisin CVT to drive the front wheels.

When Car and Driver tested a well-optioned 2010 Milan Hybrid, they recorded an 8.5 second zero-to-sixty time and a 16.6 second quarter mile at 88mph through the traps. Not a bolt of lightning but more than adequate to keep up with traffic. Top speed was governed to 108.

Befitting its slightly more upmarket position than the Fusion, there was plenty of gingerbread available for the Milan and the test car had almost all of it, bringing the as-tested price to $33,075 (about $50,800 in current money.)

Only 2,884 Milan Hybrids were sold for the 2010-2011 model years before the Mercury division of FoMoCo was allowed to slip beneath the waves, making this Light Ice Blue Metallic example something of a rare bird.

It was photographed in September of 2026 with a Nikon D4 and a 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR zoom lens.

2003 Saturn Vue

The Saturn division of General Motors had originally been launched as an entirely clean-sheet-of-paper project intended to revamp the way GM looked at building cars. While the corporation had long shared a great deal of componentry among divisions, the Saturn SL sedans and SC coupes were on their own chassis and used their own engines and shared next to nothing with any other division.

The first crack in the foundation was when Saturn added a midsize sedan to the previously compact-only lineup for the 2000 model year. The LS-series sedans used GM corporate four- and six-cylinder motors and shared the GM2900 platform with the Opel Vectra and Saab 9-3 & 9-5.

For 2002 Saturn jumped into the booming compact SUV market with the Vue, on the all-new unibody Theta platform. It had the platform to itself initially, but it was soon enough sharing it with the Chevy Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, and Suzuki XL7.

For the first few years the Vue could be had with the base 143hp 2.2L Ecotec four cylinder or an Opel-designed iron block 3.0L V-6 rated at 181 ponies. 

Car and Driver tested an AWD 2002 V-6 Vue with the 5-speed automatic and clocked an 8.4 second zero-to-sixty time and a 16.6 quarter at 83mph.

The Electric Blue example in the photo was snapped with a Canon EOS RP and an RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS zoom lens in July of 2026.

1966 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport Convertible

This Madeira Maroon 1966 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport has the 325 horsepower Turbo-Jet 396 cubic inch big block V-8.

The '66 models can be told apart from their 1965 predecessors by slightly different grilles and triple rectangular taillights rather than the previous round ones.

Pardon the potato quality cell phone photo. The car was parked in an awkward spot for photography. I used an iPhone 13 Pro Max to take the picture in Dayton, Ohio back in July of 2026. 

1967 Chevrolet Impala SS 427 Sport Coupe

For its third model year, the Fourth Generation Chevy Impala got refreshed styling, heavy on the "Coke bottle" shape. The Super Sport version, available as a hardtop Sport Coupe or a convertible, came with only one motor, the L36 427 cubic inch Turbo-Jet big block V-8.

With a four-barreled carburetor and the fames "porcupine" heads, the L36 had hydraulic lifters and a 10.25:1 compression ratio and was rated at 385 gross horsepower. It could be backed with three- or four-speed manuals or a Turbo Hydra-Matic, with the three-speed being a special heavy duty unit.

Car Life magazine tested a '67 Impala SS 427 Sport Coupe with the Turbo Hydra-Matic and the optional 3.07:1 rear end (The standard unit was a 3.31, and a 3.55 rear was also available.) The sprint to sixty was accomplished in 8.4 seconds, with the quarter taking 15.8 seconds at 87mph. Top speed was measured at 125.

Optioned like it was, the test car stickered at $4,903, which comes to $49,174 in current money.

The Marina Blue example in the photos was snapped using an iPhone 13 Pro Max in Dayton, Ohio back in July of 2026.