Car Nation

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1969 Volvo 1800S coupe owned by Charlie Licata

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING You don’t usually hear the words “Volvo” and “sports car” in the same sentence, except for the classic 1800 series coupes and sport wagons built from 1961 to 1973. Today, they are highly collectible, thanks in part to a starring role as the featured sports car in the 1960s television series, “The...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1970 Chevrolet Nova coupe owned by Charlie Staudter

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING Chevrolet sold the hugely popular Nova from 1962 to 1979 primarily as an economical compact family car and yet it managed to find its way into the hearts of muscle car enthusiasts and racers across the country. Today, meticulously modified Novas can be found at Long Island car shows almost every...

THE TRUCK AND ITS OWNER 1962 Chevrolet C-10 pickup truck owned by Paul Dooling

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING Chevrolet’s first-generation C-10 pickups, built from 1960 to 1966, combined car-like styling with utilitarian toughness. Back then, they bolstered the company’s reputation as America’s largest pickup producer. Today, they command rising interest – and prices – on the classic car auction...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Indianapolis 500 pace car replica owned by Joseph Greco

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING Starting in 1978, the Corvette’s 25th anniversary, Chevrolet would go on to provide Corvette pace cars for the fabled Indianapolis 500-mile race in 11 different years through 2012. The company also created a limited number of replicas for sale in showrooms. However,...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1969 Dodge Dart GTS convertible drag racer owned by Jim Mango

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING Chrysler first offered the Dart GTS in late 1967 as a limited-edition junior muscle car to compete with the Chevrolet Nova SS. In stock form, it would go on to win its share of stoplight drag races. Mango’s convertible kicks things up a few notches. “It has always been a drag race...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNERS 1967 Pontiac GTO hardtop owned by Christopher and Gary Werner

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING The iconic Pontiac GTO, offered from 1964 to 1974 and again from 2004 to 2006, is considered by many to be the father of modern muscle cars. By 1967, it had already solidified its place at the top of the heap, with standard models sporting a 335-horsepower, 400-cubic-inch V-8 engine...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1977 Toyota Celica GT Liftback owned by John Herman

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING “You’ll feel Celica excitement the very first time you drive one,” says the Toyota sales brochure for 1977. “And you’ll never get tired of it.” That could certainly apply to Herman, who has owned his Liftback since new and has kept it in immaculate condition. “The Toyota Celica name is derived...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1972 Plymouth Duster 340 coupe owned by Bill Peysson

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING The muscular Duster 340 offered sporty good looks and barrels of fun at a modest price, even though it was conceived as the federal government began to rein in horsepower due to more stringent emission controls. “A note of significance, though a somewhat sad note to the muscle car era, is that...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1978 Ford LTD four-door pillared hardtop owned by Gregg D. Merksamer

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING At almost 19 feet long and over 4,200 lbs., the 1978 LTD was Ford’s top-of-the-line luxury model and it marked the company’s 75th anniversary. Merksamer’s ride accentuates its length and heft with an unusual factory green color combination that would do itself proud at any St....

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1940 LaSalle Series 52 sedan owned by Andrew Zizolfo

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING While 1940 was the LaSalle’s final year, it did not go out with a whimper. Built since 1927 as a “junior Cadillac,” these cars held their own in the luxury field, with advanced engineering, solid build quality and an emphasis on selling style along with substance. “Back in the late 1920s and...