Car: Chevrolet Bel Air 4-Door Hardtop

Year: 1957

What makes it special: The 1957 Chevrolet was introduced in September 1956 for the 1957 model year. It was available in three series models: the upscale Bel Air, the mid-range Two-Ten, and the One-Fifty. A two-door station wagon, the Nomad was produced as a Bel Air model. 

What made it famous: Originally, General Motors executives wanted an entirely new car for 1957, but production delays necessitated the 1955–56 design for one more year. Chevrolet’s Chief Engineer fEd Cole  dictated a series of changes that significantly increased the cost of the car. These changes included a new dashboard, sealed cowl, and the relocation of air ducts to the headlight pods, which resulted in the distinctive chrome headlight that helped make the ’57 Chevrolet a classic. 14-inch wheels replaced the 15-inch wheels from previous years to give the car a lower stance, and a wide grille was used to give the car a wider look from the front. The now famous ’57 Chevrolet tailfins were designed to duplicate the wide look in the rear. Bel Air models were given gold trim: the mesh grille insert and front fender chevrons, as well as the “Chevrolet” script on the hood and trunk, were all rendered in anodized gold. The base engine was an inline 6-cylinder called the Blue Flame Six. The engine was smoother running than the V8. Carburetion came from a single one-barrel carburetor. For 1957 there were 3 standard V8 engine options, a 265 cu in V8 “Turbo-Fire” producing 162 hp, and two 283 cu in V8’s: a “Turbo-Fire” twin-barrel carburetor producing 185 hp and a “Super “Turbo-Fire” 2-barrel carburetor developing 220 hp.  Another optional engine was offered with two 4-barrel carburetors, the legendary “Duntov” cam and solid lifters. This engine produced 270 hp. 1957 was the first year that Chevrolet ever offered fuel injection as an option. A 283 cu in V8 fitted with solid lifters, the “Duntov” cam and fuel injection was rated at 283 hp and cost $500. This was the first time in history that a General Motors vehicle achieved 1-hp-per-cu-in in a production vehicle.

Why I would want one: Whether it’s a 2 door sedan or Nomad or in-between, anyone who’s into cars wants a 1957 Chevrolet in their personal collection.

Fun fact:  It is a popular and sought after classic car. They’re often restored to their original condition and sometimes modified. The car’s image has been frequently used in toys, graphics, music, movies, and television. The ’57 Chevy as it is often known, is an automotive icon.

Car: Dodge Challenger 383 Magnum R/T Hardtop Coupe

Year: 1970

What makes it special: Challenger is the name of three different generations of automobiles, two of those being pony cars produced by Dodge. However, the first use of the Challenger name by Dodge was in 1959 for marketing a “value version” of the full-sized Coronet Silver Challenger. From 1970 to 1974, the first generation Challenger was built using the Chrysler E platform in hardtop and convertible body styles sharing major components with Plymouth’s Barracuda model. Introduced in fall 1969 for the 1970 model year, the Challenger was positioned to compete against the Mercury Cougar and Pontiac Firebird in the upper end of the pony car market segment, and was a late response to Ford’s Mustang.  

What made it famous: The Challenger was available as either a two-door hardtop coupe or a convertible, and in two models for its introductory model year.  The base model was the “Challenger” with either an Inline-6 or V8 engine, as well as a “Challenger R/T” that included a 383 cu in V8. The Special Edition (SE) trim package added a number of appearance, convenience, and comfort items, on either the base Challenger or the R/T. The standard engine on the higher trim models was a 318 cu in V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor. For 1970, the optional engines included the 340 and 383 cu in, as well as the 440 and 426 cu in V8’s, all with a standard 3-speed manual transmission, except for the 290 bhp 383 cuin. engine, which was available only with the TorqueFlite automatic transmission. A 4-speed manual was optional on all engines except the 225 cu in Inline-6 and the 2-barrel 383 cu in V8.

Why I would want one: Well, I have the 2015 R/T Scat Pack version currently, but I would love to have an earlier version of Dodge’s potent performance version of the Challenger as well.

Fun fact: Chrysler intended the new Challenger as the most potent pony car ever, and, like the less expensive Barracuda, it was available in a staggering number of trim and option levels, and with virtually every engine in Chrysler’s inventory