Car: Buick Special Skylark Convertible

Year: 1961

What makes it special: For the 1961 model year, GM debuted three new compacts that would share the same chassis, engine and most sheet metal. Those were the Buick Special, Pontiac Tempest and Oldsmobile F85. The Special was influenced by Buick’s LeSabre, Invicta and Electra’s styling.

What made it famous: The Skylark had three Ventiports on each fender, and was powered by an aluminum block 155hp, 2-barrel 215 cu in V8, or a higher compression 185hp, 4-barrel version. It had a standard plush all-vinyl interior, optional bucket seats and very minimal dashboard instrumentation. Just a speedometer and gas gauge.

Why I would want one: Love the style, and the 4-barrel aluminum block 185hp V8 made it perform very well.

Fun fact: The Skylark was produced in six runs over a period of 46 years.

Car: AMC SC/Rambler-Hurst

Year: 1969

What makes it special: Having already dipped into the performance world with their Javelin pony cars in 1968, Detroit’s number 4 automaker AMC expanded even further into the budget muscle car arena with a Rambler Rogue compact, then getting direction from Hurst Performance Research Inc, they followed the simplest hot rod principle: Stuff the biggest available V8 into it. In this case that would be the AMX’s 315hp, 390 cu in 4-barrel, coupled up with a Borg-Warner 4-speed with Hurst floor-mounted shifter and 3.54:1 limited-slip rear completing the package. The car had ET’s in the low 14’s out of the box.

What made it famous: All S/C Ramblers started life as appliance-white with two-tone mag wheels, racing mirrors, blackout grille and tail panel. Hurst badging, and a real ram-air hood scoop with an up-thrust snout. Around 1,200 Scramblers went patriotic with broad red body stripes, wild hood graphics and fat blue dorsal stripe.

Why I would want one: This is by far one of the coolest, ballsiest factory hot rods ever offered.

Fun fact: The car debuted midway through the 1969 model year as the AMC SC/Rambler-Hurst, but most called it the Scrambler.

Car: Plymouth Valiant Scamp

Year: 1971

What makes it special: The Valiant was produced and sold by Chrysler’s Plymouth division for model years 1960 through 1976. It launched the company into the compact car market, and was known for its reliability and durability.

What made it famous: In 1971, Scamp was the top-of-the-line, two-door hardtop Valiant. Powered by a 318 V8 rather than the usual 225 Slant-6, this badge-engineered Dart Swinger sibling used the Dodge Dart’s 2-door hardtop body shell with Plymouth Valiant’s front sheet metal and dual taillights from the 1970 Dodge Dart.

Why I would want one: Love any time you put a V8 in an economy-based model. Instant factory hot rod.

Fun fact: The Plymouth Valiant in all it’s variants was one of Chrysler’s best-selling cars of the 60’s and 70’s. It kept the company afloat through very hard economic times.

Car: Dodge Custom Royal Lancer ( * Car shown at Road Ready Used Cars in Ansonia CT )

Year: 1957

What makes it special: Dodge refreshed their model lineup, continuing the three-line scheme with the entry-level Coronet, Royal and the more ornate Custom Royal.

What made it famous: The Custom Royal was Dodge’s flagship model. Equipped with the 350 cu in Ram-Fire V8 with a standard 2-barrel carburetor, but the optional 4r-barrel carburetor delivered 300 hp. A feature of the Custom Royal was its bumper-mounted exhaust ports which were only available to the Royal and Coronet models as part of the D-500 options. Identifying marks include Custom Royal script at the trailing edge of the belt-line molding, the pronounced check-mark, gold anodized Dodge block letters on the hood, and gold anodized Dodge script on the passenger side of the trunk. Fin cap inserts were anodized and had a unique rectangular pattern. All Custom Royals included a stainless molding above the bumper, on the flat edge below the trunk opening. Body styles offered were sedan, two-door hardtop, four-door hardtop, and two-door convertible. Lancers were also identified by a lance and shield emblem on each fin.

Why I would want one: It’s showy, it’s over-the-top, but it well represents the 1950’s style.

Fun fact: Dodge shared their basic mechanicals with the De Soto, but featured special styling.