Table of contents for April 2026 in Classic American

You’ll have noticed by now that we have another Mustang as our main cover car this month… and it’s with good reason. In certain UK stores, this issue of Classic American is being sold as part of a big-value ‘bundle’, bagged alongside its sister title, Classic Ford. And that means we’ve some extra Ford content, with our GT500 cover star being accompanied by a female-focused feature on Mustang owners, a delve into the history of the first-generation Thunderbird, and an up-close look at a Ford Five-Window Coupe with a difference. That’s plenty of variety for all the Blue Oval fans out there! There’s so much more than Ford coverage, however, as we also take a look at what’s involved when buying a C3-generation Corvette, we meet the Australian owner of…

Success is often attributed to good fortune, but this was patently not the case with the Ford Thunderbird. It was the right product at the right time, and one that surfed the zeitgeist to the point that punters clamoured to land one. It may not have been a technical tour de force, but it had style to spare. It was well reasoned, thoughtfully designed and expertly marketed. And as such, it outsold its arch-rival, the Chevrolet Corvette, by a factor of 23-to-one during its first year on sale. Let that sink in for a moment. Like the Mustang that followed in its wake, the Thunderbird was an instant classic and one that cast the longest of shadows over subsequent iterations. You could argue that none of the ensuing generations of…

The third-generation Corvette saw the model develop into the version that holds the record for the longest production run, from 1968 to 1982 – and for many marque fans, it remains the ultimate choice. The C3’s design was based on a mid-engined concept by stylist Larry Shinoda, called the Mako Shark II; for production, however, the car’s lines were adapted to sit on traditional front-engine/rear-wheel drive underpinnings. The earlier cars retained the vertical rear screen and flying buttresses (together known as the ‘sugar-scoop’) of the mid-engined concept, which also gave rise to the targa-style roof. As was the American way, the new Corvette came with a wide variety of options and specs, with the C3 initially being offered as both a true convertible and a targa-top coupe with removable roof…

2026 MARCH 20-22 Classic Car & Restoration Show JNow a well-established favourite, this season-opener at the NEC, Birmingham, offers enthusiasts a chance to brush up on their skills via demonstrations and workshops, talk to restoration experts, and buy all the tools and parts they need from the 250-plus trade and autojumble stands. There are 150-plus clubs exhibiting, plus classic car celebrities and a Live Stage. Find out more at www.necrestorationshow.com. APRIL 3 Wheels Day It’s the 51st year of this ever-popular Good Friday hot rod, custom car and American car show, held at Newbury Showground, Berkshire (RG18 9QZ). Private entries, car clubs and trade stands welcome. To find out more or to pre-book, visit www.wheelsday.co.uk. 4-5 Easter Bash American Rod & Custom Car Show Held at Fort Paull, near Hull…

Regular readers will probably be familiar with the name Paul Hartley, as we’ve featured a number of his projects over the last few decades. Always built to an impeccably high standard, every car that exits Paul’s garage becomes a surefire showstopper. “I probably enjoy rebuilding a car more than I do driving it,” he admits. “I like to keep busy, so I’m always on the lookout for my next project.” As a long-time fan of the classic Mustang, Paul has completed plenty to a high standard as they pass through his hands: “I’ve rebuilt a number of coupes and two convertibles, including a black 1970 car once owned by Henry Ford Junior. Prior to the Super Snake project, my most recent restoration was of a red ’69 fastback.” No sooner…

If you’re the kind of enthusiast who prefers your classic American cars – and pre-war Fords in particular – to be in pristine original condition, you might want to fast-forward a few pages and skip this feature. Otherwise, our editor could be on the receiving end of letters and emails using words like ‘butchery’ and ‘desecration’. For everyone else, though, and especially those with an interest in vintage drag racing and hot rod history, it’s time to read on… What we have here is a very cool example of a vintage drag strip warrior: a 1934 Ford Five-Window Coupe, rebuilt, re-engineered and reinterpreted as a street-driven hot rod, and as radical as you’ll find anywhere. Full credit goes to owner Richard James and his talented hot rodder buddy, Pete Ayres,…

The announcement of Chevrolet’s 1957 model range saw a number of updates introduced, with GM’s original plan to launch an all-new series being postponed. Production delays meant the 1955-56 design was instead updated for ’57, with Chevrolet chief designer Ed Cole creating various changes. On the inside, these included an updated dashboard, while externally there were new tailfins, a wider grille and redesigned headlight surrounds – now chromed – to give the car a fresh look both front and rear. Fourteen-inch wheels also replaced the previous 15-inch, endowing the latest Chevrolets with a lower stance. At the bottom of the range of 1955-57 models was the 150, conceived mainly as a fleet version but also available to the wider market. It was particularly popular with the police, state governments and…

Regular readers will recall that I subscribe to the 1:43-scale American Cars Collection, from which I’ve been cherry-picking models for review. Whilst I’m aware that many readers won’t want to commit themselves to a subscription, I’ve noticed that most models are advertised on the aftermarket or are available in different packaging from the manufacturer. Accordingly, you’ll see more of them as their quality justifies inclusion, even higher-priced on the secondary market. This 1972 Chevrolet Vega Yenko ‘Stinger’ is a good example, representing cars produced by the Pennsylvania-based dealership, Yenko Chevrolet. The company gained notoriety for selling modified, performance versions of muscle cars, specially decorated and badged, complete with warranties. They made some 350 Chevy Vega Coupes and 50 ‘Kammback’ station wagons in 1971 and ’72, named ‘Stinger’. Given the Vega’s…

OWNER: COLETTE WILLIAMSON CAR: 2017 MUSTANG GT S550 Colette, a principal teacher in specialist education, is clearly a sports car fan, having previously owned a Mazda MX-5, an Audi TT Quattro and a BMW Z4. She made the switch to Mustang ownership via an Ecoboost-engined model, but her black 2017 5.0-litre S550 is a major step up from that. “I love the history of the Ford Mustang,” explains Colette, who’s from Glasgow. “It is an icon in the car world – and who wouldn’t want to be part of that?” Colette also loves the way in which other people react to her Mustang: “One of the biggest joys the car brings is how appreciated it is by all generations. I sometimes see kids taking photos of it as it passes,…

If you’re tempted to invest in a machine polisher and learn how to use it on your car’s paintwork to rectify problems (fading, light scratches, swirl marks and so on) or simply improve the shine, then the following pages will hopefully point you in the right direction. There’s a lot to consider when buying this type of equipment and that’s before you start to learn how to do these jobs effectively without causing more damage. We’ve spoken to several bodyshop specialists that use a variety of machine polishers, including ACE American Autos which we featured last month during a paint rectification job. And we’ve concluded that there’s no definitive answer when it comes to the perfect machine polisher. Many people prefer a dual-action (DA) polisher for its light and smooth…

MUSTANG CHOICES Back in the summer of 1979, Ford was busy promoting its new third-generation Mustang – a line-up that provided buyers with an impressive amount of choice thanks to the availability of two- and three-door models and the option of standard, Ghia or Cobra trim levels. Then there were the powerplants, with 2.3-litre turbo, 3.3-litre six-pot and 4.2-litre V8s all available. All you had to do once you’d selected your ideal Mustang was decide which colour you wanted, with such tempting hues as Chamois Glow, Light Medium Blue and Dark Cordovan Metallic to choose from. Us? We’ll take that Mustang two-door finished in Bright Bittersweet, thank you! CANADIAN SPECIAL The 1953-58 Pontiac Pathfinder was a Canadian-market special, providing General Motors with a Chevrolet-based entry-level model with which to tempt…