The value and collectability of muscle cars has never been higher. Models that sold for $30,000 at auction 10 years ago are now going for quadruple that in many cases. The charts showing auction results, sale prices, and car value have a continuous upward trajectory. As such, some rare models of muscle cars are now valued in the realm of historically high-valued classic, sports, and show cars. Who would have dreamed that a Hemi 'Cuda convertible would be selling for Duesenberg or Ferrari money these days? Of course, when values of muscle cars increase to such an extent, the care and detail spent on restoration becomes vitally important, putting them into the exotic and show car realm. Naturally, the most visible aspect of a full-blown restoration is the paintwork. Veteran author Tony Thacker teams up with LA-based award-winning painter extraordinaire Mick Jenkins to bring you this complete guide to show-quality painting. Included is all the information on how to create a show-quality finish, including chapters on making a plan, the tools needed for the job, complete disassembly information, repair versus replacement decisions, metal prep, the latest and best paint products, application, custom finishes, and more.

Learn how to build an affordable hot rod following the advice of the masters! In How to Build Affordable Hot Rods, author and lifelong hot rod aficionado Tony Thacker takes you through the process of building a hot rod on a budget. Drawing on his own extensive experience of both buying and building rods, Thacker explores the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good was setting a land speed record at Bonneville, the bad was buying a rod from which the previous owner had "swapped out" the good engine, and the ugly--well, let’s just not go there. How to Build Affordable Hot Rods includes extensive how-to sections that cover step-by-step chassis builds for Model A, 1932, and 1936 Fords, including front- and rear-end setups. The in-depth chassis builds are complimented with sections on powertrain choices, bodywork and roof chops, wheels and tires, and wiring and paint. Also included are chapters on interiors and the all-important details that individualize any project to ensure that it stands out from the rest. When Henry Ford introduced his beloved Model T, he unwittingly gave the average person the means to go racing. Prior to the T, racing was mostly a sport of the rich, but that changed with the Model T. Stripped of fenders and hopped up with speed parts, T speedsters ruled, and it wasn’t long before enthusiasm on the track translated to the street and the term hot rod entered the vernacular. Of course, it didn’t need to be a Ford (and still doesn’t), but the easiest and therefore cheapest route to Hot Rod Boulevard is down the Ford road. The journey accelerated after World War II, as hot rodding boomed with the growth of speed shops, car shows, drag racing, talented and trained GIs returning home, and the launch of Hot Rod magazine to spread the gospel far and wide. More than 100 years after the original Model T, hot rodding remains alive and well in the Australasia, Europe, and (of course) its birthplace the US.

Learn from the best and get started building your affordable hot rod today!

“Get one before one gets you!” Motion Performance’s catchy sales pitch for builder Joel Rosen’s Phase III Specialty Muscle Cars sums up the escalating performance scene in the late 1960s. Special edition muscle cars were essential to keep pace. Joel and other independent car builders (such as Carroll Shelby, George Hurst, Dick Harrell, Mr. Norm, and Jim Wangers) did what the factories couldn’t do: take the muscle car and turn it into a tire-burning monster. Although the Pontiac GTO established the muscle car category in 1964, a host of corporate safety restrictions restrained factories from offering turn-key race cars off the showroom floor. Independent car builders enhanced appearance and amplified performance in an attempt to do what the manufacturers wouldn’t. Motion Performance issued a written guarantee: Phase III cars would run 11.5 at 120 mph down the quarter-mile! Some of the most iconic nameplates in automotive history were applied in this era with names that included Cheetah, Black Panther, Royal Bobcat, Super Hugger, Manta Ray, Super Snake, Deuce, Fast Track, and The Machine. How did manufacturers stealthily promote these special edition muscle cars as “halo cars” while pretending not to endorse them? What happened to these innovators when factories assimilated their ideas? It’s all covered inside. Muscle car historian Duncan Brown takes us through these special edition muscle cars, their creators, and the behind-the-scenes forces that shaped these wild beasts into legends that left a lasting legacy.

This second edition is bigger and better with new color photography and updated information about new materials, parts sources and restoration techniques. This massive book includes over 1,300 photos that offer detailed step-by-step coverage of restoration processes. By thoroughly presenting the restoration of 12 of the most coveted muscle cars of all time, the authors cover virtually every aspect of restoration, from disassembly to first drive. Cars featured here include: 1968 Yenko Camaro; 1966 Pontiac GTO; 1969 Dodge Charger 500; 1963 1/2 Ford 427 Galaxie 500 Hatchback; 1973 Pontiac Super Duty Trans Am; 1966 L79 Chevy Nova SS; and a 1966 Dodge Coronet Hemi. 2nd Edition

There was a time when AMC performance was more of an afterthought to the muscle car era. Sure, the Javelins and AMX cars were cool, as were the really limited cars such as the Scrambler and the Rebel Machine, but with production numbers a distant fourth place in the American manufacturer muscle car scene, well, you could be forgiven for not remembering much about them through the years. Fast forward to today, and AMC muscle cars are among the fastest appreciating performance vehicles in the market. Low production numbers combined with capable performance and cool and unique styling have increased coverage in magazines and at auctions, making these cars more valuable than ever before. Concours-restored AMC muscle cars routinely bring $30,000 to $65,000 in the collector car world, making a comprehensive restoration guide a must-have for any American Motors enthusiast. AMC Javelin, AMX, and Muscle Car Restoration 1968-1974 provides in-depth coverage of the decoding and documentation process of an AMC muscle car, primarily the popular Javelin and AMX models. Author and expert AMC restorer Scott Campbell gives you a detailed account of important aspects of restoration including rust repair; panel and sheet-metal replacement; interior and trim restoration; undercarriage chassis, suspension, and driveline rehabilitation; as well as every other major component group. Also included are multiple "How-To" sequences that, no matter what your skill level, will assist you in restoring your AMC muscle car. This restoration guide chronicles the entire process of AMC ownership from selecting a vehicle to disassembly to final re-assembly. You will find coverage of all steps throughout: from turning your first bolt to tumbling the key in the ignition following completion of your restoration. Whether you own an AMC muscle car, especially a Javelin or an AMX, this restoration guide will be your go-to source for restoring glory to your unique AMC muscle car.