You can’t beat cubic inches, according to this week’s V8-powered selection from AutoHunter, the collector car online-auction marketplace hosted by ClassicCars.com. Four of these cars get their prodigious torque from large-displacement engines, while the only truck in the group cheats a bit with its small-block V8 boosted by a supercharger.
This all-American gathering includes custom performance cars as well as factory models, such as a well-known luxury craft and a favorite muscle car from the “horsepower-war” era.
2003 Chevrolet Corvette Lingenfelter
Modified by the famed performance experts at Lingenfelter, this C5 is powered by a 550-horsepower 6.3-liter V8 paired with a heavy-duty automatic transmission, and has been driven just 55,000 miles since new, the dealer says.
The engine upgrades include CNC ported and polished cylinder heads, a Lunati hydraulic roller camshaft, JE Pistons forged aluminum pistons, a Callies forged steel crankshaft, billet-steel connecting rods, 42-psi fuel injectors, a port-matched intake manifold, LPE 1¾-inch full-length stainless-steel headers, B&B stainless steel exhaust and a Ron Davis heavy-duty aluminum radiator.
The Corvette is finished in gray with a matching targa and a black leather interior with Z06 wheels, and adorned with Lingenfelter badging.
This terrific piece of Mopar muscle with just 65,641 original miles is powered by a rebuilt 440cid V8 linked with a 3-speed automatic transmission. The professional engine rebuild cost $12,000, according to the seller, and has been enhanced with finned aluminum Mopar Performance valve covers, a dual-snorkel air cleaner with a 440 Super Commando label, and an air conditioning compressor converted to R-134a refrigerant, as well as a new alternator and battery.
This handsome hardtop has its original body panels refinished in their original color of Rallye Red with black stripes over a black-vinyl interior, which includes the Rallye gauge pack with a Tic Toc Tach. The GTX rides on a fresh set of BF Goodrich tires.
This attractive front-wheel-drive 2-d0or luxury car has been in the ownership of the same family for the past 50 years, according to the seller. Power comes from the big-displacement factory engine, a 455cid Rocket V8 hooked up to a THM425 3-speed automatic transaxle.
Although the Toronado has been driven more than 100,000 miles, it remains in nice original condition, having been garaged and well-maintained over the years, the seller notes. Finished in Autumn Gold, the Olds boasts a cushy luxury interior that includes wood trim, full power accessories and a Wonderbar AM/FM audio system.
1966 Chevrolet Chevy II custom
A vast amount of custom fabrication and performance parts have gone into this hot Chevy, the lightweight car powered by a 468cid big-block Chevrolet V8 backed by a 400-turbo transmission with 3,200-rpm stall convertor. Other features include a Mustang II independent front suspension with tubular control arms, rack-and-pinion steering, power front disc brakes, a narrowed rear axle and a new wiring harness.
Finished in black, the Chevy has all the factory chrome, stainless trim and emblems in place, with a new grille, taillights, headlights, bumpers, door hinges, all glass and rear emblems. American Racing Torque Thrust wheels are wrapped in BF Goodrich radial tires.
The engine is a Gen. 6 454cid block bored .030 over with J&E forged pistons backed by a 400 Turbo transmission with a modified valve body and a 3,200-rpm stall convertor. According to the seller, the engine modifications include (take a deep breath):
“A Howard’s hydraulic roller cam (302/308 duration .640 lift), Howard’s roller lifters, Kellogg steel crank, King bearings, Cloye’s roller timing chain, GM performance heads 502/502hp, ARP head studs, ProComp steel roller rockers, custom push rods, ProComp air gap intake, Melling’s oil pump, AED 750cfm carburetor, GM gear reduction starter, MSD distributor, MSD 6AL control box, TCI flywheel, PowerMaster 110-amp alternator, electric water pump, and TCI ceramic-coated 2-inch headers.”
Rated at 800 horsepower, the engine feeds through the automatic transmission to a 12-bolt rear-axle housing with a 3:55 Motive gear and a Yukon differential, and Moser 33-spline custom alloy axles with c-clips eliminated.
1999 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning pickup
Everybody took notice when Ford’s Special Vehicle Division rolled out its high-performance pickup, with a supercharged V8, aerodynamic bodywork and no intention of ever being used as a work truck.
Ford called it a sport truck, with horsepower from the boosted 5.4-liter V8 rated at 360 and torque at 440 pound-feet, and linked with a 4-speed automatic transmission. The Triton V8 is fed by an Eaton Gen IV Roots-type supercharger, with a water-to-air intercooler, with power output through a 4R100 4-speed automatic and a limited-slip rear differential with a 3.55:1 final drive ratio.
This Lightning has fog lights, a 2002 Lightning grille, OEM wheels finished in black and side exhaust. The truck is one of 1,533 Bright Red examples produced during the 1999 model year’s run of 4,000 Lightnings, a small fraction of the total number of F-series pickups sold that year.
See more cars and trucks available for bidding on the AutoHunter marketplace.
THE GTX LOOKS AND SOUNDS LIKE WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TOO…