Diego’s AutoHunter Picks

This week’s AutoHunter Picks will make a Mopar or Ford guy/gal shed a tear because every vehicle here is from General Motors. Does that mean I lean towards GM? Not really – if there was a Brand X listed on AutoHunter that got my pulse moving, then it would be featured here.

I never felt brand allegiance was worth my time. I prefer to single out the more interesting cars. You may prefer otherwise, but there’s a lot to like below.

1971 GMC Sprint
Tired of being a Chevy fan and seeing the same, old same-old all the time? Then here’s your solution: a GMC Sprint. It’s a badge-engineered El Camino that was produced from 1971-77, to be replaced by the GMC Caballero through 1987. There even was a Super Sport variant called the SP (Sprint Performance? No one knows), which was the only way to get the LS5 454.

This 1971 GMC Sprint is not an SP, but someone did add a domed hood so it invokes that image. Power comes from the Invader 400, which was the 300-horsepower 402. Other features include bench seat with column-shifted TH400, air conditioning, power steering and front disc brakes, and Torq Thrusts. Some aren’t into this green, but I think it’s fantastic.

1963 Buick Wildcat Sport Coupe
I absolutely adore these stylish coupes. Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out which Wildcat is best but, like the Pontiac Grand Prix, 1963 is a very, very good year. The grille is what stands out for me, and the aluminum side trim certainly doesn’t hurt. It was possible to order a four-speed, though the 425 wouldn’t appear for another year.

This red 1963 Buick Wildcat is a two-tone car featuring a white painted top. The original Wildcat 445 (aka 325-horsepower 401) has been replaced by a later 430 and three-speed automatic, which is a bummer for purists but likely offers 360 horses of fun. Other features include those nifty Buick mags, center console with tachometer, and updated dual master cylinder. On the style meter, this one’s a fine value.

1955 Chevrolet Nomad
It’s hard not to like a Chevy Nomad. The hardtop styling on a long-roof vehicle never gets old, and it was a shame that Chevrolet discontinued it after 1957 yet continued to use the name on “regular” models. Which is the best Nomad among the three years? For me, it’s the ’55 due to its radiused rear wheel wells, something that wasn’t used for 1956-57.

This body-off restored 1955 Chevrolet Nomad is slightly modified but nothing nutso, with 327 four-barrel, TH350 automatic, modern suspension components, and 17-inch Ridler wheels being the major tweaks. This ain’t no pure restomod but a fast and comfortable cruiser! The interior is relatively stock and doesn’t suffer from anachronistic bucket seats and the latest in tech, which often kills the classic look.

1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Holiday Coupe
The 1968-69 Olds 4-4-2s suffer from something unusual in General Motors, if not among all the manufacturers: the 400 that was new for ’68 is looked upon with derision compared to the ’65-67 400 due to its long-stroke design. Stock, it simply didn’t put out the horsepower like the earlier ones, especially with an automatic, which offered 25 fewer horses than the stick.

That’s why it’s not uncommon to find a 455 transplanted underneath the hood. This 1968 4-4-2 has been the recipient of such a swap, which is unusually welcome in the Olds community. Other features include air conditioning, console, power steering, clock, Super Stock II wheels, and an unusual cloth and vinyl interior. Clean styling and strong performance is at the top of the list for this Lansing creation.