6 Non-Mopars from the Mopars5150 Collection

Mopars5150 is a shop that brings muscle cars back from the brink, restoring barn finds and other neglected vehicles to their former glory and beyond. Eleven vehicles from its collection are heading for sale at Mecum’s auction in Glendale, Arizona, March 5–9. Of those 11, six are Dodge or Plymouth muscle cars, as you’d expect, but the remaining five are also worth highlighting. Here are the five non-Mopars from oldest to newest.

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

What it is: The first year of Chevrolet’s second-generation Corvette brought a host of changes including a gorgeous new body and a new chassis with, for the first time, an independent rear suspension.

Why we like it: What’s not to love about a Riverside Red 1963 Corvette convertible with a four-speed and a numbers-matching, 300-hp 327? The fact that it’s not a coupe means you get open-air driving and don’t pay the Split Window tax, which roughly doubles the price. Still a stunner with the top down or with the optional removable hard top—which we’d be tempted to track down—any midyear Corvette is tough to beat.

1964 Impala SS 409

What it is: The 1964 Impala has remained one of the most iconic mid-‘60s Chevy models thanks to its elegant styling inside and out. It also marked the end of an era, as the Mark IV big-block would debut in 1965 and take the top performance spot in the Impala lineup. Still, the 409 was a formidable piece and looks amazing as well with its scalloped valve covers.

Why we like it: This sleek and subtle coupe packs a dual-four-barrel 409 under the hood and a four-speed shifter on the floor, making it the most powerful Impala SS available in 1964. The brawny and brightly painted muscle cars that followed took a lot of the attention away from the early ‘60s full-size cars that packed serious power of their own. We’d be hesitant to call an Impala SS a sleeper, but we still think that it would surprise quite a few onlookers with the power of its W-series big-block.

1968 Chevrolet C10

What it is: Chevrolet’s truck lineup, new for 1967, brought a clean, muscular design. The 1968 models kept the same grille and sheetmetal but added federally mandated side-marker lights. They’ve become a favorite of customizers, particularly in short-bed, fleetside configurations like this one.

Why we like it: This understated custom features a supercharged 6.0-liter LS V-8 that’s force-fed via Magnuson’s big 2.3-liter blower. The interior is wrapped in brown leather upholstery that features diamond-quilted inserts in the seat, door panels, and the headliner. It also sports an Air Ride suspension that allows for an adjustable stance. The new suspension and wide tires no doubt transformed the pickup’s ride and handling, and the V-8 is sure to pack a mean punch. Besides a few custom touches to the exterior, most of the trim is intact. Cruise it as-is or swap the wheels for some steelies and fly under the radar.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle

What it is: Chevrolet’s 1970 Chevelle was the brand’s peak muscle car, with the 450-hp LS6 offering the highest horsepower rating of any Bow Tie big-block. This version takes that up several notches. Its body was removed from the chassis, which was stripped, powder-coated, and rebuilt with Ride Tech control arms. The interior was restored and remains close to factory specs, as does the sheetmetal. Those OEM looks belie its much-improved performance, though.

Why we like it: An original SS 454 car is a rare and expensive beast. This muscle-bound homage brings even more horsepower to bear thanks to a host of aftermarket equipment. The bored and stroked big-block now displaces 496 cubic inches and is topped by aluminum heads and a single-plane intake manifold with a Dominator carb. Most street-going V-8s opt for a dual-plane intake to maintain low-end torque, but when there’s that much displacement on tap, low-end torque isn’t an issue.

1970 AMC Rebel Machine*

What it is: The Rebel was AMC’s stylish mid-size car that came in coupe, convertible, sedan, and wagon body styles. For 1970, the coupe got a totally different roofline that changed the car’s look entirely. The Machine was the muscle car variant that swung directly at the Big Three with bold graphics, a big hood scoop, and a 390 V-8 powerplant.

Why we like it: A garden-variety Rebel will stand out at any car show. The brash, patriotic color scheme of the Machine makes it one of the most recognizable muscle cars ever. This example, with its original steel wheels, unique to the Machine, and four-speed manual, seems like a fantastic time capsule.

* Some might argue that an AMC is a Mopar, as Chrysler Corp. purchased AMC in the 1980s. By that logic, a Stratos is a Mopar, now that Stellantis has Lancia and Dodge under the same banner. We’re not buying it. Fight us about it.

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