Classics-To-Be That You Can Buy for Less Than $10,000

    BENNINGTON, Vt., Aug. 13 Want to buy an old special
interest automobile but haven't done so because you think it'll take a winning
Lotto ticket to get you into the driver's seat of something unique? Well,
think again.
    Special Interest Autos magazine editor Richard Lentinello has come up with
five eminently affordable automobiles for the publication's 2002 "Sleepers"
choices. For less than $10,000 there's a whole bunch of forgotten cars that
will provide similar motoring thrills and memories, albeit at substantially
less cost than say a letter-series Chrysler or Tri-Powered Catalina, for
literally ten cents on the dollar. They're cheap to buy and fun to run, and
they will soon be highly sought-after collectibles just a short jaunt down the
road into the future.
    When selecting "sleepers," two basic criteria are followed. First, the car
must be available for under $10,000. Second, except for truly exceptional
cars, at least two or three years of the same model should have been produced
to broaden the collector's chance of finding a good example.
    So, for the year 2002, our top five "Sleeper" picks are:

     1967-69 Ford Thunderbird
     Price range: $3,000 - $7,000

    Always overlooked when compared to its older, smaller siblings, the 1967
model was the first four-door Thunderbird ever produced, making it a hallmark
design in T-Bird history. This new-for-'67 styling featured a very
contemporary looking oval front-end treatment with full-width grille and
hidden headlamps. Available in either 2- or 4-door body styles, these handsome
hardtops could accommodate four adults in cozy comfort. The distinctive
four-door models had rear 'suicide' opening doors that included part of the
rear C-pillar of the Landau roof when opened. Under the long hood resided a
torquey 390-cubic-inch V-8 that developed 275hp in standard two-barrel Holley
trim or 315hp with a four-barrel. Each model provides today's owners with
stylishly distinctive good looks, reliable mechanicals and gobs of power --
all in an affordable package that's tough to beat.

     1970-72 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
     Price range: $2,000 - $6,000

    Its combination of outstanding Dave Holls styling and small-block Chevy
power makes the first-generation Monte Carlo one of the cleanest looking
postwar American cars ever built. With its air of understated elegance, these
five-passenger hardtop coupes provide a pleasant ride quality coupled with
decent road holding and spirited acceleration thanks to a 250-hp,
350-cubic-inch V-8 under its long hood. With 439,393 first-generation Monte
Carlos produced during its three-year production run, there are plenty of
decent examples to choose from. But if you have a few extra grand to spend, go
for the SS version with the potent 454-cubic-inch V-8; its 360-hp big-block
transformed this classy looking cruiser into a real high-performance road
burner that is nearly as fast as the far more pricey big-block Chevelles.

     1972-76 AMC Gremlin "X" w/V-8
     Price range: $2,000 - $6,000

    Weighing 2,746 lbs. and packing a 150-horsepower 5-liter V-8 under the
hood, the 1972 Gremlin 'X' made an ideal entry-level "muscle car" for those on
a budget. With its distinctive chopped-back styling and short wheelbase, the
'X' separated itself from all the other run-of-the-mill Gremlins by having a
painted grille, special side stripes, custom bucket seats, 15-inch sport
steering wheel, and 14 x 6 slotted wheels with raised white lettered radials.
For such a compact sporty coupe the Gremlin can accommodate four adults in
decent comfort, while go-fast goodies from the aftermarket can transform this
forgotten AMC grocery-getter into a respectable road rocket. In short, the 'X'
is one of the most unusual V-8-powered collectibles that every old car
enthusiast can afford.

     1978-81 Volvo Bertone 260 coupe
     Price range: $4,000 - $8,000

    With such attributes as Italian styling, outstanding build quality and a
limited production run, Volvo's Bertone coupe has all the makings of a future
collectible. Based upon the rugged 240 chassis but powered by an overhead-cam
V-6 in either 125-hp (2,664cc) or 130-hp (2,849cc) form, this handsome
chop-top coupe showcased Bertone's vision of what a luxury two-door Volvo
sedan intended for the sporting upper class should look like. The
well-appointed cabin features ultra-soft, hand-stitched Italian leather with
door trim made of elm veneer. All early examples were produced in silver with
a black vinyl roof and interior, while later examples could be ordered in gold
with a black vinyl roof and brown leather. They're rugged, reliable, durable,
and have that unique combination of Volvo safety and Bertone design, something
no other car in this price range can offer.

     1989-91 Chrysler TC by Maserati
     Price range: $8,000 - $12,000

     If you always lusted after an exotic Italian sports car with a name that
ends in 'i,' but never had the money to park one of these pricey gems in your
garage, there's an alternative that most enthusiasts can afford. It's called
the Chrysler TC. Styled by Chrysler, the TC is based on a Le Baron chassis
that was sent to Maserati where it was shortened and the entire body shell
assembled by hand, including a special hood. After Maserati installed the
drivetrain, the cars were shipped back to America. Three engines were
available in its short three-year life span: 160-hp 2.2-liter Turbo four,
200-hp 16-valve twin-cam, or a 141-hp 3.0-liter Mitsubishi V-6. But regardless
which version you choose, they were all built with independent rear
suspension, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, 15-inch alloys, a power-operated
removable hardtop, and genuine Italian leather upholstery. Although priced at
the top end of our $10,000 price cap, several of these unique convertibles can
still be found in the four-figure range. With a total production run of only
7,300, that's one rare Italian-American hybrid that almost anyone can afford.

    Since 1954, Hemmings Motor News has served the collector-car hobby as its
primary trading place and currently carries over 800 pages of hobby
advertising each month to a paid circulation of nearly 260,000 and readership
over 500,000. Loaded with tens of thousands of classified and display ads for
collector cars, trucks and motorcycles, parts and services, clubs and events,
and other hard-to-find resources for the hobbyist, Hemmings has become
indispensable to the collector car enthusiast.
    Along with the monthly Hemmings Motor News and bi-monthly Special Interest
Autos, the company also publishes the Hemmings' Vintage Auto Almanac, the
world's most complete directory for the collector-car hobby and industry, as
well as Hemmings Rods & Performance, a magazine for street rod enthusiasts.
    Hemmings also offers a complete line of ancillary products, which includes
an extensive line of die-cast models, vintage-vehicle calendars, books, and
clothing, all available by phone or online.
    For online hobbyists, the award-winning web site http://www.hemmings.com,
has greatly expanded its information franchise, offering an online database of
over 30,000 searchable ads for cars, parts, tools, supplies and services plus
a host of new features, including Car Club Central, a unique Online Car Show,
and an Online Dealer Showroom, featuring the collector-car inventories of over
80 classic car dealers coast to coast.