L.A. Auto Show 2013: Retro Revisited

At an event reserved for debuting the latest and greatest in automotive design and development, even the most vintage-loving of car nuts can find their retro fix at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  In fact, its often where some of the finest classic specimens can be found.We were delighted to see this factory original 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T "Vintage Shaker.""It was restored back to factory specs that include a very rare 428 Hemi engine backed by a four-speed transmission, manual steering, power brakes, and a super trac pac 4.10 Dana rear end."This car was restored by Ken Mosier and The Finer Details Automotive Restorations, and is owned by John and Alice Rizek.Sitting by its side was this new Challenger Hemi Shaker (available on SXT Plus and R/T Plus), which "merged iconic muscle car attitude with modern technology."This newest Shaker offers 25 hwy mpg, and starts at $36,995.Next up in retro-inspired lineup was this 2014 014 Charger SRT Super Bee, which sports 470 HP and 470 lb-ft of torque, all for a starting MSRP of $44,385."Taking the new Dodge Challenger R/T Shaker one step further, the Mopar brand will be offering its new Mopar '14 Challenger - the rarest limited-production Challenger model announced to date (only 100 to be made), with a distinct 'Moparized' look."Thanks to the Petersen Automotive Museum, we were treated to a then and now display of Jaguars.  This 1956 Jaguar XKSS was formerly owned by Steve McQueen."The XKSS Was derived from the Le Mans-winning Jaguar D-Type racing car, which was modified for road use with the addition of a top, side windows, bumperettes, and other extras.Originally owned by noted Riverside Raceway designer James Edward Peterson, this race-bred roadster was later sold to TV personality Bill Leyden before being acquired by actor Steve McQueen, who owned it until his untimely death.  One of just 16 built, it is the rarest road-going production Jaguar ever made."

Vintage photos graced the walls behind these Jaguars, giving us a preview of coming attractions as the Petersen opens a new Jaguar exhibit in December.

Holding up the modern end of this display was this 2014 Jaguar F-Type V8S.  "The all new roadster from Jaguar has the unmistakably sensuous, yet aggressive proportions that have always defined the brand.While inspired by the celebrated C-, D- and E-Types that preceded it, the F-Type was designed from scratch to embody the brand's latest engineering, performance, and luxury features with a clear focus on rewarding the driver."Turning the corner into the next hall, we had to stop by Ford's display to see what vintage goodness they had to offer, which came in the form of this Shelby GT350."This car is #187 of only 252 vehicles that Ford used to span the production gap between 1965 and 1966.It displays a 1965 VIN and engine number with a mix of components from 1965 and 1966.  A unique feature on this series of cars is the use of the 1965 Mustang GT instrument panel."Nearby, we found its modern-day counterpart, the 2014 Shelby GT500 Coupe.With a base price of $54,800, this model features nearly $14,000 worth of additional options.Hot Wheels made a nice showing with this customized 2014 Transit Connect Van.Playing on a flat screen TV in the back was video of full-sized race cars on a giant-sized Hot Wheels Track, which we could have watched for hours!The L.A. Auto show had so much retro fun for us to see - stay tuned as we bring you the other classics we discovered at this event!