This is a very rare car, and is 1 of 3,547 SS cars equipped with the L79 V8.

Class 27G - Production Vehicles, 1966 - 67.

1966 Dodge Dart GT convertible.

Like its Chevy II competition from GM, the compact Dart was available in three trim levels. The entry-level model was called the Dart 170. The mid-level model was called the Dart 270. And the upper-level model seen in the photos above was called the Dart GT.

Specific production figures don't seem to be available for the number of Dart GT convertibles made. I'm seeing where total Dart GT production of all models, (both inline 6-cylinder and V8, and hardtop and convertible), totaled 30,041 cars for 1966. The V8 would be Dodge's 273 CID V8 in either 180 hp or 235 hp form.

For some reason, my camera thought I was taking a picture of either the top of the alternator or end of the air cleaner instead of the Vehicle Certicard.

Class 27H - Production Vehicles, 1968 - 69.

1968 Lincoln Continental.

The 1961 - 69 "Suicide Door" Lincolns are among my all-time favorites ! I've loved these car since I was a kid, and would love to have one.

During the 1968 model year, Ford's new "385 Series" 460 CID V8 was phased in, replacing the "Mercury Edsel Lincoln" (MEL) 462 CID V8 that had been used since 1966. Even though torque remained the same at 485 ft-lbs, power increased from 340 hp in 1966/67 to 365 hp for 1968.

Class 27H - Production Vehicles, 1968 - 69.

1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass S convertible.

The mid-level Cutlass S convertible was marketed in between the entry-level F-85 and upper level Cutlass Supreme models. A total of 13,498 Cutlass S V8 convertibles were produced in 1969. The 350 CID V8 seen in the photo above was available in 250 hp, 310 hp, and 325 hp versions.

Class 27I - Production Vehicles, 1970 - 71.

1970 Buick Electra 225 convertible.

A total of 6,045 Electra 225 convertibles were produced in 1970. All of them were equipped with Buick's 455 CID V8 that makes 370 hp, but more importantly 510 ft-lbs of torque at 2800 rpm.

Class 27J - Production Vehicles, 1972 - 73.

1972 Jaguar XJ6.

The Jaguar XJ6 was introduced in 1968 as a replacement for the original S-Type and 420 sedan. This is a Series 1 car which was available from 1968 - 73, and is one of 59,077 produced over the model run.

Power comes from Jaguar's 4.2L inline 6-cylinder engine that makes 186 hp.

Class 27J - Production Vehicles, 1972 - 73.

1972 Ford LTD.

Class 27L - Production Vehicles, 1976 - 77.

1976 Lincoln Mark IV Lipstick Edition.

Beginning in 1976, Lincoln began offering "Designer Series" editions of the Mark IV. Fashion designers Bill Blass, Emilio Pucci, and Hubert de Givenchy, and jeweler Cartier collaborated with Lincoln to produce special appearance packages bearing their names. All were successful and continued through subsequent Mark Series generations.

But before the famous designer cars, Lincoln introduced a special "Lipstick" edition Mark IV for 1975. All Lipstick cars were white with a white Normande landau vinyl roof. Also part of the package was the Lipstick/White Luxury Group interior that featured white leather with Lipstick Red cross-straps and accents as seen in the photo above. The Lipstick Edition returned for 1976 with some additions. Lipstick Red exterior paint became available, as well as a Lipstick Red vinyl roof.

According to the Marti Report displayed with the car, the correct code 9D white paint, code LW white Normande landau vinyl roof, and code DN white/Lipstick Red leather "Twin Comfort Lounge" seats are all present and accounted for here. This car is one of 3,390 cars with the Lipstick/white luxury group, and one of 1,849 Lipstick cars painted white.

Class 27M - Production Vehicles, 1978 - 79.

1978 Pontiac Firebird Esprit.

As someone who watched The Rockford Files TV show in the 1970s, I immediately thought of the show when I saw the paint and wheels on this car. The show ran from 1974 - 80 and used a new Firebird Esprit for each season , (except for 1979 and 1980 when the car from 1978 was retained). Denver Gold became the car's signature color when the show first aired in 1974. For subsequent years when Denver Gold wasn't available, the show's production department painted the new cars Denver Gold regardless of whether or not it was available that year.

Class 27M - Production Vehicles, 1978 - 79.

1979 Toyota Celica GT.

Class 27P - Production Vehicles, 1984 - 85.

1984 Mercedes-Benz 300CD.

Class 27S - Production Vehicles, 1990 - 94.

1990 Lincoln Mark VII (L), 1992 Buick Roadmaster (R).

Class 30A - Chevrolet Corvette, 1953 - 62.

1959 Chevrolet Corvette convertible.

From the Production Vehicles, I've now transitioned into the more specialized classes that are dedicated to specific cars. For example, the Chevrolet Corvette gets its own class, Class 30, which is mostly divided according to generation. All C1 Corvettes, like this 1959 model, fall into Class 30A.

Class 30B - Chevrolet Corvette, 1963 - 67.

1965 Chevrolet Corvette convertible.

Second generation Corvettes, (1963 - 67), fall under Class 30B.

Class 30B - Chevrolet Corvette, 1963 - 67.

1965 Chevrolet Corvette convertible.

Class 30C - Chevrolet Corvette, 1968 - 77.

1968 Chevrolet Corvette convertible.

Third generation Corvettes through 1977 fall under Class 30C.

Class 30C - Chevrolet Corvette, 1968 - 77.

1972 Chevrolet Corvette LT1.

Chevrolet began offering its RPO LT1 350 CID V8 engine option in 1970 for the Corvette and Camaro. The LT-1 was a small-block V8 with a heavily modified bottom end, solid lifters, and special cylinder heads all topped with an 800 CFM Holley carburetor, (some sources list 780 CFM). The result was 370 hp, (360 hp in the Camaro Z28), at 6000 rpm. It was a high-revving engine that was almost 200 pounds lighter than the more powerful 454 CID V8. This gave the Corvette more balanced handling by taking weight off the front wheels.

The early 1970s being what they were, power levels plummeted across the industry in subsequent years thanks to tightening emissions standards, (1971), and the introduction of a different method for measuring horsepower (1972). Even so, this 1972 LT-1 Corvette still boasts a respectable 255 net hp.

This is a very rare car, being one of 1,741 LT-1 Corvettes produced that year.

Class 31 - Ford Thunderbird, 1955 - 57.

1956 Ford Thunderbird.

Just like the Corvette, the first generation Ford Thunderbird gets its own class.

In 1953, GM introduced production versions of its four "Dream Cars" that had been making the rounds at new car shows across the country during the previous year. The Cadillac Eldorado, Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Fiesta, and Chevrolet Corvette were powerful, loaded with options, and very expensive. Sales were limited with the Skylark being the most successful with 1,690 produced. The two-seat Corvette only found 300 buyers.

In response to the Corvette, Ford unveiled its two-seat Thunderbird for 1955. While the Corvette was partially responsible for the Thunderbird's development, the two cars were not marketed as direct competitors. Chevrolet saw the Corvette as a sports car, while Ford imagined the Thunderbird as a personal luxury car. Ford won the sales battle that year with 16,155 Thunderbirds produced for 1955 vs. 700 Corvettes. This 1956 model is one of 15,631 produced that year.

Class 31 - Ford Thunderbird, 1955 - 57.

1957 Ford Thunderbird, F-Code.

In 1957, Ford was looking to homologate its supercharged 312 CID V8 for use in stock car racing, and built 100 various Ford models fitted with that engine. Of those 100, a mere 15 were Thunderbirds. Those cars, all assembled in January 1957, are known as "D/F Code Phase 1" cars. They were street legal race cars with 300 hp and no frills.

Later in 1957, Ford made the supercharged 312 available in the Thunderbird as a regular production option. These "F-Code" cars carried the same 300 hp rating, but were available with the full array of available options.

This year, I managed to get a clear picture of this car's body tag, which is attached to the firewall. The VIN in the upper left corner of the tag breaks down as follows:
F = Engine code: Supercharged 312 CID V8 with one 4-bbl carburetor, 300 hp.
7 = Model year: 1957.
F = Assembly plant: Dearborn, Michigan.
H = Body style: Thunderbird.
338047 = Production sequence.

The rest of the cowl tag break down as follows:
40 = Body type code: Thunderbird.
FF = Exterior paint: Starmist Blue with a matching hardtop.
XL = Interior trim: Dresden (med. Blue) & Starmist (lt. Blue) vinyl.
22G = Date code: July 22, 1957.
2 = Transmission code: Overdrive.
3 = Rear axle code: 3:70.

This is an extremely rare car. Somewhere between 205 and 212 F-Code cars were produced in 1957, depending on which source you examine.

Class 32 - Chevrolet exclucing Corvette, 1955 - 57.

The 1955 - 57 "Tri-Five" Chevrolet gets its own class. The car in the photo above is a rare 1957 Chevrolet Nomad wagon, one of 6,103 produced that year.

The photo above is of three more Class 32 Chevrolets, all of which are Bel Airs.

Class 32 - Chevrolet exclucing Corvette, 1955 - 57.

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible.

This car is a beautifully restored example, complete with all of the underhood tags.

Class 34 is reserved for the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, excluding those cars that fall into the Factory High Performance Class 36. The photo above is of three Ford Mustangs in Class 34A.

Class designations get a little confusing at this point. The white 1965 Mustang seen on the right side of the previous photo is placed in Class 34A because it is powered by a C-code 2-bbl 289 CID V8 that makes 200 hp. This is not considered Factory High Performance by the AACA like a k-Code 289 car or Shelby, which is why it falls into Class 34A instead of Class 36D.

More Mustangs. The red 1969 Mustang on the right side of the photo above is from Class 34B - Ford Mustang, 1967 - 70.

This car is powered by a 302 CID V8 that is not a Boss 302. Therefore, it falls under Class 34B instead of the High Performance Class 36D.

Class 34C - Ford Mustang, 1971 - 98.

1984 Ford Mustang GT350 Anniversary convertible.

This is where the "confusing" aspect of these classes comes into play. After having said everything I did about the difference between Class 34 and Class 36, I can't for the life of me understand why this GT350 Anniversary car doesn't fall into High Performance Class 36. In the eyes of the AACA, there are no Ford Factory High Performance vehicles from 1981 - 90, which doesn't make sense to me.

To celebrate the Mustang's 20th anniversary, Ford offered a "GT350" package for 1984. Production began in March 1984, almost 20 years after the original Mustang went on sale.

The GT350 was an appearance package that was available only on a GT, and featured either the 2.3L turbo 4-cylinder or the 5.0L V8. This car is powered by Ford's legendary 5.0L V8 that makes 175 hp. Of the 5,260 GT350s produced in 1984, this V8 convertible is one of 1,213 produced that year.

Class 34C - Ford Mustang, 1971 - 98.

1977 Ford Mustang II.