All of these AutoHunter Picks feature a manual transmission. There are three-, four-, and six-speeds among the quartet, all attractive to me because driving a manual is more fun.
We like to use EVs as the boogeyman ruining driving fun, but Formula 1 racing may be the biggest culprit so far—not even Ferrari has a manual transmission anymore. Please, let’s have a moment of silence and pray that the joy of driving is not compromised more than it already has been.
1994 Acura Legend GS
I always enjoy seeing cars listed on AutoHunter that I haven’t seen on the street in quite some time. But it could also be that I have seen something recently and it simply didn’t register due to familiarity. This one’s the second-generation Legend, a fine redesign that seems like the last interesting large Acura before the brand got soft.
And guess what? This 1994 Acura Legend GS has a six-speed manual! It also features the upgraded 230-horsepower engine, a 30-horse bump from the regular V6. Other features of this Sherwood Green Pearl sedan include Ivory leather, power everything, a Bose six-CD stereo, and everything you’d expect in a $40,000 (!) vehicle at the time. Wow!
1965 Pontiac GTO
Thirty years ago, the ’65 GTO was considered the quintessential Goat. Does it still hold true today? Pontiac got this one right, even if you favor other model years or are a Judge person. Not only was the 389 given more power, but air induction made its appearance for the first time. This 1965 Pontiac GTO hardtop is what “one step ahead of the competition” looks like.
It features tasteful Capri Gold paint, a four-speed transmission, owner-added Tri-Power and Rally I wheels, Rally gauges, and Safe-T-Track. As-is, this car represents the pinnacle of Detroit high performance, and the fact that its lineage can be confirmed by the PHS Services invoice shows this Goat to be of fine pedigree.
2014 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
In 2013, I had the pleasure of driving a GT500, the Camaro ZL1, and the Challenger SRT8 392. The GT500 was the fastest, but it was not the best. It was rough around the edges, as if all the key components (such as the engine, shifter, and pedals) were not engineered to work in unison. Yet that rawness is what made it so attractive.
This 2014 Mustang Shelby GT500 features a supercharged 5.8-liter with 662 horsepower. Anything else about this car is probably not interesting to you horsepower mavens, but I’ll still point out the 67,285 miles on the odometer (which means you can beat on it without worrying about mileage) and the color combo that’s perfecto. This is classic American horsepower for folks who like to make the rear tires suffer.
1974 Ford Bronco
My friend Jack once worked on a Stroppe-prepped Bronco that hit six figures. I was flabbergasted that one of these disposable Broncos could score that much coin. Those days are not so unusual anymore, though I am not in the know on which Broncos separate the men from the boys.
So, is this 1974 Bronco for a boy or a man? It is powered by a 302 two-barrel backed by a three-speed, so I say, “boy.” But then I see the bright color, wheels, multiple gauges, dual fuel tanks, and four-wheel discs and I say, “man.” My officemate says this one’s ready to go off-roading so, if you buy it, will you bring me along?
