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In the meantime, the Manx and its brethren were getting more and more varied. 

 A custom named "Bugs Buggy". March 1970

Manx SR from HRM May 1970. I would totally build this either as a model or 1:1. Does anyone make a model version?

HRM September 1970 featuring the "buggies" available at the time.

Sportsland Unlimited versions from HRM March 1971

p.s. HRM May 2013 had a really good retrospective on the Manx buggies.

Edited January 27, 2023 by ea0863

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Also based on the VW chassis and drivetrain were some really interesting sporting vehicles.

I remember the Bradley GT quite well as a couple of my high school buddies built one. This one is pictured in an ad from HRM January 1973

Another popular one from that era; the Laser 917. HRM January 1973

But this one I saw in a little photo from HRM June 1972 I did not recognize. It was called the "Brubaker Box", and didn't really fit any particular genre - the closest being part minivan (albeit years ahead of its time). 

It turns out Brubaker only made 3 of these, and a subsequent company named AutoMecca made another 25. Thus, this is one rare bird.

Wouldn't it be fun to build some of these vehicles in scale? 

Edited November 27, 2022 by ea0863

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The Japanese imports also went racing in the US, and there were teams by both Datsun and Toyota. This ad from HRM May 1972 illustrates how well the Datsun/ BRE team of Peter Brock was doing by then.

I know models and diecasts of these vehicles are still readily available today. BTW; Peter Brock is still alive and well and running both his BRE and AeroVault trailer businesses out of Las Vegas. I have met and had lunch with him a couple of times, and found him to be a wealth of information, as well as a genuine gentleman. As for his compatriot Carroll Shelby, he had contracted with Toyota to take their 2000GT's racing. However, after one disappointing year, Toyota apparently pulled the plug on the venture. Had they stuck it out, it might have been interesting to see how those cars would have fared, and just how many more 2000GT's might have been sold in the States.

Toyota might have been better off had they fielded their racing Celicas of the time, as they did quite well in Asia. HRM July 1973

Edited November 27, 2022 by ea0863

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American car manufacturers were continuing to show their concepts, and a couple of beauties were from Ford and AMC.

The Mustang Milano showed the shape of things to come for that model. 

The AMC AMX/3 sadly never saw production. HRM June 1970

I know there is one gentleman who makes resin bodies of the AMX3 which he occasionally sells on e-bay, and I recently bought this vehicle in 1:18 scale myself. What a gorgeous car it is!

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Staying with Ford and AMC, two of their vehicles I always loved:

Ford Ranchero ad from HRM February 1972

AMC Javelin ad from HRM February 1971. 

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HRM November 1971 had this ad of an Opel 1900 Sport Coupe sold apparently through Buick dealerships in the US. I had never seen this vehicle before, and find it to be an exquisite design. 

Elsewhere, the Ford of Europe Capri was being imported and sold via Mercury dealerships here in the US. This vehicle I remember quite fondly as a teenager at the time. HRM March 1972

M

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Among the more exotic imports, comes this ad from HRM June 1973 of the Maserati Bora.

From HRM May 1973, its Italian/American competitor; the DeTomaso Pantera.

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As regards the Corvette, two issues of HRM were largely devoted to the topic of the custom versions at that time. Both of these have lots of photos of tricked out Vettes for those looking to get inspiration.

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A dual-overhead cam small block Chevy by Moser and Crane. Work of art to my eyes! 

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A small photo of an interesting looking top fuel dragster in HRM October 1972 turned out to be quite the stunner. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/jockos-streamliner.874282/ has a great write-up with photos on this earlier version of the racer known as "Jocko's streamliner" with its Allison V-12 airplane engine.

 

This appears to be a later iteration, also beautiful in its own right.

Edited November 27, 2022 by ea0863

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A little sub-culture of the automotive world are these mini cars:

Mini 1957 Chevy. HRM February 1973

Mini VW bus. HRM August 1973

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And of course, who could forget that other automotive craze of the '70's known as the "Shaggin' Wagon"? 

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From HRM January 1973 was this blurry little sales ad of a car called the "Assimetrica Chrysler Ghia". 

It looked vaguely familiar to me, and better pictures were far more revealing.

It, in fact, turned out to be the brother to the Plymouth XNR penned by Virgil Exner.

Until this ad, I didn't even know the vehicle existed!

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On 11/22/2022 at 6:35 PM, ea0863 said:

The 1960's just seemed to explode with fantasy creations by George Barris, Gene Winfield, and many others. For those looking to build the myriad models of these vehicles, here are a few articles for reference:

Barris Surf Woody. HRM April 1965

Various other Barris creations, including Out of Sight ZZR, Fireball 550, and the Batmobile. HRM June 1966

Tom McCurry 4 engined Wagon-Master. HRM September 1966

And Boot Hill Express. HRM March 1967

@Nacho Z totally nailed Boot Hill Express in his recent build!!!

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What a great article of two teen-agers building their Vegas to be stunners; the first a lowrider, the second a V8.

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I have a bit of a soft-spot for the Chevy Laguna, partially because of its styling and performance at the time, but mostly because of the very memorable eight hour joyride I once took in one. I think I was 13 at the time  

HRM October 1973

Edited November 27, 2022 by ea0863

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This ad is just funny, I don't care who you are!  

HRM October 1973

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A short blurb about the "Titan" in HRM November 1973

It appears to have been a Ford Thunderbird rebodied along the lines of Virgil Exner's neo-classic Renwal Revival Stutz and Pierce Arrow, designed by George Barris, and marketed by Sammy Davis Jr. 

1972 Ford Thunderbird

Renwal Revival Stutz by Virgil Exner

Renwal Revival Pierce Arrow by Pierce Exner - photo of model built by our own @realgone58

George Barris design of the Titan

 

I am personally a fan of the neo-classical look that Exner introduced since it had a large effect on the Chryslers, Fords, and GM's of the 70's.

BTW; another iteration of the Titan that I ran across had such a beautiful paintjob that I felt the need to include it here. 

 

Edited November 27, 2022 by ea0863

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 A pair of cool Revell ads...

MPC Richard Petty Charger. HRM November 1973

Revell Top Fuel and Funny Cars. HRM December 1973

Edited November 28, 2022 by ea0863

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HRM December 1973 also had an article about the DKW W2000 rotary engined motorcycle. Wouldn't it be fun to ride such a rare little beast, or at least build it in scale? I have always been fond of the Wankel rotary engine - even having owned a lawnmower powered by one in the 80's  

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And speaking of rotary engines, an article from the same issue on the Corvette Experimental XP-897 and XP-882 (later to be warmed over as the Aerovette). Having built a number of Revell Aerovettes in 1:25th scale, I can attest to them being a really fun project. I also have the Lindberg Aerovette in 1:18th (?) scale which appears to be more basic and which I have yet to build.

Edited November 28, 2022 by ea0863

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I totally love these drawings done by Harry Bradley of fantasy Ford roadster deliveries. These illustrations will definitely have to go in my library.

The third drawing in particular caught my attention as reminiscent of the 1930 Bentley Speed Six.

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Cool Baja 500 Edsel racer. HRM January 1974

Lo and behold, last night I was reading through MCM #209, and saw our very own @Hi-Po did a beautiful rendition of this car - possibly from this same photo! Well done Sir.

Edited January 19, 2023 by ea0863

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Article about the Sterling kit car - funky kool if you ask me!

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David Pearson '73 Mercury. HRM February 1974