The Buick Skylark evolved more dramatically than most muscle car nameplates, transforming from luxury convertible to genuine performance icon over its production run. But the real story begins in 1965 when Buick dropped the hammer and created the Gran Sport, a sophisticated response to Pontiac’s GTO that proved luxury and performance weren’t mutually exclusive. The Early Years: Finding Its Identity The old Buick Skylark story starts in 1953 when Buick…

Detroit in 1964 was playing it safe. Corporate mandates, insurance concerns, and conservative thinking ruled the day. Then a group of Pontiac engineers decided rules were meant to be broken. What they created didn’t just bend the rules – it rewrote them completely and launched an automotive revolution that changed American car culture forever. The Pontiac GTO was the match that ignited the muscle car wars and forced every manufacturer…

The 1990s were a golden era for American trucks. While competitors were still figuring things out, Chevrolet dropped the Chevrolet C1500 – a truck that changed the game completely. From 1988 to 1998, this workhorse dominated job sites, tow yards, and family driveways across America. Today, enthusiasts call these trucks “OBS” – Old Body Style – a badge of honor earned after the Silverado took over in 1999. But here’s…

The Chevrolet Impala holds a special place in American automotive culture, representing two decades of full-size luxury that defined what a proper family car should be. From 1976 to 1996, the Impala evolved through changing market demands while maintaining the essential character that made it a cultural icon. The story of the Chevy Impala spans the final years of true American full-size cars, built on GM’s legendary B-body platform that would…

The muscle car wars were raging in 1967. Every manufacturer was throwing horsepower at anything with four wheels, and buyers were eating it up. Chevrolet had been playing this game since 1964, learning what worked and what didn’t. By 1967, they’d figured out the formula. Here’s a brief history of the 1967 Chevelle SS.  Chevelle SS History: Where It All Started Back in 1963, Chevrolet needed something to fight Ford’s…

Classic trucks represent decades of American engineering evolution, from post-war innovation to modern performance. These classic pickup trucks shaped how we work, haul, and cruise, evolving from basic utility vehicles into the cultural icons that dominate car shows and restoration shops today. Here are twenty legendary classic pickups that defined their eras and continue to inspire builders and collectors. Each model pushed automotive boundaries through engineering advances, styling innovation, or…

The classic truck scene today has never been more diverse, with builders pursuing dramatically different visions for their vintage haulers. Walk through any car show and you’ll see pristine lowered classic trucks sitting frame-to-pavement alongside towering lifted ones that grab attention from blocks away.  Both approaches have passionate followings, but the lifted truck vs lowered truck debate goes deeper than just aesthetics. Car enthusiasts just have fundamentally different ideas about…

Open headers blasting through the fenders, front wheels lifting at launch, and the unmistakable shape of a Corvette turned dragstrip beast— welcome to the wild world of Corvette Gassers.  These modified machines represent one of the most exciting chapters in both Corvette racing history and drag racing evolution, turning sleek sports cars into fire-breathing competitors that dominated NHRA’s Gas and Modified Production classes. The Birth of the Gasser Era To…

The Legacy of the GM B-Body: America’s Most Versatile Platform Few platforms have had the lasting impact of the GM B-Body. For seven decades, from 1926 to 1996, this versatile platform served as the backbone for some of the most iconic vehicles ever to roll off American assembly lines. The GM B-Body represents a platform that shaped American car culture and continues to inspire builders and collectors today. The Foundation…

Most gearheads can talk all day about horsepower, torque, and 0-60 times. But the true performance enthusiast knows something the average driver doesn’t – suspension geometry is what separates good-handling cars from great ones.  At Aldan American, we’ve spent over four decades perfecting suspension components that optimize these crucial geometric relationships. Let’s dive into what makes car suspension geometry so essential to your vehicle’s performance. What Is Suspension Geometry? Beyond…