Found: 5 Proper, All-American Cars

These cars hold true to their original purpose: staying classy with just the right amount of bravado.

american-cars-gear-patrol-full-lead

Welcome to Found, a series where classic goods are handpicked by Gear Patrol‘s writers and editors and are ready for a good home.

What it means for a car to embody “American” is completely up to interpretation. We could’ve rounded up road-legal monster trucks with mile-high lift kits or 10-second muscle cars with V8s stroked and bored to within an inch of their life. But we didn’t. Knowing when to get your point across and when to be subtle all while staying classy and reserved — those are the American attributes we need to celebrate, now more than ever. And all too often American cars, classic or modern, are ostentatiously modded to hell and lose what made them great in the first place. The cars below hold true to their original purpose, staying classy with just the right amount of bravado — arguably the most American cars out there.

1965 Ford Mustang GT

american-cars-gear-patrol-mustang-gt

What we like: This first-generation Mustang takes the phrase “red-blooded American” to the next level. Lovingly restored to show-car-level quality, this ’65 GT, at $26,000, is what dreams are made of.
From the seller: Factory options includcoe Rally Pac gauges, the Pony interior, under-hood chrome dress-up kit, deluxe seat belts, and a full-length console. In the mid-1990s, this GT was treated to a partial restoration that included new paint, refurbished trim, and an interior freshening.

Location: Kirkwood, Missouri
Mileage: 87,250

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

american-cars-gear-patrol-corvette

What we like: The C2 Corvette is arguably the best-looking of all. This particular C2 even received the highest honors possible from the National Corvette Restorers Society, meaning it’s practically showroom-new.
From the seller: This 1963 Chevrolet Corvette convertible received a full restoration during its 15 years with the seller and was awarded the National Top Flight Award in 2007 by the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS). Built in July of 1963, NCRS documentation shows the car was delivered new to Houston and eventually found its way to Long Island, where it was purchased by the seller.

Location: Westhampton, New York
Mileage: 48,000 (restored)

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302

american-cars-gear-patrol-boss

What we like: When Ford set to work on the new-generation Mustang GT, they used the 2012 Boss 302 as benchmark. This particular one was in an accident and has since been restored to Ford’s standards. But don’t let that scare you away from owning one of the best Mustangs of the modern era.
From the seller: This 2012 Mustang Boss 302 has just 8k miles from new and is powered by the Road Runner variant of the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 paired to a six-speed manual gearbox. This example is offered by its original owner and is optioned with Recaro seats and Torsen limited slip differential with a 3.73 final drive.

Location: Waterford, Virginia
Mileage: 8,000

1974 Ford Bronco

american-cars-gear-patrol-ford

What we like: Everything on this Bronco looks comfortably broken-in without looking worn. Between the wooden center console and the soft leather and cloth seats, the entire interior looks handmade — and an incredibly comfortable place to find yourself.
From the seller: 302 V8 Engine, automatic transmission, four-wheel-drive.

Location: Addison, Illinois
Mileage: 60,859

1974 International Harvester Scout II

american-cars-gear-patrol-harvester

What we like: The paint job may be on the louder side, but it contrasts nicely with the simple and warm interior. Brown leather bench seats and a soft wooden steering wheel give off cozy, mountain cabin vibes.
From the seller: Survival rates are pretty low, so finding one is tough, but finding one that has been restored to this level is something else altogether. The bright yellow paint is the truck’s original color and it’s been properly rendered using modern urethanes, so it’s ready to head off-road without worries.

Location: Lithia Springs, Georgia
Mileage: 43,003