TMCP #658: Ask Rick | Trans Am vs. SHO vs. IROC-Z—Which White Car Wins?

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Ask Rick: White Cars, Collector Cars &
One Very Unusual Silverado

Happy Labor Day! Rick Schmidt and I kick off this episode with one of our favorite signs that fall is approaching: the return of college football. Rick still prefers the college game because it feels more wide-open and unpredictable, even if NIL deals and today’s money have changed the landscape considerably.

Rick also recently celebrated his 59th birthday by doing something that sounds pretty appealing—disconnecting from the world for a few days at the beach south of St. Augustine, Florida. Then it was right back to work and off to Road Atlanta for the Mustang Club of America’s 50th anniversary celebration and a Shelby American Automobile Club event.

That leads us into a larger conversation about Mustangs and why they remain among the most accessible classic cars to own and restore. First-generation fastbacks have certainly become expensive, but Ford built an enormous number of Mustangs—and plenty survived. That created a massive restoration-parts market. When a manufacturer can sell thousands of the same reproduction part instead of only a few dozen, the economics work in the buyer’s favor.

Rick also admits that, despite growing up as a Mustang and Trans Am fanatic, he can no longer name just one favorite car. After decades spent driving, restoring and collecting vehicles from across the automotive spectrum, his appreciation has spread almost everywhere. As Rick puts it, a nice example of nearly anything can still wind his watch.

Rick’s 2001 Silverado Fox Concept Truck

A listener’s question gives us a closer look at one of the strangest vehicles in Rick’s collection: a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado Fox concept truck. This wasn’t a special production package available from a dealership. It was an experimental, pre-production vehicle carrying an “EX” designation at the end of its VIN.

Developed with Fox Racing as the ultimate dirt-bike hauler, the Silverado features special tailgate cutouts for the bikes’ rear tires, hidden loading ramps beneath the bed, and a powered side-access door concealing built-in steps. It is powered by a supercharged 6.0-liter V8 and even carries an accessory-driven generator capable of powering tools at the track.

Rick bought the truck after its previous owner discovered that legally registering an experimental concept vehicle wasn’t going to happen. After learning that Rick had acquired it, GM Security contacted him and requested written confirmation that the truck would never be operated on public roads. It may run, and it may occasionally need to be exercised, but whether it has ever escaped the NPD property is apparently difficult to say.

The Silverado isn’t Rick’s only title-less curiosity. His collection also includes one of three Roush-prepared 1994 Mustang Cobra convertibles that served as official Indianapolis 500 pace cars. Then there’s the full-size Ford Tempo styling model constructed from fiberglass, Bondo and wood. It looks real from across the room, but as Rick readily admits, it may also be the ugliest “car” in the collection.

If you’re ever near Ocala, Florida, stop by National Parts Depot and see these unusual pieces of automotive history for yourself.

Labor Day White-Car Challenge: Which One Would You Buy?

This time, we’re making Rick’s car-shopping challenge a little more ridiculous. He gets a maximum budget of $35,000, every candidate must be white, and he has to sell his selection by Labor Day 2027. Rick doesn’t get to keep the winner, so personal preference must take a back seat to potential return on investment.

1975 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

The first candidate is a Cameo White 1975 Trans Am with the unmistakable blue hood bird, a Pontiac 400 V8, three-speed automatic transmission and Safe-T-Track limited-slip differential. Although 1975 wasn’t the high-water mark for Pontiac horsepower, Rick believes second-generation F-bodies remain great cars to drive. They offer excellent styling, capable handling and plenty of personality without the cost of their late-1960s and early-1970s siblings.

Cars from the mid-to-late 1970s were ignored and abused for years because of their lower horsepower and federally mandated bumpers. That attrition now makes clean, largely original examples harder to find. Rick predicted that this honest-looking Trans Am would finish near $30,000—and he was remarkably close.

Auction result: Sold for $32,000 on August 27, 2026.

1994 Ford Taurus SHO 5-Speed

The second candidate comes from an entirely different corner of the enthusiast world. This 57,000-mile Taurus SHO combines Ford’s familiar family-sedan body with a Yamaha-sourced 3.0-liter DOHC V6 and a five-speed manual transaxle. It’s rare, interesting and unquestionably the version collectors would want—but Rick struggles to find much visual excitement in the Taurus body surrounding that special drivetrain.

That tension makes the SHO an interesting market question. Does its manual transmission, Yamaha power and sleeper reputation make it an emerging collectible, or will its ordinary four-door appearance continue to limit its value? At its final price, it was easily the most affordable car in the challenge.

Auction result: Sold at no reserve for $11,250 on September 1, 2026.

1989 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z Coupe

The third contender is a 9,000-mile 1989 Camaro IROC-Z powered by a 5.7-liter tuned-port-injected V8. It features a four-speed automatic, removable roof panels, four-wheel disc brakes and the unmistakable graphics that helped define the IROC-Z era.

Rick believes the third-generation Camaro is entering an important moment. The people who wanted these cars when they were young are now reaching the age when they can afford an exceptional example. The combination of extremely low mileage, iconic styling and growing nostalgia makes the IROC-Z Rick’s pick over both the Trans Am and the Taurus.

There was just one problem: the final selling price exceeded our $35,000 limit. Rick picked the right car for the investment challenge—but the market officially priced it out of the game.

Auction result: Sold at no reserve for $39,750 on August 27, 2026.

Bonus Pick: Godzilla-Powered 1979 Ford Bronco

The Bronco was never eligible for our challenge, but it was too wild to ignore. This extensively modified 1979 Bronco is powered by a Ford 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 and demonstrates just how intense the collector market has become for high-end vintage trucks.

You could have purchased several of our white-car candidates for the Bronco’s final price, but the market has spoken—and properly built classic trucks continue to command serious money.

Auction result: Sold for $191,000 on August 27, 2026.

Labor Day Challenge, Segment 2: Forget the White Cars!

For the second round, we throw the fashion rules out the window. Rick isn’t a fashionista after all, so this time he can buy any color he damn well wants. The remaining rules stay the same: buy the car, enjoy it until Labor Day 2027 and then sell it. The budget increases to $50,000, and once again we’re looking for the strongest potential return.

1989 Chrysler TC by Maserati

Our first unconventional choice is an 18,000-mile Chrysler TC by Maserati finished in Light Yellow over Ginger leather. Developed jointly by Chrysler and Maserati and assembled in Milan, the TC features a turbocharged 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine, removable hardtop and plenty of late-1980s luxury-car ambition.

Rick understands what makes the TC unusual, but Rob still has trouble seeing anything beyond its K-car family resemblance. Its rarity and international backstory haven’t yet translated into a major collector following—which is exactly why it remains an inexpensive entry into something genuinely unusual.

Auction result: Sold at no reserve for $9,000 on September 1, 2026.

1971 Chevrolet Chevelle

The next choice is a Placer Gold 1971 Chevelle SS equipped with a 454-cubic-inch LS5 V8, TH400 automatic transmission, cowl-induction hood and black rally stripes. The combination of big-block power, familiar styling and an unusual factory color makes it the car Rick would most want to bring home.

Rick declares the Chevelle the winner, but the completed auction adds an interesting final twist. Bidding reached $61,000—well above our $50,000 budget—but still failed to meet the seller’s reserve. The Chevelle did not sell.

Auction result: Bid to $61,000 on August 28, 2026; reserve not met.

1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 Coupe

Final choice is a factory Flame Orange 1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1. Its 455-cubic-inch V8, ram-air induction, TH400 automatic and Stage 1 performance equipment make it a serious piece of Buick muscle. The orange paint and tan-and-black interior give it a combination you certainly won’t see at every cruise night.

This is exactly the kind of less-obvious muscle car that can stand apart from a field full of Chevelles, Camaros and Mustangs. Unfortunately for our challenge, other bidders recognized its appeal too—the Buick finished well beyond Rick’s $50,000 spending limit.

Auction result: Sold for $61,500 on August 31, 2026.

So, Which Car Really Won?

Rick selected the IROC-Z in the white-car round and the Chevelle in the open-color challenge. Once the auctions ended, however, both choices exceeded their respective budgets—and the Chevelle didn’t sell at all.

That leaves the $32,000 Trans Am as the strongest eligible purchase from the first challenge, while the $9,000 Chrysler TC by Maserati becomes the only second-round candidate that actually sold below the $50,000 limit. Whether either one would deliver the best return by Labor Day 2027 is another question entirely.

Which car would you have purchased with your own money?

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