Expertise
📍 Detroit, Michigan
Mike Sullivan
Detroit-area muscle car enthusiast and restoration specialist with three decades of hands-on experience working on American iron.
Mike Sullivan has been turning wrenches on American muscle cars since his teens, working his way through every stage of the restoration process — bodywork, paint, engine rebuilds, driveline authentication. Growing up in the Detroit area gave him early access to the culture that built these cars, and the obsession never faded.
Over the decades he's worked on hundreds of Camaros, Mustangs, Chevelles, Chargers, and Cudas in every state of preservation. His particular focus is numbers-matching authenticity — understanding which components were factory-correct and which have been swapped or re-stamped is, in his view, the foundation of any honest evaluation. He writes about muscle cars the way he works on them: direct, practical, and with no patience for inflated claims.
He owns a 1969 Camaro Z/28 he's had since his mid-twenties and a 1970 Chevelle SS396 that he has no intention of selling.
Magazine Articles by Mike Sullivan
Restoration Shop vs Body Shop vs Custom Shop: Who Does What
Mike Sullivan
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6 min
Why the Colonnade GTO Handles Better Than Its Reputation
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Carpet Kits: Molded vs Cut-and-Sew, Loop vs Cut Pile
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Mechanical Restoration: A Reliable Classic Without Touching the Paint
Mike Sullivan
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6 min
The Judge's Rear Wing: Function, Fashion, or Both?
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Galaxie 500 XL vs Pontiac 2 plus 2
Mike Sullivan
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6 min
Rebuilding for Unleaded Fuel: Hardened Valve Seats and Additives
Mike Sullivan
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6 min
Body Filler on a Classic: How Much Is Too Much
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Machine Shop Work Explained: Boring, Honing, Decking, Line Boring
Mike Sullivan
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6 min
GTO vs the A-Body Field: Chevelle, 442, and GS
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Classic Cars Arena vs eBay Motors for Classic Cars
Mike Sullivan
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8 min
15 Questions to Ask a Restoration Shop Before You Sign
Mike Sullivan
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6 min
How to Choose a Classic Car Restoration Shop
Mike Sullivan
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12 min
How to Prepare a Classic Car for Sale
Mike Sullivan
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8 min
Owning a Riviera GS: Life With Buick's Velvet Hammer
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Behind the Wheel of a Riviera Gran Sport
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
The Turbo Hydra-Matic and Why Automatic GTOs Aren't a Sin
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Stage 1: The Riviera GS Upgrade That Earned Respect
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Inside the El Camino SS Owner Community
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Judge vs Standard GTO: What Actually Differed
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Real SS or Tribute: The Debate That Divides Owners
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
How to Sell a Classic Car: Step by Step, from Prep to Payment
Mike Sullivan
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12 min
Wiring the Endura Era: The Harness Quirks Owners Should Know
Mike Sullivan
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8 min
Nova Horsepower by Year
Mike Sullivan
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6 min
Buyer's Guides by Mike Sullivan
Comparisons by Mike Sullivan
Q&A by Mike Sullivan
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How much is a first-generation Mustang worth?
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What is an Impala SS 409?
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What is the difference between a Cutlass and a 442?
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What is a 427 Galaxie?
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What is a Monte Carlo SS 454?
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How much is a Hemi Challenger worth?
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What is a Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe?
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What years is the classic Dodge Challenger?
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What is a Nova SS 396?
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Is a Chevrolet Malibu the same as a Chevelle?
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Is a Firebird the same as a Camaro?
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Which first-generation Mustang is the most collectible?
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What is a W-30 442?
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What is a Trans Am SD-455?
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Which Bel Air year is most collectible?
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What is a Tri-Five Chevy?
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What is a Galaxie 500 XL?
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What years are first-generation Mustangs?
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Is the G-body Malibu collectible?
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What is a Hurst Hemi Dart?
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What is a Dart GTS or Swinger 340?
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What is a "fuelie" Bel Air?
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What is the difference between a 1964 1/2 and a 1965 Mustang?
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What is the most desirable classic Impala?
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Is the G-body Cutlass Supreme collectible?
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What is the difference between a Chevy II and a Nova?
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What does 4-4-2 mean on an Oldsmobile?
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What is the difference between the Pontiac 455 HO and Buick 455 Stage 1?
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How do I verify a real Shelby Cobra from a replica?
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What's a Marti Report and do I need one?
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What is the difference between the AMC 390 and 401 engines?
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How much is a 1969 Dodge Charger R/T worth in 2026?
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How much is a 1969 Camaro worth?
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How much is a 1957 Chevy Bel Air worth?
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How much is a Ford Galaxie 500 worth in 2026?
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How much is a Plymouth Road Runner worth in 2026?
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How much is a Plymouth Sport Fury worth in 2026?
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What's the difference between the Ford FE and 385 engine family?
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Are classic Mustangs reliable as daily drivers?
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How much is a Dodge Super Bee worth in 2026?
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How much is a Ford Fairlane GT or GTA worth in 2026?
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What is the Ford 427 High Riser engine?
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What's the difference between the Chevy 350 and 400 small block?
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How do I identify a real Pontiac Ram Air engine?
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What's a Tri-Power and which cars came with it?
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Is the Mustang II undervalued — or should it be avoided?
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How much is a Buick GS 455 worth?
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How much is a Pontiac Trans Am worth in 2026?
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How much is a Buick Skylark GS worth in 2026?
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What is the difference between Chevy LS and LT engines?
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How much is an Oldsmobile Toronado worth in 2026?
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How do I verify a numbers-matching 1969 Dodge Charger?
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What's a 1970 Hemi Cuda worth today?
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Should I buy a first-gen or second-gen Camaro?
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What's the best year to buy a Pontiac Firebird?
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How do I confirm a 1969 Charger has a factory Hemi?
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What is an AMC Javelin AMX worth today?
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What's the difference between a Chevy 454 and 396 big block?
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What goes wrong with a first-gen Camaro?
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How do I verify a real Pontiac GTO Judge?
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How do I decode a classic Mopar VIN?
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How much is a Chevelle SS 396 worth in 2026?
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What's the difference between a Ford 289, 302, and 351?
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How can I tell a real Yenko Camaro from a clone?
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What's a 1965 Shelby GT350 worth?
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Buick Riviera vs Cadillac Eldorado — which personal luxury car should you buy?
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How much is a Ford Mustang Boss 302 worth in 2026?
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Is the Pontiac GTO Judge a good investment in 2026?
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How much is a Buick GSX Stage 1 worth in 2026?
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What's the difference between the Dodge 440 and 426 Hemi?
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What does it cost to own a classic Buick Riviera?
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How much is a 1967 Pontiac GTO worth?
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What's the difference between an LT1 and an LS1?
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What's the difference between a C2 and C3 Corvette?
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What's a 1969 Chevelle SS 396 worth in 2026?
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How much is a 1969 Dodge Charger R/T worth?
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What is the best classic car for a first-time buyer?
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How much is an Oldsmobile 442 worth?
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What's the difference between a Big Block and Small Block Chevy?
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What's the difference between a 350 and a 383 stroker?
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How much is a Boss 429 Mustang worth?
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What is the 426 Hemi and why is it so special?
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How do I verify a numbers-matching engine on a 69 Camaro?
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Should I buy a numbers-matching classic car?