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
Pro Street vs Pro Stock: The Drag-Racing Roots
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
The Superbird's Road-Car Compromises
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
The Valiant Connection: Where the Barracuda Came From
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
How to Spot a Genuine Pro Street Car
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Why the 1956 F-100 Became an American Icon
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Why 1970 Is the Most Collectible Challenger Year
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
The M-Code Tri-Power 390
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Mini-Tubs vs Full Tubs
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
1970 GTO Judge: Bigger Wing, Bolder Colors
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Wheelie Bars on a Street-Legal Car
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Why Cadillac Created the Eldorado in 1953
Mike Sullivan
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6 min
Back-Half Conversions Explained
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
The 944 Turbo (951): The Giant-Killer
Mike Sullivan
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6 min
Pro Street vs Every Other Build Style
Mike Sullivan
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10 min
The 1973-1979 Ford F-100 Dentside
Mike Sullivan
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9 min
How NASCAR Banned the Aero Cars
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
The 1961-1966 Ford F-100: Unibody and the Twin I-Beam
Mike Sullivan
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9 min
Restoring Real Leather and Wood-Trimmed Luxury Interiors
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
How to Evaluate a Barn Find
Mike Sullivan
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11 min
Richard Petty and the Superbird
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
The Fold-Down Rear Seat and Cavernous Fastback Interior
Mike Sullivan
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6 min
How to Prep and Paint a Classic C10 Frame
Mike Sullivan
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6 min
Chevelle SCCA and Road-Course Appearances
Mike Sullivan
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7 min
Stepside vs Fleetside: C10 Bed Production Numbers and History
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?