In the world of automotive TV shows,Counting Carsis among the legends. Originally started in 2012 as a spin-off ofPawn Stars,Counting Cars follows the work of Danny Koker and his crew at Count's Kustoms.
First introduced to TV screens as the automotive expert the Pawn Stars would call in for advice and restoration work, Danny Koker and his team brought a whole lot of talent into their work, restoring and customizing some seriously cool cars, as well as proving his automotive knowledge and wisdom while helping thePawn Stars make car buying decisions. People wanted to see more of Danny's work, leading toCounting Cars being picked up as a new series for the History Channel.
And it's not hard to see why it caught on as a show, the Count's Kustoms crew brings their A-game, and plenty of entertaining personality to each build, showcasing what can be done with a talented and dedicated team of people who are passionate about cars. But even that wouldn't have been enough to make the show a hit, part of this credit must be given to the cars they work on, as they're some of the best examples of classic American muscle you can dream of.
Read on to see 15 of the sickest cars the Count's Kustoms crew restored to their former glory:
15 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Back in the late 1960s and '70s, Oldsmobile was a serious contender in the muscle car wars. With motors like the Rocket 350 that could lay down some serious power, and cars like the Cutlass with itsgorgeous styling and perfect cruiser potential, Oldsmobile was one of the brands to beat.
Nowadays, the name Oldsmobile doesn't carry much respect, but the Count's Kustoms crew showed this one somethe respect it deserves, restoring it to its former glory, and addinga super cool, but not over the top, paint job.
14 1966 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350
The Shelby Mustang has earned its place as a true classic, and race track legend. When Caroll Shelby got his race car addicted hands-on Ford's Mustang, he lightened them up, added power, and made them proper race cars for the road. Nowadays, original GT350s sell for upwards of $100,000, and considering how nice this one turned out, Count's Kustoms has a real gem on their hands.
13 1967 Pontiac GTO
It's unfortunate that the Pontiac GTO had to die with Pontiac as a brand, as it was one of the first and best looking and performing muscle cars of all time. This 1967 model restored by (and belonging to) Danny Koker was not only returned to its former glory but given 650hp to compete with modern muscle cars. Unfortunately, Danny sold it in 2019.At least the new owner gets to enjoy this work of art.
12 1968 Ford "Bullitt" Mustang
Featured in the first episode of Counting Cars was this legendary Mustang. Green '68 Fastback GTs have such a highstatus among muscle cars, as this spec was the exact one used in the now-legendary Steve McQueen movieBullitt. While the actual Mustang McQueen drove sold for millions of dollars, this one was brought into Count's Kustoms by none other than the Pawn Stars for some restoration work.
11 1973 Buick Riviera
Old school Rivieras are some of the coolest classic cruisers around. The aggressive but beautiful lines speak to the power and comfort of these American icons, but for Count's Kustoms, that wasn't enough. This Riviera was restored and transformed into a rolling piece of art, with one of the most intricate and amazing paint jobs you'll ever see.
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10 1970 Dodge Coronet
Initially just a trim level indicator for Dodge's vehicles of the '50s, the Coronet came into its own by 1968 as a mid-size workhorse with serious muscle potential. Brought into Count's Kustoms as one part of a his & hers pair of classic Mopar, this Coronet was restored perfectly, letting the lucky couple cruise in style and power.
9 1967 Ford Bronco
With the SUV craze in full effect, Ford Broncos are becoming more and more collectible, and no longer seen as simple utility vehicles. When this classic Bronco rolled into Count's Kustoms, it received a full true to factory restoration. The only exceptions were safety bars for passenger protection and a bigger V8 under the hood.
8 1968 Chevrolet C10 Short Bed
There's something just perfect about the looks of vintage trucks. Whether it's the simple and clean body lines that scream function over form or the muscular proportions, trucks of this era are becoming widely appreciated as classics. Taking this C10 Short Bed to the next level, the crew at Count's Kustoms gave it an orange paint job that perfectly compliments the looks, along with a full restoration.
7 1969 Cadillac Coupe DeVille
Cadillacs from the 1960s define the term "Land Yacht." Smooth, comfortable, effortless, luxurious, and absolutely massive, these beasts are a top choice for classic American luxury. To make things better, this 1969 DeVille got a wicked custom treatment on top of a restoration. Although it was so nice, that it caused quite the fuss among the Count's Kustoms crew, as several members intended on buying it.
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6 1974 Plymouth Road Runner
1974 was the beginning of the end for the prior decade of proper American muscle. But for one last year, Plymouth made a proper Road Runner. This second generation of Road Runner lasted from 1971 until 1974, come 1975, the Road Runner had become a sedated mid-size cruiser. To give this last bastion of hope the treatment it deserves, Danny bought it off its previous owner in rough shape, but turned it into a proper custom restoration job.
5 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
By the late 1960s, smaller Pony cars were rising to power like the full-size muscle cars of years prior. While the Mustang may have been first, the Camaro was close on its heels, offering as much power and fun. This 1968 example is just gorgeous, decked out in a smooth black and purple paint job after being restored by the Count's Kustoms crew.
4 1968 Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is firmly planted as a muscle car icon, continuing production to this day as one of the meanest cars on the road. This gorgeous example was brought into Count's Kustoms as little more than an engine, being turned into a true showstopper with all original parts, and a slick paint job that is guaranteed to win awards at any car show.
3 1969 Cadillac Coupe DeVille
Another 1969 Coupe DeVille that rolled through the Count's Kustoms doors, it's not hard to see why though, as the clean lines of the car are ripe for customization. This golden Caddy was dressed to the nines with hot rod style pinstriping, a mean lowered stance, whitewalls, and a perfect coat of gold paint.
2 1962 VW Karmann Ghia
The VW Karmann Ghia is one of those classics that can't be mistaken for anything else. While it wasn't a fast car, the Karmann Ghia's claim to fame is its gorgeously sleek design and unbeatable style factor. Restored by the Count's Kustoms crew as a gift for the wife of one of their team members, this Karmann Ghia was both a sentimental gesture and a rolling piece of art.
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1 Manta Mirage
You'd be forgiven if you've never heard of a Manta Mirage before, as it is one of those obscure low production cars that never really caught on. But they're pretty damn cool, as they were kit built racecars from the '70s to the '80s. This Mirage fell into the hands of Count's Kustoms, where it received a Chevy 383 V8, a set of Borla induction and exhaust systems, as well as a slick vinyl wrap.
NEXT: 17 times Danny Koker Almost Made Counting Cars Go Broke
