Four Sunny Cars to Beat the Winter Blues

Even winter diehards sometimes crave sunlight and sea breezes. If that sounds familiar, America’s automakers once had the same dream—and they put it right on the nameplates. For decades, car companies borrowed the romance of warm-weather destinations to sell style, speed, and escape. Those evocative badges still work on the imagination today. And sometimes, they even point to great collector finds.

From the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, these four classics carry the spirit of vacation with them. They also showcase a moment when names meant more than alphanumerics. So, if you are hunting for a fresh winter project—or simply a sunny day fantasy—consider this globe-spanning garage.

1966 Dodge Monaco 500

Monaco is a glittering slice of the Riviera, and Dodge leaned into that aura when it crowned its flagship in 1965. By 1966, the lineup included a four-door, a hardtop, a wagon, and the Monaco 500 coupe. The 500 wore extra trim and spinner wheel covers, and it came with bucket seats and a center console. More importantly, it carried only one engine: the 325-hp, four-barrel 383 V8.

Just 7,300 Monaco 500s were built that year, which keeps survivors special. The example highlighted here shows 58,000 miles and two long-term owners. It was refinished in its original Light Mauve Metallic and retains a correct white interior. Recent service included a battery, heater core, tires, fluids, and attention to the fuel and brake systems. It is presented as a strong driver with a tidy history, and it is offered at $32,900.

1965 Buick Riviera

Riviera simply means coastline, but for many it conjures the French Riviera and its cinematic light. Buick used the name as early as 1949 for pillarless coupes, then promoted it to model status in 1963. The first-generation car remains a design landmark, and 1965 marked the final year of that acclaimed body.

This Riviera pairs beauty with muscle. Under the hood sits a 401-cu.in. V8 rated at 335 hp, breathing through dual four-barrel carburetors believed to be original. Inside, it features leather bucket seats, rosewood trim, power windows, steering, brakes, and a power driver’s seat. It also wears 15-inch Rally wheels with whitewalls and has an AM-FM radio. Air-conditioning components were recently renewed, which is good news if you plan to chase real Riviera weather. The ad even showcases the car’s theater-piece clamshell headlight doors. Asking price: $49,500.

1968 Mercury Montego MX

From Europe we hop to Jamaica’s Montego Bay, a name Mercury attached to its mid-size line starting in 1968. The Montego MX sat slightly upmarket within the range. While a thrifty 200-cu.in. six was standard, this convertible carries the 302-cu.in. V8 with a two-barrel carburetor, good for 210 hp.

Production of the Montego reached nearly 54,000 units in 1968, yet only 3,248 were convertibles. This one presents well in red over original Pastel Parchment upholstery. It is equipped with an automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes with front discs. According to the seller, it blends day-to-day drivability with classic charisma, a fitting formula for open-air cruising. It is listed at $19,900.

1972 Ford Capri RS2600

Capri, the storied island off Italy’s coast, has hosted vacationers since Roman times. Ford tapped the name repeatedly, but the European-built Capri of the late 1960s and 1970s became a cult favorite. American buyers knew the standard Capri through Lincoln-Mercury showrooms. However, the RS2600 never officially reached U.S. shores.

Built for competition, the RS2600 used a Weslake-developed, fuel-injected 2,995-cc V6 and a ZF gearbox. It also received lightened panels and a tuned suspension. The result was formidable on circuits and special stages. In fact, Jochen Mass clinched the 1972 European Touring Car Championship in one. The restored example featured here is described as road-ready and rare, with an asking price of €79,500—about $93,300.