’88 Blown GMC
July 16, 2023
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Cherry Bomb
There are all kinds of daily drivers: those called drivers because they have a few road miles on them, so they are not considered show cars; and those that are true daily drivers because they represent your only mode of transportation. Most rodders have been there at one time or another, when all we had were our hot rods to drive. The stories are endless about how these cars were transformed from grocery-getter to show car, but it happens. You use the car for family needs throughout the winter months and then clean it up come spring, maybe even paint the fenders, and enter it in a local rod show.
24 PERFECT PARTS AND TIPS
Are you driving an old truck, or perhaps you are driving a newer, modified pickup that is being upgraded as you go? Either way, both present their own set of challenges, which when not addressed, will turn normal operation into a nightmarish chore. No one enjoys breaking down along the side the road, so you do what you can to favorably stack the odds against such breakdowns. Truth is you do this by eliminating the simple oversights and by selecting the right parts that enhance the performance and operation of your daily driver.
Good As Gold
Tech presentation is something anyone can do to his or her existing Camaro, since it takes no special skill, yet the results are worthwhile. Those are the rewards of personalizing a cool Chevy, and it’s what drives us in the first place to tackle such jobs.
Spotlighter
CRUISIN’ THE COAST 2026: DAY 2
The Rain Moves Out, the Horsepower Moves In!
After a soggy start on Sunday, Cruisin’ The Coast 2026 shifted into high gear on Monday, October 5. The skies cleared, the crowds rolled in, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast came alive with chrome, horsepower, and enough automotive eye candy to keep your head on a swivel. From the bustling activity at Cruise Central to the streets of Long Beach and the autocross course in D'Iberville, Day 2 delivered a little something for everyone. And with the 30th anniversary celebration just getting started, there was plenty more to come.
Author
Jamie Dent
Photography by Scott Killeen
Jones Park: Let the Cruising Begin
The day started at Jones Park in Gulfport, where Cruise Central was buzzing with activity. Registration and packet pickup brought another wave of participants into the fold, with lines of hot rods, muscle cars, classics, and custom trucks making the check-in process a spectacle of its own.
KOTO kept the oldies spinning, Mississippi Gulf Fresh served up samples of local seafood, and automotive personality Courtney Hansen made an appearance. It was a fitting welcome to a week devoted to great cars, good food, and even better company.
Long Beach: Show, Shine, and a Rolling Parade
Just down Highway 90, Long Beach was putting on a show of its own. The Long Beach Show & Shine transformed Jeff Davis Avenue into a gathering of polished chrome, custom paint, and vintage Detroit iron.
With live music from The Project adding to the atmosphere, the downtown streets offered plenty of reasons to park, wander, and admire the machinery.
But the real spectacle came later in the day. Up to 600 registered vehicles were eligible to participate in the Long Beach Parade, turning the streets into a rolling celebration of automotive history. Courtney Hansen joined the festivities as a celebrity guest, adding to the excitement as cruisers made their way through town.
It was everything a good old-fashioned cruise should be: great cars, enthusiastic spectators, and plenty of horsepower on parade.
D’Iberville: Time to Put That Horsepower to Work
Not everyone came to Cruisin’ The Coast just to polish chrome and idle down the boulevard. Over at the Scarlet Pearl Casino in D’Iberville, the Autocross Guys gave registered participants a chance to put their machines through their paces.
Presented by Scarlet Pearl Casino, the City of D’Iberville, and Autocross Guys, the afternoon autocross traded leisurely cruising for tight corners, quick transitions, and a little friendly competition.
Watching vintage iron and modified street machines tackle the course was a reminder that some of these beauties were built for a lot more than looking good in a parking lot.
Two Days Down, Plenty More to Come
Monday also brought the rescheduled Cruisin’ Through The Decades celebration in Gautier, complete with a drive-in showing of Stroker Ace. Meanwhile, live entertainment and evening festivities kept the party going long after the daytime cruising wrapped up.
With the rain in the rearview mirror and the 30th anniversary celebration gaining momentum, Cruisin’ The Coast was hitting its stride.
And this was only Monday.
Stay with The Auto Builder as we continue our daily look back at Cruisin’ The Coast 2026, bringing you more of the cars, the people, and the places that make this one of America’s great automotive events.
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