SLOWING DOWN A FAST MUSTANG
December 20, 2022
THE AUTO BUILDER
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December 1, 2022
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September 15, 2022
Final Assembly Tips From The Pros
When building a street rod there are a great many facets of the construction process that go into making the car an award-winning creation. First, there’s planning. The planning of the car can and should include attention to each and every area of the car, from concept to reality. Even the most basic of projects should have the proper planning involved, no matter what the final product might be. Once work has begun on the project, countless hours are generally involved in attending to every detail. From making the many modifications to the chassis to attain the desired drive train, to the matching and mating of the different components together, this becomes an involved process requiring a great deal of skill in fabrication and engineering.
TOYOTA STEERING SOLUTIONS
While early Toyota trucks are a great foundation, they do require a few modifications to make them capable of serious off-road use. Sure, you’ll need the basics, such as larger tires, lower gears and some kind of traction-aiding device in the differentials, but first there is a more important issue at hand. The steering on these early Toyota trucks was not designed with hardcore off-road use in mind.
DASHING F100
In past stories we have shown you how to shave door handles, install custom outside door handles, round door corners, build suicide doors, add bear claw latches and so on. Now we’re going to offer you a personal favorite custom touch—installing a dash from a ’59-’60 Chevrolet Impala into a ’56 Ford F-100.
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CRUISIN’ THE COAST 2026: DAY 3
More Hot Rods, Horsepower, and a One-Man Flame-Throwing Show!
Author
Jamie Dent
Photography by Scott Killeen
By Tuesday, October 6, Cruisin’ The Coast 2026 was firing on all cylinders. With Sunday’s rain in the rearview mirror, the Mississippi Gulf Coast was crawling with hot rods, customs, muscle cars, and classic trucks as the 30th anniversary celebration rolled into its third day. From Gulfport to Moss Point and Biloxi, there was no shortage of chrome, horsepower, and good old-fashioned automotive excitement.
The action stretched well beyond the usual cruise-ins, with autocross competition, celebrity appearances, live entertainment, and an evening spectacle that proved you don’t need a crowd of competitors to put on a fiery show.
Jones Park: Keeping the Party Rolling
Cruise Central at Jones Park in Gulfport remained a hot spot as more participants checked in and joined the festivities. KOTO kept the oldies spinning, Mississippi Gulf Fresh offered samples of local seafood, and the Salute to Our Veterans celebration brought Garry “Elvis” Wesley and The Victory Belles to the waterfront.
Automotive personalities Courtney Hansen and Cristy Lee were also part of the day’s activities, adding some star power to a gathering already overflowing with vintage iron. Meanwhile, cruisers continued making the rounds, showing off their rides and soaking up the atmosphere that has made this event a Gulf Coast tradition for three decades.
From Moss Point to Margaritaville
Over in Moss Point, Cruisin’ The River City brought another gathering of classic machinery to the eastern end of the Coast. Meanwhile, the Margaritaville Resort in Biloxi hosted its own cruise-in, complete with an appearance by automotive television personality Chris Jacobs.
For those who preferred a little tire-squealing action, the Scarlet Pearl Casino in D’Iberville once again hosted autocross competition. It was a chance for registered participants to trade the slow cruise for some hard cornering and show what their machines could do when the steering wheel got a workout.
One Car, One Driver, and a Whole Lot of Fire!
Tuesday night’s Cruisin’ The Coast Flame-Throwing Competition moved to a new home at the IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi, but things didn’t go quite as expected. Despite hundreds of spectators turning out, only one competitor showed up to light up the night.
That lone cruiser was Kurt Broussard, a regular at the event who wasn’t about to let the lack of competition spoil the fun. With the spotlight all to himself, Broussard put on a fiery display, shooting flames from his car’s exhaust and giving the crowd exactly what they came to see.
The competition normally attracts six to eight participants, sometimes more. Nobody seemed to know exactly why the turnout was so thin this year, but Broussard made the most of his moment. He even promised to return next year with bigger flames.
One competitor. No shortage of attitude. And plenty of fire!
Three Days Down, and the Coast Was Just Warming Up
With another full day in the books, Cruisin’ The Coast 2026 continued proving why it has become one of America’s most celebrated automotive gatherings. Whether you came for the polished show cars, the rumble of big-inch V8s, or the occasional blast of fire from a tailpipe, there was always something worth seeing.
And with the Biloxi Block Party, more cruising, and plenty of automotive action still ahead, the 30th anniversary celebration was far from finished.
Stay with The Auto Builder as we continue our look back at Cruisin’ The Coast 2026, one day and one photo gallery at a time.
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