BUILT TO WIN: The Battle for the Al Slonaker Memorial Award 2026
February 11, 2026
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
THE DEFINITION OF COOL
This was a time when car manufacturers improved on their cars with much better suspension systems, larger and more efficient V-8 engines, and all the stylish creature comforts new-car customers expected. Chevrolet evolved, too, using more modern technology and a performance parts supply that enabled Chevy enthusiasts to build upon the factory offerings. Chevrolet changed what was once a basic industry, and even though those were simpler times with no computers, cell phones or electronics to speak of, the suspensions were new—but still a long way from what is available now. However, tri-5 Chevys were fast and provided a blast without all those fancy gadgets found in luxury cars at the time—just give them a two-tone Chevy equipped with a V-8 and whitewall tires, and it was all good.
MERC-O-MATIC MAKEOVER
Gil Losi, the owner of this super-slick ’54 Mercury Monterey—which was a year in the making—has quite a liking for the ’54 Mercury body style. He’s owned several of the stylish Monterey hardtops, but this one tops them all with its slammed stance, laser-straight paint and bodywork and 32-valve DOHC engine. One of the many great aspects of this particular Mercury Monterey is that Steve Cook’s team started with a good body. It was solid and already featured a low-down stance, but the crew reworked every part of the car into what you see here.
Billet Hood Strut Installation on Your S197 Mustang
When you lift the hood of your 2005-2014 Mustang and engage the prop rod, do you feel a little shortchanged? Well, Steeda Autosports has developed a billet hood strut kit designed to replace those clumsy prop rods.
Spotlighter
Broncos Storm Pigeon Forge
The 2025 Great Smoky Mountain Bronco® Stampede
The 3rd Annual Great Smoky Mountain Bronco® Stampede thundered into Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on August 15–16, 2025, and for two days straight the LeConte Center was wall-to-wall Broncos. Old, new, stock, modified, lifted—if it had a Bronco badge, it had a place in the herd.
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photography by Scott Killeen
Bronco Nation, United
You could feel it the second you walked through the doors: this wasn’t just a car show, it was a full-blown Bronco family reunion. First-gen survivors with steel wheels and dog-dish caps parked next to shiny new Sasquatch Editions on 37s. There were bone-stock restorations, half-finished projects, and wild customs with more cage than body panels. Every aisle was a reminder of why the Bronco’s legacy runs so deep—and why its comeback has been one of the hottest stories in the off-road world.
More Than Just a Show
What really makes the Stampede different is the mix. Sure, it’s about showing off rigs, but it’s also about swapping stories, finding parts, and learning what works on the trail. The vendor hall was packed, the crowds were buzzing, and more than a few conversations ended with: “See you on the trails.”
The Stampede Keeps Growing
Three years in, the Great Smoky Mountain Bronco® Stampede is already cementing itself as one of the premier Bronco events in the country. This year’s turnout was the biggest yet, and it’s clear the momentum isn’t slowing down. Whether you brought a Bronco, bought parts for your build, or just came to soak in the atmosphere, the Stampede proved why it’s a can’t-miss.
Even More Broncos Inside the Pavilion
If you thought the parking lot was loaded, the pavilion cranked it up a notch. Broncos filled every corner—shiny, muddy, lifted, slammed—like a giant toy box for grown-up gearheads. From uncut first-gens on stock steel wheels to modern rigs with long-travel suspension and oversized tires, it was a rolling catalog of what’s possible with Ford’s iconic off-roader.
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