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TUNNELED, NOT FRENCHED

Street rod trends are constantly changing. What once looked good now seems dated, and so it will someday be for today’s cutting-edge look. Eventually, some of these trends come back into vogue—hence the birth of terms like newstalgia. Other aspects of this hobby never change; the tires are still round and cars take up more of our time and money than we’d like to admit.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Ford fans will willingly tell you that the Mustang is the No. 1 muscle car built in America, but its style, affordability and performance has earned this popularity title all by itself. The 2005 Mustang GT is a prime example of Ford’s success, and it seems to only be evolving to an even higher level of popularity today. Some say the Mustang was getting long in the tooth and was becoming boring in recent years, but believe it or not, Ford addressed it just at the right time with its new retro-style pony. Maybe the Mustang was evolving too far away from its muscle car roots and Ford decided to bring it back to tighten its focus; then again, ­perhaps it was just a coincidence of timing.

A REAL NINE-SECOND STREET SLEEPER

One look at a car is generally all it takes to determine pretty much what it’s made of—whether it’s fast, incredibly slow or falls safely somewhere in between. There are always typical small details that reveal a car’s true identity, whether it’s a huge exhaust, healthy underpinnings, aggressive rubber on wide wheels, a large, efficient cooling system, a well-laid-out induction with appropriate fuel delivery, sturdy engine mounts and/or mounting, the size and scope of the ignition, as well as the inlet air system.

TIME Challenger

The camouflaged prototypes hadn’t long been out of the shed when news of the new ’09 Challenger rushed into mainstream auto circles. The first production models hadn’t even heated pavement and the lore began as already-enthusiastic aficionados began concocting legends of greatness, as they shaped this car’s history before it ever turned a wheel—and they weren’t a minute too soon!

­­INSIDIOUS

David Salvaggio at Perfection Autosport says the intent behind its latest project, “Insidious,” was to do as Dodge is about to: rework an original ’70 Dodge Challenger with a range of insightful alterations intended to build on a solid resume.

PLYMOUTH ROCKS!

For the most part, automotive enthusiasts tend to display a degree of loyalty to their brand of choice. It’s rare to find someone who has equal parts Ford and Chevy in the garage; most owners tend to favor one or the other. Mopar fans, though, typically take the concept of brand loyalty to a whole new level. Those who don’t own Mopars tend to think of Mopar owners as something of a cult. Is it a fair comparison? Well, the verdict could go either way, but we can think of worse obsessions to have.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: The ProFlex DXI by Advanced Fuel Dynamics

If you’ve got a 2020+ GM V8 truck or SUV and you’re not running E85 yet, you’re leaving power and money on the table. Enter the ProFlex DXI—the easiest, fastest, and flat-out smartest way to slap flex fuel capability onto your rig. No tuning, no ECU unlocks, no headaches—just more horsepower and lower fuel costs in about 15 minutes.

L.A. ROADSTERS HISTORY

Have you ever been driving down the freeway or working on your car when that brilliant idea hit you? The more you thought about it, the more brilliant the idea became. When you called your friends for reinforcement, to see if the idea was actually as brilliant as you thought, there was always the chance they might pop your bubble. There are times you find the idea might only be brilliant to you, but other times it could be a life-altering idea, and the start of something that will endure over time. Dick “Scritch” Scritchfield had one of those brilliant ideas back in 1957, when he was working for the National Hot Rod Association’s Safety Safari. It turned out to be a great idea that received plenty of support from his peers. He wanted to start a car club for roadster owners that would reinforce the hot rod hobby.

RCR SERIES3 Camaro

Even in a crowd of first-rate ’69 Camaros, few will mistake the look and sound of the limited-edition RCR Series3 Camaros, a stunning expression of automotive passion, excitement and history.

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