Think you have to attend a giant national event to see world-class builds? Think again. The Erwin Marine Sales Car Show was proof that some of the baddest rides around show up at the smallest gatherings. Tucked along Chattanooga’s scenic waterfront, this laid-back event delivered far more than anyone would expect from a Saturday morning cruise-in.
It used to be that people took their old stuff to junkyards and swap meets when they didn’t want it anymore. And resourceful bargain hunters would pick through the goods in search of that diamond in the rough—turning over busted fenders, inspecting used fuel tanks—all in the hopes of finding the item that’s actually worth something. Nowadays, in the era of eBay, the search for value is conducted with a keyboard and high-speed connection; kicking the tires happens by way of written descriptions, digital images and email communications. Of course, the opportunistic at heart relish eBay as the best thing since sliced bread, a massive database of the world’s old stuff, neatly organized and categorized. For everyone else, eBay is the Internet’s junkyard, with shady merchants hiding around every corner.
The Southeastern Hot Rod Show once again filled the North Georgia AG Fairgrounds in Dalton, Georgia, with the sights, sounds, and spirit of traditional hot rodding. Drawing enthusiasts from across the Southeast, the annual gathering showcased an impressive collection of pre-1972 hot rods, muscle cars, trucks, and custom-built machines, all brought together by a shared passion for craftsmanship, performance, and automotive history.
If HPX 2026 proved anything, it’s that the performance aftermarket isn’t slowing down—it’s accelerating. Held in Charlotte, North Carolina, the High Performance Expo has quickly established itself as one of the industry’s premier gathering places for manufacturers, builders, racers, retailers, and enthusiasts looking to see what’s next in automotive performance. More than just a trade show, HPX serves as a launchpad for new technology, product debuts, and the ideas shaping the future of the aftermarket.
The NOPI Regionals NDRA and NOPI Drift event at South Georgia Motorsports Park didn’t just meet expectations — it reinforced exactly why the name still carries weight in the automotive world. What started as a revival effort in 2025 came back stronger this year, with bigger crowds, deeper competition fields, and a noticeably elevated energy across every corner of the venue.
The first-ever Goodguys BASF Legends of Hot Rodding event brought the heart and soul of traditional hot rodding straight to downtown Nashville, Tennessee, delivering a premium weekend packed with world-class hot rods, customs, live music, and the unmistakable energy of America’s golden automotive era. Held May 15–16 at the newly renovated Fairgrounds Nashville, the all-new event delivered a fresh experience for hardcore enthusiasts while celebrating the roots of the hobby that built hot rodding culture.
Johnson City, Tennessee didn’t just host a car show—it briefly turned into a rolling museum of American hot rodding. The 51st NSRA Street Rod Nationals South took over the Appalachian Fairgrounds on May 8–9, 2026, delivering two full days of traditional street rods, customs, and classic builds that reflected decades of craftsmanship and culture.
Some folks talk about the great muscle car wars of the ‘60s and early ‘70s, but it’s hard to find a car guy who experienced it, enjoyed it and still owns the same car. At 66 years of age, Mike Overly was able to experience the muscle car era during his twenties, which is the perfect time to go fast in a cool car. The car seen on these pages is a ’70 Mustang, one that Overly has owned since 1970. Less than a year old, the Mustang sat at a used car lot in Indianapolis, Indiana, wearing black paint and an asking price of $2,300. From his inspection, Overly knew the original owner had already upgraded to a Boss 429 hood and scoop, so it may have been raced in its short life—the 2,000 miles on the odometer were probably not the easiest of miles.
Big billet wheels, custom suspensions and modern power plants—that’s what we’ve come to expect from a first generation Camaro. And while these items are great if that’s what you prefer, we just can’t help but love a car that stands out in a crowd, like this 1968 Camaro vintage street machine. Period perfect down to the slightest details, the black Camaro would have been the ultimate classic Camaro street machine in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s with its big-‘n’-little Cragars, Lakewood traction bars and nose-down stance. Claude Minor is the proud owner of this retro Chevy, but it certainly didn’t start out in this configuration.
If there was ever a time of automotive wonderment and absolute freedom among designers and enthusiasts alike, it was the early 1950s. This was a special time when automobile manufacturers were exploring new territory previously held by the foremost automakers of Europe, and the Americans were going all out to stake their own claims to greatness.
