4/7 SWAP
March 25, 2024
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Drop It Right
The C10 series of Chevy pickups is generally accepted as being the best-looking early pickups from the land of Bow Ties. But the one problem is that the factory fit them with roughly the same ride height as a 4×4. We suppose the guys who bought and used these trucks as trucks liked them that way, but the rest of us prefer them down in front. Having read nothing but truck magazines all your adult life, you know that there are many ways to lower a truck, from melting the springs with a torch all the way to installing forged aluminum IFS A-arms. We’ve read a couple of magazines ourselves and can tell you the safest, most affordable and simplest way.
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.
SSRRRRR!
The guys at Detroit Locker (makers of the Detroit Locker, Tractech, Truetrac, and more) were looking for a contemporary vehicle to demonstrate the rugged durability and smooth power transfer of the company’s Detroit Truetrac helical gear limited-slip differential when it hit them: The Chevrolet SSR pickup would be the perfect vehicle for this purpose.
Spotlighter
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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