THE AUTO BUILDER
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SHOW & GO
York, Pennsylvania’s Jesse Houseman is a genuine Ford man. In addition to owning an ’89 convertible 5.0, an ’04 F-150 and, previously, an ’89 LX 5.0, he built the stunning ’88 LX you see here. He did almost all of the work himself, starting with a four-cylinder donor car in poor shape and transforming it into a show car with racecar performance—or is it the other way around?
THE YORK BEFORE YORK
Central Pennsylvania has long been a hot bed for traditional hot rods. When the N.S.R.A. moved the Nats East from Timonium, Maryland to the York County Fairgrounds in 1975, the town of York, and the associated York County Fairgrounds became synonymous with the NSRA Nats East. But wait, there was a good show in York before that happened.
POCKET ROCKET
The very concept of a V-8-powered Ford Focus isn’t as new as it is novel. In fact, we introduced Jerry Kugel’s install kit some years ago and then followed it up with the mod-motor install. But that was then, and now ASE master technician Donny Seyfer, from Wheatridge, Colorado’s Seyfer Automotive, decided to tackle the building of such a hybrid.
Spotlighter
CRUISIN’ THE COAST 2026: DAY 6 – Gulfport, Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian & Ocean Springs
Gassers, Classic Cars, and a Roadside Mopar Gold Mine!
Author
Jamie Dent
Photography by Scott Killeen
By Friday, October 9, Cruisin’ The Coast 2026 was heading into its final weekend, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast was still overflowing with vintage iron. Six days into the 30th anniversary celebration, hot rods, muscle cars, customs, and classic trucks continued turning the coastal highways into one enormous rolling car show. For The Auto Builder, it was our final day on the Coast, and there was still plenty left to see before pointing the car toward home.
From old-school drag racing and the streets of Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian to a collection of Mopars that practically stopped us in our tracks, Friday proved that some of the best automotive discoveries happen when you least expect them.
Gulfport Dragway: Old-School Horsepower
For enthusiasts who prefer their horsepower served a quarter-mile at a time, Gulfport Dragway was the place to be. The Gulf Coast Nationals, featuring the Southeast Gassers Association, brought a healthy dose of nostalgia to the dragstrip, where old-school racing machines recalled an era of nose-high attitudes, screaming engines, and serious straight-line performance.
These weren’t cars built to sit quietly on a show field. Gassers were made to run hard, make noise, and put on a show, and their unmistakable appearance was a reminder of drag racing’s glory days.
Bay St. Louis: Cruising With a Coastal View
Over in Bay St. Louis, the laid-back Gulf Coast atmosphere provided the perfect backdrop for another round of classic-car spotting. Hot rods, vintage cruisers, muscle cars, and custom trucks were right at home along the coastal streets, giving enthusiasts plenty of reasons to slow down and take a closer look.
That’s part of what makes Cruisin’ The Coast so special. The cars aren’t confined to a single fairground or parking lot. Entire communities become part of the experience, and you never know what might roll around the next corner.
Pass Christian: More Than Just Passing Through
Just down the Coast, Pass Christian offered another helping of classic cars, coastal scenery, and the laid-back atmosphere that makes this event so appealing. Whether parked along the streets or rolling through town, vintage iron was everywhere, and there was always something worth a second look.
Known to locals as The Pass, this historic coastal community has long been a favorite stop for cruisers. With its waterfront setting and small-town character, it was another reminder that Cruisin’ The Coast isn’t just about the cars. It’s also about the places you discover and the people you meet along the way.
Car Corral: Looking for a New Ride?
For anyone who arrived at Cruisin’ The Coast thinking about adding another set of wheels to the garage, the Car Corral offered plenty of temptation. From vintage cruisers to muscle cars and custom builds, it was a chance to see what was available and perhaps discover the next project or dream car.
Even if you weren’t carrying a checkbook, browsing the cars for sale was entertainment in itself. After all, half the fun of being a car enthusiast is imagining what you’d do if you could take one home.
Roadside Mopar Madness: Now That’s a Yard Sale!
Every now and then, you stumble across something that makes you forget where you were headed. That was certainly the case with an incredible collection of Mopars parked along the roadside in front of a sprawling private residence, each proudly displaying a For Sale sign.
From brightly colored Plymouth muscle to a lineup of vintage Dodge and Chrysler machinery, this wasn’t your average collection of used cars. It was a roadside gathering of serious Detroit iron, with enough purple, blue, chrome, and horsepower to make any Mopar fan weak in the knees.
The cars looked right at home against the impressive property, but make no mistake, they were the real attraction. Sometimes the most memorable sights at Cruisin’ The Coast aren’t on the official schedule. They’re the ones that make you hit the brakes, grab the camera, and start dreaming.
Ocean Springs: More Classic Cars, More Coastal Charm
Our Day 6 travels also took us through Ocean Springs, another Gulf Coast community where Cruisin’ The Coast’s automotive spirit was on full display. With its inviting streets and unmistakable coastal character, the town provided another fitting setting for the hot rods, customs, and classic vehicles that had filled the region all week.
Whether parked along the street or rolling through town, there was no shortage of interesting machinery to admire. And after nearly a week of cruising, it was clear that the variety of vehicles was every bit as impressive as the sheer number of them.
Six Days of Chrome, Horsepower, and Good Times
From the opening-day rain to the packed streets of Biloxi, tire-smoking burnouts, collector car auctions, and old-school cruising, Cruisin’ The Coast 2026 delivered six unforgettable days of automotive excitement for The Auto Builder.
As we packed up and headed home, one thing was certain: 30 years hadn’t taken an ounce of attitude out of this Gulf Coast tradition. With thousands of incredible cars, great people, and more automotive action than you could possibly take in, it’s easy to understand why enthusiasts return year after year.
If you’ve never experienced Cruisin’ The Coast, put it on your calendar for 2027. Trust us, it’s worth the trip.
← CLICK HERE TO SEE COVERAGE OF DAY 5 or CLICK HERE TO SEE COVERAGE OF DAY 1 →
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