Plug and Play
October 11, 2022
THE AUTO BUILDER
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Limited Edition
Christopher Keggan has done something that Ford never managed to do: build a supercharged, five-speed, mod-motor Thunderbird. He’s not exactly a stranger to these cars…
DAILY DRIVER DO’S AND DON’TS
So, you’ve contemplated and weighed the pros and cons of driving an older pickup or decided that one would make a great addition to the newer pickup you already own, then you are ready to make the leap of faith and turn that older pickup into a vehicle that could be used as a daily driver.
Spotlighter
The Auto Builder’s Hottest Product Picks from The Triple Crown of Rodding 2026
September 18, 2026
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There’s always something new to discover at the Triple Crown of Rodding, and the fourth annual gathering was no exception. Held September 11–12, 2026, at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee, the event brought together an impressive collection of hot rods,
CROWN WORTHY: THE TOP 6 WINNERS OF THE 2026 TRIPLE CROWN OF RODDING
September 15, 2026
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The 2026 Triple Crown of Rodding delivered a winner’s circle loaded with horsepower, imagination, and extraordinary craftsmanship. From a sparkling ’32 Ford roadster to a towering Squarebody Chevrolet, this year’s six top winners covered a remarkable range of styles. Each
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: HEAVY-DUTY 6-BOLT LS IRON BLOCK by SMEDING PERFORMANCE
September 11, 2026
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Big horsepower gets expensive fast. Between the rotating assembly, cylinder heads, valvetrain and power adder, an LS build can burn through a budget before the first bolt gets tightened. Your engine needs a strong foundation—but buying one shouldn’t derail the
JEEP INVASION 2026: THE SMOKIES GOT CRAWLED
September 10, 2026
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For three wild days in August, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, didn’t just welcome the Jeep community—it was completely overrun by it. The 2026 Smoky Mountain Invasion stormed into the LeConte Center August 20–22, bringing an army of Jeep owners, clubs, builders
ONE REMARKABLE DAY WITH THE LEGENDARY XR-6
September 9, 2026
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It was summer of 1981 when the phone rang. On the other end was Bob Juliano, calling to tell me about a car we might be interested in for Rodder’s Digest Magazine. The car was none other than the 1963
WHEN “THE HEAT” GOES HOT RODDING
September 4, 2026
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Hang out with your hot rod buddies and I guarantee talk will turn to days gone by. Some stories are more complex than others, but all are fun and most are true. Our latest Rear View Mirror takes a
INSTANT AWESOME
September 4, 2026
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It seems that everyone with a talent for building something is finding a career in television these days. Channels that were once dedicated to the preservation of rainforests and historic perspective have turned their attention to various forms of reality
HOT ROD POWER FEST TAKES OVER ATLANTA
September 1, 2026
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HOT ROD brought the Power Fest name back for 2026, filling Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway with a weekend of fast cars, cool builds and nonstop action. Held August 28–29, Power Fest transformed the NASCAR facility into a giant automotive playground with
THE YORK BEFORE YORK
August 28, 2026
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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
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Stainless Headers MFG’s Ceramic Coating Service Has You Covered
August 27, 2026
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There are plenty of jobs you can tackle in your own garage. Professionally ceramic coating a set of headers probably shouldn’t be one of them. Sure, you can buy products that promise a ceramic-like finish at home, but getting the
