A/FX-CELLENCE
September 23, 2024
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Straight Shooter
IMCO’s Stern Advantage is the perfect example of a retrofit kit that will bail a boat owner out of a bad situation and allow him to end up with a safer, better performing boat. Maveric Marine invited us to watch its crew install a Stern Advantage on a Nordic 28 that was in the shop for repairs, and we jumped at the chance. This Nordic has a 496 Mag HO with a Bravo One X in it, and the owner understood that the worn out steering problem wasn’t going to go away, so the external hydraulic steering system made a lot of sense.
ECONOMY STEERING
The owner of this ’56 Ford pickup purchased it for a daily driver, and after driving it for a short time decided to make it more comfortable. Still running the original suspension, it rode rough and typically handled like an old truck, which it happens to be. He wanted a softer ride, and for the truck to handle like a modern sports truck, so several chassis improvements were in order.
MUSCLE PERFORMANCE ’69 CAMARO
we learned that three important players in the hot rod industry—Chip Foose, Unique Performance and Year One—were coming together for a unique collaboration. Their combined goal was to build a limited-production-built car. Unique Performance already has just such a business, as it builds and sells its continuation Shelby Mustangs.
Spotlighter
STAR CARS: A Family and Its Speedstar
April 16, 2026
No Comments
Dale was working on a unique rod project when his father went to a Goodguys event and saw Bobby Alloway Speedstar’s new Rat’s Glass Speedstar body and Alloway frame package. Joe knew it was the look Dale was trying to
STEP IT UP
April 15, 2026
No Comments
The legacy of the Ford Bronco is stronger than ever, thanks to the versatility and customization options of the sixth-generation Ford Bronco. This platform is built for off-road performance and on-road comfort and there are a multitude of custom factory
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Intellitronix Digital Dash for GM G-Bodies
April 10, 2026
No Comments
Designed specifically for 1978–1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and El Camino, this is a true direct-fit digital gauge panel—not some universal compromise. It drops into the factory location, cleans up the entire dash, and instantly shifts the vibe from dated cruiser
Ponies in the Smokies 2026
April 6, 2026
No Comments
Winter doesn’t fade quietly in Tennessee—it gets drowned out by horsepower. And once again, Ponies in the Smokies 2026 lit the fuse. The Sevierville Convention Center became ground zero for Ford performance, as thousands of enthusiasts rolled in, filling every
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: ARP’s Head Stud Kit for 1927–31 Ford Model A 4-Cylinder Engines
March 31, 2026
No Comments
In a world obsessed with the latest engines and newest technology, ARP (Automotive Racing Products) just proved something important—progress doesn’t only move forward. It also means going back and applying everything we’ve learned since.
Corvette Expo 2026 & Chevys in the Smokies Take Over Pigeon Forge
March 26, 2026
No Comments
The Great Smoky Mountains are famous for the blue haze that gives the range its name—but during the 49th Annual Corvette Expo 2026 and Chevys in the Smokies, the mountains were a little smokier than usual. Some of that haze
Hot Rods, Customs, and Muscle Cars of Detroit Autorama 2026
March 23, 2026
No Comments
Every winter, the custom car world storms into the Motor City for one of the most legendary indoor shows in hot rodding history—Detroit Autorama. Inside the sprawling halls of Huntington Place, the temperature might still read winter outside, but on
Winter WOW
March 17, 2026
No Comments
Just after New Year’s, when the cold really starts settling in, one of the first major indoor car shows of the year rolls into town. The O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels Custom Auto Show has become a yearly tradition—mixing
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Analog Gauge Panel for 1965–1966 Ford Mustang by Intellitronix
March 13, 2026
No Comments
There’s a real beauty in upgrading a classic without masking its character—and the Intellitronix Analog Gauge Panel AP7001 delivers exactly that for the 1965–1966 Ford Mustang. Designed to drop directly into the heart of your Pony’s cockpit, this panel brings
The Trucks of Detroit Autorama 2026
March 12, 2026
No Comments
Every winter the custom car world makes a pilgrimage to the Motor City for one of the most legendary indoor shows on the planet: the Detroit Autorama. Held inside the massive Huntington Place, the 2026 edition once again packed the
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Beyond Restoration
In much the same way that one person prefers chocolate and another vanilla, chicken over steak, college ball versus pro ball, Chevy enthusiasts tend to lean toward particular vintages, models, powertrains and other special Bow Tie features, which may be nothing more than a vehicle loaded with unusual options that make that car more unique, and valuable, than the next. Our love for such things is generally based upon a range of influencing factors.
Strong Armed
Chevy engineers began using trailing arm and coil spring rear suspension designs back in 1958, and in one form or another, this treatment ran through 1964 without much change. Good news for families but bad news for performance enthusiasts, the crossframe cars were remarkable in that they began an era in which suspensions concentrated more on ride quality than on nimble handling.
ONE-WEEKEND WONDER
Instant gratification. It’s an addicting thing whereby somewhat suddenly, you find compete satisfaction. It’s the opposite of long, laborious projects that linger on for years, doling out their pain and pleasure in measured portions along the way. Sure, it can be fulfilling, but few things are more fun than putting things in fast-forward and doing what should take a long time in a short time. TV shows are based on just such rewards in this ever-accelerating time we live in, and in a reversal, we now find life imitating art as hot rodders do their own versions of Overhaulin’; we like to call it Over-Thrashin’. Generally, there are no cameras whirling, no lights and no scripts. It’s just a bunch of hot rodders, a good garage and maybe stacks of empty pizza and parts boxes in the corner.
Spotlighter
STAR CARS: A Family and Its Speedstar
April 16, 2026
No Comments
Dale was working on a unique rod project when his father went to a Goodguys event and saw Bobby Alloway Speedstar’s new Rat’s Glass Speedstar body and Alloway frame package. Joe knew it was the look Dale was trying to accomplish, so he purchased the makings of a Alloway Speedstar
STEP IT UP
April 15, 2026
No Comments
The legacy of the Ford Bronco is stronger than ever, thanks to the versatility and customization options of the sixth-generation Ford Bronco. This platform is built for off-road performance and on-road comfort and there are a multitude of custom factory packages that build upon that platform. Because of the factory
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Intellitronix Digital Dash for GM G-Bodies
April 10, 2026
No Comments
Designed specifically for 1978–1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and El Camino, this is a true direct-fit digital gauge panel—not some universal compromise. It drops into the factory location, cleans up the entire dash, and instantly shifts the vibe from dated cruiser to pro-touring G-body with purpose. Key terms here? LED digital
Ponies in the Smokies 2026
April 6, 2026
No Comments
Winter doesn’t fade quietly in Tennessee—it gets drowned out by horsepower. And once again, Ponies in the Smokies 2026 lit the fuse. The Sevierville Convention Center became ground zero for Ford performance, as thousands of enthusiasts rolled in, filling every inch with Mustangs, trucks, and Blue Oval builds that showed
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: ARP’s Head Stud Kit for 1927–31 Ford Model A 4-Cylinder Engines
March 31, 2026
No Comments
In a world obsessed with the latest engines and newest technology, ARP (Automotive Racing Products) just proved something important—progress doesn’t only move forward. It also means going back and applying everything we’ve learned since.
Corvette Expo 2026 & Chevys in the Smokies Take Over Pigeon Forge
March 26, 2026
No Comments
The Great Smoky Mountains are famous for the blue haze that gives the range its name—but during the 49th Annual Corvette Expo 2026 and Chevys in the Smokies, the mountains were a little smokier than usual. Some of that haze came from cammed-up V8s, hot rubber, and thousands of horsepower
Hot Rods, Customs, and Muscle Cars of Detroit Autorama 2026
March 23, 2026
No Comments
Every winter, the custom car world storms into the Motor City for one of the most legendary indoor shows in hot rodding history—Detroit Autorama. Inside the sprawling halls of Huntington Place, the temperature might still read winter outside, but on the show floor the atmosphere is pure horsepower, chrome, and
Winter WOW
March 17, 2026
No Comments
Just after New Year’s, when the cold really starts settling in, one of the first major indoor car shows of the year rolls into town. The O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels Custom Auto Show has become a yearly tradition—mixing hot rods, customs, and classics with a dose of pop
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Analog Gauge Panel for 1965–1966 Ford Mustang by Intellitronix
March 13, 2026
No Comments
There’s a real beauty in upgrading a classic without masking its character—and the Intellitronix Analog Gauge Panel AP7001 delivers exactly that for the 1965–1966 Ford Mustang. Designed to drop directly into the heart of your Pony’s cockpit, this panel brings modern instrumentation to the dash while still working with the
The Trucks of Detroit Autorama 2026
March 12, 2026
No Comments
Every winter the custom car world makes a pilgrimage to the Motor City for one of the most legendary indoor shows on the planet: the Detroit Autorama. Held inside the massive Huntington Place, the 2026 edition once again packed the halls with hundreds of wild customs, Ridler contenders, hot rods,
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
THE RIDLER LOVE AFFAIR
It’s been said that in a perfect world creativity would flourish without criticism. Most attempts to reach a certain artistic understanding are generally met by some degree of judgment, and sometimes offhanded ridicule. Call it a misunderstanding, envy even, but the bottom line comes down to outrageous personal expression, whether some understand the need for it or not.
MAX ENERGY MUSTANG
The Hypertech Max Energy Spectrum flash programmer is a device designed for the performance-minded individual looking to extract the most from their car or truck. This advanced programmer allows for full control of the vehicle’s ECM, enabling the user to adjust a wide range of parameters that influence the vehicle’s performance.
SR61 Starliner
Long before we ever saw it in person, we were familiar with the ProRides-built SR61 Starliner. We ran a rendering of the car back when it was still on the drawing board, and we heard updates on its progress from time to time. But our first real introduction to the car was at Air Ride Technologies’ Street Challenge at Putnam Park Road Course. Among the sights we must admit we thought we’d never see was that of a big-dollar, 3,800-pound ’61 Starliner ripping around a road course. Immediately, we fell in love—a car this size, this expensive, this good looking, and a builder who’s not afraid to test his work to the limits? That sounds like the kind of car for us.
Spotlighter
STAR CARS: A Family and Its Speedstar
April 16, 2026
No Comments
Dale was working on a unique rod project when his father went to a Goodguys event and saw Bobby Alloway Speedstar’s new Rat’s Glass Speedstar body and Alloway frame package. Joe knew it was the look Dale was trying to accomplish, so he purchased the makings of a Alloway Speedstar
STEP IT UP
April 15, 2026
No Comments
The legacy of the Ford Bronco is stronger than ever, thanks to the versatility and customization options of the sixth-generation Ford Bronco. This platform is built for off-road performance and on-road comfort and there are a multitude of custom factory packages that build upon that platform. Because of the factory
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Intellitronix Digital Dash for GM G-Bodies
April 10, 2026
No Comments
Designed specifically for 1978–1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and El Camino, this is a true direct-fit digital gauge panel—not some universal compromise. It drops into the factory location, cleans up the entire dash, and instantly shifts the vibe from dated cruiser to pro-touring G-body with purpose. Key terms here? LED digital
Ponies in the Smokies 2026
April 6, 2026
No Comments
Winter doesn’t fade quietly in Tennessee—it gets drowned out by horsepower. And once again, Ponies in the Smokies 2026 lit the fuse. The Sevierville Convention Center became ground zero for Ford performance, as thousands of enthusiasts rolled in, filling every inch with Mustangs, trucks, and Blue Oval builds that showed
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: ARP’s Head Stud Kit for 1927–31 Ford Model A 4-Cylinder Engines
March 31, 2026
No Comments
In a world obsessed with the latest engines and newest technology, ARP (Automotive Racing Products) just proved something important—progress doesn’t only move forward. It also means going back and applying everything we’ve learned since.
Corvette Expo 2026 & Chevys in the Smokies Take Over Pigeon Forge
March 26, 2026
No Comments
The Great Smoky Mountains are famous for the blue haze that gives the range its name—but during the 49th Annual Corvette Expo 2026 and Chevys in the Smokies, the mountains were a little smokier than usual. Some of that haze came from cammed-up V8s, hot rubber, and thousands of horsepower
Hot Rods, Customs, and Muscle Cars of Detroit Autorama 2026
March 23, 2026
No Comments
Every winter, the custom car world storms into the Motor City for one of the most legendary indoor shows in hot rodding history—Detroit Autorama. Inside the sprawling halls of Huntington Place, the temperature might still read winter outside, but on the show floor the atmosphere is pure horsepower, chrome, and
Winter WOW
March 17, 2026
No Comments
Just after New Year’s, when the cold really starts settling in, one of the first major indoor car shows of the year rolls into town. The O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels Custom Auto Show has become a yearly tradition—mixing hot rods, customs, and classics with a dose of pop
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Analog Gauge Panel for 1965–1966 Ford Mustang by Intellitronix
March 13, 2026
No Comments
There’s a real beauty in upgrading a classic without masking its character—and the Intellitronix Analog Gauge Panel AP7001 delivers exactly that for the 1965–1966 Ford Mustang. Designed to drop directly into the heart of your Pony’s cockpit, this panel brings modern instrumentation to the dash while still working with the
The Trucks of Detroit Autorama 2026
March 12, 2026
No Comments
Every winter the custom car world makes a pilgrimage to the Motor City for one of the most legendary indoor shows on the planet: the Detroit Autorama. Held inside the massive Huntington Place, the 2026 edition once again packed the halls with hundreds of wild customs, Ridler contenders, hot rods,
