THE AUTO BUILDER
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’80s FLASHBACK
Everyone is talking about old-school-this and old-school-that, but we here at The Auto Builder don’t really care about old school, true school or new school. What we do care about is bringing our readers the best damn cars from around the world. Whether we are featuring drift, show, street or drag cars, one thing is certain: we will bring you the best cars that are out there. And sometimes the best is simple and to the point, as if you built the whole car in your garage.
The Best of the Best
Taking home a win at the Triple Crown of Rodding? That’s a big deal. This event isn’t your run-of-the-mill car show—it’s where the best of the best go head-to-head, and the judging is no joke. You’ve got to bring something truly exceptional, both in design and craftsmanship, to even get a nod here.
Golden Anniversary Special
Just about any gearhead would be thrilled by the opportunity to work with legendary automotive collector and all-around funny guy Jay Leno. Dave Killackey, owner of Performance Transmissions in Azusa, California, not only had the opportunity to work on a number of Leno’s projects, but along the way he’s developed a friendship with the late-night TV host. It’s a close enough friendship that Leno teamed with automotive designer Chip Foose and his “Overhaulin’” TV show to completely transform his rusted-out ’56 Chevrolet Nomad. So yes, you did read this correctly; Dave Killackey is indeed one of the luckiest car guys on the planet—he’s friends with Jay Leno, and he owns a ’56 Nomad that has been overhauled by Chip Foose and the rest of his team.
Spotlighter
Product Spotlight: Dieselsite’s 4WD ESOF Stainless Lines Kit for 1999–2010 Ford Superduties
September 26, 2025
No Comments
Picture this: you’re cruising down a muddy backroad, ready to switch into 4WD, and nothing happens. You check your ESOF switch, slam it again… still nothing. The culprit? Not your transfer case, not your drive shafts—it’s the OEM vacuum hoses
The Epic Corvettes of the Triple Crown of Rodding
September 25, 2025
No Comments
When it comes to America’s sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette has always been a blank canvas for creativity, speed, and style. From factory-pure survivors to wild, one-off customs, the Triple Crown of Rodding 2025 proved once again that no other
SAFETY FIRST
September 24, 2025
No Comments
One of the most important safety features of your vehicle is the neutral safety switch, which is the mechanism that keeps your car from cranking in any gear other than park or neutral.
I will admit that this was
NOPI Nationals 2025: A Legendary Comeback
September 18, 2025
No Comments
After years away, NOPI Motorsports made a triumphant return with the NOPI Nationals 2025, officially the NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow. Fans from across the country flocked to the event, experiencing two full days of custom car showcases, high-octane competitions, and
Triple Crown of Rodding 2025: Top 30 Review
September 16, 2025
No Comments
In its third year, the Triple Crown of Rodding keeps getting smoother, stronger, and more refined—like a finely aged bourbon, each year’s competition distills the craft down to its boldest, most balanced builds. The 2025 event brought a level of
The Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion Hits New Heights
September 15, 2025
No Comments
The 2025 Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion stormed into Pigeon Forge with record-breaking energy. What began a few years ago in Townsend, Tennessee, with only 165 Jeeps has transformed into a jaw-dropping three-day spectacle at the LeConte Center. This year’s
Product Spotlight: Bill Mitchell Products HARDCORE Manowar Valve Covers for Small Block Ford
September 15, 2025
No Comments
If you’re building a serious Small Block Ford, the details matter — and nothing finishes off an engine bay like a killer set of valve covers. Enter Bill Mitchell Products BMP D70870 Valve Covers, branded with the unmistakable HARDCORE Manowar
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: The Truck Norris HEMI Camshaft from Brian Tooley Racing
September 12, 2025
No Comments
Every once in a while a part drops that isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a movement. That’s BTR’s Truck Norris HEMI Camshaft — the martial-arts master of Gen III HEMI valvetrain violence. If the name sounds familiar, it should.
Gary Sinise Brings Star Power and Patriotic Spirit to Triple Crown of Rodding 2025
September 11, 2025
No Comments
The Triple Crown of Rodding 2025 wasn’t just the biggest hot rod event in the nation — on Saturday, September 6, it became a rally of American pride at the Nashville Superspeedway. Actor, advocate, and true patriot Gary Sinise lit
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Turn About is Fair Play
August 14, 2024
BLACK AND BLUE AND FAST ALL OVER
September 19, 2024
INTRODUCING: SMOKIN’ SS – Part 1
If you’ve ever built a car from scratch, then you know that getting the basic body and chassis together is not the tough part. What’s tough are all the details that eat up hours, days and weeks, but without this attention to detail, the project would suffer.
SMOKIN’ THE POKER RUN
Boaters who traveled from as far away as Houston to participate in the first Smokin’ the Sound Poker Run were not disappointed. They enjoyed excellent weather, great hospitality at all of the Poker Run stops and they got up close and personal with the best spectator venue on the Offshore Super Series Powerboat Racing Association circuit.
Because there were several who were experiencing their first Poker Run, the basics were outlined in a morning meeting. Participating boats would each receive a card in a sealed envelope at each of the stops on the Poker Run route with the top three hands winning the prize money.
The Cavalcade of Customs Thrills at the 2025 Detroit Autorama
If you weren’t at the 2025 Detroit Autorama, you missed out on a pure, unfiltered dose of horsepower, chrome, and custom car insanity. From February 28 to March 2, Huntington Place (yeah, the old Cobo Hall) became ground zero for everything loud, fast, and meticulously built. And smack in the middle of it all? The Cavalcade of Customs—a no-holds-barred showcase of the wildest, cleanest, and most mind-blowing custom rides the country has to offer.
Spotlighter
Product Spotlight: Dieselsite’s 4WD ESOF Stainless Lines Kit for 1999–2010 Ford Superduties
September 26, 2025
No Comments
Picture this: you’re cruising down a muddy backroad, ready to switch into 4WD, and nothing happens. You check your ESOF switch, slam it again… still nothing. The culprit? Not your transfer case, not your drive shafts—it’s the OEM vacuum hoses and steel fittings at your hubs, silently failing after years
The Epic Corvettes of the Triple Crown of Rodding
September 25, 2025
No Comments
When it comes to America’s sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette has always been a blank canvas for creativity, speed, and style. From factory-pure survivors to wild, one-off customs, the Triple Crown of Rodding 2025 proved once again that no other nameplate captures the imagination of builders and fans quite like
SAFETY FIRST
September 24, 2025
No Comments
One of the most important safety features of your vehicle is the neutral safety switch, which is the mechanism that keeps your car from cranking in any gear other than park or neutral.
I will admit that this was not one of my better moments, but it did teach
NOPI Nationals 2025: A Legendary Comeback
September 18, 2025
No Comments
After years away, NOPI Motorsports made a triumphant return with the NOPI Nationals 2025, officially the NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow. Fans from across the country flocked to the event, experiencing two full days of custom car showcases, high-octane competitions, and festival-style entertainment that reminded everyone why NOPI is a cornerstone
Triple Crown of Rodding 2025: Top 30 Review
September 16, 2025
No Comments
In its third year, the Triple Crown of Rodding keeps getting smoother, stronger, and more refined—like a finely aged bourbon, each year’s competition distills the craft down to its boldest, most balanced builds. The 2025 event brought a level of intensity and talent that proved just how far the hobby
The Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion Hits New Heights
September 15, 2025
No Comments
The 2025 Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion stormed into Pigeon Forge with record-breaking energy. What began a few years ago in Townsend, Tennessee, with only 165 Jeeps has transformed into a jaw-dropping three-day spectacle at the LeConte Center. This year’s Invasion, held August 21–23, 2025, drew an unbelievable 50,000+ attendees,
Product Spotlight: Bill Mitchell Products HARDCORE Manowar Valve Covers for Small Block Ford
September 15, 2025
No Comments
If you’re building a serious Small Block Ford, the details matter — and nothing finishes off an engine bay like a killer set of valve covers. Enter Bill Mitchell Products BMP D70870 Valve Covers, branded with the unmistakable HARDCORE Manowar logo. Originally part of BMP’s 600hp street engine crate program,
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: The Truck Norris HEMI Camshaft from Brian Tooley Racing
September 12, 2025
No Comments
Every once in a while a part drops that isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a movement. That’s BTR’s Truck Norris HEMI Camshaft — the martial-arts master of Gen III HEMI valvetrain violence. If the name sounds familiar, it should. This is the HEMI evolution of the wildly successful Truck
Gary Sinise Brings Star Power and Patriotic Spirit to Triple Crown of Rodding 2025
September 11, 2025
No Comments
The Triple Crown of Rodding 2025 wasn’t just the biggest hot rod event in the nation — on Saturday, September 6, it became a rally of American pride at the Nashville Superspeedway. Actor, advocate, and true patriot Gary Sinise lit up the night with his Lt. Dan Band, delivering a
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Artec Industries’ New Boatside Rocker Armor
Let’s be real—when you’re thrashing your Jeep on gnarly trails, your rockers take a beating. Artec Industries just dropped their new Boatside Rocker Armor for the Jeep Gladiator (JT) and Wrangler (JLU), and it’s the kind of overbuilt, no-BS protection you need when the rocks start getting rowdy.
Rock Crawling the Sport That Defines Champions
Competitors from across the country converged on Jellico, TN to compete in the Eastern US Nationals held by W.E. ROCK (World Extreme Rock Crawling Series). White Oak, a small community located just outside Jellico, TN is where the event was held. Lil’ Rich, course designer for W.E.ROCK stayed true to his reputation for designing some of the most technical obstacles in the rock crawling world, and Jellico was no exception.
SUBTLE AND SMOOTH
The path old hot rods travel is often an amazing one; some hot rods saw a world of change in their many years of service, while others remained hidden from the saws and torches, thus saving them from mutilation and lackluster workmanship. The ’34 Ford on these pages is one such example of a car that maintained its integrity through nearly three quarters of a century. Finding this jewel was a dream come true for John Cox, when he bought the coupe as a driver and realized it had lived an easier life than most, even though its original chassis had been modified.
Spotlighter
Product Spotlight: Dieselsite’s 4WD ESOF Stainless Lines Kit for 1999–2010 Ford Superduties
September 26, 2025
No Comments
Picture this: you’re cruising down a muddy backroad, ready to switch into 4WD, and nothing happens. You check your ESOF switch, slam it again… still nothing. The culprit? Not your transfer case, not your drive shafts—it’s the OEM vacuum hoses and steel fittings at your hubs, silently failing after years
The Epic Corvettes of the Triple Crown of Rodding
September 25, 2025
No Comments
When it comes to America’s sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette has always been a blank canvas for creativity, speed, and style. From factory-pure survivors to wild, one-off customs, the Triple Crown of Rodding 2025 proved once again that no other nameplate captures the imagination of builders and fans quite like
SAFETY FIRST
September 24, 2025
No Comments
One of the most important safety features of your vehicle is the neutral safety switch, which is the mechanism that keeps your car from cranking in any gear other than park or neutral.
I will admit that this was not one of my better moments, but it did teach
NOPI Nationals 2025: A Legendary Comeback
September 18, 2025
No Comments
After years away, NOPI Motorsports made a triumphant return with the NOPI Nationals 2025, officially the NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow. Fans from across the country flocked to the event, experiencing two full days of custom car showcases, high-octane competitions, and festival-style entertainment that reminded everyone why NOPI is a cornerstone
Triple Crown of Rodding 2025: Top 30 Review
September 16, 2025
No Comments
In its third year, the Triple Crown of Rodding keeps getting smoother, stronger, and more refined—like a finely aged bourbon, each year’s competition distills the craft down to its boldest, most balanced builds. The 2025 event brought a level of intensity and talent that proved just how far the hobby
The Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion Hits New Heights
September 15, 2025
No Comments
The 2025 Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion stormed into Pigeon Forge with record-breaking energy. What began a few years ago in Townsend, Tennessee, with only 165 Jeeps has transformed into a jaw-dropping three-day spectacle at the LeConte Center. This year’s Invasion, held August 21–23, 2025, drew an unbelievable 50,000+ attendees,
Product Spotlight: Bill Mitchell Products HARDCORE Manowar Valve Covers for Small Block Ford
September 15, 2025
No Comments
If you’re building a serious Small Block Ford, the details matter — and nothing finishes off an engine bay like a killer set of valve covers. Enter Bill Mitchell Products BMP D70870 Valve Covers, branded with the unmistakable HARDCORE Manowar logo. Originally part of BMP’s 600hp street engine crate program,
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: The Truck Norris HEMI Camshaft from Brian Tooley Racing
September 12, 2025
No Comments
Every once in a while a part drops that isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a movement. That’s BTR’s Truck Norris HEMI Camshaft — the martial-arts master of Gen III HEMI valvetrain violence. If the name sounds familiar, it should. This is the HEMI evolution of the wildly successful Truck
Gary Sinise Brings Star Power and Patriotic Spirit to Triple Crown of Rodding 2025
September 11, 2025
No Comments
The Triple Crown of Rodding 2025 wasn’t just the biggest hot rod event in the nation — on Saturday, September 6, it became a rally of American pride at the Nashville Superspeedway. Actor, advocate, and true patriot Gary Sinise lit up the night with his Lt. Dan Band, delivering a
