The sort of vehicles that we get exposed to in our upbringing can influence the kind of cars and trucks that we wish to own later in life. If the vehicle is old enough (and the car's would-be caretaker has sufficient spending cash), it could be the sort of car/truck that an auto enthusiast wishes to purchase as a project vehicle to maintain (if it's running), renovate, or resto-mod. The various forms of media — radio, TV, movies, the internet, video games, etc. — all can contribute in a big way to this sort of automotive exposure and influence. Today, we'll discuss a few of our favorite American classic cars from movies and TV shows.

The third annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Truck Show, presented by Classic Truck Performance magazine, once again brought an impressive gathering of classic and custom trucks, SUVs, and vans to the Fairplex in Pomona, California, on September 26–27, 2025. Produced by Rod Shows, the two-day event featured a packed schedule of exhibitions, curated displays, and awards presented across more than 65 judged classes.

If you’re deep in horsepower culture, you probably know AutotopiaLA as the channel where a guy named Shawn grabs keyless muscle rides and wrangles them through canyon backs and burnouts. But the real backbone is far more hardcore: Shawn Davis runs a private, ultra-secure, collector-grade storage and concierge bunker in Burbank. The videos and the vault aren’t separate—they’re two sides of the same coin.

When you say Barracuda—or better yet, just ’Cuda—you’re talking about one of Mopar’s crown jewels. The E-body muscle machine that could be had with a screaming 340 small-block, a tire-vaporizing 440 Six-Pack, or the deity-level 426 HEMI. Today, though, owning one brings you to the crossroads every Mopar junkie dreads:

Do you keep it bone-stock and resurrect it with a nut-and-bolt restoration, or do you throw tradition to the wind and unleash a modern restomod monster?

Let’s throw these two gladiators into the pit and see who walks out.

If there’s one car that stirs up late-night garage debates, it’s the early Corvette. The C1 (1953–1962) and C2 “Sting Ray” (1963–1967) weren’t just fiberglass novelties; they defined what it meant for America to have a sports car of its own. The C1 was born out of postwar optimism, initially more boulevard cruiser than true sports machine, but by the time the C2 hit, with its split-window coupe and big-block firepower, the Corvette had arrived.

Now, more than half a century later, the choice for owners and enthusiasts is clear but not simple: do you restore these icons to bone-stock perfection, or do you restomod them into something sharper, faster, and easier to live with?

Let’s grease up our hands and dig in.

Restoring a first- or second-generation GM C/K pickup is like reviving a bruiser from the golden era of GM haulers. But too many builds stall out - or worse, miss the mark - because folks overlook the details. Here’s a countdown of the biggest mistakes people make when wrenching on these rigs, so you don’t wind up with a money pit instead of a street legend.

Restoring a 1957–1991 Ford pickup isn’t just a project - it’s a rite of passage. These trucks were born tough, worked hard, and survived decades of abuse, rust, and questionable “fixes” by shade-tree mechanics. Bringing one back from the dead is equal parts glory and headache and trust me — there are a few potholes you don’t want to hit along the way.

Here are the top 10 mistakes that’ll separate the weekend dreamers from the diehard wrench-turners. Avoid these, and your F-100 or F-150 will look good, drive better, and earn you that approving nod at the next cars-and-coffee.

The Dodge Charger models of 1966–1974 are some of the most iconic muscle cars ever to roll out of Detroit. Whether you’re drooling over the Coke-bottle curves of a ’68 R/T, the hidden headlights of a ’70 SE, or the long and low profile of a ’74, the Charger oozes character. But when it comes to bringing one back to life, the age-old debate pops up: do you restore it to bone-stock glory, or do you go the restomod route and blend old-school attitude with modern tech? Let’s break it down, muscle car enthusiast style.

Especially the second-generation Dodge Charger is one of the crown jewels of the Mopar world, with the ’68–’70 models commanding center stage at every car show and auction block. Whether you’re working on an early ’66–’67 “Coke bottle” fastback, a winged Daytona, or a smog-era ’74 R/T, restoration blunders can tank both the car’s value and its drivability. Below are the ten most common mistakes restorers make when reviving a classic Charger.

Ford’s light-duty trucks transitioned quickly from car-based haulers (1932–1947) to the first-generation F-Series (1948–1952) and the improved second generation (1953–1956, with the birth of the F-100). Collectors love them, builders customize them, and enthusiasts hot rod them. But whether you’re doing a faithful restoration, a period street rod, or a modernized restomod, the same 10 pitfalls keep showing up - with extra risks when blending old steel and new tech.