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Patrick McCarthy

Recent Posts by Patrick McCarthy:

"The Car That Changed My Life" - Mike Musto's 1968 Charger

When you're speaking to an expert in any particular field, it's always interesting to find out how they spend their time when they're off the clock. For example, the albums your favorite musician listens to at home will certainly influence their future recordings, and the meals a world-renowned chef cooks for their family will provide insight into their best recipes. In the classic car world, Mike Musto from Hemmings is one such expert, and his personal 1968 Dodge Charger sheds light on his standard for a tasteful, functional muscle car. He recently published a video that shows some of its key features.

Roadster Shop's "Big Iron" Duramax-Powered 1976 Silverado Crew Cab

"I think that if some high-up dude at General Motors got behind the wheel of this thing, and got to experience how amazing it is, they'd be trying to figure out a way to put this truck back into production. It's that good," said Jeremy Gerber, co-owner of Roadster Shop. After seeing all the carefully-engineered details of this 1976 Chevy Silverado crew cab build, we can understand that sentiment. It blends some of our favorite aspects of a classic "square body" Chevy truck with the turbodiesel power, smooth ride, and creature comforts of a new vehicle.

Lost and Found: One Man's Journey to Find His 1979 Trans Am

"I'm basically in tears. There she is, man. I haven't seen her for years and years," said Joe Gransden in a recent VINWiki video, thinking back to the time he finally found his long-lost '79 Trans Am. He originally bought the car in high school after working and pinching pennies, but was eventually forced to sell it to buy a boring and economical commuter vehicle. Regret set in soon after, and he spent decades trying to find it again. Thankfully, this story had a happy ending.

California Congressman: "Pry My '68 Mustang Gear Shift from My Cold Dead Fingers"

As classic car enthusiasts, we're always skeptical of any new law that aims to restrict our ability to enjoy our beloved vehicles. California, a state that's already known for its strict emissions laws managed by the California Air Resource Board (CARB), has recently considered some policies that might adversely impact classic car owners in the state. But one Golden State congressman, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, recently spoke out against these policies in front of the U.S. House, concluding "You will pry my '68 Mustang gear shift out of my cold dead fingers."

Video: Ford Mustangs on the Magic Skyway at the 1964-65 World's Fair

The New York World's Fair was an international expo that showcased technology, art, and culture from 80 nations in an elaborate 646-acre fairground complex. Between 1964 and 1965, the event served more than 51 million visitors, many of whom left the event excited for the futuristic inventions and innovations they had seen. But one product that appeared at the World's Fair had an especially significant and lasting impact: the new Ford Mustang. Ford Motor Company partnered with Walt Disney to design a Magic Skyway attraction where fair attendees could ride in new Ford convertibles along an "automated turnpike of tomorrow."

Ringbrothers "Infected" Plymouth Cuda with an 807hp Hellcat Redeye V8

Under normal circumstances, if your redeye turns into pinkeye, you should visit a doctor. But when it comes to this 1970 Plymouth Cuda, the combination of a Hellcat Redeye engine swap and custom BASF Pink Eye paint is cause for excitement rather than a course of antibiotics. The Cuda, appropriately nicknamed "Infected," was unveiled at the SEMA Show earlier this month by legendary hot rod builder Ringbrothers. In addition to the 807-horsepower supercharged V8, it features an immense amount of custom work inside and out.

Ringbrothers INVADR: The Ultimate Buick Grand National Resto-Mod?

The 1987 Buick Grand National is a car that needs no introduction among enthusiasts. The GN's turbocharged and intercooled 3.8L V6 engine produced 245 horsepower, a figure that was extremely impressive at the time (and greater than that of the Corvette's 5.7L V8). Its "experimental" sibling the GNX pushed the limit even further, outrunning Ferraris and Porsches to become one of the world's fastest production cars. This year at the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, world-renowned custom builder Ringbrothers showed off their approach to building the ultimate Buick Grand National resto-mod.

Video: McLaren Mustang Widebody V8 Resto-Mod

These days, the name McLaren often accompanies names like Ferrari and Lamborghini as a manufacturer of high-end supercars, but back in the early 1980s, the company wasn't making road cars. At that time, McLaren was primarily known for its racecars and turbocharged Ford-Cosworth engines which claimed victories in Formula 1, Can-Am, and the Indianapolis 500. So, when Ford decided to build a performance-oriented, turbocharged version of the Fox Body Mustang, they asked McLaren to work their magic on its engine. The result was known as the M81 McLaren Mustang, and only 10 prototypes were originally produced, making it one of the rarest Fox Body Mustangs of all time.

The History of the Pontiac Trans Am Hood Bird

Whether you call it the Firebird, the rising phoenix, the hood bird, or use its tongue-in-cheek "screaming chicken" nickname, this iconic decal has become synonymous with the Pontiac Trans Am. But it hasn't always been that way. In fact, according to former Pontiac head of design Bill Porter, GM leadership hated the idea when it was first proposed. YouTube channel Original MotorCar interviewed Porter and his colleague John Schinella to hear the fascinating history behind the development of the Trans Am Hood Bird design.

Video: Half-Million-Dollar 1969 Camaro Build

The devil's in the details. Looking at the photo of this 1969 Camaro, you might not think it's anything too unusual, just a cool resto-modded car with clean paint, a lowered stance, and a nice set of wheels. But as you take a closer look, you'll start to see details that show just how much money has been put into the build: Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, an 800hp LS9 supercharged V8, a custom rollcage, and much more. YouTube channel AutotopiaLA spoke to the builder, Timeless Kustoms, and learned that this car cost approximately $480,000 plus the price of the donor '69 Camaro.