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Patrick McCarthy

Recent Posts by Patrick McCarthy:

An American Legend: Throttle House's Retro Review of the Buick GNX

"Then came 1987... together, Buick and ASC McLaren created the 276-horsepower GNX. The Grand National Experimental. The Grand National to end all Grand Nationals, its final form." After the recent Superbowl halftime show where hip-hop musician Kendrick Lamar used a Buick GNX replica — it wasn't a real GNX, although Lamar does own one — as a centerpiece for his performance in front of 127 million viewers, interest in these classic Buicks has risen yet again. YouTube channel Throttle House recently published a retrospective review of the GNX that serves as a brief introduction to its history and features.

Massive Power: The Direct Connection 1500hp Hemi Crate Engine

How much horsepower is too much? Conventional wisdom tells us that the concept of "too much of a good thing" always applies, but as gearheads, we're always chasing a little more power and speed. There's nothing quite like the feeling of mashing the gas pedal and getting shoved back in your seat by the overwhelming force of a big V8. That said, the new Mopar Direct Connection 1500 Hemi crate engine — which offers 1,500 horsepower and over 1,000 ft-lbs of torque straight out of the box — is definitely enough power to toe the line between fun and scary.

Video: Reviving a 1967 Shelby GT350

"This car is not necessarily period-correct. It's not a concours car. But it's a hell of a machine because I built it the way I wanted," said Dave Rioux in a recent interview with Petrolicious. Rioux saw this 1967 Mustang GT350 while working at a gas station in the late '60s and he knew that he had to have it. Fast-forward to March of 1973, and he finally had the opportunity to buy the car from its second owner. But the road ahead wasn't easy — this car sat for three decades before undergoing a complete restoration.

The Wildest Horse: Restomod Mustangs' 1,000hp "Drift King" Build

The word "restomod" can signify many different things. To some classic car restorers, a restomod might be nothing more than altering a classic car with a lowered stance, wider wheels and tires, and a few cosmetic modifications. For other builders, restomod means pulling out all the stops and building something that's more akin to one of the chopped, channeled, and sectioned hot rods of old. California-based shop Restomod Mustangs offers builds that run the entire gamut, but the 1,000hp twin-turbo widebody '65 Ford Mustang seen here definitely falls at the most extreme end of that spectrum.

"It's Slow" - 700hp LSA Supercharged Nova

The internet car community often tends to gravitate towards the most extreme, no-expense-spared car builds. Although we love to see these over-the-top projects with thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars invested into making every detail perfect, we also recognize they're out of reach for many Americans. Most of us work on our cars in our own garages and have much more restrictive budgets. That's why we also like to see blue-collar, self-made projects like this weathered Chevy Nova, owned by Joe Whitney.

Video: Jay Leno Drives a Real "Rockford Files" Firebird

"Hey, that car looks just like the one from The Rockford Files!" It's a statement owner Pat McEntee hears frequently. Then he has to explain that no, it doesn't just look like the car, it IS the car. His '77 Firebird Formula is certainly one of the most famous Pontiacs ever made, right alongside Burt Reynolds' "Smokey and the Bandit" Trans Am. According to his documentation, James Garner took the wheel of this Firebird on the famous detective TV series "The Rockford Files," which aired on NBC between 1974 and 1980.

Video: LS3-Powered Pro Street '67 Nova

Last week, we featured a '65 C10 big window conversion DIY video from our friends at Old Anvil Speed Shop in Orange, California. The truck in that video was built for comfortable cruising with air suspension, but if you're looking for a more exciting driving experience, the Old Anvil team can do that too. Their '67 Nova SS recently appeared on the AutotopiaLA YouTube channel, and founder Paul Bosserman discussed all of its details, including the 525hp LS3 V8 under the hood.

DIY Video: 1965 C10 Big Window Conversion

The 1960-66 Chevy C10 pickup came standard with a small rear window at the back of the cab. However, buyers who wanted improved visibility and a more "open" appearance could select a big window as an optional upgrade. For big-window trucks, the GM assembly line stamped a larger hole in the outside of the cab and welded on a matching interior window panel before installing weatherstrip and glass. Today, many C10 owners choose to upgrade their small window trucks with a big window conversion. Old Anvil Speed Shop recently published a video that shows each step of the process.

"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.