"When you think of an American hot rod, you think of a '32 Ford with a Chevy motor. The second biggest hot rod is probably the Tri Five Chevy, the '55, '56, and '57, with the '57 being the one everybody lusted after the most," remarked Jay Leno in a recent episode of his show Jay Leno's Garage. He continued, "For guys of a certain age, like my age, this was the cool car to have. When I was in high school, these were 10 or 15 years old and you could get them at a reasonable price." In this episode, Leno rides with John Paul DeJoria in his '57 Bel Air powered by a 750-horsepower Lingenfelter LT4 V8.

Many classic car restoration projects focus on big tasks such as rebuilding the engine, refreshing the suspension and brakes, and preparing the body for paint. But smaller details, especially those the driver interacts with every time the vehicle leaves the garage, can't be overlooked. Door closure definitely falls into this category, since you can't enter or exit a vehicle without opening and shutting the door (unless you use the Dukes of Hazzard method). Unfortunately, many A-Body Dodge and Plymouth vehicles have metal door jamb striker posts that break loose over time, leading to doors that rattle and don't latch securely. In a recent article, Mopar Connection magazine showed how to fix this common issue.

The Pontiac Firebird has one of the coolest names in automotive history and was designed with sleek aircraft-inspired styling cues to match that name. But BBT Fabrications decided to take things one step further by equipping this 1969 Firebird with enough power to achieve takeoff velocity on a mile-long runway. With its 1,400 horsepower twin-turbo V8, this Firebird practically has wings and is capable of achieving a top speed of over 200 miles per hour. The team from AutotopiaLA traveled to BBT Fab's Illinois headquarters to get a closer look at this unique build.

"Lowriding unites more than just families, it unites cultures. You go to a show and you're gonna see that melting pot," explained Albert De Alba, Sr. He's part of a three-generation legacy of lowrider builders, starting with his father Mario and continuing to his son Albert Jr. Several of the De Alba family's custom creations are part of a new exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA, appropriately titled "Best in Low."

Back in the 1960s, the Shelby Cobra 289 FIA dominated races throughout Europe and the United States, putting the likes of Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Jaguar in its rear view mirror. In 1965, it became one of the first American cars to win the FIA's International Championship for GT Manufacturers. For Chris Ashton of Ruffian Cars, this legendary history served as inspiration for a '67 Mustang Fastback project, which he called a "gentleman's racer." It features a custom widebody, 364ci aluminum small-block V8, 5-speed TKX manual transmission, and lots of cool racing-inspired details.

It's often said that a picture is worth 1,000 words, but when it comes to cars, the sound of a raucous V8 engine might be worth even more. From the rumbling, choppy idle to the screaming redline, we always enjoy a classic car that sounds as good as it looks. Craig LoPresti, also known by his YouTube handle TheCraig909, has a 1971 Ford F-100 that most certainly falls into this category. He describes the sound of its built, cammed, 500-horsepower Ford small block as "insane," and after hearing it, we agree with the description.

Sometimes life gives you lemons and you've got to make lemonade. When COVID-19 and the associated lockdowns hit, Gio, the owner of this 1969 Camaro, took it as an opportunity to finally finish the restomod project he started in 2016. The resulting build features an 800-horsepower supercharged LT5 V8, T-56 Magnum transmission, Chris Alston G-Machine chassis, 3-piece wheels, unique custom interior, and much more. The Camaro was nicknamed Apocalypse, which "seemed fitting" given the timing, Gio said with a smile.

Whether it's fictional tales of alternate history or sci-fi movies about parallel dimensions, many of us enjoy pondering what might've happened if the past played out a little differently. In the automotive realm, there were many period-correct parts and upgrades that, in retrospect, could've been combined to create a fantastic vehicle from an alternative timeline. This thought process led Steve Strope, of Pure Vision Design in Simi Valley, California, to build his 1966 Ford Mustang into a truly unique racecar that never existed. Starting with a Ford/Lotus Indy car engine from the same year, and drawing inspiration from road rally cars and the iconic Martini & Rossi racing team livery, Strope's Mustang is the best kind of automotive fantasy.

"When you think of muscle cars, if there's a Holy Grail, it probably has to be this: the 1970 Hemi 'Cuda," said Jay Leno. On a recent episode of Jay Leno's Garage, Leno met with Craig Jackson, the Chairman and CEO of the famous Barrett-Jackson Auction company. Jackson is the owner of this stunning, all-original Hemi 'Cuda, and he explained to Leno how he came to own this very special car. Despite its rarity and multi-million-dollar value, Jackson still drives and enjoys it.

When it comes time to purchase a project car, restorers always hope that everything is as it seems and that there are no expensive surprises awaiting. However, Murphy's Law still applies, and sometimes you get more than what you bargained for. Such was the case for Justin Brown, the owner of this '66 Nova SS that was recently featured on the AutotopiaLA YouTube channel. He did his homework and spoke to the previous owner, but after taking delivery of the car, things started to go wrong. Thankfully, he was ready to make lemonade from the lemons life had given him.