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.

A four-car garage that offers an extensive set of automotive tools, including: a beefy drill press, a Miller MIG welder, several filled tool chests with spanners, screw drivers, cinch ring pliers, and etc., jack stands, some power tools, body working implements, sturdy shelving with parts pins filled with old and perhaps some new car parts, a large assortment of stainless steel fasteners for the vehicle's fastidious reassembly, masking tape and duct tape, tape measures, shop lights well-lighting the voluminous, tidy workspace, a shop broom and dustpan, some shop rags, microfiber towels, car clay and car wax, welder's masks, jacket, and gloves, several OER-labeled boxes that contain reproduction body panels, a frame jig on sturdy casters, a workshop refrigerator for keeping those beverages cool when the work involved has the automotive hobbyist all hot and bothered - these are some of the tell-tale signs of a gearhead's dream car garage for enjoying a well-earned retirement. 

"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.

There are a number of vintage Ford Mustang enthusiasts who work at Classic Industries. In fact, the CI colleague who spied this very 1995 Mustang Cobra convertible with the removable hardtop at the 2024 Mustang Madness show, had never seen a '95 Mustang Cobra convertible with a removable hardtop in person before. When photos were shown around the CI office, none of us knew what the heck we were viewing on the colleague's cell phone.

Chip Foose is a name synonymous with automotive artistry and innovation. Known for his seamless blend of creative vision, technical expertise, and passion for car restoration, Foose has become a legendary figure in the custom car industry. His iconic television show, Overhaulin', has not only showcased his remarkable skills but has also inspired millions of automotive enthusiasts around the world. Among his many partnerships, Foose's collaboration with Classic Industries stands out as a perfect marriage of talent and resources, resulting in automotive magic.

"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.

Finding an old car on the internet that's in another western state can lead to several twists of fate for any American muscle car enthusiast. Flying to this other state while you're recovering from knee surgery and then intending to drive your new/old vehicle home to California - that's also a recipe for some potential adventures in your life. One wonders whatever could go wrong in these sorts of circumstances? Hmmm...

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."

The world of custom car restoration and fabrication has long been a realm where passion meets artistry. Few exemplify this as well as Joe and Amanda Martin, alongside their talented team at Iron Resurrection. Known for their expertise in breathing new life into rusted-out relics and forgotten classics, the Martins and their crew continue to set the gold standard in automotive restoration.

More so than any other hue, Fords with gloss black exterior paint schemes hearken back to the early days of the Ford Motor Company. Back in the early 1900's, Ford Model T customers could purchase any color Model T that they so desired, so long as it was black. Pretty much any restored vehicle looks great in black, if the bodywork and paint prep is superb.