Old Cars Take On New Life In The Winter Snow Snow, cold, and winter weather lock up many a classic car in the safety of a garage. Here in So Cal, we're lucky that our old cars get to hit the roads 365 days a year! During a recent trip up to Montana - since there were no old cars on the road - I grabbed my camera and went wondering to find some old beasts out in the snow. Although my inner "mom" wanted to tow these all to safety and restoration - I think the setting made for some cool pictures. So if you live in a snowy area - enjoy these and stand by until warmer weather. But if you live in a place like lovely Southern California - count your blessings and take your car for a cruise! May this New Year find you all in good and joyful adventures! Happy Trails, Grease Girl All that poor rust, but this 1953 Chevy's hood ornament is still in good shape! John Deere standing proud with tin can covering the exhaust and all. An old Ford logo...

Tips For How To Avoid Brake Failure As  GreaseGirl, I’m always attempting to share with you all the things I’m learning within the hot rod world. Owning my own classic car, I've experienced a pretty steep learning curve to say the least… and brake importance is just one more thing I needed to learn! So read on to hear about my own misadventure and hopefully avoid your own!!! "Collision closely avoided. But my brakes are gone! I have NO brakes…what’s a girl to do!?" I’d had friends see my brake line situation and tell me I should do some work on it. I’ve considered changing my master cylinder. But when your classic car is your only car… sometimes your time and money get spent on what’s needed to keep it running. Lately that list has been pretty involved with "Studie" My 1955 Studebaker pictured above. From a new exhaust system to changing my transmission and rebuilding my front suspension – at each turn of the road I’ve learned a lot and improved Stude’s performance greatly. What was next on my list of things to do to my 1955 Studebaker???...

Power Brakes and Steering from SEMA 2010 ABS Power Brake, Inc Due to my recent brake failure adventure, brake companies were the first ones I went looking for at SEMA. I luckily found ABS Power Brake, Inc which provides “American Brake and Steering” component parts and kits. In business since 1979, ABS Power Brake provides kits as well as individual components for everything from classic trucks to custom rods. They have some good possible fixes for my situation – such as a nifty compact dual-reservoir master cylinder – but they also had a couple of really impressive new products. In addition to their fairly extensive line of disc brake kits they’ve added a new ABS 14” Big Brake Disc Kit with 2” Drop Spindles. If you need BIG brakes, these 14.5” rotors with 4-piston calipers could be just what your project demands. Another new product they’re rolling out is an award-winning Best New Product. It’s an Electric High-Power Master Cylinder Kit that can generate up to 1,200 pounds of pressure all in one self-contained source! ABS Power Brake claims it offers the highest pressure and is the smallest system...

Helping Families Out – One Car At A Time I went to SEMA expecting to see all the new products and trends in the auto industry – I did not expect to be introduced to a philanthropic program helping families get back on their feet. But as I was at SEMA, I got to witness five families given the gift of a “Recycled Ride.” Recycled Rides is a community awareness project of the National Auto Body Council (NABC). NABC members donate their time and services to refurbish cars that insurance companies donate. After a vehicle is repaired to like-new condition, Recycled Rides pairs with a local community organization to find a deserving family, then they to give it to them. The Las Vegas partner organization is Family Promise, an interfaith, non-profit organization helping homeless families in transition from a shelter to a home of their own. Individuals who received cars ranged from two-parent families to single-parent Moms and Dads who've graduated from Family Promise’s Family Mentoring Program. Las Vegas’ mayor, Oscar Goodman, was also at SEMA to hand over the family’s new keys. It was good to see the...

HOT ROD Magazine: All the Covers Ever find yourself searching through a stack of old Hot Rod magazines at a swap meet? When ever I do, I'm pretty amazed at how you're able to tell the era of the magazine simply by the cover. Usually as I flip through them I catch myself thinking "late 70's, mid 80's, ahh here's an early 60's"... all from the information presented to me on the cover. Getting your vehicle featured on the cover of Hot Rod magazine has to be the ultimate reward for a builder.  It's one thing to be lucky enough to receive a feature in the most influential automotive magazine of all time, but making the cover is simply iconic as you are now locked forever into the history of hot rodding. Imagine if you could some how capture all those amazing covers in one place, all 60+ years worth? Well your lucky day is here with the newly released book: HOT ROD Magazine: All the Covers by Drew Hardin along with the editors of HOT ROD. I simply love this book and I have shared it with several...

Gymkhana Racing in California Invitational only! This means that only professional race car drivers of various disciplines were invited for a no holds barred gymkhana match at Mr. Block's home field, Toyota Speedway in Irwindale CA. The tire smoke has finally settled after the first ever competition style Gymkhana Grid event on December 4th 2010. The word around the digital informational highway is that the internationally hyped up event had definitely lived up to its expectations and best of all, it looks as though everyone, especially the drivers had waaay too much fun out there! Professional driver, Xgames champion, Top Gear USA host and renaissance man Tanner Foust was killing it out there with his Rockstar Energy Ford Fiesta. Congratulations to Foust, as he managed to score 1st place podium in the AWD class, above Ken Block at his own event! The final battle was a heated one... it was a test of pure skill and gracefulness to pilot their race cars around the track without any mistakes. The drifters seemed to rule the event, as Daijiro Yoshihara in the Discount Tire Nissan 240SX grabbed the RWD 1st place...

Roundup of Best Engines of the 2010 SEMA Car Show in Las Vegas: SEMA Engine: Twin Turbo Viper: The most outrageous racing Viper in the K&N booth at SEMA 2010 SEMA Engine: Fuel Injected LS Chevelle: Unique Stand-up Hilborn Injection on an LS Motor at SEMA 2010 SEMA Engine: Ford DOHC 4.6L in a beautiful custom Fastback Mustang: Every Detail NAILED Perfectly on this Mustang at SEMA 2010 SEMA Engine:  SEMAPure Vision built Boss 502 Fastback Mustang: The cleanest execution of a Boss Mustang Fastback ever at SEMA 2010 SEMA Engine: Blown and Fuel Injected Front Engine Dragster: Time for some nostaglia drag racing at SEMA 2010 Not a SEMA Engine, but hot enough to show off in this roundup: Best Hot Rod engines at the LA Roadster Show: Hot Rod Roadsters all polished up: Here's the...

Hot Rod Pinup Mimi La Minkz This little Latina might be a petite Pin Up, but don't let that fool you! Her size may be small but her curves are just the right size. Mimi La Minkz busted into the scene a few years ago and has already made her rounds in the Pin Up and retro model scene. Just look at these amazing photos captured by none other than the talented Mitzi Valenzuela. For those of you lucky enough to make it out to the Ink and Iron car show this past Summer, you might remember this spicy gal placing second in the Pin Up contest after Gia Genevieve. Well, I have a feeling we will be seeing more of Mimi at some car shows in 2011, so keep your eyes peeled for her in (or on) a custom ride near you! Read more about her in my interview with Mimi below.  She's also posting next to this Crazy Nitro-Cacklefest 31 Coupe here. First off, I think you're a hot little package that packs a big wallop. What first attracted you to Pinup Modeling? I was and still am mesmerized...

Shelby Cobra DragonSnake, CSX2093 All photos used with permission from Mecum Auctions Out of six pictures in this story, it was tough to pick one to lead with. In the end, I chose this one to feature one of the baddest drag race cars ever, the Shelby Cobra DragonSnake. Note the knockoff slicks in the back, the slight nose-in-the-air stance and finally that open header pipe looking right into my soul. I need to hear this serpent run! This photo was a close second! DESCRIPTION provided by Mecum Auctions CSX 2093 was the 93rd Cobra built and is one of only eight cars modified with the Shelby-developed Dragonsnake package designed to maximize drag racing performance. Depending on options, the package could swell the bottom line to a whopping $8,990, a huge sum in 1960s-era dollars. Owned by Jim Costilow and piloted by drag racer Bruce Larson, later of USA-1 Funny Car fame, the Dragonsnake dominated the NHRA’s A/SP, AA/SP, B/SP and C/SP classes in 1964. It set all new records in the 1965 season and won the NHRA Springnationals, Winternationals and U.S. Indy Nationals that year. The Cobra was...

Hot Rods and Custom Car Show in Maryland The 2010 East Coast Indoor Nationals brought together many fine hot rods, customs, classics, and nostalgia dragsters. Almost 300 rides gathered at the Cow Palace show building in Timonium, Maryland over the weekend to compete for $7000 in awards. This invitation only, Pre-1973, All American car show boasts being the largest of its kind east of the Mississippi and it just might be!  David Cohen, the event promoter, always assembles a great collection of vehicles to gawk at while helping to raise money for Toys for Tots. The show sponsor, Condon & Skelly, was also on hand to answer questions about insurance and to provide quotes. Over in the nostalgia drag section, Butch and Linda Szollosy’s 1957 Chevy 210 Sedan instantly caught my eye. The car runs in the Nostalgia Stock Eliminator class with a 283 and a 4 speed followed up by a 5.38 rear. How about something a little different? I think Pat McNeal’s 12 cylinder powered 1942 Chevy COE rat rod fits the bill. It might have been cold outside but the action inside was hot.  In fact, Jeff Gray’s 1939...

Agreed Value Car Insurance - Do it Right No matter what kind of ride drives your passion, a hot rod, classic car or collector car... or those antique cars that spend most of the time in the garage, we all need a special kind of insurance.  That awful day when you need to actually use your classic car insurance, you better be ready! I'll try to help here by answering: What is Agreed Value Car Insurance? How is Agreed Value Established? How does MyRideisMe.com make Agreed Value easy?! What is Agreed Value Car Insurance? It's the leading type of classic car insurance so we should know exactly what it is, right?  I got a little confused when my pops was shopping for insurance for his '64 Ford Fairlane and '23 Ford T-Bucket. Another insurance company said, "Just watch out... some insurance companies only say that's the agreed value..." Is there something tricky going on if the worst happened and my cherished ride gets totaled? To get the real answer, I went to MyRideisMe.com sponsor and my insurance company, Condon Skelly. Condon Skelly said: "Our policies are 'Agreed Value' meaning whatever...

Vintage AC Parts from SEMA 2010 Growing up in California, the custom cars I knew didn't have air conditioning.  Pop's cars were always fast... that was the focus and it felt good trying to hold my head straight as the G-forces threw my head back as he rowed through the gears. Good times.  Plus, let's face it, California doesn't need air conditioning all the time... Now I live in Arizona. It's a totally different story! You name the ride here in Arizona, hot rods, muscle cars, most vintage cars are running air conditioning. Mid summer, the temps can hit 120+ (over 45C for everyone outside the USA) so AC keep us from melting! Like the Mustang, GTO, 55-56 Chevy and Covette air conditioning we're featuring here, my Ford Falcon Wagon will have some strong, COLD AC! That's where Vintage Air comes in. Cruising SEMA 2010, I wanted to find AC parts that would be easy to install, last forever and come with great support. The guys from Vintage Air fit the bill.  The first thing I asked is: How will I control the AC? My Falcon didn't have AC...