Hemmings Hot Rod BBQ Podcast

There are a lot of unanswered questions when it comes to paint protection and over the last few decades the industry has changed and with it, so has the technology. From PPF (paint protection film) and vinyl wraps , protecting your vehicles surface can sometimes be a tricky endeavor. Ryan Schiller is the owner of Elite Auto Works in Sacramento, CA, a company that specializes in protecting and cari...

We here at Hemmings get asked all the time, "How do I get into this industry, and do what you do?" Not only is the answer not a simple one, but it also varies for each and every individual as the automotive industry as a whole is far more vast than most can imagine. First you've got to decide on where you want to be and what you think you want to do. For instance, there's media, marketing, jourali...

From the iconic Lamborghini Countach in "The Cannonball Run" to the post-apocalyptic Last Interceptor from the Mad Max franchise, on this episode of the Hemmings Hot Rod BBQ Podcast, host Mike Musto and Ryan Douthit of Driving Sports TV dive deep into the unforgettable vehicles that have graced the silver screen and helped to shape generations of gearheads the world over!

Building a custom vehicle is no easy task. It takes time, patience, the wherewithal to stick to a plan, money, possibly switching shops, more money, and finally, a lot more money. And while you may think we're overexaggerating, trust us, we're not. You see Hemmings is currently building a wicked little all-wheel drive sled in the form of a 2023 Dodge Hornet. Why a Hornet you ask? Well, we dig em',...

Once a year, in mid-August, on the Monterey Bay Peninsula in Northern, California, an automotive pilgrimage happens that's unlike any other. It's where enthusiasts the world over travel to experience some of the best automobiles on the planet in a setting that is nothing short of breathtaking. Its origins date back to the 1950s, and over the last 70 years, the event has grown into a bucket list it...

Here at Hemmings, we know a thing or two about sports cars and exotics. So much so, that we had a publication dedicated to them a few years back, which got us thinking. What if, instead of bringing it back in print form, we instead found one of the best automotive journalists in the business, who's not only an accomplished driver, but who also has a huge amount of knowledge on the topic.   Enter J...

Reinventing one of the most iconic vehicles ever produced is not an easy task. You've got to factor in consumer and industry response, how the aftermarket will adapt, and most of all, not only preserving, but also enhancing the reputation of its predecessors. We're talking of course about the newly reinvented Toyota Land Cruiser, a vehicle so steeped in world history, that getting it wrong simply...

It used to be that to see concept cars back in the day, you'd have to wait what seemed like years. You'd see them in the pages of a magazine, or at the big automotive shows, and if they were good, they'd make you stand back and gawk with wonder. However now, in the 21 st century, automotive artist can create stunning automotive concepts in a matter of days utilizing some amazing software. Abimelec...

As co-author of the book, A Quiet Greatness, the definitive guide to the greatest Japanese performance cars of all time, Myron Vernis is no stranger to uncommonly cool vehicles. As a collector and enthusiast, he's a man who appreciates all aspects and genres of the car hobby and holds little concern regarding the price or status a vehicle holds in the community. In short, he is the type of enthusi...

The temperature gauge. If you're a hot rod, classic or muscle car enthusiast, that little dial can be the bane of your existence. Just picture yourself, sitting in traffic on a 95-degree day, as your eyes are locked on that little gauge waiting for it to climb to the moon. While that's happening, the fuel in the carburetor is starting to boil causing the vehicle to vapor lock and run poorly. Then...

Welcome to the ranting episode of the Hemmings Hot Rod BBQ podcast where host Mike Musto goes on a tirade in the hopes,  that you'll actually pull those cars of yours out of the garage and put some miles on them.    Here's the thing, as enthusiasts, our vehicles bring us different levels of joy and statisfaction. From the lawn chair and long haul crowds, to the Cars & Coffee faithful, to those who...

SEMA car designer, Neil Tjin of Tjin Edition, is no stranger to us here at Hemmings. Last year he partnered with Hemmings' own Mike Musto to create "Project Rampart" the ultimate race support vehicle. It was constructed from a Dodge Durango Hellcat, shown in the Dodge booth at SEMA, and went on to become one of the crown jewels in the Hemmings fleet!   In 2023, Neil became part of the Electrify Ex...

If you read automotive publications, or are simply an automotive enthusiast, then odds are you know the name Rory Carroll. You see, he's been around for a while. After running a little publication called AutoWeek, and after a stint at RM Sotheby's, Mr. Carroll is now back atop the masthead as the Editor-In-Chief of one of the most OG automotive websites in existence - Jalopnik.com. On this episode...

It seems like a millennium has passed since Toyota has done anything to their beloved mid-size Tacoma pickup. For the enthusiast, this is both good and bad news. On the one hand, these trucks are some of the most coveted on the planet due to their legendary toughness, ease of use, maintenance, and reliability. On the other, the new truck is full of the latest and greatest technology and comes with...

If you ever thought of buying a collectible car or truck, then one of the first thoughts that should go through your head is, does it have any rust? Rust is one of those silent killers that eats our beloved rides from the inside out, and unlike mechanical issues, by the time you see it, it could be too late. There is, however, a preventative solution that can help prevent and ward off rust. POR-15...

When it comes to cars, and more importantly, the driving experience, a lot of folks out there say they prefer a more "analog" experience when they're behind the wheel. But what does that actually mean? For most, it means piloting a vehicle that is mechanical in most of its workings, and not digital. For instance, a vehicle with a drive-by-wire throttle, direct-injection and things like radar cruis...

30 years ago, the last of the Fox Body Mustangs rolled off the assembly line. And over the course of its 14-year production run, the original sharp-angled 1979 model was transformed into the brawny 5.0L that are now coveted by enthusiasts. They were at home on every boulevard and burnout box during the cassette era and nowadays many of us wax nostalgic for the one that got away.   Today on the Hem...

Host Mike Musto is an expert on road-tripping. He's crisscrossed the United States more than a dozen times, explored Canada, Mexico, and all over Europe in everything from a classic Dodge Charger to a full-blown motor coach. But what is that perfect vehicle, and more importantly, does it exist? On this episode of the Hemmings Hot Rod BBQ, Musto sits down with Ryan Douthit of Driving Sports TV to d...

From the Fall Guy and The Dukes of Hazzard to Miami Vice and Magnum P.I.. If you grew up in the 1980s and 1990s and loved cars, then you were glued to the television screen whenever these shows came on. These shows, along with movies like The Cannonball Run, No Man's Land, and Smokey and the Bandit were like automotive crack to budding car enthusiasts and helped set the stage for so many of us. On...

Dan Stoner, Hemmings Creative Director, is a master of all things hot rod culture. His Hemmings YouTube Series, The Motor Underground, first documented the build of the Stoner T, his old school hot rod with a Gotelli fueler 392 Hemi (make sure to check it out here). Then, to takes things one step further, Stoner then decided to shoot a full documentary on the California based, Shifters Car Club, e...

On this episode of the Hemmings Hot Rod BBQ podcast, we talk about the new Dodge Demon 170, the 1,025-horsepower mastodon of a muscle car that marks the end of the 'Last Call' models from Dodge. Mike Musto was at the Last Call event that was held live at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and as usual, Dodge put on quite a show. Musto then jumps into his recent test drive in the new Dodge Hornet GT compact...

The debate on electrifying classic vehicles has been in full bloom with the hot rod community for some time. To many, removing that mechanical heart and soul is blasphemy, but to others it makes perfect sense, especially if said engine was poor from the factory. On this episode of the Hot Rod BBQ Podcast, Hemmings own Dan Strohl joins host Mike Musto to talk about the EV industry and how it pertai...

Not too long ago, my Hemmings colleague, Dan Strohl, brought to my attention A Quiet Greatness, a volumetric set of books that is set to become the definitive guide to the greatest Japanese performance cars ever photographed and cataloged. Penned by authors Mark R. Brinker and Myron T. Vernis, the two have cultivated a twenty-year friendship and love of automobiles into a visual journey that is a...

Aside from being the shop manager and master of all things mechanical at our Hemmings Sibley Garage and workshop in Bennington, Vermont, Junior Nevinson is also a rabid motorcycle enthusiast. So much so, that when we were filming our IROC REHAB video series on the Hemmings YouTube channel, we started talking about motorcycles. We started talking about road bikes, with the conversation then turning...

When it comes to car shows, few know them better than Phil Painter, organizer of Muscle Cars at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. For over twenty-years this show has been a mainstay for car enthusiasts on the West Coast and beyond, and every year, it keeps getting better.  From the excitement of the drag races and auto-x to a killer show field complete with vendor booths...