mod@tech

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, entitled, The Shifters: A Hot Rod Revolution. On this episode of the Hemmings Hot Rod BBQ Podcast, Stoner sits down with host Mike Musto and takes us through the genesis behind one of the coolest hot rod documentaries to date.

The Petersen Museum, known for its impressive showcases that celebrate the automobile, is highlighting Porsche’s 75^th anniversary from April 2023-April 2024. The museum’s newest exhibition titled “We Are Porsche” officially opened to the public on April 16^th. The display delves deep into the legendary marquee’s history and explores Porsche’s influence on American car culture and the people who made the brand what it is today.

Porsche cars have been exemplary of excellence on wheels since the brand debuted the Type 356 in 1948. Their streamlined, minimalistic shape and rear engine layout has stood out amongst other sports cars for 75 years. The Petersen’s exhibit features 40 Porsches from every era since the 1950s. Viewing the iconic sports cars all in one place, on the museum’s first and second floors, gives guests an accurate vision of Porsche’s progression from boutique sports car manufacturer to powerhouse automaker.

The exhibit features vehicles such as the 1953 550 Spyder raced by Betty Shutes and Ken Miles, the 1958 Carrera GT Speedster raced by Bruce Jennings, the original “Outlaw Porsche,” Steve McQueen’s 1976 911 Turbo, the Herbert Brundage/Brumos 1973 911 2.8 RSR, the 1973 917/30 Can-Am Spyder driven by Mark Donohue, and even Porsche’s first and only Formula 1 racer, Dan Gurney’s 1962 Porsche 804. Hollywood blockbuster movie cars from “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” and beginning in October, “Cars,” will also be on display.

Coinciding with the “We Are Porsche” name, the exhibit also tells the stories of people who have influenced the Porsche’s popularity. Spotlight names include Steve McQueen, Patrick Dempsey, Hurley Haywood, Dan Gurney, Ken Miles, Patrick Long, Rod Emory, Daniel Arsham, and “The Spyder Women” Betty Shutes, Ruth Levy and Denise McCluggage.

“As a Porsche lover, I’m particularly excited that the Petersen gets to play such a significant role in celebrating the 75th anniversary of these incredible machines,” said Terry L. Karges, executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. “Porsche’s history on and off the track speaks for itself, and we are honored to help them commemorate this milestone.”

“Porsche is as an iconic brand that took off in America, thriving in California’s car culture,” said Kjell Gruner, President and CEO of PCNA. “From there, the love for the brand spread around the world. We are delighted to celebrate our 75th anniversary at the Petersen Automotive Museum – the center of car culture in Los Angeles – with such a unique exhibition.”

Petersen’s “We Are Porsche” exhibit will run through April 2024 to feature a rotation of vehicles during its tenure, along with a variety of events and activations at the museum.

The Oscar Mayer meat company gave happy hot dog loving couples the opportunity to marry their bun and only by transforming one of six famed Wienermobiles into a “Weddingmobile,” or “Wienermobile of Love,” if you prefer, last weekend in Las Vegas. After obtaining a valid Nevada marriage license, per-registered couples eloped to the Wienermobile and were wed by the vehicle’s “Hotdogger” drivers.

According to Oscar Mayer’s press release, the hot dog themed wedding opportunity is “designed to subvert the seriousness of stressful wedding planning and highlight the joy weddings should bring.”

Oscar Mayer

“From proposals and surprise meat-ups down the aisle to playing matchmaker to some of our own Hotdoggers, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile has held a special place in fans’ hearts — so much so, we receive thousands of requests each and every year to be part of couples’ big days,” said Ed Roland, Oscar Mayer senior manager of brand communications.

“Now, as more people seek stress-free ceremonies with their partners, our Hotdoggers are thrilled to reignite the joy of this special day and give them a once-in-a-lifetime experience: a wedding through a pair of meat-colored glasses.”

If newlyweds to be go together like ketchup and mustard but still find themselves in a pickle, considering a Wienermobile wedding could solve any financial woes. The weekend’s ceremony services were free of charge and even featured a “live wiener whistle quartet” and a “wonderfully odd wiener cake.”

This magic Weddingmobile moment has since passed, but fans who relish the 27-foot-long hot dog can track where the six Wienermobiles are heading to next at the Oscar Mayer website.

The Race of the Gentlemen (T.R.O.G.) Flabob Airstrip Drags kicked off on Saturday, April 15, bringing hot rod and racing fans back to the heydays of racing for good old-fashioned fun. The scene resembled a flashback to the ‘50s, with old school traditional rods, vintage motorcycles and a flag person leaping high between staged drag racers to signal each start.

T.R.O.G. is an event that has been celebrating the “run what ya brung” ‘40s and ‘50s hot rod and motorcycle drag racing culture since 2012. The first race, held on the beach in Allenhurst, N.J., was an instant success. Now acclaimed to be “The Greatest Race on Earth,” T.R.O.G. has spread small town excitement through various locations across both coasts, paying homage to the simpler days when at-home mechanics and hot rodders wrenched around the clock.

Much like the ‘50s, T.R.O.G. enforces minimal racing rules. Elapsed times are not tracked and there are no formal racing classes. Vehicle requirements are limited to pre-1935 hot rods and pre-1947 motorcycles with a preference for tank shifters. Four-cylinder, flat-sixes and flathead V-8 engines are eligible to race. Only traditional, American-made parts are allowed, including old carburetors and steel wheels. Roll bars are optional and old-fashioned open-face helmets are acceptable. The above restrictions are what makes this race so unique and a joy to photograph. The spirit of old school racing is still alive through T.R.O.G. Catch some vintage vibes from the photo gallery below.

Photo Gallery: T.R.O.G. Flabob Airstrip Drags 

The Race of the Gentlemen is scheduled to return to Wildwood, New Jersey for September 29, 30 and October 1, 2023. Find more information on the T.R.O.G. website.

Under sweltering Florida temperatures, the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction wrapped up the weekend with the sale of the first retail production VIN 001 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 3LZ and of a 2020 Ford GT Heritage Edition. These high-dollar supercar sales followed nearly a week of torrential rains that were so inundating they closed Ft. Lauderdale International Airport for more than two days.

That didn’t put a damper on the weekend events, though.

Celebrating 20 Years of the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction

This year marked the 20th Anniversary of Barrett-Jackson at the Palm Beach County Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach, Florida. As in the past, there were sponsor and exhibitor displays, test drives, and more than 600 collector cars, trucks, and SUVs rolling across the block. Hemmings was there, too, looking for some highlights. Here’s what we found.

A Corvette for Charity

An eye-catcher, for sure, the 2024 Corvette E-Ray was shown in pre-production trim as it crossed the block. Chevrolet Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter told the crowd that the winning bidder could order production VIN 001 as they wished when the vehicle goes into production in late 2023. The winning bid was from automotive retailer and NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, who paid $1.1 Million for 001. One hundred percent of the hammer price will benefit DonorsChoose, an organization committed to education.

The other supercar pulling in a seven-figure haul was a 2020 Ford GT Heritage Edition. Powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, it was delivered from the factory in the iconic blue/orange Gulf Oil livery commemorating its 1969 victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The one-owner car with 211 original miles sold for $1,457,500.

Restomods in abundance.

At Barrett-Jackson, the restomod is king. Palm Beach continued the trend, featuring some great examples. A right-hand-drive 1967 Volkswagen Beetle had undergone a full-restoration, refreshing the Bug and its 2,185cc four-cylinder engine. It rides on a lowered suspension with BRM Riviera alloy wheels, has a four-speed manual transmission, and is finished in emerald green over black. It sold for the bargain price of $12,210.

Other Volkswagens showed well, including several 23-window Microbus recreations.

A golden olive green 1962 Chevrolet Corvette custom convertible showed strong, selling for $401,500. Listed as a 1962 Pro Touring Corvette, it essentially is a C1 Corvette with the heart of a ZR-1. Powered by a 6.2-liter LS9 crate engine with Holley electronic fuel injection, it is mated to a Tremec five-speed manual transmission. The bodywork features custom vacuum-formed carbon-fiber fenders and door coves with custom rear bumpers.

A 1969 Ford Bronco custom pickup performed exceptionally strong on Saturday, bringing the hammer down with a winning bid of $143,000. A factory half-cab design, this 4×4 has seen a body-off-frame restoration and a complete engine transplant. This Bronco is now powered by a factory Ford Coyote 5.0-liter crate motor with a contemporary 6R80 automatic transmission. It’s a far cry from the 170-cubic-inch inline-six engine it originally came with.

Carrying on the off-road restomod theme was a 1992 Land Rover Defender 110, which hammered at $82,500. A left-hand-drive example, this Defender has less than 1,800 miles on the odometer since its restoration and build. It’s now powered by a 5.7-liter LS1 Chevrolet V-8 with automatic transmission. The interior includes black diamond-quilted leather with contrasting stitching, first and second row consoles, and third-row seating. It also includes a new climate control system and a complete coolant system modernization.

Strong numbers

Overall, 622 vehicles were sold at the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction, all with no reserve. Combined with nearly $745,000 in automobilia sales, total auction sales came to $44.4 million.

Date: 1972

Location: Columbus, Ohio

Source: via Grandview Heights Public Library

What do you see here?

(Note: This will be the final installment of the carspotting series. Many thanks to everybody who collaborated on identifying the cars seen in these photos throughout the years and who, in turn, contributed to a broader understanding of automotive history.)