Oh hey! This is my yearly post to remind you that yes, this site still exists, I still love hot rods, and now you can follow us on Facebook for additional photos of cars and the sharing of other vintage/hot rod related things. You know...stuff people do on Facebook.

Here's a photo of our friend's sweet-ass vintage Ford van.

Digital Garage Project

Oh! Hi! Look who it is. Crawling out of the woodwork to attempt to add some new content to this otherwise languishing blog. I still care, my heart is still in it. I swear to you, baby.

Today I happened across an old blog post from Hemmings Motor News about the Digital Garage Project. Created by 3D car modeler Dan Palatnik of Rio de Janeiro, he digitally recreates in painstaking detail a wide range of classic, iconic and occasionally obscure vehicles.

Now and then, he will take some creative liberty with his models, modifying the existing design in a way a custom fabricator would with their hands and a whole lot of time and materials. Though people love to loathe computer technology, let's all agree that it's pretty radical to be able to see what your crazy car mods might look like in amazing detail before you get all down and dirty.

Some of my favorites include:

The 1957 DeSoto Firesweep (one of my favorite cars designs of all time, already)

Dick Nesbitt's 1963 Van Design

This '67 Fairlane front end (there's something about his front end renderings I just think are beautiful)

And how about this selection of '50s Ford Front Ends?

As a final segue, here's an example of Palatnik's prowess at modifying the existing vehicle design into a "what if" scenario, many of which are great, if only slight, modifications to the original.

“Using the Club Coupe body and adding 7" to the door.”

It's super pleasing to see such modern talent focused on the world of classic automobile design.

The Cool Hot Rod (1953)

YouTube: full of garbage, full of greatness. Here is some of the latter...

Symphonic Stop-Motion Engine Rebuild

Don't miss the terrifying ending!

Mid Century Home Style

Mid-Century Home Style is...just...insane. Like The Old Car Manual Project, but for interiors. A Pinterest wet dream.

Prepare to waste your afternoon browsing for renovation ideas.

"Spinning Levers" - Vintage Video

Thanks to the folks over at Jalopnik for sharing this excellent 1936 video called "Spinning Levers", explaining perfectly how a transmission works.

As someone currently learning how to drive a manual transmission automobile for the first time in my life (how embarrassing), I find it even more perfectly educational!

Classic Wrecks

You can find just about anything you could possibly imagine to purchase on the internet. This fact, is nothing new. However, when you're someone like me who sits in front of a computer as a profession, actually finding something new and original to purchase on the internet is not as commonplace.
Today was one of those special days, where I found my way to Classic Wrecks, an Etsy store full of 1/24 car models, specially customized to look like the junkers we love to mourn.

1962 Chrysler, with one black eye.

The details have been painstakingly considered, in a matter only a true auto-lover could conceive. The pitted chrome, the missing trim, the jagged edges of each individual rust hole. Even the undercarriages of these jacked jalopies look like they need an overhaul.

What really makes these special are the cheeky extra touches, like to this '57 Chevy Nomad:

The classic Mexican Blanket seat cover.

In case you couldn't tell.

The models range in year from 1930 to 1990, with many popular make/model vehicles included, so you are bound to find something that revs your engine, or something special for gifting to a lucky rust-a-holic. With prices between $65-$75 each, and the option to request a custom Classic Wreck, they are truly some of what the best a site like Etsy has to offer.