Advertise on podcast: The MuscleCar Place

In this episode of The MuscleCar Place, Robert Kibbe sits down with John Kairys, Executive Director of the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF), to uncover one of the most impactful yet under-the-radar organizations in the industry. Since 1959, AACF has quietly provided financial assistance to individuals and families within the automotive aftermarket facing life’s toughest challenges—from illness and injury to natural disasters and unexpected hardship. With a fast and efficient process, they’re able to step in quickly and help people get back on their feet when it matters most. What makes AACF truly special is its focus on community—helping the very people who keep the aftermarket moving every day. From technicians and warehouse workers to managers and corporate employees, AACF serves as a vital support system across the entire industry. This conversation highlights not only the organization’s mission, but also the real stories behind it, reminding us that at the heart of every build, every business, and every part is a person—and sometimes, that person needs help. The post TMCP #645: John Kairys on AACF – Saving the Automotive Aftermarket When Life Hits Hard first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

Dr. Jamie Meyer returns to preview year two of the High Performance Expo (HPX), coming June 2–4 to the Charlotte Convention Center—and this isn’t just another trade show. Built to unite the racing, aftermarket, OEM, dealer, off-road, and overlanding worlds, HPX is quickly becoming the East Coast hub the industry has been missing. After a surprisingly strong debut, year two expands with bigger leadership sessions from Hendrick Motorsports, a major focus on real-world AI applications (including insight from Amazon’s AI leadership), and new features like the invitation-only Shop Car Challenge and Car Show Collective. If you’re in the business—or want to be—this is where connections, ideas, and opportunities collide. But HPX is more than just a show floor. It’s part of a full “Automotive Performance Week” in Charlotte, with Street Car Takeover joining the action and bringing live racing, culture, and energy to the experience. Whether you’re a shop owner, builder, racer, or serious enthusiast, HPX offers rare access to the people, parts, and conversations shaping the future of the industry. Be sure to also check out Dr. Meyer’s podcast, Automotive Advantage, for deeper insight into the business and innovation driving it all. Learn more and register at TheHPX.com—and don’t miss your chance to be part of it. The post TMCP #644: Dr. Jamie Meyer on HPX’s Big Return – AI, Street Car Takeover, and the Future of Performance! first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

Rick Schmidt from National Parts Depot returns for the April edition of Ask Rick, fresh off an incredible run of back-to-back concours events—taking wins at both Moda Miami and Amelia Island. In this episode, Rick and Rob break down what really goes into competing at that level, from how cars are selected and judged to the behind-the-scenes dynamics most enthusiasts never see. Along the way, they talk Easter traditions, the evolution of car shows, and what a trophy actually means when it comes to value and credibility. The conversation also dives into Rick’s unexpected take after touring Revology, a company re-engineering classic Mustangs with modern performance and refinement. To wrap it up, Rob and Rick throw down a challenge: if you had to buy a car today to win a trophy and break even when you sell it, what would you choose? With contenders ranging from local show sleepers to high-end icons, the answers might surprise you—but you’ll have to listen to find out which ones come out on top. The post TMCP #643: Ask Rick – Winning at Concours, Trophy Truths & Revology Reimagined first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

Mike Finnegan returns to The MuscleCar Place for a special edition episode, and as always, he brings the stories, honesty, and perspective that only he can deliver. From his early days on Roadkill to becoming a full-time YouTube creator with Finnegan’s Garage, Mike shares what life looks like after the 2024 shutdown of Motor Trend productions. What once felt uncertain turned into the perfect transition—giving him more time with family while opening the door to collaborate freely with friends and fellow creators in what he calls the “Wild Wild West” of YouTube. We also dig into the fate of fan-favorite Roadkill cars, the reality behind automotive media today, and what’s next in Mike’s world—from wild shop builds to recovering from a recent dirt bike injury. Along the way, Mike shares his thoughts on Cletus McFarland’s impact on NASCAR, the future of shows like The Grand Tour, and why real chemistry—not scripted production—is what truly makes automotive content work. The post TMCP #642: Mike Finnegan Returns – Life After Roadkill & the YouTube Era first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

Scott Bowers from Ron Francis Wiring returns to The MuscleCar Place to talk about the art—and reality—of wiring hot rods the right way. With decades of experience helping builders bring everything from garage projects to award-winning show cars to life, Scott shares why thoughtful wiring design makes all the difference. Instead of generic “universal” kits, Ron Francis Wiring focuses on engineered systems built around real-world setups, ensuring builders get harnesses that make sense and actually work the way they should. Along the way, Scott shares behind-the-scenes stories from the SEMA Show, dives into the surprising rise of the Ford Crown Victoria as a hot-rodding platform, and busts one of the most common electrical myths in the hobby—why installing a high-amp alternator won’t “overcharge” your system. It’s a fun and practical conversation filled with real-world tech knowledge that every builder—from first-time project owners to seasoned fabricators—can appreciate. The post TMCP #641: Scott Bowers – Ron Francis Wiring – Wiring a Hot Rod the Right Way first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

This month on Ask Rick, Rick Schmidt from National Parts Depot joins us for a St. Patrick’s Day edition covering everything from green cars and Guinness to real-world business questions. We discuss whether presidential addresses truly move the needle for business decisions, what the current tariff situation looks like on Taiwanese restoration sheetmetal, and how NPD is handling pricing in real time. We also dive into the growing conversation around Chinese electric vehicles entering the U.S. market — and whether joint ventures with American automakers make that inevitable. Plus, Rick tackles a thoughtful listener question about selling a company to employees with no family successor, and we close with a truck-heavy investment showdown: custom builds under $75K and which ones make the smartest five-year bet. Insightful, practical, and always honest — it’s classic Ask Rick from start to finish. The post TMCP #640: Ask Rick — Green Cars, Tariffs on Taiwan, Chinese EV Rumors, and the Best Trucks to Buy Now first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

Jason Noel, founder of Fat Fender Garage in Gilbert, Arizona, joins us this week with a story that’s less about horsepower at the beginning — and more about perseverance. Jason didn’t grow up chasing race cars. He was a finish carpenter by trade, building doors and crown molding before the 2008 housing collapse wiped out his business and forced a complete reset. What came next wasn’t a hobby gone wild — it was a deliberate rebuild. One old truck led to another, then to customer builds, then to something much bigger than he ever planned. Today, Fat Fender Garage is a full-scale restoration shop specializing in classic Ford and Chevy trucks, known especially for early Ford F-100s and modern Coyote swaps. Along the way, Jason learned that if he wanted the quality and timelines his customers expected, he’d have to take control of the process. That meant bringing paint, upholstery, parts manufacturing, and now even chassis production in-house. What started as flipping a few trucks for fun has grown into a 75-person operation building high-end custom vehicles and engineered components designed to compete at the top of the industry. In this episode, Jason shares the hard lessons from early customer builds, the philosophy behind vertical integration, why he chose to compete directly with established chassis manufacturers, and how telling the real story — wins and failures alike — became the backbone of Fat Fender’s marketing success. If you’re into classic trucks, modern restomods, or the realities of scaling a business in the automotive aftermarket, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. The post TMCP #639: Jason Noel – Fat Fender Garage, The 20-Year Overnight Success first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

It’s the month of love and football, and Rick Schmidt is back with another edition of Ask Rick to break down what’s happening right now in the automotive world. Rick weighs in on recent comments from Ford CEO Jim Farley about the future of sedans, noting that American automakers have largely abandoned the affordable sedan market—leaving foreign manufacturers, especially Korean brands, to quietly dominate the segment. With early signs pointing toward low-cost electric sedans on the horizon, Rick believes Detroit may yet have an opportunity to re-enter a market it once owned. Rick also reviews the eye-opening results from January’s major car auctions, calling it a market that “blew the doors off.” Unexpected vehicles crossed the $100K mark, classic ’50s cars held strong, and certain sporty models like the Thunderbird remain undervalued despite high-dollar restorations. The episode wraps with a real-world Mecum challenge: three cars bought under $60K—can one be enjoyed for a year, untouched, and sold at Mecum January 2027 for a win? Rick breaks down the strategy and the risks behind the picks. The post TMCP #638: Ask Rick! Mecum Kissimmee Shockers — Is the Muscle Car Market Hot or Cooling? first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

Velocity Restorations serves a unique space in the restoration world — for enthusiasts who want a classic vehicle that captures the memories of their past without spending years in a garage or navigating endless custom decisions. Rather than operating as a boutique, one-off shop, Velocity takes an a la carte, production-driven approach. Customers choose from a curated range of options that fit within a carefully planned build system, allowing Velocity to deliver consistently high-quality restorations at scale. Their process is engineered for repeatability, efficiency, and continuous improvement, resulting in vehicles that are designed to be driven, not just displayed. Unlike companies producing brand-new replicas, Velocity Restorations starts with authentic, original vehicles, restoring them through a refined production line that preserves history while delivering modern reliability. With a growing inventory of sourced vehicles and demand that continues to rise, Velocity offers everything from classic and Fox-body Mustangs to Broncos, Ford trucks, Chevy Blazers, C10s, K10s, and Scouts. The result is a restoration experience that delivers peace of mind, a rare industry warranty, and a vehicle ready for road trips, memories, and real-world use. You can see Velocity’s impressive builds at YouTube.com/@VelocityRestorations and explore build options at VelocityRestorations.com. The post TMCP #637: Tom Maxwell of Velocity Restorations // Classic Cars and Trucks Made on Modern Day “Small-Mass Production Line” first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

Some movies don’t just entertain us — they become part of who we are. Tommy Boy is one of those rare films, blending heart, humor, brotherhood, and horsepower into a story that has resonated with car people for nearly three decades. On this week’s episode of The MuscleCar Place, Rob Kibbe has the rare privilege of interviewing Tommy Boy director Peter Segal and master restorer Marc Anghel to tell the unbelievable story of the movie’s most famous co-star: the 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX. Peter understood car culture from the start and intentionally made the GTX a true character in the film — one that suffered every mishap right alongside Tommy and Richard, earning its place in automotive and movie history. After spending more than 25 years forgotten at a picture car warehouse, the legendary GTX was reunited with Peter at a Barrett-Jackson auction and brought back to life through a concours-level restoration by Marc Anghel. The result is a real-world Tommy Boy car, complete with Callahan Auto decals and subtle nods to its cinematic legacy — and a perfect-score winner at MCACN, the “Pebble Beach of muscle cars.” This episode is a celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and the way one movie — and one car — can leave a permanent mark on all of us. The post TMCP #636: Director Pete Segal & Anghel Restorations – Bringing The Screen Used Tommy Boy Car Back To Life! first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

National Parts Depot is celebrating an incredible milestone — 50 years in business — and we’re sitting down with Rick Schmidt for a special Ask Rick episode to talk about the journey that built one of the most respected names in classic car restoration. From its humble beginnings in a family basement to becoming a global leader in restoration parts, Rick shares the story of how his father Jim Schmidt built NPD through hard work, vision, and a relentless commitment to serving enthusiasts. We also dive into Rick’s leadership philosophy, the evolution of the restoration market, and what the next fifty years may hold. It’s also auction season, and Rick is ready to help us make some money. We break down what it takes to buy right, sell smart, and turn a profit with a quick flip. With a goal of keeping the upfront cost under $30K, Rick walks us through which cars make sense to chase at the January auctions — and which ones to leave on the block. If you’re looking to sharpen your auction strategy, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. The post TMCP #635: ASK RICK! – FIFTY YEARS of National Parts Depot! The REAL Story of Surviving and Thriving in Restoration Parts first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

This week we’re doing something a little different, and honestly — something really special. For the first time ever, the original team behind my Chevelle build all sat down together to revisit the journey from 2011–2013. This wasn’t a “sponsored” build or a corporate project. It was a leap of faith between friends who believed we could pull off something big long before we knew how. We started in basements and small shops, fought rust, deadlines, wiring headaches, and fatigue — and somehow ended up rolling into SEMA together. In this episode you’ll hear Jeff Allison, Danny Giustino, Zip Simons, Kirk Hansen, and producer Bernie all share their side of the story — the wins, the failures, the sleepless nights, the road trips, and the moments we’ll never forget. If you’ve ever dreamed of doing something way beyond your comfort zone, this one is for you. It’s a reminder that passion + good people can move mountains…and cars. The post TMCP #634: The Ultimate Reunion // How 6 People Who Never Met Built a $400K Chevelle for SEMA on Friendship, Grit, and Faith! first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

’Tis the season, and it’s time once again for the Christmas episode of The Muscle Car Place—a tradition now 17 years strong. We’re thrilled to welcome our most exclusive guest of the year, known by many names around the world, but to us he’ll always be Santa Claus. 2025 was a whirlwind year filled with unforgettable moments alongside the Holley MoParty and the Kibbe & Friends gang, from epic parking lot steak dinners to incredible interviews with creators and automotive legends, capped off by the best SEMA experience I’ve had since debuting my Chevelle. We came home with a mountain of great content, lasting memories, and gratitude for the amazing community that continues to surround this show. As always, this episode also pauses to remember the real reason for the season—the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If the noise of Christmas has made it easy to miss that truth, Linus Van Pelt said it best long ago by reading Luke 2:8–14, which we share again in this episode. If that message stirs something in your heart—whether it’s brand new or something you’ve drifted away from—know that you can always come home, and Christmas is a perfect time to do it. If you’d like to learn more about accepting Christ’s gift to you, I or anyone on our staff would be honored to talk with you. The post TMCP #633: The 2025 Christmas Show: 17th Annual Feature Interview with Santa Claus – Does The Sleigh Have Turbine Power? first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

Just outside the chaos of SEMA, we sat down at Hodson Motors—Riley Hodson’s backyard-born, fast-growing sweepstakes operation that’s taking over the classic 4x4 world. What started as a humble father-and-son hobby turned into a full business when Riley realized people weren’t just following his truck builds…they trusted him. From diesel-swapped Suburbans to bone-stock Toyotas, Riley breaks down the real math, the real risks, and the real heart behind giving away fully built vintage trucks to everyday enthusiasts. No hype, no gimmicks—just honesty, hustle, and a shop full of lifted classics ready for their next home. Riley walks us through how he chooses the trucks, why some sweepstakes boom while others flop, and why every winner needs to know they’re not just getting a truck—they’re inheriting a hobby. It’s a rare, transparent look behind a world most people only see through ads and hashtags, and it proves why Hodson Motors has become the trusted name in classic 4x4 giveaways. And let’s be honest…nothing makes your muscle car look better than a perfectly built vintage truck parked next to it. After hearing this episode, you’re going to want to check out HodsonMotors.com and throw your name in the hat for the next one. The post TMCP #632: The Full Business of “Give Away Sweepstakes” with Hodson Motors — Riley Hodson on Building, Giving Away, and Growing the World of Classic 4×4’s Sweepstakes first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

In this Christmas edition of Ask Rick, we sit down with Rick Schmidt to talk holiday traditions, family time, and how he celebrates the biggest day of the year. Rick shares what Christmas looks like in the Schmidt household—good food, classic movies, and quality time with the people who matter most. As we wrap up 2025, it’s the perfect moment to slow down, reflect, and appreciate another great year in the world of Muscle Cars. Rick also gives his year-end perspective on the shifting automotive landscape, from the sharp rise in restoration part prices to the evolving future of EVs, hybrids, and traditional fuels. He weighs in on the booming online auction scene and whether the growing number of platforms is helping or hurting sellers. It’s a thoughtful, honest look at where the hobby is heading as we roll into 2026—one that every enthusiast will want to hear. The post TMCP #631: Ask Rick – The Year In Reivew and the Year to Come: Restoration Parts Prices, Online Auctions, and Great Cars for Investment! first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.