1955 Ford Thunderbird: Back in Black -- BIG MUSCLE
It's been in the same family for the better part of 50 years. Been modified with performance and weight savings in mind, and is one of the sleekest looking cars we've ever come across. This 1955 Ford Thunderbird is no secretaries car, but a purpose built award winning street machine that was built in a time before resto-modding old cars was all the rage.
1967 GT500 Eleanor: Re-imagining a Classic - BIG MUSCLE
Carroll Shelby created it, "Gone in 60 Seconds" re-imagined it, and audiences around the world made it famous. The 1967 Shelby GT500 Eleanor is one of the most recognizable movie cars of all time. With the body lines of a shark, the stage presence of a movie star and the perceived performance of an olympic athlete, it's no wonder die-hard enthusiasts fell in love with this amazing machine. BIG MUSCLE received so many requests for this car that we just had to go out and find one. So now sit back, click play and enjoy... and don't bust my chops in regards to my glasses - it was really sunny that day - M. Musto
1968 Charger / 1969 Daytona - BIG MUSCLE Garage
The 1968 Dodge Charger and the 1969 Dodge Daytona. Two cars based off the same platform with very different personalities. These two old sleds are different though, 'cause well, they belong to me (your host) and they're the reason that BIG MUSCLE exists today. These are not show ponies, cruisers or weekend projects, but two warhorses that have been run in some of the toughest long distance and performance events in the United States. Built for reliability, power and performance, they are not technological marvels, but old school resto-mods that have been updated for one reason and one reason only - to put smiles on the faces of all those who see them.
1966 Cobra Dream Machine - BIG MUSCLE
It's a 1966 Shelby Cobra replica that was built by a Father and his two sons more than 10 years ago. It's faded fiberglass shell is chipped and spider-webbed. The stainless trim is pitted and tarnished and the wheels are coated in a thick layer of brake dust. The carpet is also coming up and every now and then it blows flames from its side-pipes due to it running a little rich. Some may think these are problems. Me personally - I think it's one of the coolest cars I've ever driven. This episode of "Big Muscle" is about the drive, those project cars that we work on, and the exhilaration we get when we wring them out for the first time on the open road.
Triple Black Attack: 1970 440 6-Pack 'Cuda - BIG MUSCLE
Each and every muscle car enthusiast has that one experience that has helped define the way in which they view the automobile. For Northern California's John Cross that experience came by way of riding in the back of his cousins 1970 440 6-Pack Plymouth 'Cuda when he was a kid. It was a car that provided him with memories, stories and of course, a goal - that being, to one day own the very car which got his engine running all those years ago. It's now 2012, 42 years after that first faithful ride in the very 'Cuda you're about to see. This time however it resides in John's garage, not his cousins, which can mean only one thing... Sometimes dreams do come true.
JCG Restorations 1968 Camaro -- BIG MUSCLE
Tucked away in a small industrial park in Oxnard, CA sits JCG Restorations & Customs, a moderately sized shop that has built some of the best performing pro-touring cars that we've ever driven. Now generally we don't focus in on shops, however when the owners of three of our best test cars start dropping names, we tend to listen. Originally we descended on JCG to drive Blu Balz, a stunning 1968 Camaro owned by one Karl Dunn. However since Mother Nature decided to water the Earth that day, we put our original plans on hold and got shop owner Cris Gonzalez to give us the in's and out's of what it takes to make a stellar pro-touring car.
1973 Chevrolet Chevelle: Bank Robber's Special -- BIG MUSCLE
For its season finale BIG MUSCLE heads to the mean streets of Trenton, NJ to meet up with Sean Rich and his road warrior style 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle. This particular car was constructed with the idea that if one needed a getaway vehicle for which to rob a bank in, well then... this would be the perfect candidate. This is not some big dollar, no holds barred super car, but a ride built by its owner for the purpose of putting a smile on his face every time the key was turned.
1979 Dodge Little Red Express: The Original Muscle Truck -- BIG MUSCLE
It's the Granddaddy of the muscle truck. The original gangster, and the one that broke the mold when it came to straight-line American speed in the late 1970's. The Little Red Express Truck was a twin-stacked, small block powered pickup truck from Dodge that was you're worst nightmare if you happened to own a Ferrari 308, Trans Am or Corvette back in 1978 or 1979. Big on style as well as performance, the Little Red's are some of the rarest and coolest trucks to ever come out of Detroit, and with the power to back up the looks, it's no wonder they've generated a cult following amongst dedicated enthusiasts.
The Lingenfelter Collection - BIG MUSCLE
The Chevrolet small block is one of the greatest engines in all of automotive history. It's powered countless hot-rods and customs, as well as the majority of GM's muscle cars. Therefore it should come as no surprise that the Big Muscle guys head to Brighton, Michigan to visit the famed Lingenfelter Car Collection. Here we check out the first small block powered Chevrolet Corvette (the Duntov Test Mule EX-8), take a ride in a 1993 Lingenfelter ZR1, and sit down with Ken Lingenfelter as he guides us through the in's and out's of one of the greatest private car collections in the United States.
The Fabulous Lifestyles of Professional Motorcycle Racers - RideApart
What kind of motorcycles do racers ride on the road? Jamie meets up with Eric Bostrom in Malibu for a ride on their personal bikes — a custom Honda CBR600RR and Kawasaki Z1000 — before taking off to a nearby private collection to discuss their shared passion — vintage motocross.
For more on motorcycles, visit: http://RideApart.com
1950 Chevrolet: Morrison Farm Truck - BIG MUSCLE
The 1950 Chevrolet 3100 Series pickup is the quintessential American farm truck. However, after Craig Morrison of Art Morrison Enterprises found it languishing in someone's front yard, this little farm truck went from all-slo, to all-go. The original chassis was removed in favor of a new GT Sport bolt-on unit, as was the original Chevy straight-six engine. In its place sits a new GM Performance Parts crate motor with EFI injection that's coupled to a Hughes Performance 4L60E automatic transmission. With the original paint and interior still intact, this old truck has been given a new lease on life while still retaining all the heritage that made it great over 60 years ago.
Hennessey Venom GT: The World's Fastest Tuned Car - TUNED
DRIVE EXCLUSIVE: With only six examples built to date, the Hennessey Venom GT could be considered the fastest street car in the world. Built off the Lotus Exige, this tuner car packs a 1200+ horsepower punch with a theoretical top speed of 272mph. Host Matt Farah takes a quick ride in the million dollar Texas built supercar for the Season 3 premiere of TUNED on DRIVE.
Track Test: Nissan DeltaWing Driven At Road Atlanta -- CHRIS HARRIS ON CARS
Surely the most interesting and innovative racing car of the past 30 years, the DeltaWing finished 5th at Petit Le Mans. We drove it two days after the race. Engineer Ben Bowlby's interview is compulsory viewing for all racing fans. A day to remember.
Muscle Cars and Road Courses Make Unlikely Partners - TUNED
TUNED tests out a couple of suspension-tuned muscle cars on the Willow Springs road course to see how Hotchkis suspension components make old cars less scary, and modern cars fast as hell.
