Tag: Chevelle

TMCP #545: Bonus Episode – Todd Liebelt and his Amazing Corner Carving ’65 Chevelle!

This week on The Muscle Car Place is an extra “4th-of-the-month” bonus episode that I simply could not wait until next month to share! I spoke with Todd Liebelt who not only races autocross (as I like to do) but has built an almost identical in appearance Chevelle to mine. I say almost because Todd was able to make the changes in his car, that after years of ownership I now wish I had made to mine. Our paths have never crossed before, but somehow we have generated two cars that are certainly really close siblings!

Ten years ago I made some decisions on how to build my Chevelle. Since the car has been built I have had some great driving opportunities but I have wondered how it would have been if I had built it just a little differently. Specifically, I’ve always been curious about the chassis and if it would have been better to go with a full replacement instead of (as we did) modifying the factory GM frame and then adding great bolt-on suspension options on.

I also wonder how would it have handled on the track if I had bigger tires, especially up front where I’ve run out of grip time and time again? Well, luckily for me I have been presented with the unique opportunity to talk to Todd who has an almost identical car ….except that he made the choices I did not and has the inside scoop on if it was worth it. Basically, by speaking with Tood I have the chance to go back in time and learn what the “other path not taken” would have been like (and if I should take it now).

TMCP #543: New Show Debut – The “Factoryish” Podcast – The Real Life, Times, and Cars Inside a Hot Rod Shop!

This week, I have the outstanding privilege of of introducing a brand new podcast on The MuscleCar Place Network. It’s called “Factorish” and is hosted by my great friends Kirk Hansen and Zip Simons. This new show is an all new concept for us, and one that Kirk has pioneered, with Zip providing the insight that only a hot rod shop owner can. It’s a full talk show, built for YouTube and audio podcast release but featuring automotive reviews and drives as well. Think of it like The MuscleCar Place, combined with My Classic Car, combined with Entrepreneur magazine.

You can plan to watch and listen to two new episodes of Factoryish each month. Be sure to visit their website often and bookmark ALL of the platforms below!

Factoryish.com

Watch Factoryish on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@factoryish9260

Listen to Factoryish on Apple Podcasts: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/factoryish/id1689680197?mt=2&ls=1

Listen Factoryish on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/03pn8RQkhiPjxBa2R8fimT

Listen to Factoryish on iHeart Radio:
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-factoryish-114913862/

Listen to Factoryish on Audible:
https://www.audible.com/pd/FACTORYISH-Podcast/B0C4Z3CS9W?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

TMCP #505: Chasing the Dream with Zip Simons – 10 Years of Building Elite Rides at Street Metal Concepts!

Many years ago I was in the middle of a surreal experience of realizing the dream of building my parents car, that I grew up in, into an auto-cross machine that was made better than I ever imagined. I met lifetime friends that donated time to make the dream happen. Street Metal Concepts turned the metal handiwork of  Jeff Allison, into the gleaming, flawless paint, perfectly gapped, SEMA Show car that it became.

Almost 10 years later my Chevelle is back at Street Metal Concepts for a few tweaks and updates so I wanted to check in with Street Metal Concepts to see how things are going, what life lessons they have learned, and to catch up with my buddy Zip Simons!

TMCP #482 – In Memory of Dallas Kibbe, My Dad

This week will be a very short show as I am occupied with an event that I hoped would never come, but knew it someday would. My father, Dallas Kibbe, passed away from multiple issues that eventually the doctors could not overcome and he left this world to be with my God and my mom. I loved the time I spent with my dad and he left his mark on my life and his grandkids lives as well as many around him. He always encouraged my passion for vehicles and loved the shows I created with my friends. The last couple days were a special gift and I did get to use the Chevelle to bring back memories for him even if he was not strong enough to take one last ride. 

Thank you listeners, for the amazing support in this time of grief. The show will be back soon and on track so thank you for this short intermission as I spend time with close family and friends.

Thank you Dad, for all of the lessons in life and for being my best friend!

-Rob Kibbe

TMCP #458: Tom Rightler, the Chevelle Doctor: Performing Top Notch OEM Restorations!

This week I spoke to Tom Rightler, founder of Mid Atlantic Muscle Cars in Bridgeton, NJ. Tom is know for his excellence in restoring most muscle cars, but specifically Chevelle’s. Tom’s dad was a mechanic for thirty years so he grew up around cars and wrenching on them for fun. Like a lot of us, cars were his escape and relaxation! He walked into his first job in a family owned office supply business, learned the trade, and stayed there for years as his hobby turned into a very successful “side hustle.” Detail and accuracy became his trademark and over the course of a decade he became a well known name in the Chevelle restoration world. He even went to night school…just to learn body work, welding, and painting!

TMCP #450: Jeff Allison – SEMA Cars, Mustang Restorations, And 80MPH Go Karts – Ask Rick, Can You Restore The Soul Out Of A Car?

This week I had the pleasure of once again talking with my great friend, my brother from another mother, and the owner of Allison Customs, Jeff Allison! It has been a little while since we just talked and ten years since we started collaborating on the build of my Chevelle. Jeff launched his business (officially) in spring of 2011 and my Chevelle was the first car his company took on. 10 years later it’s been a life changer for us both! I asked him on to discuss the journey, how 2020 has affected him, and also….how to REALLY set up 2-stroke racing go-kart I bought from him to enjoy with my son!

TMCP #409: Go Big or Go Home: Fast Freddies Hellcat Powered ’69 Road Runner Pro-Touring Beast; Larry Callahan with the SEMA Pro-Touring Update

This episode presented by Title Sponsor National Parts Depot! https://www.npdlink.com

This weeks show is with Fred Kappus, owner of Fast Freddies Rod Shop in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Fred’s shop is campaigning a stellar ’69 Road Runner called “Hellrunner” in the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Cars series, with it competing really well against the smaller (and more prevalent) Camaros and Mustangs. This is akin to an aircraft carrier competing against fighter jets…. but they’re doing it and doing it well and I wanted to learn exactly HOW!

This episode also supported by associate sponsors Wyotech https://www.wyotech.edu, Holley https://www.holley.com, and Aluma Trailers https://www.alumaklm.com

TMCP #400: We Made it to 400! Celebration Show with Jeff Allison of Allison Custom

This weeks show features the return of Jeff Allison, Owner and operator of Allison Customs, Airline Pilot, and You Tube sensation. I asked Jeff to be on the show as a fitting tribute as to how far the show (and Jeff) have come in the last 400 episodes. Back in episode 72 (Feb 2011) I announced that the Chevelle was going to be built and that Jeff had offered to build it for me. Since then it has not only been an amazing experience with the car but a fun journey with a great friend. 

For a long time Jeff Allison ran a construction company as his main source of income and flew airplanes as a side business and had dreams of owning a hot rod shop. Jeff eventually moved up to captain and dropped building houses but now had time to work on cars as the side job. He said that eventually he wants to retire from flying and go full time in the custom business. The automotive jobs he takes are never rush jobs and the customers understand that it may take awhile since this is not the main source of income.

Jeff Allison, Scott Bowers, Rob Kibbe, in the Ron Francis Booth
As a car enthusiast, Jeff liked to fill his down time with automotive information and The Muscle Car Place became one of his main sources of entertainment. In January of 2011 Jeff offered to help bring my Chevelle dreams to life and so began a great friendship. The build was featured start to finish on The Muscle Car Place and over the next four years it went from mostly rust to a stunning SEMA show car that attracted attention for TMCP and Allison Customs as well as Ron Francis Wiring who hosted the car in their booth. Today I use the Chevelle as intended as an autocross car and it attracts attention where ever I drive it.

TMCP #399: Seth Withers, Our New Muscle Car Place Network Sales Director – Pro-Touring Update with Larry Callahan

This week our guest was Seth Withers, our brand new sales director for The MuscleCar Place Network of shows. After ten years of building our network shows the shows to an amazing level of production and content, I knew that to achieve our goal of “big time” it would require a full time Sales Sales Director to place over the entire network. This person had to have a sales track record, be a real car guy or gal already, be a fit with out existing team, and (most importantly) be a true believer in our podast network already. As always, I asked my existing listeners for help….and Seth was the fit we needed. He is a long time listener of both The MuscleCar Place and the Kibbe and Friends show and he is anxious to start working with the team. He began a few months ago and we’re now going public with it!

Pro-Touring Update with Larry Callahan: Good Guys Columbus and Des Moines results, APOLLO Astronaut Corvette’s, and the never ending saga of his ’68 Camaro!