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TMCP #488: Ask Rick, Unrestored Originals vs Full Boat Restorations; SEMA Special #4 -Paul Lee, McLeod Buys SilverSport -Joe Rock, Retro Manufacturing, New Tech Radios in Old Classic Styling

It is the first week of December and the Holiday Season is HERE! It is also time for another great Ask Rick segment! This time he answers the question of which to pursue as a purchase, a great restoration or a well preserved survivor car. 

SEMA Bonus: McLeod Clutches acquires Silversport Transmissions, Retro Radios put the vintage back into to modern digital radios (and even the boxes)!

TMCP #471: ASK RICK – Are All Restoration Parts REALLY Made in Three Factories in Taiwan?

Happy 4th of July and welcome to another great edition of “Ask Rick”. Rick Schmidt is never one to shy away from the hard hitting questions and this month was no exception. After last months bombshell about pricing and how COVID-19 is affecting the costs of everything, there were a lot of listener questions about the parts themselves……and where they really come from. He may need to have all listeners sign a non disclosure agreement after this interview, but he definitely let the cards fall where they may.

Here was the big discussion (and myth debunk): Aren’t all aftermarket parts made in just three plants in Taiwan, and they’re really all the same no matter the brand? Rick laid out the reality of this eight ways from Sunday. The answer is complicated to say least.  Are there really 3 factories in Taiwan stamping out all of our favorite parts?  No, of course not.  The amount of tooling required to do all of that would take up the state of Rhode Island. Do the many multiple factories – who are competing with each other – actually have to competitively work together? Actually, they do. Shipping of parts is a key reason however.

TMCP #462: Ask Rick – 60’s and 70’s Personal Luxury Cars, eBay Values, and the Rise and Fall of ASC – American Sunroof Corp

It’s the first show of April, and once again time for our monthly Ask Rick segment with Rick Schmidt! This time I wanted to know more about the unusual and rare vehicles in his collection. On our family trip to Florida we had a chance to stop in at NPD and were shown around the incredible collection that Rick and his father have amassed over the years. The “personal luxury car” segment of giant Buicks, Olds, Lincolns, and Fords is second to none….but the 1987 Firebird that really caught my eye was produced by a huge company in the 1980’s that is nothing but a memory today!

TMCP #429: The Real Scoop with NPD’s Rick Schmidt: How Will The Covid-19 Shutdown Affect The Automotive Restoration Business Economy?

Happy May 2020! With some of the country starting to re-open I thought that this episode would be appropriate for a special edition all “Ask Rick” show with Rick Schmidt from NPD. Rick’s monthly segment has been highly popular with so many of you due to his straightforward approach to all questions asked, and I specifically wanted to hear how COVID-19 is affecting the automotive aftermarket and restoration economy. The short answer is…things aren’t exactly as you think they might be!

Holley, with the help of Prestige Motorsports, Dart, and TorqStorm, have concocted a 427 cubic inch, twin-supercharged combo that is capable of sending absurd levels of good old-fashioned V8 horsepower to the pavement! The retail value of all of the components totals up to $23,364.44 and all you have to do to get a shot at winning is to SIGN UP HERE! Here is the direct link to use: https://bit.ly/KAFS-Holley-LS-Sweepstakes

TMCP #419: Ryan Brutt, The Auto Archaeologist, A Deep Dive Into Finding Forgotten Cars – Pro-Touring Update, Big Red Camaro and RJ Gottlieb special interview

This week is a returning fan favorite friend of the show, Ryan Brutt.  It is always great talking to Ryan and in this interview he does an even deeper dive into how he finds cars and yet still protect the owners from the endless calls that his pictures would definitely generate. 

Ryan has long had a love of cars and a great joy in the hunt of hidden automotive treasures. His quest has led to meeting many people and helping a great majority of them to either start the restoration they have put off for year, or sell it to a worthy buyer who will treat it with respect and love.

This episode of the Pro-Touring update is a great interview with RJ Gottlieb discussing everything Big Red Camaro related. I previously interviewed RJ five years ago in Episode 253 and I knew we had to do it again. RJ covers rebuilding the car and even previous to that, the evolution from stock vehicle to full tube frame chassis and Nascar parts.

TMCP #410: Tim Kollasch from Aluma – Perfecting Car Hauling with Iowa Made Aluminum Lightweight Trailers – Ask Rick, Debunking the “Impending Demise” of Hot Rods and Classic Muscle Cars

This weeks show is with Tim Kollasch from Alumna Trailers, an Iowa company that makes arguably the best aluminum car trailers on the market for collectors, enthusiasts, and gearheads likes us! They pioneered many of the designs that are now common place, have quality open, tilt, and enclosed trailers, and do so with all aluminum designs that stand the test of time without rusting out in the first 5 years!

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 #405: How to Pursue an Automotive Education with Wyotech; Guests: Jim Mathis and Troy Chaney

This weeks show is with WyoTech President and CEO Jim Mathis along with the VP of Admissions Troy Chaney. Founded in Laramie in 1966, WyoTech provides concentrated training programs  such as Automotive Technology, Collision Refinishing Technology, Diesel Technology, Interior, Restoration and performance, and other areas as well. Jim is a graduate of WyoTech and previously held the office of President up until 2002. Wyotech has changed ownership over the years, but Jim was able to purchase the school just a few years ago and returned back into family owned hands. He intends to keep it that way. For those that have ever considered attending an automotive trade program this will be a MUST LISTEN TO interview.

TMCP #401: The Best Car Buying Trips Ever with NPD’s Rick Schmidt

This weeks episode features a full show dedicated to a catch up on e-mails as well as our popular “Ask Rick” segment to discuss the two best things in car life: road trips, and buying cars on road trips!

That led to the discussion of purchasing two of his dream cars as well; his ’67 GTO and his 1969 Boss 429 Mustang. In the case of the Boss, it was his lifelong dream car. He had a feeling that prices were only going up so he borrowed some cash from his sister and put the deal together. Listen in to find out how prophetic that decision was….for both the GTO and the Boss!