TMCP #575: Life on the Auction Block with John Kraman – LIVE INTERVIEW From The MECUM Auction Sales Floor!

This week we have a special interview that was recorded LIVE from the auction floor interview at MECUM in Houston Texas. Our intrepid producer Bernie McPartland caught up with TV personality and voice of MECUM Auctions on The MotorTrend Network, John Kraman. To say John has been in the car business a long time does little to explain just how long. This was an insight into what has become the biggest collector car auction company in the world, all told from the catbird seat!

TMCP #572: Tom Scarpello of Revology Cars – Bringing New “OEM” Quality ’65-’68 Mustangs into the 21st Century

This week I spoke to Tom Scarpello, President and founder of Revology in his facility in Orlando Florida! Revology is seemingly doing the impossible; creating a profitable company that survives (and thrives) by bringing a single classic Mustang platform into a 21st Century as a capable daily-driver by modern standards. There are a few other companies doing things like Revology, but to my knowledge this is the only company striving to be good at the “boring” stuff like reducing wind noise, squeaks, rattles, and creating high end comfortable interiors from OEM stock materials. Their door gaps are specifically set for long term use – not just awesome looking floor appeal. They’re building the quality of cars far closer to a new Porsche than a Pro-Touring old Mustang. For all of this, I had to see it in person!

TMCP #569: ASK RICK: Best ROI on Auction Cars and How A Presidential Election Affects Restoration Parts Sales

Rick’s Take on the Presidential Election 2024:

Every four years we experience a Leap year and another round of picking a new president. With this event comes another round of presidential ads, throwing of mud, and an substantial amount of finger pointing. I have heard many times in the past from suppliers regarding their outlook on the future around an election cycle and many will stop any unnecessary spending based on the uncertainly of the outcome of an election. Some will even cut out expensive trade shows (SEMA included) that they would normally attend in an attempt to save up for the rainy day they believe is headed their way.

I decided to ask Rick what his experiences were regarding this phenomenon. NPD is run very conservatively and keeps higher than normal reserves for low times and fluctuations in the market so Ricks response was very interesting. He said that he does indeed notice a flattening in sales in relation to a Presidential election. That said, it’s not just at election time, but over the whole election year. It seems like everyone gets nervous and holds back on spending. Once the whole thing is over and the parties have been decided, Rick says that people generally go back to buying for their hobbies and it is back to business as usual.

TMCP #564: 15 Year Anniversary Throwback – The Time I Landed Richard Petty, The King of NASCAR!

It is hard to believe that in May of 2024 it will have been fifteen years since I carved out a hole in my basement and started recording this podcast! Many listeners have tuned in and followed along as I met people from all across the automotive world and simply asked the questions we all wanted to know about business and cars. I had no idea that 15 years later I’d still be in the business, nor did I have a clue what a life defining thing this would become. In a nutshell, this podcast (and you) have changed my life.

I am blessed to have started the show during the pre-podcast boom and have been able to use it to go places and see things that were far above my punching weight. I’ve had backstage passes, met stars, and attended events with all of you listeners along for the ride. I’ve raised a family along with way too, lost a parent, and had the chance to build and drive cars with my best friends. You have given back to me with friendship and support for chasing my dreams while creating a place we all can enjoy, The Muscle Car Place.

Many great and exciting things have happened since that start but one of my most memorable was getting to talk to the King himself, Richard Petty. At the time the “new” Challenger was still fairly new,  and who knew it would go on for another twelve years and the most amazing cars that were not even imagined yet. It was pretty exciting to see Daytonas once again on the streets, even if in limited numbers, as Petty Garage made special editions of the Challenger with the iconic nose and wing of the NASCAR heydays. I did get to ask him about his racing career and recorded every glorious second of the conversation in Episode #76 way back in 2011.

In every great sitcom there is the throwback episode where they queue the wobbly lines and memories from previous episodes come back based on a vague story line. This week the throwback episode, is my interview with Richard Petty. Enjoy!

TMCP #561 – Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals Show 2023 – The Greatest Muscle Car Show of the All?

Welcome to the first ever show from the streets of Chicago at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show (MCACN). Ryan Brutt, the Auto Archeologist himself, brought out man Scotty Stap into the event to get a deeper look at what has become the premier annual muscle car event in the country! MCACN is a unique show in that both original, unrestored, barn find, and rare/oddball unique muscle cars are curated along with barn finds, specialty restoration parts suppliers, and everything in between! Thanks to Ryan we also secured a significant interview with Bob Ashton, the Managing Member of the show. We last had Bob on in the show in 2015 (Episode 265), so we were definitely overdue for a catchup! 

TMCP #558: SEMA Show 2023 Special #1: Roadster Shop and Aeromotive BIG Future Plans – Superformance Celebrates30 Years of Cobras – E-Musclecar Electric Muscle Conversions – TV’s Chris Jacobs and Finale Speed – Jason Engel: Consulting in Shelby Licensing

TMCP #558: SEMA Show 2023 Special #1 – just for car builders!

Roadster Shop and Aeromotive BIG Future Plans – Superformance Celebrates30 Years of Cobras – E-Musclecar Electric Muscle Conversions – TV’s Chris Jacobs and Finale Speed – Jason Engel: Consulting in Shelby Licensing

TMCP #554: Ask Rick – Whats The Big Deal About SEMA? – UAW Strike, The Real Flaw In The System – Henry Ford “X” Engine – Listener Questions – Cars Picks of the Week

It is now October so be on the lookout for ghosts and ghouls at Halloween. This is time for costume parties, trick or treating, and another riveting Ask Rick segment were I ask him the tough questions that not everyone wants to hear! As always Rick delivers sage advice and wisdom founded in years of buying and selling classic vehicles. In this episode we waded into the topics spanning from “how do I store my classic vehicle” all the way to “how do we fix our broken governmental system.” As always the answers are entertaining, polarizing, and sometimes surprising.

K&F Show #274: Zip Tie Drags and the UAW Strike; Dukes Review S2E8 “Hazzard Connection”

Presented with Holley! 

Christmas is just around the corner…..and Santa is making his list and checking it twice. But lets be honest; do you really want to leave this one up to St. Nick? He’s a nice enough guy of course, but at this point he’s trying to help every kid on the planet while simultaneously not having to pay gift tax to the Feds on all of it. The IRS will get everyone, brother!

Do yourself and SC a favor, just visit www.holley.com and signup for a chance to win what you really want; a Sniper 2 EFI Master Kit!! Here’s the link you need, and be sure to tell them that we sent you!

https://www.holley.com/products/fuel_systems/fuel_injection/sniper_efi/sniper_4-barrel_systems/sniper_2/

K&F Show Summary: 

Bo and Luke get conned – accidentally – by Cooter – into driving for a bad guy that’s being watched by the stage police, and possibly the feds. What’s he being watched for you ask? Human trafficking? Meth manufacturing and distribution? Ponzi schemes designed to keep little old ladies out of the old folks home and living in the gutter? No….none of those….he’s doing something far worse. This piece of human scum…..is selling…..stolen racing engines! He hides these sweet engines in demo derby cars to transport them out of the county and state, which keeps the feds easily at bay.

Bo and Luke get accused of being a part of it….and they have to drive demo derby cars as a result. And we dear viewers get treated to the sloppy General lee preparation that we love most in this early seasons, including the General Lee I love most – the one they pull up in the race track in. Paul Baxley brings in outstanding camera shots and jumps that would win him an Oscar today, and all is right with the world. 14-inch vectors for everyone!

K& Rating: 9.5 CornDogs.

National Parts Depot Presents: Bernie on the News! https://www.npdlink.com.

Patreon Peeps, the year 2023 will be an important one for Patreon specifically, and if you’d consider jumping up to the $5 level it would sure help. The $10 level will remain and we now have a brand new $20 level as well! All members who join at that level will receive a sticker swag pack in the mail, you’ll be IMMEDIATELY entered in the monthly prize grab, and you’ll receive a phone call from one (or all) of us to chat up whatever you want for 30 minutes!  Thank you SO MUCH to those of you who have joined in for the extra content that is only for Patreon supporters. To get in on the action and support the show with a minor financial contribution just click the link below to sign up. http://www.patreon.com/kfshow. 

Check out the brand new KF Show Shirt! It’s the CNH 320 Edition: https://teechip.com/themusclecarplace.