Carbon Fiber Classic Shelby GT500
The recreated carbon fiber GT500 proved last time that the internet prefers road performance to off-road, no matter how impressive you are in the dirt. In our semi-finals, this car is representing the pro-touring style that is so popular today. It takes everything people love about a classic car, throws away the primitive handling and brakes, adds all the modern conveniences. What you are left with is a vehicle whose performance exceeds your rose-tinted memories of the one the cool guy up the street had when you were a kid. You can read more about it at their site: Classic-Recreations.com.

Warbird Blown Falcon Sedan
Yesterday's Falcon vs. Chevy II matchup was close, but this battle-scarred (not really, it's an award-winning wrap) Warbird just had more fans of its over-the-top style. It doesn't seem like it should fit, and much of it sticks out the top, but 565 cubic inches of methanol fueled Chevy big block with a massive blower makes even more massive levels of power. Over 1600hp are used to spin the rear tires in donuts and figure eights at what the Australians modestly call "burnout contests". You can see more about Warbird here: Castlemaine Rod Shop Instagram.

BMW M3 Drifter with LS7 Power
In the last round, the BMW drifted past the fastest car in the world, George Poteet's Speed Demon land speed racer. Home built with a 440 cubic inch LS-based V8 which puts out more than 800 hp, privateer Blake takes on factory-backed teams in Formula Drift. This bimmer isn't all motor, though, as these cars need some dedicated chassis fabrication to hang severe angles in a slide with the wheels pointed the wrong way and Blake looking where he is headed through the side window. You can read more about it on his Instagram: BAE_Olsen.

Warbird Blown Falcon Sedan
Yesterday's Falcon vs. Chevy II matchup was close, but this battle-scarred (not really, it's an award-winning wrap) Warbird just had more fans of its over-the-top style. It doesn't seem like it should fit, and much of it sticks out the top, but 565 cubic inches of methanol fueled Chevy big block with a massive blower makes even more massive levels of power. Over 1600hp are used to spin the rear tires in donuts and figure eights at what the Australians modestly call "burnout contests". You can see more about Warbird here: Castlemaine Rod Shop Instagram.

Carbon Fiber Classic Shelby GT500
The recreated carbon fiber GT500 proved last time that the internet prefers road performance to off-road, no matter how impressive you are in the dirt. In our semi-finals, this car is representing the pro-touring style that is so popular today. It takes everything people love about a classic car, throws away the primitive handling and brakes, adds all the modern conveniences. What you are left with is a vehicle whose performance exceeds your rose-tinted memories of the one the cool guy up the street had when you were a kid. You can read more about it at their site: Classic-Recreations.com.

Street Outlaw’s Tri-Five Chevy Bel Air
Since they debuted in 1955, with the new small-block Chevy V8, people have been racing these Bel Airs. Shawn Ellsworth owned this very car for 20 years, but it last hit the drag strip more than a decade ago. Now rebuilt as a street-legal street rod with a stereo and air conditioning, it still packs a roll cage, and Procharger equipped LS motor burning E85 and making more than 800hp. With that much motor, this is already going to be one fast shoebox, but they may be adding nitrous too. Get all the details on the 1955 Chevy here: 187 Customs YouTube.

1965 Chevy Super Nova
In the previous matchup, fans didn't seem to know what to make of the Baja Boot and overwhelmingly voted for the pro-touring Nova. Both this car and the challenger from down under feature blown V8 power, this Chevy II with a modern LS motor and factory blower good for nearly 800hp to a Currie rear end. The Nova's exterior retains the classic look, but the interior is full-on custom, designed to match Jon's favorite pair of red, black, and white sneakers. You can see more about it here: Jon Hensen Instagram.

Warbird Blown Falcon Sedan
Things in Australia may look a bit odd to us in America, but there is no denying this Falcon's appeal. A Chevy big block with 565 cubic inches is crammed full of air and methanol by a massive blower for 1600 hp. It can do burnouts for days, and that is literally what it was built to do, as dramatically as possible. The patina gives it a Mad Max look, but it is just a wrap over a very well preserved grandma-drives-to-bingo car. You can see more about it here: Castlemaine Rod Shop Instagram.

YouTuber’s Pontiac Pony Car
Liv has made a name for herself as a down-to-earth woman who works on her own car and posts the results on her social media and YouTube. In her first matchup, she beat Jason from the TV show Week 2 Wicked and his Ford truck by calling on her online fan army. The Firebird she is building is fast, with a 5.7-liter LS motor, gutted interior, fiberglass front end, and very little street gear, but not as fast as the Murder Nova or Shawn’s 1955 Chevy, but is it more popular? You can see more about it here: Liv Scaffidi Instagram..

Street Outlaw’s Tri-Five Chevy
These day’s people know Shawn as “Murder Nova” because of the murdered out, black on black on black Chevy Nova he built and raced on the drag racing reality show Street Outlaw’s OKC. But one of his first race cars was this 1955 Chevy coupe, now running on the street with a blown LS motor but still putting out nearly 800hp, and who knows how much if he adds nitrous. It would be interesting to see these two head-to-head, at the strip, the lighter, more aerodynamic Firebird vs. the more powerful “shoebox”, but Shawn’s blower and experience really put him in a whole other class. Get all the details on the 1955 Chevy here: 187 Customs YouTube..

World’s Fastest Piston Engine Car
The first matchup had the world's fastest wheel-driven vehicle, the Speed Demon, easily beating the Ultimate Street Car Texaco 1969 Camaro, proving you don't bring a street car to a race. Most people tend to slow down as they get older, but George Poteet, the driver and driving force behind this car, appears to be picking up speed. He broke 450 mph in the Speed Demon in 2011, when he was 60 years old, and now is approaching 500 mph with no sign of approaching retirement. You can see more about it here: Speed Demon 715.

BMW M3 Drifter with LS7 Power
In the first round, the BMW drifted in and slid right by Tara Johns turbo Miata for the win. Drifting requires overpowering the rear wheels, and Blake Olsen's 2007 M3 does that easily thanks to the V8 power, but this is no 4.0-liter German M65. Under the hood is a built General Motors LS7, revving to 8500 rpm and making 800 hp! Blake takes on factory-backed teams in Formula Drift as a privateer and still managed to end last season in the top 10. You can read more about it on his Instagram: BAE_Olsen.

Carbon Fiber Classic GT500
In the first round, fans choose power and polish from Classic Recreations over the patina and torque of Banks Power's Chevy C20 turbo diesel truck. This modern pro-touring 1967 Shelby GT500 has gained muscle and lost weight in its reimagining while retaining the traditional style. Today's challenger is Classic Recreation's most ambitious build yet, with an all-new carbon fiber body shell replacing the original steel panels for a stiffer foundation and supercharged Ford Coyote V8 power. Of course, brakes are by Wilwood, and the suspension is better than Shelby would have dreamed in 1967. You can read more about it at their site: Classic-Recreations.com.

Queen of the Hammers Ultra Truck
Bailey Campbell, queen of the King of the Hammers, has already proved more popular than one Ford Mustang in her earlier matchup, easily beating the earnest efforts of Ben Kahan and his period-style, home-built street car. These Campbell Enterprises built off-road rigs can climb like a mountain goat and run across the open desert like the Road Runner, with wild articulation and wicked power. Bailey has been racing off-road since before she could legally drive on the road and has been known to beat her father and brother when running head to head. You can read more about her and her truck on Facebook: Bailey Campbell.

Warbird Blown Falcon Sedan
Australia is like the USA, except they drive their muscle cars on the right. Down there, the Ford Falcon is a perennial favorite (Mad Max approved!), but Castlemaine went above and beyond with this one. Under the skin is a purpose-built tube frame chassis, and (barely) under the hood is a 565 cubic inch big block Chevy, fed by a huge blower and tank of methanol for 1600 hp. Its purpose? Punishing rear tires in burnout exhibitions. By the way, the body is pristine. The patina is actually an award-winning wrap. You can see more about it here: Castlemaine Rod Shop Instagram.

LS9 Mustang Wheelie Machine
There are probably more Ford Mustangs being drag raced than any other car, but this one still stands out. Under the hood is a 6.2-liter LS9 supercharged V8 from a Corvette ZR1, where it made 638hp. However, this one was pulled apart, ported, cammed, and improved, and is estimated to put out over 1000 hp at the crank, before the 300 hp hit of nitrous! Then the chassis was beefed up and dialed-in to pull wheelies all day long without breaking anything. Find out more on her Facebook page: Accelerated Racing Solutions.

Rad LS Swapped Camaro
Brian Johns competes in the Ultimate Street Car Challenge, which tests handling, power, braking, and the ability to survive ordinary street driving. Yes, Tara Johns with the turbo Miata 3/17 matchup is his wife, and together they built and race the Miata, an RX-7, and this 1989 Camaro RS (now with more than triple the power of the original V6!). This car may look like the ones that ruled high school parking lots in 1990, but under the sheet metal, it features UMI suspension, Viking shocks, and 6.2-liters of LS3 V8 power, along with Wilwood brakes. You can see more about it here: Brian Johns Instagram.

Classic Bel Air by Murder Nova
You may be more familiar with this 1955 Chevy’s owner as Murder Nova from the drag racing TV show Street Outlaws. Before he built that all black Nova he was fairly successful with this Bel Air on the track in small tire classes. Now updated with supercharged LS3 power and converted to street rod duties, it is still plenty fast in a straight line, while retaining the classic 1950s look. Even before the final tuning, and without the intercooler, the 416 cubic inch LS motor puts out 700hp at the wheels, on E85 pump gas. Get all the details here: 187 Customs YouTube.

1965 Chevy Super Nova
Jon Hensen, who built this supercharged 6.0-liter LS-powered Chevy II, works for Currie Enterprises, so you can bet it has a nice rear end. It also has 750hp and only weighs 2700lbs, despite still retaining all the factory brightwork and steel bumpers. Custom subframe with rack and pinion steering, coil-overs, and a four-link out back means it’s got plenty of grip, even with only modest-sized tires that fit in the original fenders. You can see more about it here: Jon Hensen Instagram.

Baja Boot Desert Rover
We’re not kidding about it resembling an alien rover. The original Boot was designed by off-road genius Vic Hickey, who helped with NASA’s lunar rover. The modern Boot is a mid-engined street-legal off-road supercar with 450hp, or up to 650hp, that can be driven to Baja, raced in the 1000, and driven home. Glickenhaus actually did that in 2019, beating a Ford-backed team in a new Bronco. If you’d like one of your own, they will happily sell you a two or four-seat version starting at $258,000. Read all about it here: Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus.

Pontiac/Chevy Drag Race Pony Car
People complain that the younger generation doesn’t like cars, but here’s our second college student building her own performance project. Swapping an LS engine is a real leg up to making your car fast, but Liv Scaffidi has done a lot more than that. Little by little, she has taken the weight off the 1971 Pontiac Firebird while improving its drag race bona fides with Centerline wheels, Truetrac differential, race seats, and roll cage. You can see more about it here: Liv Scaffidi Instagram.

Ford/Chevy Pro-Touring Pickup Truck
Today’s pickup trucks ride and handle like luxury cars, but Jason Scudellari’s old 1969 Ford “Bumpside” F100 rides and handles like a sports sedan. He added modern geometry front A-arms and massive Wilwood brakes designed to corner and stop at triple-digit speed to a custom boxed frame with four-link rear suspension. And the LS1 motor with an intercooled supercharger can undoubtedly get it up to those speeds, with more than 1000 hp. You can see more about it here: Week2Wicked Jason Instagram.

Fastest Car In The World
George Poteet has been the driving force behind some of the most beautiful hot rods and customs, commissioning several AMBR and Riddler Award winners over the years. When most guys would be retiring, he started land speed racing, and now at 72, he has gone better than 400 mph in the Speed Demon more than 50 times. The turbocharged 556 cubic inch Chevy big-block V8 is estimated to have more than 3000hp. They caught on fire but still managed to rebuild and officially run at over 480 mph last at Bonneville last year. You can see more about it here: Speed Demon 715.

Texaco Ultimate Street ‘69 Camaro
These days the 1969 Camaro has replaced the Ford Mustang as the most popular project among American car fans and builders. The classic Bill Mitchel profile may be all that remains original about Jason Bottenfield’s Ultimate Street Car Texaco Camaro, though. Under the skin is custom, modern-handling suspension, no leaf springs here, and a supercharged 6.2-liter LT5 V8 from a 2019 Corvette ZR1 lives under the hood. With 755hp and a six-speed manual transmission, this car has moves and speed 1960s Trans-Am racers only dreamed of. You can see more about it here: Texaco Camaro.

Budget Built Mustang Street Car
Ben Kahan is currently attending college, but he has been building this Mustang for years now as time and money allow. He uses all of the old tricks that Carroll Shelby and Car Craft Magazine popularized back in the day to improve pony cars, plus some modern innovations. Luckily Ben is talented behind a camera with a YouTube channel full of videos on his build, as well as a wealth of other people’s cars. You can watch more about it here: My Mustang on YouTube.

Ultra 4 High Tech Off-Roader
Bailey Campbell was born into an off-road racing family and competed in UTVs before legally driving a car on the street. She had to miss this year’s King of the Hammer’s because she is pregnant, but her co-driver managed to finish ninth without her in this very truck. This 4400 class Ultra 4 rig has ridiculous amounts of articulation for rock-crawling but has the power and handling for triple-digit speed runs across the desert. You can read more about her and her truck on Facebook: Bailey Campbell.

Autocross R-pack Miata Turbo
The internet says whatever the question, the answer is Miata. Tara Johns certainly thinks so, since she has been competitively autocrossing them for years and has even won SCCA championships. Her car looks like a stock 1995 Mazda Miata, but it’s a rare R-package with added turbo and other tweaks to make it quicker, faster, and better handling than the one your dental hygienist drives. You can read more about it on her Instagram: CarPartmentLife.

Drifting LS7 Powered BMW M3
Blake Olsen is a privateer in the increasingly expensive and competitive world of professional drifting. His home-built car is a 2007 BMW on the outside, but under the hood, it’s more Corvette Z06, with a LS7 V8 expanded out to 440 cubic inches, and spinning to 8500 rpm. There are also three sets of Wilwood calipers, with an extra set on the rear connected to the hydraulic handbrake. You can read more about it on his Instagram: BAE_Olsen.

Lokjaw
Banks Power's bread and butter is making performance parts for diesel pickup trucks. Lokjaw, the 1966 Chevy C20 3/4-ton truck they are building, features a supercharged Duramax diesel V8 engine built by Banks with more than 700hp. The authentically rusty body will be sitting on a Roadster Shop frame and suspension, with KibbeTech spindles and a unique set of Wilwood 8-lug hubs and brakes. You can read more about it at BanksPower.com.

GT500 Carbon Fiber
Classic Recreations builds modern pro-touring 1967 Shelby GT350 and GT500, and are fully Shelby licensed. Their cars are not warmed over Mustangs with a few bolt-ons and a coat of paint. These are entirely re-engineered and modernized vehicles. Today's challenger is their most ambitious yet, with an all-new lightweight carbon fiber body shell replacing the original steel panels for a stiffer foundation and supercharged Ford Coyote V8. You can read more about it at Classic-Recreations.com