OK, so yesterday we were still a bit buttoned-up and talked about how OnAllCylinders is committed to bringing you top-class automotive tech content, how-to articles, troubleshooting guides, engine specs, and other vital resources.
Today though, in our post-New Year party haze, we’re popping some aspirin and talking about some of the more fun and causal articles we ran in 2024.
Some are features on amazing vehicles, some are fascinating interviews, while some are just fun. So brew another pot of coffee, put some Guy Lombardo on the hi-fi, and join us as we reminisce about 2024.
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15 of Our Favorite Automotive Feature Stories from 2024
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15. Jan. 11, 2024 – Meet the Project Wayfinder Toyota Tacoma Build Series
We love us a good truck build around here and the Project Wayfinder series was one of our favorites. Over the course of several months, the Summit Racing tech folks transformed a Toyota Tacoma into a solid all-arounder rig capable of bringing you and your gear wherever your adventure takes you.
The truck features a mix of practical upgrades that improves its cargo hauling and off-road capabilities, without significantly impacting its on-road drivability. And that’s a win-win in our book. Check out all the deets on Project Wayfinder here.
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14. Feb. 2, 2024 – Happy 2+2 Day!
We’re trying to start a new holiday on February 2nd to honor the famed Pontiac G-Body Grand Prix homologation special of the mid 1980s.
Far more than a sticker and stripe package, the Grand Prix 2+2 was designed for NASCAR and featured a host of visible modifications to the original Grand Prix recipe. But it was also significantly different than its close cousin, the Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe—notably with a dramatically restyled backglass. If you’re into 1980s GM oddities, this one’s worth the read.
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13. Feb. 9, 2024 – 540 Cubes of Fun: Building a 712 Horsepower Big Block Chevy
What does it take to bring a big block Chevy V8 past the 700 horsepower mark without nitrous or boost? Our pal and expert engine builder Mike Mavrigian will show you. (Hint: It starts with punching out an aftermarket Dart block to 540 cubic inches.)
If you like high-power Rat motors built to precision specs, this article series is packed with plenty of photos, engine specs, and part numbers—in case you’re tempted to build one yourself!
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12. Mar. 21, 2024 – Mean Green: Paul Rivard’s 1974 Chevy Camaro Type LT
Admittedly, it doesn’t take much for us to fall in love with a second-gen. F-body. But when we saw all the oh-so-subtle body modifications to this “big bumper” 1974 Camaro, our proverbial hearts skipped a beat.
And as it turns out, the beauty is way more than skin deep here too. With a retro-looking 427 LS3 under the hood, and a host of suspension and brake upgrades all around, this Chevy is built to tackle the autocross course. It’s no wonder the Summit Racing folks chose it to grace a recent catalog cover.
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11. Mar. 31, 2024 – GM’s Hidden N-O-V-A Easter Egg
We love learning new, obscure automotive trivia around here, so you can imagine our delight when we heard about the whole N-O-V-A treat that General Motors hid in plain sight.
That’s because GM expanded its X-Body lineup in 1973 and needed to come up with some names for the Nova’s new stablemates from Pontiac, Buick, and Oldsmobile. The marketing folks deserve a serious slow clap for this clever little detail. Don’t get it? Read the article to get in on the secret.
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10. May 21, 2024 – This 1964 Ford Econoline is a Rolling Radio Station
Spotted, in all places, a Ham Radio convention, this retired Collins Radio van has a ton of history packed into its steel Econoline body. And to get that history, we spoke to one of the guys who drove it back in the day.
Meticulously restored to the way it appeared in the 1960s, you’ve got to see all the innovative modifications done to turn the van into both a product display vehicle and a rolling emergency radio station. This article will take you inside and out, as you learn all about the van’s provenance.
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9. June 20, 2024 – Diamond in the Rust: Brian Reed’s 1964 Ford F100
You’ve undoubtedly heard the phrase “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” Well, remember that when you pop the hood on this rustic-looking hauler. Another Summit Racing Catalog Feature, this classic truck is hiding a not-so-secret driveline—just look at the license plate.
What was once a forgotten F100 doomed to rust away in a field has been transformed into a super clean performance truck that’s been able to maintain a lot of vintage charm. Take a closer look and you’ll see what we mean.
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8. July 10, 2024 – Maximum Acceleration at the 2024 NHRA Summit Racing Nationals
It’s our favorite drag racing event, with some of our favorite racers, at our favorite track—so yeah, of course we’re going to smile whenever we read this story.
OnAllCylinders contributor Evan Smith was at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio for the race and, better still, he brought his camera and hit us with plenty of awesome pics throughout the entire weekend. It was the next best thing to being there in person—and we’d be remiss if we didn’t say a hearty congratulations to a pair of Team Summit drivers who took home championship trophies this season, the 2024 NHRA Pro Stock Champ Greg Anderson and the 2024 NHRA Top Fuel Champ Antron Brown!
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7. Aug. 22, 2024 – How to Choose the Best Project Car
Part opinion piece, part buyer’s guide—we honestly could’ve tossed this one in our Top Technical Articles post from yesterday. But we had so much fun putting it together, that the story feels more at home here.
The article covers a range of topics, from structural rust and the DMV, to price and parts support, addressing all the nuances you need to consider before taking the plunge on a project car (or truck). Truth is, this one’s a fun read even if you’ve already had multiple project vehicles in the past too.
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6. Sep. 13, 2024 – Jimmy Ålund Wins His 13th FIA European Pro Stock Championship
Professional drag racers are some of the nicest folks around—and on our personal list of the friendliest, you’ll find Swedish drag racer and Team Summit driver Jimmy Ålund near the top. So when we heard Jimmy secured his 13th FIA European Pro Stock championship this summer, we jumped at the chance to call him up and talk to him about it.
Suffice it to say, he was a happy dude and you’ll see that reflected in the interview. If you’re into international motorsports, you should check out the story.
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5. Sep. 15, 2024 – Here Are the 10 Best Vehicles of the 1980s (Says You)
The Summit Racing social media folks asked the question, and we compiled the most popular responses here. Some suggestions were surprising, some were expected, but they’re all equally rad—so grab a box of ECTO Cooler and scroll through what your fellow gearheads think are the best performance cars of the 1980s.
Spoiler alert, the article references both Dominic Santini and Missy Preston-Logan. If you’re not familiar with those two names, you might want to do some research first.
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4. Oct. 17, 2024 – “The Cannonball Run” Celebration Attracts Rare & Historic Cars
OnAllCylinders contributor Steve Swisher attended a special showing of “The Cannonball Run” movie. The screening was part of an Ohio film festival that was accompanied by a fleet of top-tier classics and historical vehicles.
Learn about the history behind the famed cross-country race and check out a few of the incredible cars he spotted. And in case you were wondering, even Captain Chaos himself made an appearance.
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3. Oct. 25, 2024 – Street Legal & Into the 9s – Meet Matt Zapp & His Chevy S-10
In one of our favorite OnAllCylinders Podcast episodes, we spoke with Matt Zapp all about his 1984 Chevy S-10. It’s an all-steel, tagged, and titled truck that is breaking into the 9s—and yes, he can still go get ice cream with it.
Matt’s a super fun guy and gives us plenty of insight into the build, along with what he’s planning on doing next. This one’s a good listen for anyone dreaming up a hot street/strip project and wants some inspiration.
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2. Nov. 12, 2024 – A Conversation with Automotive Icon Peter Brock
It’s not often you get to talk to the guy who designed the iconic C2 Corvette Stingray, so when you do, make darn sure to take plenty of notes.
Truth is, the Stingray Racer is just one line item on Brock’s amazing resume—the guy also designed the famed Shelby Daytona coupe, campaigned several championship-winning Datsuns as a team owner, and is still working hard to this day. We caught up with him during the 2024 SEMA Show as he was unveiling his stunning 2025 Studio Concept show car.
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1. Dec. 26, 2024 – What is a Boxer Engine & Where Can You Find Them?
For Boxing Day just a week ago, we took a closer look at the boxer engine. We talk about some pros and cons of the unique design, and include some interesting history behind the engine. You’ll also read about a few of the vehicles that use a boxer engine—some you’ll probably know already, but some we’re betting you wont.
If you’re a fan of interesting automotive, motorcycle, boat, and airplane history, this is one you’ll definitely want to read. And that’s doubly true if you’re a BMW, Subaru, VW, or Corvair fan.
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Look, we published hundreds of articles this year, so we had to omit some really, really good posts to get this list down to just 15 entries. But if you had a particular OnAllCylinders vehicle feature, interview, or other fun story from 2024 that you think we missed here, let us know about it in the comments section below.
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