Mike FPE is someone I’ve enjoyed following on both Instagram and Youtube for a while, and his content is based around older Ford Fiestas. Small-fords in Australia are usually concentrated on the Mk1/Mk2 Escort platform, so it’s nice to get my fix of models I don’t usually see here. Recently, Mike made the enviable trek to Berg Cup in Germany, and was gracious enough to film the experience to share with his audience. Check out Pt1 below and don’t forget to follow up with Pt2 straight after!
Category: Videos
What I’m Watching: Tom is back!
It’s already been four years since Tom brought us the perfectly documented Project Thunderbolt LS3 Miata build. While he’s been keeping busy with his Figaro and AZ-1 projects, the time has finally come for the Turbo Garage to start another full build, this time an LS-turbo powered Toyota Tacoma. I can’t wait to see this one unfold with Tom’s token humour and build quality.
What I’m Watching – Saving an AE86 Trueno
Watch this crew of knockabout Irish lads pull a sad and sorry AE86 out from mother nature’s grip, and slowly bring it back to life in a series of vlogs. Juicebox are some of the funniest and most genuine guys on Youtube (to me, anyway!), with fast and frantic editing and colourful language adding to the smile-inducing viewing experience. I’ve had some genuine “laugh out loud” moments watching these guys over the past few months, and hope you will too.
What I’m Watching: Gordon Murray Mk1 Escort by Retropower
When Gordon Murray contacts your restoration shop to enquire about a project car, you’d better bring your A-game. Luckily for Retropower, it looks as though A-game is the only game they know. They’ve been tasked with building the Gordon Murray a Mk1 Escort, and are bringing us along for the ride via a video series. The filming has a nice relaxed pace and you have a great opportunity to listen to the thought-process behind the build from all members of the business. Will this be the worlds most sorted and best-built Mk1 Escort when it’s complete?
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What I’m Watching: Driftworks – How to Build a Crazy Drift Car
Driftworks is one of many companies who have stepped up their vlogging game in 2017, giving us a glimpse into not only their fleet and products, but the personalities behind them. Just over a week ago, the guys released a great video of the team looking back over the build of their ASCAR-based AE86 drift car, discussing in detail the process of the build, ups and downs, etc. Enjoy!
K-swapped EK Civic [video build]
I’ve been a long-time fan/follower of Pete and Dave from Speed Academy, two very entertaining Canadians with a knack for building fast cars (and building them the right way!). This video series centers around completely transforming a family members car from a very tired econo-box into a track-ready fun-machine. My favourite part (apart from all the building, of course) is the guy’s reactions once they hit the track and realise what they’ve created. If you haven’t seen any Speed Academy content before and you like high quality street and track cars, I really encourage you to check out their other video projects, such as the Mullet Mustang, RA24 Celica, Porsche 930 and many more.
Fun fact: Pete is also the owner/builder of the LS-swapped S13 I posted back in 2011!
What I’m Watching: The Iso Rivolta Chronicles
Late last year I was contacted by the team at An Italian Garage to inform me about their amazing project that was in production, and now it’s finally time to share it with you. It’s a series of short documentaries focusing on Italian classic car brands, with each season concentrating on a single brand. Season 1’s subject is the little-known brand called Iso Rivolta, and episode 1 concentrates on – but is not limited to – their 7ltr Iso Grifo sports car. This is a beautifully shot video, with rolling images that will make you want to move into a little garage in the hills of Italy (if you didn’t already). Everything about it is just great, the music fits perfectly and the stories from the owners and mechanics will draw you in. This is not a quick ‘news feed’ video, but something you should sit down and take some time out to properly enjoy. I can’t wait for the following episodes and seasons.
Follow An Italian Garage on Facebook and Drivetribe.
What I’m Watching: Alfa Romeo 155 DTM
Davide Cironi, an Italian Youtuber who seems to get his hands on a whole assortment of desirable cars, get’s the chance to drive an Alfa Romeo 155 DTM in anger. What an opportunity! The man certainly has a way with words, and even though those words are in Italian, the subtitles get the point across just fine. Along with being gifted with the art of story-telling, the man can also drive! His channel is definitely one to follow, as he thrashes everything from exotics to hot-hatches, and is also building a turbo V6 powered Countach replica.
12 Gauge Garage Video + the current state of YouTube
There seems to be a new trend on Youtube of people ripping off every image from a build thread (many of which are plucked from this site along with my post introductions) and uploading them as a slide-show in their entirety. They are generating thousands of views and reaping advertising dollars from other people’s hard work without so much as listing their source (unless they are forced to). I find this very opportunistic, dishonest, and downright rude.
I never once pretended to be an original content creator, but what I have never done is rip people off. Since 2009 this site has always been about being a ‘preview’ to a build thread, giving you – the reader – an introduction to the build and 10-20 summarised photos, before linking you to the original source if you are interested in reading more. The only exception to this rule was the F40LM restoration, of which I personally contacted the owner and asked his permission before re-posting his build here.
At the end of the day the decision is yours, but I hope you understand the difference between what I do, compared to what these (yes, there’s more than one) channels are doing. I hope you join me in celebrating the creators, the hard workers, and the people who care enough about what we love to stop mid-way through working on their car, bike or garage to take photos or video. One man who’s praises I’ll never stop singing in this regard is Jack Olsen, and he’s just released a new video about his ever-popular 12 Gauge Garage. So please, don’t take the lazy way out, find the real-deal guys and girls out there like Jack and make them the ones you give your attention, respect, and your views to.
What I’m Watching: Pneuma Chris (Subaru content)
Whilst doing one of my usual lurking sessions on Retro Rides, I stumbled upon a thread about a Subaru Brumby (Brat). I thought the car looked pretty cool, and then noticed the thread author dropping some links to his YouTube videos. Once I found my way around his channel, I really liked what I saw (or watched). Not only is there the aforementioned Brumby, but there’s also an SVX getting some love in the form of a custom fitted 180SX body kit. Chris’ on-screen persona is really easy to watch, being a likeable young brit who is just giving it a go and getting his hands dirty. I’m really enjoying following his exploits and hope you will too. You can find a few samples of his videos below, but please do make your way to his channel by clicking here.
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