Kyle Smith

2 weeks ago | hagerty.com | Kyle Smith

The fluidity of language has always impressed me. That’s not to say I’ve always understood new usage of old words, or that I’ve agreed with each new entry into the vernacular. One example is “shitbox.” I know I’m late to the game on this one—the majority of car enthusiasts seem to have moved past the term. Only recently have I fully understood and embraced the harsh descriptor of the lovable junk that inhabits the driveways of many enthusiasts. As “shitbox” rose to prominence, I rejected it.

2 weeks ago | hagerty.com | Kyle Smith

When most of us buy a new car and want to make it a little special or unique, we might search for the perfect bumper sticker or set of floor mats. If the car in question is a McLaren, there are more options than you might believe, and most of them come from sending the car to McLaren Special Operations. What happens there is some version of vehicular magic, and if you don’t believe us you can take a tour with Harry’s Garage and see for yourself.

2 weeks ago | hagerty.com | Kyle Smith

It’s April, and for the colder regions of the U.S., car show season is still merely a figment of the imagination, something we think of as we shuffle into the garage to get something out of the freezer for dinner, squeezing by the sleeping beauty waiting patiently for its ignition switch kiss to awaken from slumber. That time is right around the corner, but further south, the shows are already in full swing.

3 weeks ago | hagerty.com | Kyle Smith

All things under the hood of a car have an inherent delicate nature and require special tools and knowledge to fix, but there are a couple engine components that carry the bulk of the responsibility in keeping things running smooth. One of them is the cylinder head. One small error or omission can lead to the need to re-do all the work you’ve already done or worse—expensive engine failure.

3 weeks ago | hagerty.com | Kyle Smith

Engines are at once surprisingly delicate and amazingly robust. The explosive forces contained within their combustion chambers are shockingly powerful, and it only takes one small crack to send an otherwise perfect engine block to the scrap bin. Well, not every damaged block gets melted down to become something else. Some people are dedicated to fixing things, and thanks to one shop, there’s one more Flathead Mercury V-8 headed into a car rather than into the bin.