Ever wonder what it's like to purchase a vehicle online from a Web site such as eBay Motors? And how about buildup options? Can you build a quality sport truck from parts found on the Web? Just how thoroughly can you tailor your truck this way? And how good are those online bargains out there? Are they really as great as they're made out to be, or are they mostly hype?
We're about to find out for ourselves, and we'll let you know what we discover as we embark on our newest buildup project: the Primedia Editors' Charity Challenge.
Ten Primedia editorial teams - including Sport Truck magazine and our sister publication, Truckin' - have been given a specific budget to purchase, design, build, and modify a project vehicle using eBay Motors. Over the next few months, we'll be scouring the site, buying a truck, scrounging for parts, placing our bids, and turning wrenches. Along the way, we'll tell you what we've learned about the art of how to cyber-build a street truck, and hopefully pass on some tips that can help you find the baddest online bargains out there.
And the cool thing is, after we're done, you'll have a chance to own our finished creation. Once completed, our truck - and all the other Primedia project rigs - will all go back to eBay Motors, to be put up for auction with no reserve. Proceeds from all auctions will go to charity, and you'll also get to vote for which Primedia vehicles you like best in a variety of categories, including Best Overall.
In-depth Charity Challenge coverage begins in next month's issue of Sport Truck magazine, on sale August 10, 2004. Stay tuned in future months for additional buildup stories. And check out www.sporttruck.com and www.editorscharitychallenge.com for regular updates in the meantime.
2nd Annual Magnaflow NationalsThe second edition of the annual MagnaFlow Nationals car show, presented by Kontradictions truck club, is becoming one of the places to be in late April. The show drew several automotive celebrities and some very high-quality custom vehicles.
Mario Andretti and Ivan "Iron Man" Stewart were the guests of honor, but the crowd also got to rub elbows with designing legends Boyd Coddington and Chip Foose as well as get a chance for an autographed poster with racer Terry Borcheller and the MagnaFlow girls.
The cars in the show were by invitation only, but the show was free to the public. More than 175 vehicles and 3,000 people made it to the event to enjoy several legendary cars, such as a Panoz GT race car, the Boyd AlumaTub, several race cars from K&N, and the 1,000hp Prolong Nash Metropolitan.
Grave Digger and the Ameriquest Mortgage Monster Truck thrilled the kids, and MagnaFlow made it easy to find your preferred addiction by arranging the show vehicles in specific areas. The areas included Truck Town, Sport Compact Row, and the Street Rod/Musclecar area.
MagnaFlow staged a four-hour SuperCar buildup, where the crew built an '04 Mustang Cobra. Right before the eyes of the showgoers, the install crew bolted in Denso plugs, an Optima battery, a CenterForce clutch, Eibach and Bilstein suspension components, Hotchkis goodies, American Racing wheels on Yokohama tires, and, lastly, a K&N FIPK and MagnaFlow after-cat exhaust. The combo reportedly made 58 more horsepower at the wheels.