The process of developing and producing a Hot Wheels toy requires much of the same consideration and nearly as much time as major automakers put into production cars on the road. Of course, the timeframes and scope and regulations require slightly less in the way of real-world investment, yet the company actually attracts many designers and engineers away from “real” automakers.

In the tranquil town of Walnut Grove, California, nestled between the scenic Sacramento Valley and the bustling Bay Area, stands the now iconic Streamline Moderne building housing Morris Motors. Owner Sutton Morris, 41, and his father have dedicated themselves to personalized service, earning a loyal clientele over the past two decades. Sutton and his team have developed a reputation for taking on projects that other shops shy away from, becoming a beacon of hope for orphaned cars that might otherwise never find their way back to the road.

The world was treated to some of the finest driver’s cars of a generation during the 1980s and ‘90s, when Mercedes-Benz and BMW went head-to-head in the fierce arena of Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) racing. Enter the 190E Cosworth 2.3-16 (chassis code W201). Hailing from an era of Mercedes when taglines like “Engineered like no other car in the world” meant business, the 190E exudes the highest levels of build quality, four decades on. This relentless philosophy of engineering excellence, although not the most profitable in the short term, forged the brand identity of Mercedes we are presented with today.

Meet the Toyota Triplets, dressed to impress in their period-best attire: a Celica GT Coupe ’84 ADVAN, a GT-Four model ’90, Repsol, Starlet ’94 Castrol. Owners and rally drivers Logan Sorter, Daniel Sipes-Brandt, and Ben Schepper stand near, clad in the go-to uniform of frosty rally days: wooly hats, gum boots, and ski gloves. With breath hanging in the near-freezing air, we chat about everything wondrous about the Toyota rally car.

It only takes a second of looking at Marty’s car to realize that there’s something very different about it. It’s entirely too clean to be a seasoned racer. But that’s not all. Purpose-built race cars usually prioritize function over form. Marty’s car represents a never-ending quest to achieve perfect function through perfect form. 

Everything in life revolves around racing — the glorious pursuit of being first in the field. You can engineer speed, and Betim Berisha has spent the last 20 years dedicated to chasing tenths of a second that others don’t find worthy of pursuit.

The sumptuous allure of the Aston Martin DB4 comes from its painstaking assembly and attention to detail. Every panel has been fitted by hand with perfect gaps and alignment; there is no sense in breaking out a ruler to check tolerances, if disputed, the car would just prove the ruler wrong. Each weld was laid methodically at the perfect temperature and is completely free of spatter. Even the nooks and crannies of the Aston reveal perfection

Ferrari of Seattle’s Roberto Perrina strides into the temporary race car paddock built in the shadow of the Wynn Las Vegas hotel and casino. He pulls up his race suit and laces his driving shoes purposefully because he’ll soon be roaring through the illuminated streets of Las Vegas. And each gear shift will write another chapter in he and his brother Tino’s Book of Dreams for Scuderia 1999, the dealership’s official race team.

In a brisk nine months, Aaron Ross and his father, Duane Ross built their Remastered Meyers Manx in their family garage in Corpus Christi, Texas. However, the Ross’s spirit to fabricate, enjoy good ol’ fun, and “go big” is longstanding and multi-generational.

British photographer Amy Heynes (neé Shore) is fumbling with the Instagram live settings, to share her newest acquisition: a thin, custom-made leather camera harness. Heynes banters to the camera, part mentor, part pal, extolling the slender buckles and straps, explaining the ease of quickly shifting camera from hip to face. In captures of cars and their admirers, Heynes delivers an emotional authenticity rarely found in today’s automotive photography.

The NSU Prinz 1000 TT is a name that resonates with automotive aficionados who appreciate the blend of compact design, spirited performance, and German engineering precision. Born during an era when small cars were gaining popularity, the Prinz 1000 TT stood out as a pocket-sized powerhouse that left a lasting impression. For Ace Robey, owner of Retro Sporting, it is a treasured part of his car collection. A very uncommon and interesting find, full of detail and history. This less known German car with an air-cooled rear engine is part of Audi’s history and the first to have the famous TT badge. It was fully restored in 2021, with a 1.0-liter inline four-cylinder air-cooled engine, 40mm twin Webers, full stainless-steel exhaust, and Gaz adjust able suspension.

While many car manufacturers in the 1970s did their best to design cars that attracted one’s visual attention, there were many that missed the mark with painful consequences. The design of the 1972 BMW CSi ran counter to this notion. While some might describe it as understated and unassuming, its beauty lies in its simplicity.

Anyone active in West Coast car culture knows, or at least has heard of, Jay Ward. A frequent judge at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and occasional car reviewer for Automotive Addicts, an occasional contributor for Hagerty, Magneto, and Linkage magazines, as well as on Instagram posting as @dadsdailydriver, Ward rose to public prominence after working at Pixar on the Cars film franchise. But serving as creative consultant and creative director for one of the most beloved automotive movie series of all time didn’t happen by chance. A little luck factored into the story, sure, but as he tells it, the theme has always been cars.

For decades, the BMW M5 has been the pinnacle for people who crave the perfect blend of luxury and exhilaration. Some describe it as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” or the “perfect sleeper.” However, BMW coined a phrase we all know too well that best describes this understated sedan. Come on, let’s say it together, “the ultimate driving machine.”

To see into the future is a gift predisposed on few. Those who possess this natural intuition often change the way our world functions and orbits forward. From technology to style, from design to construction, there was always someone with an imminent vision. Fifty years ago in Frankfurt, Germany Rainer Buchmann saw the future of automotive styling and in 1974 along with his wife Kathrin established Buchmann & Buchmann, the legendary brand better known as bb-Auto.

An eyeful any way you look at it, the “Universal-Motor-Gerät” (universally applicable motorized device) or Unimog has been in production since 1948 and offered under the Mercedes-Benz banner since ’51. It is an agricultural appliance, a literal Swiss Army Knife that teams having numerous farm implements at the ready with the ability to roam out of the fi elds and into the village when the need arises. It’s a two-faced tractor for the ages.

George ‘Buz’ Ras III is not your stereotypical automotive repairman. He is six-feet, six-inches tall, athletic, and has flowing shoulder-length blonde hair. He was dressed for a night out on the town at his local saloon replete with a Stetson hat hanging at the ready when I met him at his Seattle Speedometer headquarters just outside Ellensburg, Washington.

The 944 debuted on Porsche’s turnstile at the 1981 Frankfurt Motor Show. The show car, designed by Anatole Lapine, drew heavily from the 924 Carrera GT prototype from 1979. The production 944 carried over the hardest hitting design cues from the 924 Carrera GT, namely the aggressive widened rear haunches, contoured front end treatment, and low-slung stance.

Barely running when he purchased it on Bring a Trailer in 2019, Ragalie has managed to breath new life into this Italian machine. The Mondial is unique to begin with—it has a slightly higher roofline than most Ferraris and it can accommodate up to four passengers—but Ragalie saw an opportunity to build something truly special, and he had enough experience to make it a reality.