Category: Features

The latest feature articles about the automotive aftermarket from THE SHOP.

Three-for-One: The Benefits of Performance Exhausts

Axle-back and cat-back aftermarket exhaust systems are always safe options for a shop to recommend. (Photo courtesy SpeedFX)

This article originally appeared in the March 2023 issue of THE SHOP magazine. With a performance exhaust system, drivers get to check off three boxes on their personalization lists at the same time—performance, appearance and sound. For shops looking at product lines that can help sell themselves, performance exhausts are a smart place to start.… Continue reading Three-for-One: The Benefits of Performance Exhausts

Interior Lighting: A Glow From Within

Shops can look to emulate top luxury models with aftermarket products and kits. (Photo courtesy Mercedes-Benz)

This article originally appeared in the March 2023 issue of THE SHOP magazine. Automotive interiors are getting brighter. Ambient lighting has become a selling point. Perhaps the one manufacturer most famous for leading the pack in interior lighting is Mercedes-Benz. Its ambient lighting packages are among the brightest and most prolific, and other automakers have… Continue reading Interior Lighting: A Glow From Within

Mazda Debuts New CX-90

Designed to be the brand’s new flagship vehicle, the three-row crossover SUV is powered by an available 340-hp, inline 6-cylinder turbocharged engine…

Building Your Restyling Business in 2023

Lessons learned over the past couple of years will strengthen your shop and the industry as a whole.

This article originally appeared in the February 2023 issue of THE SHOP magazine. So, how was your 2022? I would venture to guess that, like many shops I’ve encountered, overall business was pretty good. One thing I have always been fascinated by is how well we as restylers, along with our manufacturer partners, manage to… Continue reading Building Your Restyling Business in 2023

Odd Overlanders

There’s nothing quite like a 1955 DeSoto overlander built on a 1980s Ford F-250 chassis.

Story & Photos by Jason R. Sakurai (This article originally appeared in the February 2023 issue of THE SHOP magazine) Looking around at an overlanding event, what you may not notice right away are the alternatives to late-model Toyotas, Jeeps, Fords or Rams, which are currently the most popular rigs. Some uncommon builds, however, are… Continue reading Odd Overlanders

A Hard Look at Drag Racing

Kelly Anderson has fun and entertains fans with her wheel-standing “Stacy 2.0” Camaro at events like the weekly Thursday Night Thunder at Irwindale Drag Strip.

This article originally appeared in the February 2023 issue of THE SHOP magazine. “Is drag racing dying or is it dead?” That’s a real question, believe it or not, I often get asked and it’s darn hard to answer. After attending the opening night of the weekly Thursday Night Thunder at Irwindale Drag Strip in… Continue reading A Hard Look at Drag Racing