May 27, 2025

Gearheads Rejoice: Rare Cars, Raptors and Secret Spots

00:00

Beyond the highways and byways lies a world of hidden automotive treasures most people never discover. Our journey begins in Houston, uncovering six remarkable destinations that fly under most visitors' radars.

We explore the Sam Houston Boat Tour, offering free 90-minute cruises that reveal the bustling Port of Houston from a completely different perspective. Then we venture into Buffalo Bayou Park, a surprising 160-acre natural oasis nestled right in downtown Houston, complete with walking trails and family-friendly activities. For automotive enthusiasts, we uncover the Art Car Museum (affectionately called "Garage Mahal"), showcasing vehicles transformed into rolling works of art. Just outside the city, we visit the impressive Hemi Hideout, housing an extraordinary collection of restored Mopars and Americana in a 21,000-square-foot facility that's an attraction all its own. Racing fans will appreciate our discovery of the Houston Motorsports Museum, preserving Texas racing heritage with collections ranging from IndyCars to NASCAR machines. We round out our Houston exploration with the Lone Star Flight Museum, which surprisingly includes significant automotive elements like World War II Jeeps and military vehicles.

The conversation shifts to "banned, crushed, and forgotten muscle" – those legendary cars that never quite made it to glory. From the ultra-rare 1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL1 (only two ever built) to Ford's answer to the Dodge Charger Daytona – the 1971 Ford Torino King Cobra – we examine six fascinating vehicles that represent automotive history's road not taken. These cars, often too expensive, too radical, or victims of changing regulations, offer a glimpse into what might have been.

We conclude with a comprehensive review of the completely redesigned 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor. This midsize pickup delivers impressive off-road capabilities with Fox shocks, increased wheel travel, and a powerful 3.0-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost engine generating 405 horsepower. Starting at $57,065 for the Raptor version, we examine how it stacks up against competitors like the Toyota Tacoma TRD and Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison. Whether you're planning your next

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00:00 - Hidden Houston Destinations

03:27 - Banned and Forgotten Muscle Cars

08:53 - 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Review

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Mr Mars has a new feature.

00:00:05.389 --> 00:00:07.854
We're going to start today driving destinations, mr.

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Mars and I started out with Houston.

00:00:09.983 --> 00:00:13.051
I mean, it's local and it's a good place to start on a memorial weekend.

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Hidden Houston.

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Now, one of the things I found was the Sam Houston Boat Tour.

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Now this offers a free opportunity for families to explore one of the busiest ports in the United States.

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Now this is a 90-minute cruise.

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Takes passengers along the Houston Ship Channel aboard a 95-foot boat.

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It's air-conditioned.

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You get close-up views to what's going on in the Port of Houston Completely different view than looking at it over the bridge and going across it.

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But you need to make advance reservations because this is a really popular thing to do in Houston.

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Buffalo Bayou Park.

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What caught my attention on this?

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This is 160 acres of green space in downtown Houston.

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Never knew it existed.

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Walking trails, bike paths, play areas.

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It's got hiking, biking, picnics, wildlife spotting.

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There's a play area with rock climbing walls, water features and a sand pit that kids can play and get lost in.

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There's interpretive signs.

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This is a really cool place to go out and take the family and get out around nature without spending a lot of money.

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Now getting into something a little more automotive the Art Car Museum, also known as the Garage Mahal.

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Now, this is a unique Houston attraction dedicated to vehicles transformed into rolling works of art.

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Now, part of this comes into the Art Car Parade that happens once a year, but this is a museum that you can go to all around.

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If you miss the parade, you can go see where some of these cars end up at the Art Car Museum Cool.

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Now, the other thing that you want to look at if you're a car guy is the Hemi Hideout.

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Now, this is outside of Houston, but we're going to call it the Houston area because it's so awesome.

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It's 40 minutes west of Houston, in Brookshire.

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It's a private collection of restored Mopars, neon signs and Americana 21,000 square foot building to put this in.

00:02:01.549 --> 00:02:07.265
The building itself is worth going to look at if you like the signs and everything.

00:02:07.265 --> 00:02:07.965
This is a great place to go.

00:02:07.965 --> 00:02:18.883
Need to make advanced arrangements uh, all the money that that people collect from going to see this, uh, it goes to charity and they usually match that, so you need to call them and check on this.

00:02:18.883 --> 00:02:20.888
The hemi hideout in brookshire.

00:02:21.590 --> 00:02:29.800
Then, going over to speed sports, there's something I found they're called the houston motorsports museum and this is out in the woodlands area at speed motorsports facility.

00:02:29.800 --> 00:02:35.259
It's a museum that's focused on the collection of race cars, memorabilia and historic vehicles.

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It's dedicated preserving the history of motorsports in texas and specifically and beyond, with things like indycars, formula one, one, nascar and endurance racing machines.

00:02:45.491 --> 00:02:47.867
Great place, close, to go check it out.

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Plus, you can do a little driving while you're out there.

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Finally, I wanted to mention the Lone Star Flight Museum.

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Now it's primarily focused on aviation, but it's such a cool place.

00:02:56.971 --> 00:03:11.632
It's in Houston, includes a collection of vintage military aircraft, war-era automobiles and it's out at Ellington Field and it's got some World War II Jeeps, motorcycles, staff cars and some other transportation vehicles.

00:03:11.632 --> 00:03:16.151
They even have hands-on activities with simulators, guided tours available.

00:03:16.151 --> 00:03:22.611
It's very family-friendly, admission is modest and this is a great place to go see some really cool stuff with your family.

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Check out Hidden Houston while you're out and about.

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All right, Thank you, sir.

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Very good Time now for Jeff's car culture Banned, crushed and forgotten muscle, that's right.

00:03:39.020 --> 00:03:40.927
So not every muscle car made it to glory.

00:03:40.927 --> 00:03:46.000
Some were banned before they even hit the streets, others were quietly crushed after their moment had passed.

00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:51.900
So this first one up on the block is a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL1.

00:03:51.900 --> 00:03:58.844
The 69 ZL1 was technically a production car, but just barely Chevy built a new one.

00:03:58.844 --> 00:04:04.918
Just two of these, powered with an all-aluminum 427 V8 designated for racing.

00:04:04.918 --> 00:04:11.837
The engine alone added $4,000 to the price, doubling the cost of that standard Corvette and that year-made model.

00:04:11.837 --> 00:04:18.524
Too expensive, too aggressive for the public roads, the ZL1 faded into obscurity and it just went away.

00:04:18.564 --> 00:04:21.125
Well, it didn't fade that much because you got it on this thing.

00:04:21.185 --> 00:04:27.055
Well, both examples survived, but they're in private collections and not used.

00:04:27.055 --> 00:04:31.192
So next one 71, ford Torino.

00:04:31.192 --> 00:04:34.509
King Cobra Ford's response to the Dodge Charger.

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Daytona and the Superbird was the Torino King Cobra Sleek fastback and radically sloped nose designed for NASCAR aerodynamics.

00:04:43.396 --> 00:04:43.976
God, that's ugly.

00:04:44.096 --> 00:04:44.317
Woo.

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Only three prototypes were built before NASCAR changed the rules.

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After they built them, it said no more.

00:04:50.927 --> 00:04:51.591
No more of that.

00:04:51.591 --> 00:04:53.189
With the program scrapped.

00:04:53.189 --> 00:04:54.954
The King Cobra never reached production.

00:04:54.954 --> 00:05:01.805
The prototypes were quietly shelved and the 429 jet engine silenced before they could make the headlines.

00:05:02.065 --> 00:05:03.271
I wonder where that car is today.

00:05:03.271 --> 00:05:05.266
It's a museum piece.

00:05:05.266 --> 00:05:05.949
It's a museum piece.

00:05:06.009 --> 00:05:09.324
It's a museum piece 65 Pontiac Catalina 2 Plus 2.

00:05:09.404 --> 00:05:12.454
I remember these 421 high output I remember these.

00:05:12.514 --> 00:05:13.076
I love that car.

00:05:13.076 --> 00:05:22.574
Pontiac's Catalina 2 Plus 2 was built to move, especially when equipped with a 421 high output engine making 376 horsepower at a time.

00:05:22.574 --> 00:05:31.954
Though it was a full-size coupe, it had quarter-mile performance that rivaled mid-size muscle cars, but overshadowed by its GTO sibling.

00:05:31.954 --> 00:05:34.831
So it's a little bit smaller on the GTO side, but that's a beautiful car.

00:05:34.831 --> 00:05:35.855
Plus, it's a ragtop.

00:05:35.855 --> 00:05:36.216
That's good.

00:05:36.216 --> 00:05:41.615
Next one we're going to go to Mike is the 71 AMC Matador Machine.

00:05:41.615 --> 00:05:48.396
The Machine AMC planned to follow up with the Rebel machine with a more aggressive Matador version in 71.

00:05:48.396 --> 00:05:55.591
The idea was to carry over the machine's 401 V8 and the graphics, but marketing didn't back it.

00:05:55.591 --> 00:05:56.274
They didn't like it.

00:05:56.274 --> 00:06:00.514
A few prototypes were made but the project quietly died before mass production.

00:06:00.514 --> 00:06:07.387
What's left of the Matador machine concept is mostly photos, paperwork and a few scattered parts no one completed.

00:06:07.387 --> 00:06:12.492
No known completed cars have survived, making it one of the strangest.

00:06:12.552 --> 00:06:12.632
AMCs.

00:06:12.632 --> 00:06:16.029
There is Now wait just a minute, that's a late model Tahoe back there in the back.

00:06:16.029 --> 00:06:17.307
So somebody's got that dead car.

00:06:17.326 --> 00:06:19.949
Yeah, somebody's got that there, but that's just what I can tell you.

00:06:19.949 --> 00:06:21.935
Okay it's a photoshop, it could be uh.

00:06:21.935 --> 00:06:25.666
1966 fairlane gtx prototype.

00:06:25.666 --> 00:06:33.552
This fairlane was a ford prototype created to bridge the gap between the mustang and the full-size so what is the valve covers that have shot through the?

00:06:33.713 --> 00:06:34.153
uh, what the?

00:06:34.173 --> 00:06:36.887
hell is that loose bolts?

00:06:36.927 --> 00:06:45.709
I think it's been recalled uh no, but if you think about, if you think about the, the later models of the roadrunner and stuff, they had hoods, not like that.

00:06:45.709 --> 00:06:47.375
That's ridiculous, not near that tall.

00:06:48.747 --> 00:06:49.769
It wore a unique badging.

00:06:49.769 --> 00:06:56.319
Interior trim reportedly tested a few suspension tweaks that would later show up on the GT and the Cobra models.

00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:02.877
It never intended for production, but after a few developmental changes it was reportedly destroyed.

00:07:02.877 --> 00:07:06.656
What makes it interesting is how the little photographic evidence remains.

00:07:06.656 --> 00:07:10.896
One of these cars you hear about engineering's, performed executives, all that good stuff.

00:07:10.896 --> 00:07:12.730
No one knows where it went, what.

00:07:12.730 --> 00:07:16.295
That is a new Explorer or something.

00:07:16.584 --> 00:07:18.711
Yeah, it's an Expedition or something.

00:07:18.750 --> 00:07:21.076
There you go, 73.

00:07:21.076 --> 00:07:22.651
Somebody has that car.

00:07:22.651 --> 00:07:28.267
73 Pontiac Trans Am SD455 with an aluminum block, or, as they say, aluminium block.

00:07:28.267 --> 00:07:29.872
Sd was super duty.

00:07:29.872 --> 00:07:33.764
Super duty 455 is already a rare piece of pontiac history.

00:07:33.764 --> 00:07:37.398
But there's a subset of prototypes that took things further.

00:07:37.398 --> 00:07:44.978
A handful of pre-production cars were fitted with experimental aluminum blocks for weight savings and better heat distribution.

00:07:44.978 --> 00:07:49.836
Only a few were ever built and most were destroyed after testing.

00:07:49.836 --> 00:07:51.470
None were sold to the public.

00:07:51.470 --> 00:07:57.175
Rumors persisted about one surviving car in private hands, but nothing has been confirmed.

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That's a pretty car.

00:07:58.197 --> 00:07:58.918
I like that car.

00:07:58.964 --> 00:08:00.370
Well, that would be easy to do.

00:08:00.370 --> 00:08:03.935
You could hide that all-aluminum V8 underneath the hood.

00:08:03.935 --> 00:08:09.375
Yeah, even though it was just a regular Trans Am at the time, or a Camaro or Firebird, whatever.

00:08:09.516 --> 00:08:12.473
All the externals, and there's companies that make the retro.

00:08:12.584 --> 00:08:15.855
They'll take a new Camaro and they'll make it look with the old body, styling and stuff.

00:08:15.855 --> 00:08:18.519
It's still new, but they'll make it kind of retro looking.

00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:19.045
That's no fun.

00:08:19.065 --> 00:08:20.889
I had an aluminum block car one time.

00:08:20.889 --> 00:08:27.180
It was the lightweight, I understand, but it always had a heating problem.

00:08:27.180 --> 00:08:32.037
You had to be careful that you didn't cook the engine because it just didn't take much to heat it up.

00:08:32.885 --> 00:08:36.035
Well, you're probably using the mechanical fan on the front there of the motor.

00:08:36.035 --> 00:08:38.524
Oh, absolutely 1963.

00:08:38.524 --> 00:08:40.570
Oh yeah, they didn't have electric fans back then.

00:08:42.205 --> 00:08:42.725
So it was.

00:08:42.725 --> 00:08:51.197
You know I could see why they tried it, but it didn't work so good.

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All right Time now for this hour's car review.

00:08:54.530 --> 00:08:58.565
I had the opportunity to drive the 2024 Ford Ranger.

00:08:58.565 --> 00:09:01.844
Now you say, well, wait a minute, it's not a 25.

00:09:01.844 --> 00:09:03.028
Well, it's a brand new one.

00:09:03.028 --> 00:09:10.190
The Ranger has been completely redesigned for 24, and they didn't make any changes really for 25.

00:09:10.190 --> 00:09:12.086
So take that for what you will.

00:09:12.086 --> 00:09:16.811
Final assembly location Wayne, michigan, at Michigan Assembly, I've been there.

00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:22.010
Available trim levels the XL, the XLT, the Lariat and the Raptor.

00:09:22.010 --> 00:09:26.572
I had the SuperCrew 4x4 Rapt raptor.

00:09:26.572 --> 00:09:28.759
This is a mid-sized pickup truck.

00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:30.104
That's what we're going to call it anyway.

00:09:30.104 --> 00:09:33.864
Seats five little tight in the back seat because it's not a full-size pickup truck.

00:09:33.864 --> 00:09:35.688
Now it's all new for 24.

00:09:35.708 --> 00:09:44.750
As I mentioned, it has a raptor specific grill and you would think that it has wider fenders like they have on the Raptor 150.

00:09:44.750 --> 00:09:45.551
It does not.

00:09:45.551 --> 00:09:46.693
It's the same.

00:09:46.693 --> 00:09:53.498
It has fender extensions on it to gobble up all of that big rubber, and I'll tell you about that in a minute.

00:09:53.498 --> 00:09:54.677
Front skid plate on it.

00:09:54.677 --> 00:10:03.046
Optional bedlock-capable wheels with 33-inch all-terrain tires, which, by the way, is a $1,500 option.

00:10:03.046 --> 00:10:03.905
There it is right there.

00:10:03.905 --> 00:10:07.149
Exterior I told you about that.

00:10:07.149 --> 00:10:11.432
What I liked about it we like the F-150 Raptor.

00:10:11.432 --> 00:10:16.556
Look applied to its little brother the Raptor Ranger.

00:10:16.556 --> 00:10:18.297
Now, what could use improvement?

00:10:18.297 --> 00:10:23.783
Not a big fan of the Raptor graphics, but that's just me.

00:10:23.783 --> 00:10:31.663
I like the more conservative look, so you can get it without the graphics on it, and I think that may be one of those things where they send the graphics down to the dealer and the dealer applies them.

00:10:31.663 --> 00:10:34.899
I don't know, but I'm not a big fan of the graphics.

00:10:35.081 --> 00:10:36.927
Or they stick them in the glove box and put them on it.

00:10:36.927 --> 00:10:38.346
Well, not the glove box, but yes.

00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:43.422
Why not offer a multi-purpose tailgate?

00:10:43.422 --> 00:10:47.591
That would be just a little suggestion to Ford.

00:10:47.591 --> 00:10:53.076
Make themselves a little bit more money and I like that multi-purpose tailgate.

00:10:53.076 --> 00:11:05.822
Interior highlights Eye-popping, contrasting color highlights throughout the cabin of the Raptor, which you can't get on the regular Ranger Dash well laid out, easy to find controls, awesome.

00:11:06.123 --> 00:11:13.802
Sync 4 operating system, changeable instrument display, cargo and trunk room.

00:11:13.802 --> 00:11:22.869
Well, there's not a lot of room in the back seat and you can flip the back of it up, down, whatever, and make a little bit more room, but it's just not a whole lot Back there.

00:11:22.869 --> 00:11:23.591
It is a midsize.

00:11:23.591 --> 00:11:25.980
If you want to get something bigger, get the F-150.

00:11:25.980 --> 00:11:28.607
What I liked I liked the materials.

00:11:28.607 --> 00:11:30.861
I liked the fit and finish Awesome throughout.

00:11:30.861 --> 00:11:32.327
What could use improvement?

00:11:32.327 --> 00:11:39.142
Fuel and other essential gauges are a little bit too small on the dashboard instrument cluster.

00:11:39.142 --> 00:11:40.025
That's just for me.

00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:52.469
3.0 liter twin turbo EcoBoost, that turns out 405 horsepower, 430 pound-feet of torque, 10-speed automatic transmission tows, 5,500 pounds.

00:11:52.469 --> 00:11:54.854
Haul rating 1,375.

00:11:54.854 --> 00:12:04.475
16 miles per gallon, city 18, highway for combined to 17, and, believe it or not, I got 17.2 over 281.9 miles.

00:12:04.475 --> 00:12:05.202
What I liked about it?

00:12:05.202 --> 00:12:05.706
The power.

00:12:05.706 --> 00:12:07.926
What could use improvement?

00:12:07.926 --> 00:12:15.168
Hey, if you can think of something good for you, I can't Ride and handling Wheel travel makes for a softer ride.

00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:22.591
Wheel travel is for off-roading and let me tell you something this thing doesn't ride like any kind of specific truck.

00:12:22.591 --> 00:12:23.493
Is it a softer shock?

00:12:23.493 --> 00:12:32.634
It's got Fox shocks on it Fox shocks for one, but the wheel travel is much more than a regular Ranger Pricing.

00:12:32.634 --> 00:12:41.471
Base trim price Now we're talking about the Raptor version of this Ranger Base trim $57,065.

00:12:41.471 --> 00:12:43.948
As tested $60,050.

00:12:43.948 --> 00:12:49.232
If you want to just get into the Ranger base model price $32,670.

00:12:49.232 --> 00:12:53.270
Competitors again, these are base model prices.

00:12:53.270 --> 00:12:57.009
Toyota Tacoma TRD 33.7, right there with it.

00:12:57.009 --> 00:13:01.551
Jeep Gladiator is a little bit more expensive 37,895.

00:13:01.551 --> 00:13:08.052
And then Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison, which is brand new for this year.

00:13:08.052 --> 00:13:10.288
It's Chevy's version of an off-roader.

00:13:10.288 --> 00:13:13.469
29,500 is where it starts.

00:13:13.469 --> 00:13:18.792
Nice, and that is my review of the 2024 Ranger Raptor.

00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:22.450
You know you mentioned that multi-purpose, multi-use tailgate.

00:13:22.450 --> 00:13:34.835
You know, on a truck that's lifted like that one is that would be even better than on a regular truck because, just you know, not only do you have to deal with something up in there, but now you've got to deal with the height because it is a raised for the off-road thing.

00:13:34.835 --> 00:13:36.806
Thank you, that would be a great ad.

00:13:37.025 --> 00:13:37.919
Yeah, hey.

00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:43.889
If you'd like to get in touch with us, you could always shoot us an email.

00:13:43.889 --> 00:13:47.913
The address here is info at inwheeltimecom.

00:13:47.913 --> 00:13:48.816
We're back after this.

Gearheads Rejoice: Rare Cars, Raptors and Secret Spots

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