Car Spotting Aaron Thies Car Spotting Aaron Thies

Giallo Ocra and Me

A 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 in a color I'd never have picked off a swatch — Giugiaro's shape, a quadrifoglio on the C-pillar, and why the paint stopped mattering the second I got close.

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Car Spotting Aaron Thies Car Spotting Aaron Thies

VIEW FROM THE TOP: CARSPOTTING AT HELL’S GATE

Experience the high-stakes theater of Hell’s Gate at Cruise Moab 2026. From the legendary "built not bought" 60 Series Land Cruiser of the Sons of Smokey crew to the absolute madman piloting a JDM Kei truck up the V-notch, the carspotting at the overlook proved that tire placement—and a little bit of guts—is everything.

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Car Spotting Aaron Thies Car Spotting Aaron Thies

The Ghost of 1989: Why Joe’s Mazda is Giving Me Major Hardbody FOMO

Looking at Joe’s Mazda mini truck parked there, I didn't just see a clean build; I saw a literal time machine. It’s got that stance—that specific, "I can haul a couch or a dirt bike, but I’d rather just cruise" energy—that hit me right in the nostalgia. Specifically, it took me straight back to my old Nissan Hardbody D21.

If you weren't around for the late 80s and early 90s, it’s hard to explain how much the mini truck scene defined "cool." Seeing Joe’s rig, I could almost hear the faint hiss of a cassette tape and smell the high-octane scent of a Montana morning. It was "Genuine for '89," and a reminder that when it comes to style, you should always bet on black

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Car Spotting Aaron Thies Car Spotting Aaron Thies

High-Dollar Hype vs. Junkyard Jewels: A Week of Boost and Custom Builds

From high-dollar custom buggies with front-and-rear steer to a "Mighty Max" Frankenstein build featuring a Chevy V8 and Dodge axles, this week was a masterclass in off-road creativity. Plus, we take the Mitsubishi Mini Pajero out for a spin to hear its "asthma inhaler" turbo noises and check in on the Blue Rover—which is still better at draining bank accounts than climbing rocks.

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