>> I WAS ON A QUEST TO FIND MY BUCKET LIST CAR. SINCE MAY OF 2017, I’VE BEEN HITTING THE ROAD. FOCUSING ON NEW MEXICANS AND THEIR RIDES. IT IS ALWAYS AS MUCH ABOUT THE OWNER AS THEIR CAR AND WHAT THEY DO TO IT. SO, COME ON, AND TAKE A RIDE WITH US ON AN AUTO AMBUSH. ♪ THIS IS THE AUTO AMBUSH. LET’S GET GOING. AUTO AMBUSH FIND A COOL AND INTERESTING CAR. THIS IS OUR VERY FIRST AUTO AMBUSH. THIS CAUGHT MY EYE RIGHT AWAY. MY NAME IS ERIC GREENE, I WORK ON GENERAL -- AT CHANNEL 7. I LOVE CARS. WE ARE WORKING ON A NEW SERIES CALLED AUTO AMBUSH. SINCE THEN, WE HAVEN’T MISSED A BEAT, DIGGING INTO THE VIBRANT BACKGROUND OF NEW MEXICO’S PARSING. OF COURSE WE HAVE CLASSIC AMERICAN MUSCLE CARS COVERED, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE. THE EXOTICS BOTH VINTAGE AND YOU ARE ALWAYS AMAZING. THOSE ARE FUN RIDES. AND THIS STATE IS CRAWLING WITH OLD HOT RODS. SOME LOOK LIKE AN OLD CLASSIC ON THE OUTSIDE BUT ARE MODERN UNDERNEATH. WE HAVE BEEN TO CAR SHOWS AND HUNG OUT WITH CAR CLUBS AND EVEN WENT TO A HIGH SCHOOL AUTO SHOP CLASS. MANY OF THE AUTO AMBUSHES HAVE BEEN WITH WOMEN AND THEIR SPECIAL CARS. >> MY HUSBAND SAID, WOULD YOU LIKE JEWELRY? I SAID NO, I’D LIKE A BIGGER ENGINE. >> NEW MEXICANS LOVE TRUCKS, AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE SOME GREAT ONES. ONE TIME I EVEN HAD TO SHARE MY SEAT IN A PICKUP WITH TWO DOGS. WHEN IT COMES TO CARS, SPEED IS A BIG SELLING POINT. SYNONYMOUS WITH RACING. WE HAD TO COME TO THE RACE MUSEUM. COME ON IN. HE WON THE INDY 504 TIMES. THE ALBUQUERQUE NATIVE TIES WITH OTHER DRIVERS FOR THE MOST WINS IN THE WRIST AND HIS BROTHER WON THREE TIMES, JUNIOR TWICE, NINE WINS FOR ONE FAMILY. THE RECENT FAMILY DYNASTY HAS PUT NEW MEXICO ON THE CAR MAP. WE ALSO HAVE ROUTE 66 RUNNING RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF OUR STATE. WE ARE A CAR PEOPLE. AND WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO BE TODAY AS WE LOOK BACK AT FIVE YEARS OF AUTO AMBUSHES. WE BEGIN WITH THE RIGHTS THAT YOU CANNOT HELP BUT DO A = DOUBLE TAKE ON, -- DO A DOUBLE TAKE ON, AMERICAN MUSCLE CARS. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY ALL ABOUT HIS MOTHER SAYS VEHICLES WITH THE BIGGEST ENGINE POSSIBLE. ACCELERATION COMES DOWN TO POWER TO WEIGHT RATIO. THESE CARS WERE INCREDIBLY POPULAR BACK IN THE DAY. AND THOSE STILL LEFT AT A COMMAND TO BIG PRICE TAGS AND A TON OF RESPECT. THE FIRST MUSCLE CAR IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE 1964 GTO. WE HAVE SEEN AND DRIVEN ONE. IT WAS SO ORIGINAL, I THOUGHT I WENT BACK IN TIME. >> THIS IS MY BROTHER-IN-LAW’S MOTHER’S CAR, I BOUGHT IT ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO. >> GRANTURISMO O MEANS A CERTIFIED FOR RACING IN A GRANTOR CLASS. WHEN IT CAME TIME TO MAKE THE COMMERCIAL, OF COURSE I CHOSE A GTO. AM I FRIEND IS AN ICONIC AND BEAUTIFUL MUSCLE CAR IN BLACK, WHICH WAS A RARE COLOR BACK IN THE DAY. AMERICA’S ORIGINAL MUSCLE CAR ERA WAS OVER 50 YEARS AGO BUT IN THE LATE 1960’S, THESE CARS WERE MORE FLESHY AND FLAMBOYANT AND POWERFUL YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND THIS ONE COMING UP AS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER CARS TO COME OUT OF THIS TIME PERIOD. I WAS AT MOPAR FEST LAST YEAR AND I FOUND THEM ALSO CAR WITH A REALLY COOL OWNER I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT. >> THIS IS A 969 DODGE SUPER V. >> BUILT AT THE PEAK OF THE MUSCLE CAR ERA, THIS CAR WAS ESPECIALLY BUILT FOR ONE PURPOSE. >> THE DRAG RACERS LEFT THE CAR. THE LIFT OFF, SO THEY COULD GET UNDER AND WORK ON THE CAR AND TINKER WITH IT AND GO FASTER. >> THIS MAY BE THE ONLY CAR EVER BUILT FROM THE FACTORY WITHOUT HOOD ENGINES. THIS CODE IS DESIGNED TO LIFT STRAIGHT OFF AND SIT ON THE ROOF. INSIDE THE ENGINE BAIT LIES A LEGEND, A 440 TOPPED WITH A SIXPACK. >> A SIXPACK IS FOR THE CARBURETORS. IT HAS 32 BARREL CARBURETORS -- THREE TWO-BARREL CARBURETORS. SO SIX. >> HE PURCHASED THIS ONE BACK IN 1986 WHEN HE WAS JUST A TODDLER. >> I HAVE SOME PRETTY EARLY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES BEING IN THIS CAR, GOING HOT WRITING AND IT. >> HIS DAD HAS SINCE PASSED AWAY AND HE CALLS HIMSELF THE FAMILY CARETAKER OF THE MUSCLE CAR. IT’S A BIG RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESERVE ITS ORIGINAL AND UNRESTORED HISTORY. >> THE INTERIOR HERE, THE STUFF IS ORIGINAL, TOO. HOW MANY MILES DID YOU SAY AROUND THE SCAR? >> I BELIEVE 43.6. >> THAT IS AN AVERAGE OF LESS THAN 1000 MILES A YEAR ON THIS 50-YEAR-OLD RIDE. A LOT OF THEM PUT ON A QUARTER-MILE AT A TIME. TELL ME WHAT KIND OF REACTION YOU GET FROM PEOPLE WHEN YOU ARE OUT CRUISING AROUND. >> EVERYBODY IS TAKING DOUBLE TAKES AND A LOT OF THUMBS UPS. WAVES. >> YOUR DAD WOULD BE PROUD. ANOTHER MUSCLE CAR POWERHOUSE, THE SHELBY COBRA. I WAS INVITED OUT TO THE SANDIA SPEEDWAY ON THE WEST MESA ONE TIME AND WE DID A FEW LAPS IN THE SHELBY COBRA REPLICA. WOW, WHAT A MACHINE AND WHAT A RUSH. I’VE BEEN A CAR GUY FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. THE COBRA IS SOMETHING I’VE ALWAYS WANTED. MIKE AND HIS DAD BUILT THE CAR TO MAKE SURE IT COULD HANDLE CRUISING IN RACETRACK DUTIES. THE SUSPENSION AND ENGINE WERE BUILT WITH NO EXPENSE SPARED. LOOKING BACK, I’VE BEEN LUCKY TO SEE SOME OF THE ABSOLUTE BEST, A REAL DEAL BOSS MUSTANG THAT WAS BLACK WITH JADE GREEN UNDERTONES. THESE WERE TORQUE CHAMPIONS BACK IN THE DAY WITH THOSE BIG 455 ENGINES. I WILL NEVER FORGET MY TIME WITH FATHER MATT AND GALLUP. THE CYCLE WITH A 429 AND THE SHIFTER FOR THE V8 WAS SO SWEET AND THE COMPETITION GREEN. THAT CAR WAS GIVEN AWAY IN A RAFFLE. SO WAS THIS 1998 TRANS AM -- 1978 TRANS AM. HE TOLD US WHAT THE BOARD ON THE HOOD MEANT. >> IT MEANS LIKE RICH = - -- LIKE RESURGENCE IN POWER. >> HE IS ALWAYS UP TO SHARE HIS AMAZING CARS. STILL IN THE HANDS OF ITS ORIGINAL OWNER. LIKE THE HELLCAT AND THE CORVETTE ZR ONE ARE BOTH OVER 700 HORSEPOWER. SOME CARS BLEND PERFORMANCE WITH CLASSIC STYLING AND THE CORVETTE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE HERE. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THIS BEAUTIFUL 1963 SPLIT WINDOW STARTED OUT AS A PROJECT RESCUED FROM A JUNKYARD. >> I GOT IT IN A JUNKYARD AT THE SOUTH VALLEY, I BROUGHT IT HOME IN BASKETS. >> AND BASKETS, IT STILL COST THEM A PRETTY $15,000. AFTER HIS HANDY WORK, IT’S NOT PROBABLY SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 200 GRAND. THIS 454 ’VETE WAS ALSO BROUGHT BACK. FOR THE ULTIMATE CLASSIC CAR BUILDS, YOU HAVE TO SEE HIS CORVETTE FUNNY CAR. THE BEAUTIFUL BODY CONTOURS ARE FROM A 1970 THE CORVETTE BUT THIS IS FOR THE DRAGSTRIP ONLY, STRIPPED OF ANYTHING NOT NECESSARY BUT ALSO BUILT UP WITH A CAGE FOR SAFETY. THE SUPERCHARGED V-8 RUNS ON NITROMETHANE, WHICH THE OWNER SAYS IS LIKE LIQUID DYNAMITE FOR FUEL. >> THESE THINGS ARE BUILT FOR ONE THING, AND THAT IS TO ACCELERATE JUST AS FAST AS YOU CAN MAKE IT POSSIBLE. >> HE SAYS THE ENGINE MAKES 4000 HORSEPOWER. DON’T WORRY, HE CAN HANDLE IT. HE’S BEEN ON THE DRAGSTRIP SINCE HE WAS A KID. HIS DAD WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS WAY BACK IN THE 60’S. LYLE HAS HIS FUNNY CAR ALL SORTED OUT NOW AND HE’S HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL SPRING. WINNING A LOT OF RACES, EVEN TAKING FIRST PLACE TROPHIES HOME. TRULY FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF HIS FATHER. THUNDERBIRDS ARE ALSO A BLEND OF STYLE AND PERFORMANCE. MOST OF THESE ARE BIG TWO DOOR LUXURY COUPES AND THEY HAVE LOYAL FOLLOWINGS WITH DEDICATED OWNERS. WHEN COVID FIRST HIT, WE CAUGHT THE LOCAL THUNDERBIRD CLUB DOING A DRIVE-BY BIRTHDAY GREETING FOR ANOTHER MEMBER, WHO COULD NOT GO OUT. >> HAPPY BIRTHDAY! >> IT WAS JUST REALLY UNEXPLAINABLE. [LAUGHTER] I’M VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT. AND I FIGURE THAT EVEN THE WORST TIMES, WE HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE HAPPINESS IN IT. >> HAPPINESS IS A THUNDERBIRD FAMILY REUNITED ONCE AGAIN. ONE OF THE OLDEST CARS WE’VE EVER AMBUSHED WAS UP NEAR LOS ALAMOS. CRUISING IN THIS 1928 PACKER WAS QUITE A CLASSIC OUR EXPERIENCE -- PACKARD WAS QUITE A CLASSIC CAR EXPERIENCE. BAGELED KINDA LIKES OUR ATTENTION GETTERS, ESPECIALLY THIS ONE THAT HAS A 502 LOG SWAPPED IN UNDER THE HOOD. THAT IS A 1950 NINE SERIES 62. THEY ORIGINALLY CAME WITH 390 ENGINES. SO IT’S MAKING A LOT MORE HORSEPOWER THAN IT WAS ONE WITH. ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE CARS YOU WILL EVER SEE IS THE 57 CHEVY, A CAR THAT WAS CONSIDERED A CLASSIC WHEN IT CAME OUT. AND I FOUND ONCE ORIGINAL IT MIGHT STILL HAVE DUST FROM 1957 INSIDE OF IT. >> THIS IS A SURVIVOR, MEANING IT’S EVER BEEN RESTORED FOR SHOW OR ANY OF THAT. IS JUST BEEN MAINTAINED AND KEPT THE WAY IT WAS>> THE ONLY MOTORC EVER DONE ON THE AUTO AMBUSH HAD A SIDECAR ON IT. THAT FELL ALMOST TO WIDE OPEN. IT IS ALL ORIGINAL PAINT. WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED OVER 30 YEARS AGO, THEY WERE MAKING THEM EVERY SIX YEARS. MUSCLE CARS AND CLASSICS HIGHLIGHT AMERICAN AUTO MANUFACTURING AT ITS VERY BEST. MANY OF THESE CARS WERE FAIRLY AFFORDABLE TO SOMEONE WITH A GOOD PAYING JOB. WHEN WE DIAL THE PRICE WAY OF, YOU GET EXCLUSIVITY. CARS WE DON’T GET TO SEE VERY OFTEN CALLED EXOTICS. EXOTIC CARS ARE THE TOP OF THE AUTOMOTIVE FOODCHAIN. FROM THERE LOOKS TO HOW THEY PERFORM. -- THEIR LOOKS TO HOW THEY WERE TALKING FOR ARI, LAMBORGHINI, -- FERRARI, LAMBORGHINI, PORSCHE. ONE WE ARE PROFILING IS IN YOU -- IS THE NEW GT. WAITING LISTS WERE SOBER LONG. YOU HAD TO APPLY JUST TO GET THE CHANCE TO BUY ONE OF THESE CARS. BUT DENNIS SNYDER HAS SERIOUS CLOUT AND WHEN HE CAME IN -- HIS CAME IN, HE OFFERED A CLOSE LOOK AND A RIDE. FORWARD REINTRODUCED THE GT FOR 2017, AS DESIRABLE AND AS EXPENSIVE AS CARS GET. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE ARE ONLY TWO OF THEM HERE IN NEW MEXICO. TODAY I’M GOING TO TAKE IT A LOOK AT AND GET A RIDE IN ONE. >> IF YOU DON’T SHOW IT, THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO HAVE IT. >> YOU MAY THINK OF HIM AS PRESIDENT AND WITH THE CONNECTIONS TO GET THIS CAR, BUT HE JUST LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE, MANY CELEBRITIES HAD TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO PURCHASE THIS HALF-MILLION DOLLAR RIDE. >> WHAT THEY SUGGESTED IS, TELL US HOW YOU ARE GOING TO USE THE CAR, THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE SHOWN. >> FORWARD ONLY BUILD 1000 GTS LIKE THIS, THEY ARE ABOUT HALFWAY DONE. THEY CHOSE DENNIS IS ONE OF THE LUCKY FEW TO GET ONE. IT IS HIS JOB NOW TO SHOW OFF HIS SUPER EXCLUSIVE $476,000 >> EVERYONE GOES, THAT AS A GROUND FORCE, THE CYSTOSCOPE AIR INTO SCHOOL THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE. THE DOOR JUST FLIPS UP AND COMES UP SUCH AS THAT. >> ON THE ROAD -- 647 HORSEPOWER WILL MAKE YOU SAY -- OH MY GOD THAT IS INCREDIBLE. WATCH THE REAR WING. IT AUTOMATICALLY COMES UP TO PROVIDE DOWNFORCE. HIT THE BRAKES, AND IT TURNS DOWN TO GRAB THE WIND AND HELP SLOW DOWN. DENNIS HAS DRIVEN AND SOLD FORDS FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE. HE BELIEVES FORD BLUE. NOT HAVE THE GREATEST AND MOST DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE BREED -- >> TRULY I AM HONORED TO HAVE A CAR LIKE THIS. WHEN PEOPLE GIVE YOU THE THUMBS UP AND THEY GO -- THANK YOU, IT IS JUST BL ISS. >> BUT IT COMES WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO SHOW AND SHARE. SO FAR IT IS LIVING UP TO THE END OF THE DEAL -- HE IS LIVING UP TO HIS END OF THE DEAL. HERE’S A SPECIAL ONE. THE ADMIRALS FOR ARI. WHAT A STORY. -- THE ADMIRALS FOR -- FERRARI. HE NEVER KNEW THAT IT WOULD BECOME THE PARISH PIECE -- THE CHERISHED PIECE ECRU INTO. HE RECENTLY SOLD AT AUCTION FOR A LITTLE $5 MILLION. MY FRIEND ASKED ME WANT TO MEMBER WANTED TO WRITE IN HIS NEW TESLA. THESE THINGS HAVE LEGENDARY ACCELERATION. I REMEMBER SAYING I WOULD LOVE A RIDE. BUT HOW ABOUT WE TAKE IT TO THE DRAG STRIP IN TOWN AND SEE WHAT IT WILL DO? WE DID. AND IT RAN MID 11’S WITH EASE. HEROIC LAUNCH AFTER HEROIC LAUNCH. IT DEFINITELY MADE ME A LOVER OF ELECTRIC CARS. TESLA’S HAVE AMAZING TECHNOLOGY BUILT-IN. THEY ARE A LITTLE PRICEY. ALL THE GOOD STUFF ALWAYS IS. NEXT ON THE AUTO AMBUSH -- >> IT’S LIKE A BIG PUZZLE. >> HE’S HELPED SOME STUDENTS LEARN TO LEFT PUZZLES, TOO. IT IS ONE CLASS THAT I WOULD’VE LOVED TO HAVE WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL. AND A LOW RIDER FOR THE COMMUNITY PUT TOGETHER BY THE COMMUNITY. DON’T MISS THIS HYDRAULICALLY BOOSTED RIDE. >> NEW MEXICANS HAVE BEEN AT THE FRONT OF THIS TREND FROM THE BEGINNING. LOW RIDERS HAVE MANY NEW AND UPDATED PARTS TO MAKE THEM DRIVE AND RUN A LOT BETTER. IN THIS CASE, LOW AND SLOW. WE ARE HOME TO WHAT’S CONSIDERED THE LOW RIDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. THAT IS THE ESPANOLA VALLEY. WE HAVE SEEN AND CRUISED IN SOME OF THE BEST LOW WRITERS AROUND. THEY ARE SUPER FUN AND AMAZINGLY EYE-POPPING WITH THOSE WILD PAINT JOBS. WELCOME BACK TO AUTO AMBUSH. WE CHECKED OUT A SQUAD CAR THAT CAN DROP AND SQUAT WITH THE BEST LOW WRITERS AROUND. -- RIDERS AROUND. SEPTEMBER, 2019, BEFORE THIS CROWN VICTORIA WENT UNDER THE KNIFE. WE SAW THE INCREDIBLE POWER OF THESE HYDRAULICALLY BOOSTED RIDES. NOW A FULLY FUNCTIONING PATROL CAR THAT CAN DROP, POUNDS, AND BUMP WITH THE BEST LOW WRITERS AROUND. >> EVERYBODY’S BLOWN AWAY. WHEN YOU SEE THE CAR, IT IS GORGEOUS. YOU CAN TELL THAT PEOPLE PUT THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO THE VEHICLE. >> CAR CLUBS AND BUSINESSES DONATED TIME AND MONEY AND EQUIPMENT, BUT HE STARTED WITHOUT AN INITIAL $35,000 DONATION FROM CITY COUNCIL. >> I WAS LIKE, ABSOLUTELY, THIS IS FANTASTIC. THERE IS A MR. -- THERE IS A MISPERCEPTION ABOUT THE LOW RIDER COMMUNITY AND I HOPE THIS GOES A LONG WAY TO DISPEL THAT. >> HE GREW UP AROUND LOW WRITERS AND HIS HANDS SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS CAR. >> HAVE A LOT OF PRIDE IN IT. IT MAY NOT BE MINE. BUT MY FAMILY AND MY CAR CLUB, WE PUT A LOT OF TIME AND HEART INTO IT. WE DID THIS AS A COMMUNITY. WE DID SOMETHING GOOD. >> THE PAINT JOB IS INCREDIBLE. THE BLACK DISCOLORATIONS ARE CREATED BY SETTING THE PAINT ON FIRE. THERE ARE SEVERAL LAYERS OF PAINTED IN STRIPES. THIS IS A HAND-PAINTED ON SIGN. THIS IS ALL UNDERNEATH THE CLEARCOAT. CUSTOM SEATS UP FRONT. THE REAR IS STILL FUNCTIONAL, BUT DECORATED WITH ART PROJECTS. IT WORKS LIKE EVERY SQUAD CAR DOES. ONLY IT CAN DO A LOT MORE. ♪ OH. THAT, THAT IS TOO MUCH. SORRY. THEY MAKE IT LOOK SO EASY. LOW WRITERS ARE SO POPULAR, A LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOL EVEN HELD A CAR SHOW STARRING ONLY THE FLASHIEST AND LOWEST RIDES AROUND, TO BENEFIT TO OUR PROGRAM. -- THEIR ARTS PROGRAM. THESE CARS ARE MEANT TO BE ADMIRED. BUT ALL THE LOVE DOESN’T MEAN THESE RIGHTS ARE WIDELY ACCEPTED EVERYWHERE. >> WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN TERMS OF BUILDING THE BRIDGE IS ELIMINATING THE PERCEPTIONS AND STATEMENTS THAT ARE AROUND THE LORETTO COMMUNITY. >> IT WAS LESS THAN FIVE YEARS AGO THAT THE NO CRUISING BAN WAS LIFTED IN 2018. HERE IN NEW MEXICO, WE LOVE TRUCKS. PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS AROUND IS THAT 1941 AMERICAN LAFRANCE FIRE ENGINE. NOTE THAT YOU HAVE SEEN IT AT BALLOON FIESTA OVER THE YEARS -- NO DOUBT, YOU HAVE SEEN IT AT BALLOON FIESTA OVER THE YEARS. >> TOOK ME ABOUT SIX MONTHS. THEN MONTHS AND MONTHS EVERY YEAR DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO IT. >> HE AND HIS DAD BOUGHT IT BACK IN 1982 AND SPENT SOME TIME FIXING IT UP AND MAKING IT PRETTY. FOR OVER 30 YEARS NOW, THIS HAS BEEN THE ULTIMATE CHASE VEHICLE FOR FIESTA, READY TO HAUL THE CREW AND PICK UP A BALLOON AFTER A FLIGHT. WHEN THE WORK IS DONE, REFRESHMENTS ARE BUILT RIGHT INTO THE SIDE. HE SAYS HE’S LOST COUNT OF HOW MUCH MONEY HE’S PUT INTO REPAIRS BECAUSE THE TRUCK IS A FAMILY AFFAIR. HE SAYS HIS DAUGHTER CAN’T WAIT TO TAKE IT OVER ONE DAY. FOR ONE REASON -- FOR SOME REASON, I DECIDED THIS OLD PICKUP WOULD MAKE A GREAT AUTO AMBUSH. AND IT DID. BUT WHAT I DIDN’T KNOW WAS THAT THIS GUY’S DOGS DON’T GIVE UP THEIR SEAT FOR ANYBODY. DURING OUR CRUISE, YOU GOT IT, I GOT A LITTLE FOR AND KISSES ON ME, BUT I DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. STUDENTS BUILD CARS IN THEIR SHOP CLASS. >> I LOVE WORKING ON VEHICLES BECAUSE IT IS LIKE A BIG PUZZLE. I LOVE PUZZLES. >> THEIR CLASS WAS WORKING TO BUILD A LAND CRUISER WHEN WE STOPPED BY. THEY WORKED WITH HER TEACHER WHO TOLD US THE TOWN REALLY RALLIES AROUND THE STUDENTS. >> I THINK BERNALILLO IN GENERAL HAS A STRONG COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY IS ALWAYS TOGETHER WHEN IT IS TOUGH TO DO WITH THE STUDENTS AND THE KIDS. >> SOME OF THE MONEY COMES FROM OTHER REPAIR JOBS THEY GOT FROM THE PUBLIC. STUDENTS GAIN REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE AND FUND THEIR BUILD. NOT EVERY OWNER WANTS HER CLASSIC UPDATED, SOME WANTED TO BE JUST LIKE HOW THEY REMEMBERED. THESE NEXT TWO CARS ARE NOSTALGIA INDUCING TIME MACHINES FOR THEIR OWNERS. I WILL SAMPLE A FIRST YEAR AND PAULA WITH ALL THE BEST OPTIONS -- IMPALA WITH ALL THE BEST OPTIONS. TAKE A LOOK AT THAT IMPALA RIGHT THERE. LET’S WAIT BY ANSI OF THE OWNERS COME OUT OF THIS STORE. I TAKE IT THIS IS YOUR CAR HERE? >> YES, IT IS. >> IT IS BEAUTIFUL. DO YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO LET ME CHECK IT OUT? 1950 IT WAS THE FIRST YEAR FOR THE IMPALA. IT WAS A HUGE GAMBLE AND STYLING AFTER THE POPULAR 57 CHEVY. BLITZ, GRAMMAR, AND CHROME WERE NOT A PRIORITY. THIS EXAMPLE IS MINT AND HAS ALL THE BIG OPTIONS ON A BIG CAR. >> IT IS 19.5 PLUS, THE KIT, WHICH MAKES IT 20 TO 21 FEET. >> OVER 20 FEET LONG. YOU SAID 348 TRI-POWER? >> 348 TRI-POWER. >> SHOW ME WHAT YOU MEAN. >> OK. THAT IS THREE TWO BARREL CARBURETORS. >> AS RARE AS A CAR IS, SHE USED TO OWN ONE JUST LIKE IT AND EVEN RACED IT BACK IN 1960. >> WE ESTIMATE GO TO THE DRAGSTRIP AND WE DID -- >> WE USED TO GO TO THE DRAGSTRIP AND WE DID SOME WORK ON THIS WITH MY DAD’S GRANDMA. AS MUCH AS I COULD SMOOTH EVERYTHING OUT. >> YOU WERE DOING SOME INTAKE BOARDING ON THE 58 IMPALA BACK IN THE DAY. HERE YOU ARE IN YOUR 70’S, AND YOU ARE BACK IN A 58 IMPALA CONVERTIBLE. HOW DOES THAT FEEL? >> IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE JUST NEVER THOUGHT WHATEVER HAPPENED. >> MEMBER ELAINE DID NOT COME CHEAP, THOUGH, SO HER HUSBAND PAID MORE THAN $100,000 FOR THIS REAR END DESIRABLE CLASSIC BACK IN 2011. >> SMYRNA GREEN IS ON A COLOR YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT VERY OFTEN, BUT ON A 1963 PORSCHE, IT SURE DOES LOOK AMAZING. AND TAMMY SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS AND DOLLARS BRINGING HER HIGH SCHOOL RIDE BACK TO LIFE AFTER IT WAS IN AN ACCIDENT OVER 30 YEARS AGO. >> EVERYBODY WOULD ALWAYS ASK, WHAT IS YOUR DREAM CAR? BECAUSE I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A CAR PERSON. I SAID I HAVE MY DREAM CAR I JUST NEED TO GET IT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. >> THREE YEARS LATER, SHE CAN’T DRIVE IT WITHOUT SMILING. THE FEELING OF NOSTALGIA IS PROVEN TO BENEFIT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. CARS FROM OUR YOUTH ARE HUGE GENERATORS OF THIS. SO FOR THESE WOMEN, THEIR CARS ARE WORTH EVERY PENNY THEY PUT INTO THEM. WE’VE HAD A LOT OF FUN PROFILING WOMEN-OWNED CARS ON THE AUTO AMBUSH. WE HAD A TRIO OF FORD OWNERS, SHE GOT THIS CAR FOR $4500 AND IT LOOKS GREAT ALL FIXED UP. JUNE GOT HER FORD FALCON IN 1977 AS A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION PRESENT. SHE’S KEPT ALL THESE YEARS, RESTORING IT IN 2012. SHE’S SHIFTED TO THREE ON THE& TREE TRANSITION LIKE A CHAMP. PURCELL ALSO GOT HER FORD BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL THE YEAR 1983. IT IS A GOLD NUGGET SPECIAL THAT SHE JUST HAD RESTORED AND IS NOW AT WINNING PRESTIGIOUS CAR SHOWS. WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE TIME LEFT. FIRST QUESTION, WHAT CAR DO YOU DRIVE, ERIC? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AUTO AMBUSH YOU’VE EVER DONE? I WILL SHOW YOU THE ANSWERS TO BOTH OF THOSE QUESTIONS, WHEN WE COME BACK. ♪ >> WE ARE BACK WITH JUST A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT. I GET ASKED ALL THE TIME -- WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE? HERE IT IS. THIS IS MY 2019 DODGE CHALLENGER HELLCAT REDEYE. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HOW THIS CAR LOOKED, WITH ITS RETRO DESIGN IN THE BACK. I THINK IT’S ONE OF THE BEST LOOKING CARS MADE TODAY. IT HAS INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE AND AMAZING POWER AS WELL. THE HORSEPOWER IS 800, AT THE ALBUQUERQUE DRAGWAY, THIS CAR RAN 10.8849 AND THAT IS STOCK. IT IS ALSO PRETTY PRACTICAL AND SOMEWHAT ECONOMICA, TOO. I DRIVE THIS CAR EVERY DAY. IT IS EASY TO DRIVE SLOWLY AROUND TOWN AND GETS 27 MILES PER GALLON ON THE HIGHWAY PRETTY AMAZING, RIGHT? NOW MOVING ON -- LET’S TALK ABOUT MY TOP THREE FAVORITE AUTO AMBUSHES WE’VE DONE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THIS WAS NOT EASY. HERE THEY ARE. >> THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CARS EVER BUILT. A 1990 FOUR ARIA 40. -- FERRARI F 40. THESE ARE ABOUT $2 MILLION NOWADAYS. THAT’S ABOUT HOW MUCH THE CURRENT OWNER PAID IN 1990. THE CURRENT OWNER PAID A FRACTION OF THAT WHEN HE BOUGHT IT USED IN THE MID-90’S. HE TOOK ME FOR A RIDE AROUND TOWN, THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET. THAT CAR IS VERY FAST AND STUNNING TO LOOK AT. IT IS A FOREVER AUTOMOTIVE CELEBRITY AND STILL IN MINT CONDITION WITH LESS THAN 4000 MILES ON IT. CORY AND THE MODIFIED JEEP -- THAT WAS A CRAZY RIDE. I NEVER KNEW WHAT I WAS IN FOR WHEN I ASKED HER IF WE COULD CHECK OUT HER JEEP AND TAKE A CRUISE. I SHOULD’VE KNOWN WHEN I SAW THE STICKERS ON THE SIDE THAT SHE HAS NO FEAR, AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW, SHE IS DRIVING UP AND DOWN HILLS GOING THROUGH DITCHES AND WE NEARLY PUT IT ON ITS SIDE. BUT TO HER IT WAS JUST ANOTHER DAY CRUISING IN THE JEEP. HIS 1929 FORD HAS MAYBE THE BEST STORY I’VE EVER HEARD ABOUT A CAR, JIM JOHNSON’S CAR LOOKS LIKE AND IS A HIGH QUALITY HOT ROD, BUT IN 1971 HE DUG THE CAR OUT OF THE GROUND NEAR GRANDS. ALL THAT WAS STICKING OUT WAS THE WINDSHIELD, AND LOOK AT WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO TURN IT INTO. HE WAS 25 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME AND SPENT 10 YEARS BUILDING IT. NOW OVER 70, HE’S PUT ABOUT 150,000 MILES ON IT. KEEP ON CRUISING, JIM, KEEP ON CRUISING. THAT IS A REP FOR THE AUTO AMBUSH. DON’T MISS ALL OF OUR NEW AUTO AMBUSHES ON FRIDAYS ON OUR 4 P.M. NEWSCASTS. THANKS FOR JOINING US. ♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY. VISIT