Street Legal TV’s Top Ten “Most Viewed” Articles From 2015

2015toptenThroughout the year, we try to bring the best of the classic musclecar world to our readers, including technical articles, car features, show coverage, and sometimes the stories that are a virtual train wreck that you just can’t look away from. Our hopes are that you’ll like what you see and share it with your friends, and sometimes when that happens we get some amazing results.

At the end of the year, we tally up everything that was shared throughout the year, and this year we are, once again, bringing you the top ten articles of the year. Some you may have seen, others you might not have, but it’s worth it to bring them all together in one place and share again.

Number Ten

2015number10Our tenth most viewed article for 2015 was actually written back in January 2011. The question was asked if the Hurst Hemi Dart – Coded L023 – was the fastest musclecar in the world. With a cross-ram Hemi capable of well over 500 horsepower, and in the capable hands of famed racers like Dandy Dick Landy, low 10-second passes were a breeze. With a little more tuning, nine-second passes were achievable in this bare bones factory race car.

Number 9

2015number09One only has to look at the published date for our ninth most viewed article for 2015, and you’ll already know that we pulled a fast one on our readers. We knew that Mopar fanatics were longing for the return of a Chrysler 300 SRT, and chose to use our Photoshop skills to create something that Chrysler should consider.

We knew about the Grand Cherokee, and the desire for a Hellcat-powered 300, but knew that the powers that be were not going to budge. That didn’t stop some viewers from telling us that they almost traded in their current car, and others told us we were just mean.

Number 8

2015number08Another article from years past, this 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda accident was one that was devastating to just about everyone. Also written back in November 2011, this sad story was one where it became a painful reminder that the public roadway was no place to exercise our need for speed.

According to the story, a 65-year-old man in his Hemi ‘Cuda had run out of gas, and his family had just come by to help him fill his tank. Shortly after his pit stop, he was off again at a high rate of speed and crashed into a utility pole, with family there to witness the tragedy. No matter how you spin it, these stories hurt us all.

Number 7

2015number07We can honestly say that the number seven most-viewed article for 2015 was a surprise. Perhaps it’s because most of our male readers have significant others that don’t want them viewing this type of article, but however you look at it (or at her) the beautiful Kara Schaal was definitely on a lot of computer screens this past year.

We originally brought Ms. Schaal to you back in 2013, but it seems that she was worth a few thousand more glances last year. And in case you need an alibi, there is a Mustang in the background somewhere, see if you can find it.

Number 6

2015number06It has been said that NASCAR fans don’t watch a race for the winner, they watch it for the accidents. Whether that’s true or not likely depends on who you talk to, and whether they can honestly say that a good, old fashioned pile up after turn four and down the main straight isn’t the highlight of any race.

But last year it wasn’t so much the accidents that got so many views, but the cars that Dale Earnhardt, Jr., had sprawled across some private acreage on his property. These ‘no longer in service’ race cars, in Dale Earnhardts secret race car graveyard, made it to number six last year, even though we first published the article in October 2013.

Number 5

2015number05Early one Saturday morning in December 2014, we were online and checking out the Facebook scene when we happened across a picture. Early that morning, we were the source to bring you the first totaled Hellcat in the world. Purchased just an hour earlier, the driver had taken his car out with a buddy and it appeared that he was showing off a little and over-corrected his skid, planting his car directly into a group of trees on Riverdale Road in Henderson, Colorado.

Receiving over 100,000 views in the month of December, it was still the crash heard ’round the world. Ironically, the accident was on the same stretch of road that took the lives of two others, in nearly the same spot.

Number 4

2015number04For many of us, our love affair with the automobile began with a tiny, 1:43 scale car called Matchbox, followed by the debut of Hot Wheels in 1968. We spent every nickel we had on these little wonders, never realizing way back then that if we had only bought two of each, and stored our ‘seconds’ away nice and neat they would bring all kinds of financial goodness our way.

Some cars were exceedingly rare, while others were a dime a dozen. We shared three of the rarest Hot Wheels back in October 2013, and even got some publicity for it on a couple of segments on television.

Number 3

2015number03As we mentioned earlier, the Hellcat news had everyone on their collective feet waiting for the next big story to come out, and we found out that Ma Mopar was toying around with a couple more vehicles with a Hellcat engine. At the time, it was a near certainty that the world would receive the Jeep Grand Cherokee Hellcat, code named the Trackhawk, and there was also a full size Ram truck that was a company toy.

We later found out in December of last year that the Trackhawk was a go, but the truck was going to remain a toy – for now. At any rate, we knew good things were to come when the news came to us that Chrysler was ramped up to produce 15,000 more 707 horsepower supercharged Hemis. It was a good day for Mopar fans.

Number 2

2015number02Everyone loves a great barn find, and in 2011 we wrote about an ultimate barn find: an original 1964 Shelby Cobra that had been sitting in a shed for more than 33 years. It was known to be the only unrestored 1964 cobra in blue and red livery in the world.

It seems that a couple inches of dust needed to be brushed away, but the saddest part of this story was that it was almost immediately headed to auction. It was expected to reach a half a million bucks, but it seems $500,000 wasn’t the magic number. It sold for $610,500. The good news? At least it did turn about 47,233 miles before being stored away in a garage in the early 1970s.

Number 1

2015number01The most viewed article for 2015 was a bit of a surprise for us for two reasons: first, it was an older story originally published back in September 2013; second, it went viral after being shared on Facebook and other media sites and set an all-time view record for us with nearly three-quarters of a million views. It was the epitome of the train wreck that people couldn’t look away from, because it had to do with two cars found in a lake with bodies inside.

The strange coincidence was that both cars were found in about the same location – but both accidents took place about a year apart. Sadly, they were only discovered when Oklahoma State Troopers who were testing new sonar equipment in Foss Lake. We did publish a follow up to the article, which didn’t seem to garner as much attention.

So there you have it: our Top Ten stories from 2015. How many do you remember from years past or even from last year? Do you have another story that was your favorite? Share it with us below in the comments section.

About the author

Michael Harding

Michael is a Power Automedia contributor and automotive enthusiast who doesn’t discriminate. Although Mopar is in his blood, he loves any car that looks great and drives even faster.
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