Time and again, we hear people say “kids these days just aren’t into cars, anymore.” Typically those same people follow up with the age-old, “Back in my day, you couldn’t grab a hundred-dollar bill off the dash of my [insert Cuda, Camaro, Mustang] from a dead stop” Next come the outrageous claims, like “the damn thing ran 9’s from the factory, they were almost outlawed” “blah, blah, blah…”
Well, we have found all of that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Especially that part about the young people. Young people are most definitely still into cars. It’s just, the formats they use to access it and talk about it just aren’t the same, and that’s OK…for the most part. After all, change is inevitable, and with the advent of things like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and the rest of social media, tastes have changed. And so t0o, automotive technology has changed along with it.
Most notably, modern muscle cars are much more powerful and generally more performance oriented than the straight line bruisers from whence they came. Couple that with an ever-growing variety to choose from and equally robust import cars, and you have a recipe for a wicked automotive culture…albeit a tad bit different than what grandpa gravitated toward. So, if little Johnny likes a Mercedes AMG instead of a Camaro SS (He’s wrong, but if it’s got a V8, at least there’s that), that’s all right.
What’s Not Alright
What’s not alright though, is participating in the senseless destruction of automobiles for the likes, content, and engagement – a la Whistlin Diesel, Mr.Beast, and Danny Duncan.
While their shock videos offer the most basic of excitement value, they are devoid of anything truly worthwhile. One is reminded of all those childhood warnings from mother, “watching all that TV is going to rot your brain!” Well, as it turns out, she was right…
So, it is with much reluctance that we give any credibility to those old-timer’s claims that young people aren’t into cars anymore…After all, it’s a statement that’s hard to argue with when we’ve got Whistlin Diesel’s Amish Hellcat video garnering more likes than Kim Kardashians last champagne-covered badonkadonk photo.
And yet, somehow, there is hope for Gen-z’ers and millenials alike. Because, as Jimmy page and Robert Plant once wrote, the song remains the same. And just as panel paint jobs and high waisted jeans have made a full circle in the style department, so has the culture of automotive restoration.
In fact, we recently came across a couple of guys recently who that spirit of classic hot rodding and automotive zeal like no other. The duo specializes in restoring wrecked vehicles to their former glory and documenting the whole thing in an entertaining and educational way. About as far a departure as one could get from the antics referenced above.
Who Are The Goonzquad?
No, we aren’t talking about Mark Worman and his mary band of pranksters on the Graveyard Cars. We are actually talking about the Goonzquad. It’s a pair of brothers from Tennessee who have made a huge splash on YouTube by simply restoring wrecked cars on their farm property.
It seems as though they source the wrecked vehicles from any number of auction houses likely Copart or the like. The two then proceed to basically put these things back together, showing a considerable amount of skill in the auto salvage trade, parts sourcing from dealerships, and of course, the required cutting, welding, grinding, painting, and mechanical work.
They’ve restored everything from a Ferrari to a Ford raptor, Hellcats to jet boats, Vipers and Trackhawks, they have even built their own house with a massive shop.
Their latest endeavors include a ’69 Camaro and a brand new Dodge Ram TRX.
We’d like to explore some of their most notable builds, as they do have an eye for flair and know-how to restore things back to the way they were without bastardizing the original concept from the OE manufacturer. That’s more than can be said for many a would-be YouTuber – there are more over-the-top builds than Sly Stallone ever thought possible.
Notable Projects
Their most notable build series include:
- 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rebuild
- Remodeling A House Struck By Lightning
- 2017 Ford F-250 Powerstroke Build
- Rebuilding A Wrecked 2017 Mustang GT
- Rebuilding A Wrecked 2017 Corvette Z06
- Rebuilding A Wrecked 2017 Dodge Hellcat
- Rebuilding A Wrecked 2018 Camaro ZL1
- Rebuilding A Wrecked 2014 Dodge Viper TA
- Rebuilding A Wrecked GTR
- Auction Drift Build
- Rebuilding A Wrecked Lamborghini Huracan
- Rebuilding A Wrecked Honda S2000
- Building A Custom Supercar
- Rebuilding A Wrecked Ferrari 458 Spider
- Rebuilding A Super Cheap Wrecked Boat
- Rebuilding A 2019 GMC Duramax
- New Goonzquad Headquarters
- Rebuilding A Wrecked Supermoto
- Ferrari 458 GT3 Widebody Conversion
- Rebuilding A Wrecked 2018 Cop Car
- Rebuilding A Wrecked 2019 Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo
- Rebuilding A Wrecked 2019 Ford F-450 Platinum
- 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
- Apocalypse Rig
- Rebuilding A Wrecked Jeep Trackhawk
- 2020 Toyota Supra
- Rebuilding A Helicopter
- Goonzquad Garage
- 2019 Ford Raptor Rebuild
- 2020 Tesla Model X
- Classic Camaro
- Ram TRX Rebuild
Not much is known about this dynamic duo as they keep their personal lives separate from their YouTube and Instagram profiles, but one thing is for sure, they love building things and working on projects.
If you’re into either one of those things or just want some great automotive content that doesn’t have anything to do with mindless destruction, gimmicky gameshows, or scripted road trips, check out Goonzquad – it’s most certainly a channel you should know.