Panama City, Florida car club
Built in the garage. Proven at the track.
Muscle cars, restomods, frame-off custom builds, hot rods and classic trucks. We build our dream rides the old-school way, then rip them into shape with testing, racing and dyno time.
Short answer
Hot Wheels Car Club is a car club in Panama City, Florida for people who build serious metal: muscle cars, restomods, frame-off customs, classic hot rods and trucks. Members build the old-school way, then sort the cars out with testing, racing at the track and dyno tuning. The club backs fellow car clubs and respects every make and model.
Who we are
Old-school builders, still turning wrenches since the old days
Hot Wheels Car Club is a group of Panama City auto enthusiasts who came up in the days when you built your own ride: a project car, a garage, a set of hand tools and a lot of late nights.
That hasn't changed. Members still build their dream cars from the frame up. The difference is what happens next. A finished car isn't the finish line. It goes out for shakedown runs, onto the track and onto the dyno until it runs the way it was meant to.
Build it right
Real metal, real work. Frame-off restorations, restomods and customs, done properly.
Prove it
Testing, track time and dyno tuning sort out what a build can really do.
Respect the hobby
Every club and every make is welcome. We show up for other people's events, too.
The metal
Serious metal on display
Classic hot rods, muscle cars and trucks: the builds the club is proud to show off.
-
Muscle cars
Big-cubic-inch American performance from the muscle car era, kept honest or turned up.
Typical: Big V8 · rear-wheel drive · loud
-
Restomods
Classic on the outside, modern underneath: newer engines, brakes, suspension and comfort in an original body.
Typical: Period looks · modern manners
-
Frame-off customs
Body off the frame, every part stripped, fixed, rebuilt or replaced. The most complete build there is.
Typical: Bare frame · every bolt
-
Classic hot rods
Traditional hot rods and street rods, built light and built to go, the way the hobby started.
Typical: Lightweight · old-school style
-
Classic trucks
Vintage pickups restored, modified or built from scratch. Serious metal comes with a bed, too.
Typical: Square bodies · shop trucks · customs
Build to track
Build it. Then rip it into shape.
Finishing the build is only the start. Every car gets tested, raced and tuned until it runs right.
Hot Wheels Car ClubTime slip · Panama City, FL
- StageThe buildA dream ride starts in the garage: frame-off, restomod or custom, built by hand.
- 60 ftShakedownFirst miles and test runs. Find the leaks, the rattles and the weak spots, then fix them.
- 1/8 mileTestingData, adjustments and more runs. Gearing, tires, suspension and cooling get sorted out.
- 1/4 mileRacingTrack time at sanctioned strips and events, where a build shows what it can really do.
- DynoTuningTime on the rollers to dial in fuel and timing, measured and repeatable, then back at it.
Repeat until it's right
On the rollers
A dyno run shows what changed and whether it worked. It's the honest way to tune: measured, repeatable and off the street.
Track, not street. Racing happens at sanctioned tracks and events. Tuning happens on the dyno.
Club to club
Every make. Every model. Every club.
We showcase classic hot rods, muscle cars and trucks, but we don't look down on anybody's ride. Ford, Chevy, Mopar, imports, trucks, rat rods and daily drivers: if you love it and you built it, we respect it.
- We support fellow car clubs and turn out for their shows, cruise-ins and events.
- We welcome auto fans of every age, whatever they drive.
- We share parts, tools, know-how and help with other builders.
- We race at the track and tune on the dyno, never on public roads.
FAQ
Questions from the pits
What is Hot Wheels Car Club?
A car club in Panama City, Florida for muscle cars, restomods, frame-off custom builds, classic hot rods and trucks. Members are old-school builders who test, race and dyno-tune their cars.
What kinds of cars does the club showcase?
Serious American metal: classic muscle cars, restomods, frame-off customs, traditional hot rods and classic trucks. The club respects all makes and models.
What is a restomod?
A restomod is a classic car restored to look like the original but modified with modern parts, such as a newer engine, fuel injection, disc brakes, upgraded suspension or air conditioning. It looks period and drives like a newer car.
What does frame-off mean?
In a frame-off build the body comes off the frame and the whole car is taken apart. The frame, suspension, drivetrain and body are repaired, rebuilt or replaced before it goes back together. It's the most thorough kind of restoration.
Why dyno tune a car?
A dynamometer measures how much power a car makes under controlled, repeatable conditions. Tuners use it to adjust fuel and timing safely, so the car runs right without guessing or testing on the street.
Does the club street race?
No. Racing happens at the track and tuning happens on the dyno, never on public roads.
Do I need a muscle car to connect with the club?
No. The club supports fellow car clubs and auto fans of every make and model. Ask any member about membership.
Is Hot Wheels Car Club connected to the Hot Wheels toy brand?
No. Hot Wheels Car Club is an independent car club in Panama City, Florida. It isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Mattel.
Contact
Roll with us
Want to bring your ride, ask about the club or invite us to your show? Look for Hot Wheels Car Club members at car shows and cruise-ins around Panama City and Bay County, and come say hello.