13 Favorites From 2013

December 31, 2013
Story By
Kristin Cline

With 2013 wrapping up, we here at Driving Line are looking forward to the many adventures this next year will bring while also appreciating everything 2013 has brought across our paths. It’s been a time of building and growing, all the while seeking to bring fresh automotive content to your screen to fuel what stirs you. Here's one last glance backwards, our 13 favorite articles from 2013…

13. Cars From the Vault: Scaglietti Corvette

Each month, we've been bring you an exclusive look inside the Petersen Automotive Museum's underground vault. They've got so many cars that will blow your mind, it's difficult to choose which one to do next - but this Corvette Italia is undeniably sexy and has an interesting story to boot. Read it here.

12. 4 Wheel To Heal Brings Off-Road Therapy

There's nothing like getting out on the trail and kicking up some dust - but when it involves an amazing volunteer organization helping out wounded veterens, it makes it even better. We're proud to talk about stories like these, especially when joined with the great photography of Lori Carey. Read it here.

11. Man vs. Machine: The Cars of Iron Man

A well-placed car in a movie or TV show can help to make an already awesome car nearly immortal. The Iron Man movies have done that for the Audi, see them all here.

10. Mustang Roundup

It would be impossible to cover each and every car show that happens and who has time to read all of that anyway!? We love it when a car show isn't something to just oogle at, but when we get to learn something too - here contributor Evan Griffey walks the Mustang enthusiast, or non-enthusiast alike, through some landmarks of Mustang history at the Mustang Roundup. Read it here.

9. Rules at Cars and Coffee Irvine

Any active community is going to have its disagreements from time to time, and if Driving Line can help to be a forum of conversation than we're here for you. The Cars and Coffee meet in Irvine each Saturday has been busting at the seams and the organizers set out some rules this year to try to keep it in check. Let the opinions fly, read it here.

8. Ultimate Adventure Series

A week-long off-road trip crossing both tough terrain and highway, Ultimate Adventure is invite only and you'd better bet the cars that take the course are tough cookies! The variety of vehicles that were invited this past year was pretty amazing, get an inside look at the builds here.

7. Best of Cars and Coffee

You'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the US with such a high concentration of amazing cars as Southern California (thank you Sunshine State)! Cars and Coffee Irvine creates a gathering spot for these rare gems early each Saturday morning. Each month Albert Roxas brings back a handful of the standouts, see the latest here.

6. Inside Formula Drift Series

The throngs of young people that Formula Drift has introduced to motorsports is unmatched in this generation. As they celebrated their ten year anniversary, Driving Line followed along for a monthly series that's an inside look of where they've been and where they're going. Read it here.

5. Jantz Engineering

You won't find a man like Carl Jantz displaying his products at a huge show like SEMA, but his differentials are well known throughout the off-roading community. We love the passion and ingenuity that individuals like Carl bring to the motoring scene. Get a glimpse inside his shop or see how his differentials are made.

4. Indiana Rallycross

Plenty of motorsports, from land speed racing to rallycross, aren't covered by much media but are full of hardcore enthusiasts driven by passion and some really cool cars! The dirt, photos, and stories that Doug Dienelt brought back from a growing rallycross series in Indiana made us want to get dirty too! Read it here.

3. Iron Orchid

Every so often a car comes along that is so different and well executed that it blows your socks off . A contender to the prestigous Riddler Award, the Iron Orchid is one such car - and when joined with the photography of Tim Sutton, you'll be left wondering whether it belongs in a garage or an art gallery. See it here.

2. Ultra4 Championship Gallery

Ultra4 is another of those series that doesn't see too much press, but we're working to remedy that here at Driving Line. The most challenging of off-road series in the US, Ultra4 combines rock crawling with high-speed desert adventure for a race like none other. See the gallery from the 2013 Championship race for a taste of the action and look for more Ultra4 coverage this coming year.

1. Supercar’s Supercar

It's a rare occurance for a car as special as the McLaren F1 to come along, and many enthusiasts probably don't know the full story of its making and evolution nor the role it played in sportscar racing. While we don't know if it's because he loves it so much, or if he's merely amassed such a huge amount of info in his years, contibutor John Brooks delves deep in this story of the supercar's supercar. In a year when people communicate via Tweets and wall posts, it's refreshing to get something with this much substance.

That wraps it up for 2-0-1-3! We're looking forward to this coming year and continuing to provide stories that fuel you. Have something you'd like to see more of? Leave us a comment, we'd love to hear!