Roadkill (web series)

Roadkill is an automotive-themed internet show produced by the MotorTrend Group. It is hosted by former Hot Rod Magazine editor David Freiburger and former technical staff editor Mike Finnegan. Roadkill is primarily filmed in Southern California, with other episodes taking place across the United States, Canada and Australia.[1]

Roadkill
GenreCar restoration, Documentary, Adventure-comedy
Created byMotor Trend
Developed byMotor Trend
StarringMike Finnegan, David Freiburger
Country of originUSA
No. of seasons12
No. of episodes136
Production
Production locationSouthern California
Release
Original networkMotor Trend on Demand, YouTube
Original releaseFebruary 17, 2012 (2012-02-17)
Related
Roadkill Q and A, Roadkill Extra, Roadkill Garage

Roadkill aired on YouTube from 2012 until March 2018, when the program moved exclusively to MotorTrend On Demand. It is currently available on Discovery+.[2]

In 2015, the show was sponsored by the American automaker Dodge.[3] Episodes regularly exceeded millions of views,[4] often reaching over a million in 72 hours.

In August 2015 it was announced that TEN: The Enthusiast Network would be publishing a quarterly magazine titled Roadkill Magazine.[5] On 12 January 2018, Mike Finnegan announced on The Kibbe and Finnegan Show that Roadkill Magazine had ceased publishing.[6]

Cast

Main
  • David Freiburger: has spent the vast majority of his career working for the various brands now owned by Motor Trend Group.
  • Mike Finnegan: employed by Motor Trend Group since 2009. He was also a staff editor at Hot Rod magazine.
  • Lucky Costa: co-host of Hot Rod Garage. He appeared previously on the Chip Foose show Overhaulin'. Lucky is called in when a vehicle needs extra help.
  • Tony Angelo: former co-host of Hot Rod Garage. Tony is an accomplished mechanic and former racer. Tony departed the Motor Trend group in March 2022.[7]
  • Steve Dulcich: a mechanic. Steve's farm serves as the backdrop for Roadkill Garage.
  • Mike Cotten and David Newbern: friends of Finnegan, hosts of "Faster with Finnegan,"[8] and also featured on "Finnegan's Garage."
  • Steve Magnante: an automotive historian and host of "Roadkill's Junkyard Gold."[9]
  • Steve Brulé: co-host of Engine Masters.[10]
  • Rick Péwé: a former editor of Petersen's 4-Wheel & Offroading Magazine.
  • Elana Scherr: the former Editor-In-Chief of Roadkill magazine and the Roadkill.com website.
  • Terry the Terrier: a shop dog at Steve Dulcich's garage.[11]

Spin-offs and magazine

Roadkill has three spin-offs series; Roadkill Garage, Roadkill's Junkyard Gold, and Faster with Finnegan, as well as a companion series called Roadkill Extra. All are available on Discovery+.

Roadkill Garage is hosted by David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich. An episode involves modifying or repairing a roadkill vehicle, often reclaimed from Dulcich's farm.

Roadkill's Junkyard Gold features automotive historian Steve Magnante visiting junkyards and discussing the history of different models of vehicles he encounters, while also being tasked with finding new vehicles for Roadkill.

Faster with Finnegan features Mike Cotten and David Newbern, and featured Mike Finnegan for the first 3 1/2 seasons. It features the trio repairing and modifying vehicles, many of which were previously featured on Roadkill.

Roadkill Extra is a shorter format with content such as question and answer sessions, tech tips, project updates, and other Roadkill information. Episodes range from 2 to 15 minutes in length. MotorTrend ceased publication of "extras" for all of their web shows at the end of 2020.

In 2015 the quarterly Roadkill magazine was launched. As of 12 January 2018 Mike Finnegan announced on The Kibbe and Finnegan Show that Roadkill Magazine had been cut.[6]

Vehicles
Name Car Fate Episodes featured in
The Rotsun A 1971 Datsun 240Z, the Rotsun was originally powered by a turbocharged Chevrolet 4.3L V6/5-speed from a Chevrolet S-10 truck. It now runs a turbocharged Ford 5.0 Mustang; both engines took the same turbo out of a Ford Powerstroke diesel engine. Broken. Recently seen in the background in the Motor Trend shop.[12] 26,[13] 42, 62,[14] 65[15]
Stubby Bob Shortened, wheelstanding 1950 Ford F6 truck. Built with a boat V-drive and a rear-facing supercharged Chevy 454 with zoomie headers. Broken at a drag strip event in Dos Palos, CA.[16] 44, 52, Daily Fix: Nov 13, 2016,[17] 72[18]
General Mayhem ‘68 Charger first rebuilt with used motor home parts, including a Mopar 440. Later upgraded with a Hellcat engine from a 2015 Dodge Charger Hellcat that was destined to be crushed. In 2021 it was bought back from Motor Trend by Freiburger and restored by Chris Birdsong and has its former motorhome 440. 23,[19] 32, 43
Pace Arrow Finnegan's c. 1978 Pace Arrow donor vehicle that provided the "glorious big block Mopar" and Carter Thermoquad carburetor for General Mayhem. The engine appeared in many episodes of Roadkill, Engine Masters and Roadkill Extra. Gone but not forgotten 23
The Fury, My Old Friend 1973 Plymouth Fury purchased by Freiburger for Car Junkie TV. Driven in 24 Hours of Lemons. Donor vehicle (brakes, transmission, posi, hood scoop) for General Mayhem Junkyard 22, 23
General Maintenance Bone stock Dodge Charger Hellcat painted to look like the General Mayhem; Roadkill/TEN 'persuaded' to purchase it after comparison with Challenger & Viper off-road by Dodge. Sitting in Motor Trend shop. 38, 43, 47, 50
The Muscle Truck 1974 Chevrolet C10 stepside shortbed truck. Custom header and mufflers on a Corvette LS6. Owned by Freiburger. Recently seen in the background in the Motor Trend shop.[12] 18,[20] 36
Raunchero 1968 Ford Ranchero, modeled after the magazine's car that ran the first Baja 1000. 2,[21] 13,[22] 14[23]
BlaspHEMI A 1955 Chevrolet on a Jim Meyer Racing chassis, with a blown 535 cubic-inch Mopar Hemi under its flip-top hood. Owned by Finnegan. Now featuring a new blown Hemi. License Plate OMGHEMI. 8,[24] 70[25]
Crusher Camaro A 1967 Chevrolet Camaro that was rescued from a junkyard crusher (which was featured in a Hot Rod Magazine article in 1993 when it was a buyback car for emission credits that pre-dated Cash for Clunkers), giving it its name. Owned by Freiburger 19,[26] 24[27]
Draguar A 1974 Jaguar XJ12 sedan with a supercharged Chevrolet V8. 7,[28] 41
The Ramp Truck A 1973 Chevrolet ramp truck that was used by a Mazda dealership. Used to carry the Bonneville car. Owned by Finnegan 20, 25
Leaf Blower Monza 1978 Chevrolet Monza Spyder, originally running five leaf blowers under the hatch as makeshift superchargers; later upgraded to having a trailer behind it with a separate Buick 350 engine making boost for the engine up front. 16,[29] 57
The Boost Caboose A trailer-mounted 350 cubic inch small block Chevy salvaged from the junkyard 1956 Buick, powering a Vortech supercharger that fed the Leaf Blower Monza. Disassembled 57
Macho Grande Freiburger's (formerly) personal daily driver 1973 GMC Suburban with 350,000 miles on it; powered by a 454 Chevy. Sold,last seen in Helsinki,Finland 8, 25
Vette Kart A 1985 C4 Corvette stripped of its body parts. Looking very rusty[30] 35, 50, Roadkill Extra Featurette[31]
Crop Duster A 1970 Plymouth Duster with a mid-1980s street racer look; originally fitted with the Mopar 440 that came out of the General Mayhem after the Hellcat swap, then upgraded to a stronger Mopar 383. Owned by Freiburger. Steve Dulcich is working on it, but very very slowly.[11] 40, Sep 23, 2017 Roadkill Extra[32]
Missing Linc A 1978 Lincoln Continental shortened from a sedan into a coupe. Sold, and destined for 24 Hour of Lemons Glory. 63,[33] Roadkill Extra (Bloopers)[34]
The NasCarlo A late-model stock car chassis with a 70's Monte Carlo body installed. Recently seen running and driving on Lucky Costa's personal YouTube channel.[12] 46
The Renegade Jet Boat A 1976 Rogers Bonneville Jet Boat. Finnegan and Freiburger drag an old Rogers Bonneville jet boat to Lake Elsinore behind the Muscle Truck, remove the engine from the truck, install it into the boat, go boating, take the engine back out of the boat, and re-install it into the truck. 36[35]
Monte Carlo Lowrider A 1980 V6 Monte Carlo with hydraulic suspension, driven on three wheels to Las Vegas. Sold 39
Subarute (built by Mighty Car Mods) A Subaru Impreza wagon converted into a ute. Last seen headed to Las Vegas for a car convention with Marty and Moog. 60
Mazdarati 1970s Mazda Rotary Pickup with a 455 Oldsmobile big-block and Toronado transaxle mounted in the bed. Was stolen during filming. Currently missing 45,51[36]
The Mini-Truck A chop-top Datsun Mini truck fitted with air suspension. Recently seen in the background in the Motor Trend shop.[12] 58[37]
Harry Tow 1971 Ford Crew Cab 4x4 460-powered tow truck. Home-built 4x4 and tow rigging. Listed on Craigslist July 30, 2022 48,50,78
Pig Pen 1950 GMC shortbed truck resurrected from/at Turner's Auto Wrecking in Fresno, California after 26 years off the road. Sold to the father-in-law of the show's director. (Episode 50). Chassis swapped with GMC S15 in "Faster With Newbern and Cotten," S1, EP2. 31
The Hemi Gremmie 1975 AMC Gremlin with a 1976 grille; almost killed Finnegan and Freiburger once when a tire blew out on the highway. Parked in Motor Trend shop.[12] 17,[38] Ignition 129,[39] 65(background),[15] 72 (background).[18]
The "Crusher" Impala A 1969 Chevrolet Impala with the blown big block from the Crusher Camaro; Roadkill built it for Mighty Car Mods. 60,65[15]
F-Bomb Camaro An army green, twin-turbo 1973 Camaro owned by Freiburger. Sitting at Nelson Racing Engines. Roadkill Extra Mar 4, 2017,[40] Fast & Furious 4[40]
The Disgustang A 1969 Mustang Mach 1 rescued from a junkyard. Also filled with rat poop. Blown engine under repairs by Lucky Costa after Freiburger trashed it doing donuts. Sold by Freiburger for $75,000. 66,[41] 73[42]
The Dreambird A 1969 Pontiac Firebird that hadn't run in 17 years, which now has parts from three different engines in it. Used to race in One Lap of America. Recently sold by Finnegan to his brother 67,[43] 68[44]
The Earle Camino 1977 Chevy El Camino that was a gutted, old, eighth-mile drag racing bracket car. 69[45]
Rumble Bee A 1970 Dodge Super Bee that Feiburger purchased in tribute to one he owned when he was 15 years old; powered by a 383 cubic inch Mopar Hemi. Owned by Freiburger 70[25]
Lost Boys Racing Hornet [working-title] 1973 AMC Hornet that "raced Baja in the '80s and finished the NORRA 1000 a couple of times before being parked in 2012."[46] Beaten by a Dodge Grand Caravan at a rallycross at Glen Helen Raceway. 71[46]
LaPhonda Finnegan's 1974 Honda Civic. Sold on Craigslist 59, 74
He Hate Me / Econorado A 1966 Ford Econoline that was chopped and given an Eldorado power train after Freiburger destroyed the original transmission attempting a burnout. Sold on Craigslist 79, 91
Thelma and Louise Early 1980s Oldsmobiles road raced then launched off a cliff at Glacier View, Alaska, for the Fourth of July. Wreckage crushed by Freiburger driving an M35A2 83
The Road Wrecker The "world's only C body Roadrunner," a destroyed 1968 Plymouth Roadrunner that Finnegan and Freiburger take dirt-oval racing at Willow Springs. Donor car for the Wreck Runner (Satellite/Roadrunner clone) and General Mayhem 3.0 87
The Trailer of Doom Four-wheel trailer at Steve Dulcich's farm that he calls a "hospice" for old car parts where they can rust for years before being scrapped. Dulcich's farm RKE 859, 930
The Super Sammy 1986 Suzuki Samurai found by Steve Magnante in a Junkyard Gold episode at Hidden Valley Auto Parts in Maricopa, Arizona. Rescued by Freiburger and Dulcich with a 440 engine swap and Thermoquad from a B300 van. Caught fire during filming. Sold on Craigslist JG8, RK78, RK92
The Crew Cab Chevelle 1966 Chevelle purchased by Freiburger for $1,000 to illustrate the potential of less desirable four-door cars. Freiburger and Dulcich swapped out the 283 engine for a 350 engine and a 350 turbo transmission and upgraded the suspension. Later equipped with nitrous. Sold to "Camera Alex" Skola RKG8, RKG9, RKG25, RKG37
The Vanishing Paint Challenger 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T reclaimed from Dulcich's "buffet" of rescued Mopars and given an engine swap with a 360 small-block Mopar out of a field truck, also part of the Dulcich fleet of neglected cars. The name is a play on the 1970 film Vanishing Point, which featured a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T. Sold to Derek Bieri of Vice Grip Garage RKG4, RKG34, RKG36, RK85
The Ugly Truckling A GMC crew cab built on the same concept as the Vette Kart, modeled after old 'rail job' dragsters and then driven 500 miles to the Roadkill Zip-Tie Drags. Traded to L&L Auto Parts for a T-37 Pontiac 76
The Pork Chop Express A 1971 Torino wagon with a 12V Cummins swapped into it, used to race Cleetus McFarland's Cummin's swapped Galaxie 104

Features and expressions
  • "Because Roadkill": a comedic expression to justify a fiscally irresponsible or unnecessary piece of work on a vehicle, or to rationalise an inexplicable problem.
  • "Best day at work ever": a sarcastic retort.
  • "It'll be fine" or "It'll work perfectly/flawlessly": typically followed by a vehicle's failure.
  • "Don't get it right, just get it running": Freiburger's philosophy.
  • "Mint": Freiburger's description of any vehicle that has working doors, a front windshield, and headlights.
  • "It'll DZUS right back": relating to a quarter turn DZUS brand fastener, which are used to hold panels of racecars. Used to describe the difficulty in reattaching a part removed from a vehicle.
  • "Bam!": Freiburger's frequent exclamation.[47]
  • "I declare victory": Finnegan's exclamation.
  • "That'll buff out": relating to damage on a vehicle.
  • "Failure is like success": as failure is common within episodes, this retort is intended as a joke when things go wrong.
  • Freiburger rarely wears actual shoes on the show.
  • Cable ties are used for budget alterations.
  • Finneganeconomics, or Finnenomics, a comedic theory of economic loss, relating to losing money on a car you restore.
  • A comedic focus on the important elements of a vehicle such as wheels, neglecting equally important elements such as the engine.
  • Referring to high quality parts being fitted to scrap cars.
  • "Keep lowering your standards until you achieve a goal".
  • "Tony broke it": a running joke of Tony Angelo breaking high performance cars.
  • "I know the rules, so I'm allowed to break them": Finnegan's go-to expression before butchering a vehicle.
  • "No gauges hence no bad news": inferring ignorance is bliss.

References
  1. Shields, Mike (4 August 2015). "Motor Trend's YouTube Series 'Roadkill' is Becoming a Print Magazine Aimed at Millennial Car Lovers". Wall Street Journal.
  2. "discovery+". www.discoveryplus.com. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  3. "Roadkill Nights 'Powered by Dodge' free festival featuring flashlight drag races in Silverdome lot". WXYZ. August 11, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-08-13. Retrieved 2017-09-08.
  4. Off-Roading a Lowrider Monte Carlo! - Roadkill Ep. 39, retrieved 2022-10-28
  5. Mike Shields (4 August 2015). "Motor Trend's YouTube Series 'Roadkill' Is Becoming a Print Magazine Aimed at Millennial Car Lovers". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2017-09-08.
  6. The Kibbe and Finnegan Show EP. 56 "To Catch A Duke" http://www.themusclecarplace.com/kf-show-56
  7. "Tony Angelo Bids Farewell to Hot Rod Garage". MotorTrend. 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  8. Faster with Finnegan (Reality-TV), MotorTrend Group, 2020-01-15, retrieved 2022-10-28
  9. Roadkill's Junkyard Gold (Reality-TV), MotorTrend Group, 2017-12-01, retrieved 2022-10-28
  10. Engine Masters (Reality-TV), StudioTEN, 2015-11-23, retrieved 2022-10-28
  11. Motor Trend Channel (2017-10-14), What Makes the Ultimate Burnout? - Roadkill Extra, retrieved 2017-10-16
  12. MobileTechLucky Costa (2017-11-07), Early Days Are The Best, retrieved 2017-11-13
  13. Motor Trend Channel (2014-03-21), Junkyard Turbo Swap! Chevy-Powered 1971 Datsun 240Z Autocross Thrash - Roadkill Ep. 26, retrieved 2017-05-17
  14. Motor Trend Channel (2017-05-19), Junkyard Turbo 5.0 Power for the Rotsun! - Roadkill Ep. 64, retrieved 2017-05-22
  15. "Blown Impala vs. Turbo Rotsun! - Roadkill Ep. 65". www.youtube.com. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-17 – via Youtube.
  16. "Roadkill". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
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  18. Motor Trend Channel (2018-01-05), Stubby Bob Lives! Huge Wheelstands! - Roadkill Ep. 72, retrieved 2018-01-08
  19. Motor Trend Channel (2013-12-20), Dirt Cheap Rat Rod! 1968 Charger Buildup and Thrash - Roadkill Ep. 23, retrieved 2017-05-17
  20. Motor Trend Channel (2013-07-26), Nitrous Muscle Truck and Mini Bikes! - Roadkill Episode 18, retrieved 2017-05-17
  21. Motor Trend Channel (2012-03-16), Viva Ranchero! Alaska or Bust! - Roadkill Episode 2, retrieved 2017-05-17
  22. Motor Trend Channel (2013-03-08), The Ranchero Returns! Alaska or Bust: The Sequel - Roadkill Episode 13, retrieved 2017-05-17
  23. Motor Trend Channel (2013-04-05), The Ranchero Returns Part 2! Alaska or Bust, the Sequel - Roadkill Episode 14, retrieved 2017-05-17
  24. Motor Trend Channel (2012-09-07), 426 Hemi in a '55 Chevy! Roadkill Episode 8, retrieved 2017-05-17
  25. Motor Trend Channel (2017-11-03), Hemi Gasser vs. Hemi Super Bee! - Roadkill Ep. 70, retrieved 2017-11-03
  26. Motor Trend Channel (2013-08-23), '67 Crusher Camaro vs '70 Super Bee 1,500-Mile Burnout-Fest! - Roadkill Episode 19, retrieved 2017-05-17
  27. Motor Trend Channel (2014-01-24), 700 Horsepower & 2,400 Miles! Crusher Camaro Engine Swap Aftermath - Roadkill Ep. 24, retrieved 2017-05-17
  28. Motor Trend Channel (2012-08-03), Release The Draguar! Building a Blown Jaguar Rat Rod - Roadkill Episode 7, retrieved 2017-05-17
  29. Motor Trend Channel (2013-05-31), Leaf-Blower Supercharging a 1978 Chevrolet Monza Spyder! - Roadkill Episode 16, retrieved 2017-05-17
  30. Motor Trend Channel (2017-12-02), Finnegan and Freiburger Talk Six Seasons of Roadkill! - Roadkill Extra, retrieved 2017-12-04
  31. Motor Trend Channel (2017-12-16), Finnegan Updates You on the Vette Kart - Roadkill Extra, retrieved 2018-01-08
  32. Motor Trend Channel (2017-09-23), Update on the Crop Duster - Roadkill Extra, retrieved 2017-10-09
  33. Motor Trend Channel (2017-04-21), 1,800-Mile Beater Rally! - Roadkill Ep. 63, retrieved 2017-05-17
  34. Motor Trend Channel (2017-04-29), Bloopers and Outtakes from the Missing Linc Episode - Roadkill Extra, retrieved 2017-05-17
  35. Motor Trend Channel (2015-02-06), Boatkill! The Muscle Truck-to-Boat Extreme LS Engine Swap! - Roadkill Ep. 36, retrieved 2015-02-06
  36. Motor Trend Channel (2016-06-17), Will It Go 10s? Mazdarati Is Back! - Roadkill Ep.51, retrieved 2017-05-17
  37. Motor Trend Channel (2017-01-06), The Mini-Truck and Road Runner Episode! - Roadkill Ep. 58, retrieved 2017-05-21
  38. Motor Trend Channel (2013-06-28), Tank Smashes Prius! Toyota Prius Battles AMC Gremlin & Suffers Crushing Defeat - Roadkill Ep. 17, retrieved 2017-05-17
  39. Motor Trend Channel (2015-04-06), 1975 AMC Gremlin: The Legend Revisited! - Ignition Ep. 129, retrieved 2017-05-17
  40. Motor Trend Channel (2017-03-04), F-Bomb Camaro Update! - Roadkill Extra, retrieved 2017-05-17
  41. Motor Trend Channel (2017-07-14), Junkyard-Rescue 1969 Mustang Mach 1! - Roadkill Ep. 66, retrieved 2017-07-14
  42. Motor Trend Channel (2018-02-02), 1,300 Miles in the "Disgustang" Junkyard Mach 1! - Roadkill Ep. 73, retrieved 2018-02-02
  43. Motor Trend Channel (2017-08-11), Building Finnegan's Dream-Car Firebird! - Roadkill Ep. 67, retrieved 2017-09-08
  44. Motor Trend Channel (2017-09-08), Racing One Lap of America! Kinda. - Roadkill Ep. 68, retrieved 2017-09-08
  45. Motor Trend Channel (2017-10-06), Rescuing an Old Drag Race Car - Roadkill Ep. 69, retrieved 2017-10-06
  46. Motor Trend Channel (2017-12-01), Roadkill's Best Dirt Car Yet! - Roadkill Ep. 71, retrieved 2017-12-01
  47. Zack D (2016-02-12), Freiburger Bam, retrieved 2017-05-17
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