PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3 / PART 4 / PART 5 / PART 6 / PART 7 / PART 8. For most hot rod enthusiasts and everyone else, November 17, 2023, was a Friday, that’s it, that’s all. However, for the cast and crew of MotorTrend’s Hot Rod Garage, as well as a select group of friends, which included HOT ROD senior editor KJ Jones and our 1986 Ford Mustang LX coupe, the date was a lot more than just a Friday.