Steve Magnante’s Back on YouTube!

You may have heard how Steve Magnante, Barrett-Jackson on-air talent, YouTube personality, and Hot Rod alum, has had a bad spell due to encephalitis. After several months of fighting the good fight, his health is back on the upswing, though he’s not yet out of the woods and in the junkyard. However, he’s fit enough to start making videos again, this time educating us about several models for Wagon Week.

The first segment features a discussion on promotional models sold at car dealerships. These acetate plastic models were popular for a time until they were replaced in the early 1960s by polystyrene models. The acetate vehicle Steve shows us is a 1957 Chevrolet wagon, and he’s clear to point out it’s not a Nomad, as it seems everyone and his mom thinks any Tri-Five Chevy wagon is a Nomad.

The second featured promo is a 1960 Rambler Classic wagon, but Steve adds to the history by showing a Rambler Dollar, a promotional gimmick to show how Ramblers were a better value than other cars on the road.

The final feature in this video is a 1957 Chevrolet Nomad that was part of a series of Kenner SSP (Super Sonic Power) car sets called Smash-Up Derby toy from the 1970s. Cars were equipped with a zip strip that was used to spin a drive wheel, upon which you’d place the car on the ground and have it charge a similar vehicle, or have it go up a ramp and crash. Pieces of the car would separate with the right impact.

Steve’s health continues to improve. So that you don’t miss his next video drop (if not any health updates), subscribe to his channel and watch both future and past episodes.