Favorite PROJECT CAR Channels
YouTube provides a vast resource for car enthusiasts. Anyone can start a channel and post videos. Some of the videos posted are well researched and professionally presented, while many are not. Trying to find reliable sources with interesting and informative material can be a challenge.
I spend a lot of time watching automotive videos and have found some really good channels that I trust and follow. It took some time to assemble my list of favorites, which I shared in the related articles below:
Related articles: Favorite CAR REPAIR Channels, Favorite CAR REVIEW Channels
I originally published this article in January 2023. Since then, my recommendations have changed as new channels surface and existing ones lose their luster. My top channels are shown in order of my preference, though ranking them is unfair as all are really good.
Top Five Project Car Channels
Like many of you, I really like watching car repair videos. Those that go deep into diagnostics are at the top of my list. The natural evolution of car repair is car restoration, or the revitalization of a car left for dead.
The YouTube channels below place a heavy focus on bringing a car back to life and/or bringing them back to new (or better) condition. Each takes a different approach, which is what makes them all very interesting to me.
- Pole Barn Garage
- TOM’S REFURB (added May 2025)
- Speed Bump Garage
- Vice Grip Garage
- Sarah-n-Tuned
Pole Barn Garage
This channel is very similar to Vice Grip Garage, with a focus on reviving older vehicles that have been sitting for years. The host is Dalton, whose humor and stories have a darker twist than Derek at Vice Grip Garage. His projects are more low-budget, making them feel more approachable for us regular folk.
I especially like that Dalton is including his teen son, JD, in the projects. You will see Dalton providing many teaching moments for JD, which I think is super cool.
Dalton’s channel is linked HERE
TOM’S REFURB
I added this channel to my list in May 2025 after watching a number of Tom’s videos. Tom is a recent college graduate with a fun presentation style. He works out of his dad’s workshop and does a number of revivals and modifications of vehicles he finds on Marketplace. He has handful of friends who either help or sit in the background (mostly they sit in the background), so this feels like a typical guys hangout.
Tom has a surprisingly vast mechanical knowledge, which makes this enjoyable to watch. He also has his own online performance exhaust shop on the side. He is an enterprising young man who is entertaining to watch. His channel is found HERE.
Speed Bump Garage
I discovered this channel in early 2024, and have really enjoyed the content. This is a father and sons channel, with Kent buying older trucks and reviving them with his two young boys (Jack and AJ). Jack and AJ both have a pretty good understanding of vehicles. Kent is very laid back and a terrific teacher for his boys.
Kent is not a professional mechanic, so many of us can relate to his low-budget approach to his projects. The tone is slow and low…perfect for early morning or late night viewing.
You can find this channel HERE.
Vice Grip Garage
Derek Bieri finds non-running old cars and trucks (usually Squarebody GM pickups) to bring back to life. His videos usually run long (at least 60 minutes), but his dry humor and folksy charm will keep you engaged the entire time.
Most of his projects are bought hundreds of miles from home. Once he gets them running, he drives them back to his backyard shop. Imagine working on a car that has been sitting for 20 years, then driving it for 600 miles.
Several of those derelicts turn into multi-episode videos. He rarely does a full restoration (he doesn’t seem to like to paint), but I would gladly take any of his projects home.
You can find Vice Grip Garage HERE
Sarah-n-Tuned
Sarah is a car enthusiast and former aerospace mechanic, who started a car channel about four years ago. Within the last year or so, she moved her operations from her home garage to a small shop with a couple of lifts.
Even though she will do an occasional new car review, most of her videos focus on rebuilding a variety of vehicles. The diversity of her projects make things interesting; she’s restored or modified a Subaru Forester, Audi TT, Ford Ranger, Audi Quattro and VW Beetle. She is currently working on a Toyota Celica. That car will receive a V8 engine from her dad’s wrecked Toyota Tundra.
Sarah typically uploads a new video every 72 hours, so her content is very fresh. Most of her videos are around 15 minutes, and are very content rich. Her attention to detail is borderline obsessive, which she openly acknowledges. I like her positive attitude and silly humor.
Sarah’s channel can be found HERE.
Final Thoughts & Questions
These project car channels are a great source of entertainment, and a good resource if you own one of those project cars and in need of some tips. Each host has their own approach, which adds to the fun. None of these are really how-to channels. Instead, they show you the overall effort needed to bring a vehicle back to life and/or make them better. That makes these great for those of you looking for project ideas.
Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions in the comments below.
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