As a lifelong automotive enthusiast, my YouTube feed is a curated collection of channels that fuel my passion for cars, builds, and the personalities behind them. Over the years, I’ve developed a rating system ranging from S (Elite) to F (Failure) to help me track which channels consistently deliver value, entertainment, and inspiration. They reflect my values and approach to car projects while recently, I have rating log to track which channels deliver the most value to me. Authenticity has emerged as the single most important quality I look for on any channel that I subscribe to and watch. Here’s a breakdown of the channels I watch, why they stand out, and what keeps me coming back for more.
The Elite Tier: S-Rated Channels
These are the channels that set the bar for skill, entertainment, and authenticity:
- BigTime: Highly skilled and entertaining, though sometimes their builds lack fluidity.
- Speeed: Personal insights backed by proven data, but not always strictly automotive.
- Vice Grip Garage: Derek’s showmanship and genuine care shine, even if he downplays success.
- Stay Tuned: Relentless effort and skill, though they sometimes rush results.
- Tavarish: Captivating projects and honest admissions, but inconsistent uploads.
These channels are the gold standard, blending technical prowess with personality. Their flaws, like rushed builds, are minor compared to the value they provide to me and the world.
Excellent and Above Average: A & B Ratings
Channels in these tiers are consistently enjoyable, with unique strengths:
- Puddin’s Fab Shop: Feels like family, vast skillset, but mostly stays in the shop.
- Grind Hard Plumbing Co: Unmatched fabrication and engineering, though collabs feel distant.
- Donut: Well-funded, exciting builds, but less adaptive post-COVID.
- Scrapped Life Lee: Builds attainable vehicles, but focuses on newer models.
- Throtl: Relatable builds, though not always street-legal in California.
These creators bring a mix of accessibility, innovation, and entertainment. Their content is relatable, and their personalities make viewers feel part of the journey.
Average and Below: C, D, and F Ratings
Some channels fall short, either due to inconsistent posting, lack of depth, or too much focus on monetization:
- Boosted Boiz: Fun builds, but hides financial success.
- Mortske: Skilled, but videos are stretched for ad revenue.
- Rust Bros.: Below average, slipping due to lack of engaging content.
- Legit Street Cars: Fails to deliver meaningful builds, overly focused on cash flow.
While these channels have moments of brilliance, they often miss the mark on consistency or authenticity.
What Makes a Channel Stand Out?
Based on my ratings, the best channels combine technical skill, genuine personality, and a willingness to share both successes and failures. Authenticity is key as viewers like me want to see real builds, honest mistakes, and relatable stories. Channels that focus too much on revenue or lose their personal touch tend to slip down my watch list.
Why Authenticity Is King
Skill, entertainment, and production value are important, but nothing beats authenticity. I want to see creators who are genuine, sharing their successes, failures, and real-life challenges. Whether it is Vice Grip Garage, where Derek’s passion and honesty shine through, or Tavarish, who openly admits what he does not know, authenticity makes the content relatable and inspiring.
Recent Discoveries and Changing Perspectives
Recently, I discovered “Buff’s Garage”, a channel that is still finding its footing but shows promise. I am also hoping for more content from “Steve Dulcich / Shifted”, whose collaborations and family involvement bring a unique flavor to the automotive YouTube scene. These new additions remind me that a channel’s worth is not just about flashy builds or big budgets. It is about the creator’s willingness to share their journey, no matter where they are in the process.
My Approach: Hard Work Over Perfection
My channel preferences mirror my own philosophy. The most expensive tool or part is not always the best answer for every project. Sometimes, the best solution is a used part and some hard work. I value experimentation and community over perfection. The channels I enjoy most are those that show the real grind, creative fixes, and camaraderie that comes from working together. It is not about having the perfect shop or unlimited funds. It is about making the most of what you have and sharing that journey with others.
Standout Channels
Here are some of the channels that consistently deliver:
- BigTime, Speeed, Vice Grip Garage, Stay Tuned, Tavarish: Elite for their authenticity and skill.
- Puddin’s Fab Shop, Grind Hard Plumbing Co, Donut, Scrapped Life Lee, Throtl: Excellent for their relatable builds and genuine personalities.
What Makes a Channel Stand Out
Based on my ratings, the best channels combine technical skill, genuine personality, and a willingness to share both successes and failures. Authenticity is key. Viewers want to see real builds, honest mistakes, and relatable stories. Channels that focus too much on revenue or lose their personal touch tend to slip down my list.
Conclusion
Authenticity is the thread that ties my favorite channels together. Whether you are a seasoned builder or just starting out, the best automotive YouTube creators are those who keep it real, share their journey, and inspire others to do the same. If you are looking for channels that reflect these values, check out my list. Remember, sometimes the best tool is a used part and a little elbow grease.
List Attached in Excel and Below:
| # | Channel Name | YouTube Link to the Channel | Rating S to F |
| 1 | BigTime | https://www.youtube.com/@bigtimebigtimebigtime | *S – Elite |
| 2 | Speeed | https://www.youtube.com/@speeedco | *S – Elite |
| 3 | Vice Grip Garage (Vice Grip Lodge) | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsfu-jdkX2_v2t3_igVQebg | *S – Elite |
| 4 | Stay Tuned | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9yHbzcmcVTeYvczQAOyjfQ | *S – Elite |
| 5 | Tavarish (2varish) | https://www.youtube.com/@tavarish/videos | *S – Elite |
| 6 | Puddin’s Fab Shop (Puddin’s Fab Shop 2) | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf6kbcafhNg5B-HaybBOkYg | A – Excellent |
| 7 | Grind Hard Plumbing Co (Bonus Bolts) | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCivi_f1nniBzEOfKhRoN12Q | A – Excellent |
| 8 | Donut | https://www.youtube.com/c/donutmediatv/about | A – Excellent |
| 9 | Scrapped Life Lee (Scrap Life Lee) | https://www.youtube.com/@ScrappedLifeLee | A – Excellent |
| 10 | The Questionable Garage | https://www.youtube.com/@TheQuestionableGarage | A – Excellent |
| 11 | Throtl (throtl clips) | https://www.youtube.com/@throtlclips | A – Excellent |
| 12 | B is for build (Behind the Build) | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl4-WBRqWA2MlxmZorKOV7w | A – Excellent |
| 13 | Cleetus MacFarland (Cleetus2 McFarland) | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh8f8vssLddD2PbnU3Ag_Bw | A – Excellent |
| 14 | David Freiburger | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLVC_a8re9aV_58GuibCeQ | A – Excellent |
| 15 | Jack Build It (Jack Sends It) | https://www.youtube.com/@JACKBUILDSIT | A – Excellent |
| 16 | Elsea’s World (Elsea’s Other World) | https://www.youtube.com/@ElseasWorld | B – Above Average |
| 17 | Pole Barn Garage (Outside of the Barn) | https://www.youtube.com/c/PoleBarnGarage | B – Above Average |
| 18 | Gas Monkey Garage | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Fj-4oQzaEPkg-XHjqZE0g | B – Above Average |
| 19 | Hagerty | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLgEVx4mzk3T3mzgbKG54Eg | B – Above Average |
| 20 | Finnegan’s Garage | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1IdPylqngGiuHFLJqHbG_g | B – Above Average |
| 22 | Rich Rebuilds (Uncle Rich’s) | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfV0_wbjG8KJADuZT2ct4SA | B – Above Average |
| 22 | Restored | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa422iqMhGLDX6GVC1gxxlA | B – Above Average |
| 23 | FabRats | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6Enc4guGzJyAnQmq9BUSw | B – Above Average |
| 24 | ChrisFix | https://www.youtube.com/c/chrisfix/videos | B – Above Average |
| 25 | Steve Dulcich / Shifted | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUKRL5Iybj1hxAfubIt53fQ/videos | B – Above Average |
| 26 | Man vs Cars | https://www.youtube.com/@Manvscars | B – Above Average |
| 27 | Junkyard Digs (Junkyard Mook) | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS87-wYrvmexsLkBj0jhrnQ | B – Above Average |
| 28 | Hoonigan | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXlfi8sf6cKGQ8sOd0-yRuw | B – Above Average |
| 29 | Riding with Alex Taylor | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWNh-oNlFaBj83CMnCagAxw | B – Above Average |
| 30 | The Motor Oil Geek | https://www.youtube.com/@themotoroilgeek | B – Above Average |
| 31 | Hoovies Garage (April’s Garage) | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdEczn3MVkx_4PnMZ10MVFA | B – Above Average |
| 32 | Boosted Boiz | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8LsMvKJ-l8a8nASFsuH4Ww | C – Average |
| 33 | Mortske (More Mortske) | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsrumG5BYDcT8sQccLCSL4Q | C – Average |
| 34 | Lucky’s Garage | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsAaakmE0dAtG7AVFb7oUEA | C – Average |
| 35 | No Nonsense Knowhow | https://www.youtube.com/NoNonsenseKnowHow | C – Average |
| 36 | MotorTrend Channel | https://www.youtube.com/MotorTrend/videos | C – Average |
| 37 | Dirthead Shed | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXn7Te8ZzhvXr6y7Gdo_YMw | C – Average |
| 38 | Buff’s Garage | https://www.youtube.com/c/buffsgarage | C – Average |
| 39 | Mat Armstrong | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcLYOTz3ct6_lk9iLToxxAw | C – Average |
| 40 | OK Speed & Custom | https://www.youtube.com/@OKspeed&custom | C – Average |
| 41 | The Car Wizard | https://www.youtube.com/c/CarWizard/videos | C – Average |
| 42 | Vin Wiki | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCefl-5pmhZmljwZTE2KrcdA | C – Average |
| 43 | HeavyDSparks | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGTKwjs1ctvgwCRa67RNO-Q | C – Average |
| 44 | Vin_tra | https://www.youtube.com/@vin_tra | C – Average |
| 45 | Build Season | https://www.youtube.com/@BuildSeason | C – Average |
| 46 | Westen Champlin | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChRlaISXbl2gECFAmDzxgzg | C – Average |
| 47 | Rae Ripple | https://www.youtube.com/@rae.ripple | C – Average |
| 48 | 1320video | https://www.youtube.com/@1320video | C – Average |
| 49 | Doug DeMuro | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsqjHFMB_JYTaEnf_vmTNqg | C – Average |
| 50 | Rust Bors. | https://www.youtube.com/@rustbrosrestos | D – Below Average |
| 51 | Scotty Kilmer | https://www.youtube.com/scottykilmer/videos | D – Below Average |
| 52 | Legit Street Cars | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT-2OPZT6P8j4nEKW3DXpOA | F – Failure |