NEWS

Michigan's Tercel King

If you’ve ever found yourself deep in an internet rabbit hole about off-road Toyota Tercels, chances are you’ve stumbled across Luke. Luke has become the go-to guy for all things Tercel in Michigan—known for his garage full of 80s wagons, impossibly rare parts, and an impressively niche YouTube channel with over 3,000 subscribers.

Luke's been part of the MARS community for a few years now, but being more into the 80s Japanese side of things, he doesn’t always cross paths with the rest of the crew. So when we found ourselves brainstorming content ideas in the middle of a brutal Michigan winter, he was one of the first people who came to mind. He’s one of the few crazy enough to daily drive his quirky, vintage off-roaders through snow, slush, and salt—and take them off-road while he’s at it.

We reached out, pitched the idea, and before we knew it, we were hauling gear upstate to shoot what we thought would be a straightforward garage tour and trail drive.

It wasn’t.

A Tercel Wonderland

Luke’s place is everything you’d want it to be if you’re into weird, wonderful cars. The garage was packed—tight enough that moving around required a bit of choreography. A wood-burning stove roared in the corner, cranking out heat as the temperature outside dropped into the teens. Various builds sat in different phases of life: some just starting, others nearly trail-ready. Domestic Tercels shared space with JDM-imported siblings, while even more cars waited out back. Parts were everywhere—on shelves, stacked in corners, and even overflowing into the basement. It was overwhelming in the best way.

You instantly know and feel that this is Luke’s passion. His collection isn’t just functional—it’s personal. Every wagon, every gasket, every tool has a story. It’s not just a workspace—a museum, a time capsule, and a playground all rolled into one.

After a garage tour, Luke introduced us to his favorite: Thunderbucket. A lifted Tercel wagon with battle scars, trail badges, and just enough rust to prove it’s been used properly.

That’s when the plan fell apart—in the best way.

Five People, One Tercel, and a Lot of Ice

Our goal was simple: follow Luke out on a local trail and grab some B-roll of Thunderbucket doing what it does best. Instead, five of us crammed into the lifted wagon, armed with camera gear, questionable traction, and a growing sense of “this might be a terrible idea.”

Michigan had iced over the night before. The trails were slick, visibility was low, and the Tercel was doing its best to stay pointed in the right direction. Within minutes, it was clear: we weren’t filming a feature anymore—we were living one.

There were near-misses (including a moment that sent Jon diving for the door), plenty of “uh-oh” laughs, and then… an actual accident. Thunderbucket went down. Not in flames, thankfully, but stuck badly. What followed was a multi-hour recovery mission that tested everything from towing straps to team morale. We stopped filming halfway through and just focused on getting everyone out safely.

Spoiler: Thunderbucket Didn’t Make It Home

We won’t spoil the whole story—check out the episode if you want to see how it all plays out—but let’s just say Thunderbucket earned its name that day. The damage was real. The vibes? Somehow still immaculate.

Luke took it all in stride, cracking jokes and shifting into recovery mode like it was just another Tuesday. That resilience—and the way he’s built a community around these scrappy little wagons—is exactly why we wanted to tell his story in the first place.

Why We Love Making These

Not every shoot goes to plan. Some days, you get clean interviews, a beautiful b-roll, and everything wraps before sunset. Other days, you’re half-frozen, knee-deep in mud, wondering if the Tercel will start again.

This one was the latter, and we wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Here are some behind the scenes photos from the adventure.

📸 Photos: Jon Zomer

Spanners 105 Finale: Matt Kwiek - 1971 Alfa Romeo Berlina

Escaping the Cold

Michigan has been frozen over for the past two months. All the fun cars are tucked away, hiding from the massive amounts of salt dumped on local roads. But MARS is more than just Michigan—we have members spread all over, most of whom originally hail from the Great Lakes region. To escape the cold, we took a weekend trip to a slightly warmer Nashville, TN, to visit our friend responsible for the group's name.

Matt Kwiek and Kwiek Classics

Matt Kwiek has made a name for himself in the Mercedes community. His resto-mod shop, Kwiek Classics, has been growing exponentially, specializing in swapping modern Mercedes drivetrains and more into ‘60s-era Mercedes cars. Out of the eight lifts in his shop, nearly all were occupied by customer cars in various stages of completion. Matt has perfected this swap to a near science—he could probably do it with his eyes closed.

What makes his story even more impressive is that most of his knowledge is self-taught, born out of necessity:
"I bought an old Mercedes as my first car, it broke down almost immediately, and I had to learn to fix it because I couldn’t afford to pay someone."

The Oddball in the Garage

Matt has a unique collection of classic Mercedes, but one oddball in his garage demands attention—his 1971 Alfa Romeo Berlina 1750. This car is absolutely coated in character, with a patina-rich exterior that only time can create. It’s rough around the edges but mechanically sound. Among a sea of Mercedes, the Berlina stands out.

Matt acquired the Alfa in 2021 and revived it after years in storage. It became roadworthy just in time for the September 2021 Round Headlamp Rally, so naturally, it had to be the car of choice. Two days, 1,000 miles—the Berlina made it through 90% of the rally before the tie rods gave out, making steering dangerously unpredictable. Since then, it’s undergone numerous upgrades and maintenance, becoming a well-loved and frequently driven classic.

And honestly? It’s impressive. Trying to keep up with Matt in Nashville traffic—while we were in a Toyota Tundra—was no easy task. The Berlina is healthy, and it perfectly complements Matt’s spirited driving style.

The Search for the Dream Car

Sometimes, while chasing your dream car, you find something close enough and settle until the right one comes along. Matt always wanted an Alfa Romeo GTV—the sportier, two-door sibling of the Berlina. In 2023, that dream became a reality when he found a 1975 GTV and brought it back to life.

But after driving both, he realized he actually preferred the Berlina. It was more practical and handled better, thanks to its longer wheelbase, and ultimately, the GTV just didn’t capture him the same way. So, he sold the GTV and kept the Berlina.

A Keeper Amongst the Mercedes

Among the shiny V8-powered Mercedes that fill his shop, the Berlina stands out as a bundle of character and a true driver’s car. It’s earned a permanent spot on Matt’s very short list of cars he swears he’ll never sell.

📸: Jon Zomer

Watch the Spanners Season One Finale

A Rainy Start, But Spirits High

The morning of Sunday, April 30th, 2023, started early—7:30 AM sharp at Coffee Rescue in Portage, MI. Jamie, the owner, opened her doors two hours early just for us, and the smell of fresh-brewed coffee mixed with the excitement of the day ahead. The weather may not have been ideal, but that didn’t stop a dedicated group of classic car enthusiasts from rolling in, eager for the adventure.

Backroads and Hidden Treasures

Fueled up (on caffeine, at least), the group hit the road for our first stop—a private collection in Galesburg, MI. The route was filled with winding back roads, the kind of roads that make you appreciate a well-sorted classic. Upon arrival, they were greeted with an eclectic mix of Euro, American, and British machines, all tucked away in an enthusiast’s dream garage.

With time to "talk shop," everyone swapped stories about their own builds, restorations, and future projects. There’s something about standing in a garage filled with history and sharing that passion with like-minded folks that just hits differently.

Behind the Scenes at Gilmore

From Galesburg, the convoy made its way to Gilmore Car Museum—but not for the usual museum experience. This time, the group was granted an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the restoration and storage areas. Walking through rows of cars in various stages of restoration, they got a glimpse of the meticulous work that goes into preserving automotive history.

Seeing rare cars up close and learning about the processes behind their preservation made this stop a real highlight of the day. We even got a few sneak peeks at projects not yet on display!

The Open Road to Holland

With engines warmed up and excitement still high, the group embarked on the next leg—the road trip to Holland, MI. The exact route? Well, let’s just say it was a "choose-your-own-adventure" kind of drive, but the goal was simple: enjoy the road, enjoy the cars, and enjoy the company.

(Insert rolling shot of cars on the road)

The final stop took the group to Eclectic Motorworks, where Carl opened up his workspace to show off some truly special projects. From customers cars to rare finds, the shop was filled with stories waiting to be told. It was the perfect way to cap off an already incredible day.

A Massive Thank You

As the event came to a close, it was clear that the weather hadn't dampened the turnout or the enthusiasm. Watching a long line of classics cruising together was a sight worth the drive.

A huge thank you to everyone who came out, to our hosts who graciously opened their doors, and to Coffee Rescue for fueling the start of our adventure. You all rule so much.

More plans are in the works for this summer, so stay tuned. Until then, let’s see those photos and videos—drop them in the group; I’d love to see everyone’s perspectives!

Cheers to another successful MARS Rolling Shop Tour!

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Comment Below if you think we should do another MARS Shop Tour, and where should we go?