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Operation Slowdown - Dallas Car Culture 005
Weekly news, events, deals, and stories from the Dallas Automotive Scene.
Sanjay Jenkins & Fazil Hussain
July 25, 2025
It’s been some time. We could tell you all the twists and turns on why we haven’t sent out a newsletter in a minute, but the short version is that life happened.
Good, bad… just life.
One constant throughout the wild last few months was getting into a car and driving.
Giving a thumbs up in traffic to someone with a sweet ride.
Turning around to look at whatever is approaching loudly while sitting on a patio.
Dallas Car Culture kept us all together.
Stay safe on the roads. See you out there.
Here’s what’s inside DCC 005:
Events this weekend
A Feature you can’t miss
Car Spotting
News You Can’t Miss
Car events happening tonight and tomorrow are going to be absolutely sick. Every type of car throughout the years will be represented, so no matter what you’re into, we have an event for you. |
As always, our events this week are all listed on ParkUpFront, which I highly recommend you download ! |
This Week’s Meets |
CARS AND COFFEE TEXAS |
When: Saturday, July 26 8:00 AM |
Location: 2550 McMillan Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76137 Price: FREE |
Cars and Coffee Prosper |
Time: Saturday, July 26 9:00 AM |
Location: 711 Industry Way Prosper, TX 750780 |
Price: FREE |
Rooftop Madness |
When: Friday, July 25 6:00 PM Location: 65465 Legacy Dr. Plano, TX 75024 Price: FREE |
Sunset on the Square |
When: Saturday, July 25 7:00 PM |
Location: Parker Square Rd. Flower Mound, TX 75028 |
Price: Free |
JDM NIGHT |
When: Saturday, July 26 7:00 PM |
Location: 4800 ElDorado Pkwy. Suite#400, Frisco, TX 75033 |
Price: Free |
Zillow for Car’s that’s turning Heads:
Picture this, it’s Saturday morning, the sun’s roasting the blacktop like a brisket, and you’re scrolling Zillow-style…but instead of starter homes you’re swiping past a baby-blue GT3 and somebody’s “weekend-only” McLaren. Founded by local super-car rain-maker Chris Barta—the same guy who scaled Tactical Fleet from a nondescript warehouse to America’s largest pre-owned exotic dealership After clearing more than $500 million in lifetime exotic-car sales, Barta is taking the showroom fully digital. Barta’s new marketplace drops the showroom walls entirely, every listing on Design Auto sits north of $100K, matched to buyers who are already qualified to pounce. True automotive concierge. Why we’re obsessed: Tinder for Titanium Wallets: Swipe, favorite, and DM sellers of six-figure eye-candy without leaving the couch. (Warning: may induce reckless day-dreaming and sudden desire to refinance… everything.) Dealer-only inventory: Barta hand-curates his roster of exotic dealers, so you’re not haggling in the comments with “LamboLuvr84.” Zero-inventory model: The platform never touches a title; it’s pure matchmaking, which keeps fees thin and listings fresh. Soon-to-drop social layer: Design Auto is teasing “digital clubhouse” features—think flex-shots, build threads, maybe even a humble-brag leaderboard. Barta’s empire started right here in Farmers Branch. Tactical Fleet still slings Aventadors out of its 75,000-sq-ft mothership, and now Design Auto lets the rest of the planet tap that pipeline without flying to DAL. That’s hometown leverage. If your dream ride starts with “0-60 in under 3,” Design Auto is your new marketplace. And if your budget’s still parked in reality? We still spend hours browsing anyways, minus the security guards side-eyeing you. Stay tuned- Dallas Car Culture will keep nosing around and bring y’all the tea next week. |
Automotive News this Week.
Supercharger Diner Tesla’s “Supercharger Diner” opens in L.A. Musk teases a Starbase TX location next. The two-story retro drive-in seats 250, backs 80 Superchargers and broadcasts movies on twin 66-ft screens. Elon Musk says if the concept sticks, the next one lands on the Gulf Coast near SpaceX. Texas already has the nation’s densest Supercharger footprint; a themed diner-charger mash-up would turn road-trip top-offs into full-blown meet-ups. Watch for job postings and permit filings in Cameron County. Escalade Say Bye GM pulls the Cadillac Escalade line out of Arlington Assembly after 2026. Production shifts to Orion Township, MI, as part of a $4 billion reshuffle that also adds Silverado/Sierra volume up north. Arlington keeps Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon. The Escalade is the plant’s halo SUV and personally, losing it stings. Expect head-hunters to circle Arlington’s 5,200-strong talent pool and more hiring at Michigan suppliers. Dealers will keep inventory, but allocation could tighten by late 2026. Operation Slowdown… TxDOT’s new “Be Safe. Drive Smart” blitz (July 18–Aug 3) pairs PSA spots with an “Operation Slowdown” ticket surge. Officials cite 1,467 speed-related deaths in 2024—35 % of all Texas road fatalities. Out-of-town Cars & Coffee runs? Budget extra minutes—troopers are doubling fines in work zones and school zones, and they’re laser-gun-happy on U.S. 75 and I-35. No More Temp Tags Paper temp tags are gone. Metal plates now issued at the dealership. House Bill 718 took effect July 1, killing the fake-tag black market (worth ~$125 M/yr). Dealers must use the state’s webDEALER system; private-party sales unchanged. No more slick online uploads of “dealer” paper tags. Out-of-state buyers hauling Texas toys home will instead get 60-day export plates. Make sure your enclosed-trailer driver knows the drill. Quick take Track junkies: COTA’s ticket portal just opened extra Sunday seats for the 2025 U.S. GP. Pair that with the ZR1 launch and you’ve got a full October motorsport pilgrimage. EV crowd: Between Tesla’s diner concept and TxDOT’s first NEVI station contracts (announced quietly in committee last week), the I-35 “Texas Triangle” is on pace to hit a DC-fast charger every 50 miles by early 2027. |
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for reading 005 of Dallas Car Culture. |
We make this because we love cars and we want to meet more people that love cars around DFW. |
We’ve got a lot of new stuff cooking for DCC. Fresh blood, renewed vigor. So many automotive stories to share from the Metroplex. |
We hope this brought you a little bit of happiness today. |
Stay safe. Buckle up. New issue every Friday. |
We'll see you on the road. |