Host of the Car Restoration and Testing Internet Show 'Roadkill'

David Freiburger | Biography

Former Editor-in-chief of Hot Rod Magazine

• By Ojasbi
• Update : August 13, 2021

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An automobile enthusiast, David Freiburger has worked as the editor of magazines such as Hot Rod, Car Craft, Wheel & Off-Road, and Rod & Custom Magazine. He currently hosts the web car restoration and testing show Roadkill.

Who is David Freiburger?

Freiburger is well-known for his interest and engagement with automobiles. He is passionate about almost all of a car’s technical tasks, ranging from wrenching to aftermarket sales to car restoration. In addition, he has experience in the creation and promotion of print, digital and video-based material and events related to cars.

Freiburger has worked as the editor of several magazines such as Hot Rod, Car Craft, Rod & Custom, and 4-Wheel & Off-Road. He is also the creator of Fastest Street Car, Hot Rod Deluxe, Overkill, and Roadkill magazines. 

In addition, Freiburger is substantially recognized for hosting, producing, and writing digital automotive shows such as Roadkill (2012-2021), Roadkill Garage (2016-2021), Hot Rod Garage (2015-2020), Engine Masters (2015-2021), among many others. Moreover, he is a member of the Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame and is affiliated with five 200 MPH Clubs. 

In June 2021, HOTCars reported that Freiburger had an estimated net worth of over $1 million. The magazine also disclosed that he nearly owned and 200 cars. 

How Old is David Freiburger?

Freiburger's birthday is on 21 August, but his exact age remains undisclosed. He went to John Marshall High School for his high school education. After graduating from high school, he began working as a spare parts salesman at a Dodge dealership and also later gained experienced in the automobile industry. 

To keep his automobile enthusiasm going, Freiburger attended California State University Automobile Production and Technology in 1985. 

Career

According to his LinkedIn, Freiburger has never worked in a job that wasn’t related to automobiles. After graduating from high school, he worked at a Dodge dealership parts counter. He then shifted to a machine shop and an aftermarket ignition firm until landing as a Hot Rod staff writer at Motor Trend Group in 1991. Freiburger held the job for nearly two years until leaving in 1994. Following that, he served as an editor for four years ( 1994–1998) at 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine, two years (1998–2000) at Car Craft Magazine, a year at Rod & Custom Magazine (2000–2001), and then six years ( 2001–2007) as the editor-in-chief of Hot Rod Magazine. All of these magazines belonged to Motor Trend Group. 

After 15 years of service at the Motor Trend Group in various capacities, Freiburger took a hiatus from the company to fulfill his responsibilities as president of Car Junkie TV from 2007 to 2009. In 2009, he rejoined the Motor Trend Group as the editor-in-chief of Hot Rod Magazine. He held the until 2015. Since 2015, he has been acting as the senior vice president of content strategy at Motor Trend.

Later, he would also write and produce the web programs Roadkill (2011-present), Roadkill Garage (2016-present), Hot Rod Garage (2015-2020), and Engine Masters (2015-present)

On his website Shop.DavidFreiburger, Freiburger also runs a merchandise section where he sells various automobile accessories, t-shirts, and home decor.

Cars Collection

Freiburger owns a sizable collection of cars, parts, and tools. He peculiarly likes antique and classic automobiles. His garage is home to several legendary automobiles that once controlled the automotive world. In 2018, he admitted to owning over 170 cars in a post on his Facebook profile. Among the given numbers, most of the cars were brought to life following restoration efforts. A classic example is ‘The Super Bee’ that has been in his workshop for almost 30 years and has undergone five engine changes. 

Freiburger drives a 1969 Ford Mustang for his everyday use. He also possesses a 1973 Pontiac Ventura, an F-Rod, a Chevrolet Impala, a 1995 Chevrolet Camaro, and a Chevrolet Crusher. A 942 Ford GPW Green is the oldest car in his collection, and Chevrolet automobiles have gradually surpassed Dodge, Jeep, Pontiac, and Plymouth in his garage. In addition, Freiburger also owns the F-Bomb Camaro, a modified 1973 model of Chevrolet Camaro built by Nelson Racing Engines. He acquired the automobile for next to nothing in exchange, just for some automotive components and $800.

Freiburger as well sells the restored cars for a reasonable price to those who appreciate the status that comes with owning classic automobiles.

His few favorite automobile tools include Flex-Hone Cylinder Ball-Hone, Comp Cams Valve Spring Pressure Tester, Matco Locking Pivot Head Ratchet Handle, Vintage P&C, and Plomb Ratchet Handles, Powerhouse Products Crank Sockets, and many others. 

‘RoadKill’

From 2012 until now, Freiburger has been serving as the producer, writer, and host of the reality television show Roadkill. As of 11 August 2021, the show has spanned ten seasons and stars Mike Finnegan alongside Freiburger.

The duo explores all sorts of gas engines, hardly-legal street machines, and extremely wrenched cars in quest of their next gearhead adventure on the show. They take on the worst automobiles they can find, modify them to insane degrees, and then put them through grueling challenges.

The main theme of this reality TV show, which is based on true events, is men acting roughly with vehicles. As a result, the show uncovers many disasters as it operates. For instance, a Toyota Prius got hit by a tank in episode 17, presumably because everyone despised the Prius. Freiburger and Finnegan then scream with delight as they threw automobiles down a 300-foot-high cliff in Alaska in episode 83.

Dad

In his effort to learn the automobile industry, Freiburger got heavily inspired by his father. Freiburger was exposed to the world of automobiles by his father, who ran a TV commercial production firm in Hollywood for companies including Plymouth, Goodyear, and Pontiac.

“By now, my dad hasn’t held a “regular” job in 40 years. He shoots traps, fiddles with his cars, and has been the announcer at Concours d’elegance car shows for a couple of decades. I hope to one day be as cool as he is”, Freiburger told Motor Trend via his “here is my dad” story in 2018.

Net Worth

Freiburger has amassed a net worth of $1 million and allegedly earns more than $110,000 annually from Hot Rod Magazine, as reported by Hot Cars as of June 2021. 

Did You Know?

• Hollywoodmask reported in 2019 that the only time Freiburger referenced his wife was through a Facebook post dated March 2011. He wrote: "This is by far the collect thing I have seen on Netflix. If I bought it, my wife would make me live in it."
• Freiburger is yet to be featured on Wikipedia, as of 13 August 2021.