Inside the Garage with Mike Burroughs: Ferrari, Fabrication, and the Road to SEMA
Mike Burroughs has made a name for himself by challenging convention, one vehicle at a time. As the founder of StanceWorks, he’s spent more than a decade pushing the limits of what’s possible in custom car culture, blending precision fabrication with fearless creativity.
At the 2025 SEMA Show, Mike debuted his latest project: a reimagined Ferrari 308 GTBi transformed into a time attack machine. Known as the 244 GTK, the build pairs classic Italian styling with a Honda K-series powerplant and a no-rules approach to track performance. The result is a car that turns heads, breaks expectations, and embodies everything Mike stands for as a builder.
Pennzoil sat down with Mike to discuss the creative process behind his latest builds, how he balances high-tech tools with old-school fabrication, and why Pennzoil plays a crucial role in keeping his high-output engines protected over the long haul.
PENNZOIL: What first drew you into car culture and ultimately led you to start building cars?
MIKE BURROUGHS: Unlike many in the car community, I didn’t grow up wrenching in the garage. My interest didn’t ignite until I was about 15, when the excitement of getting a driver's license collided with a growing curiosity about cars. Before that, I was focused on video games. But once the car bug hit, it stuck hard. Building started as a natural extension of that obsession, with each project getting more ambitious. I never wanted to put a ceiling on what a project could be. Every car I build is a new opportunity to improve and explore, and that mindset has taken me to some pretty incredible places.
PENNZOIL: How has your philosophy around building cars evolved over the years?
MIKE BURROUGHS: Most people build a car with a clear purpose, maybe for racing, showing, or weekend cruising. I tend to work the other way around. I build because I love to build, and I figure out how it’s used later. For me, the process is the reward. It’s a lot like how I played with LEGO as a kid. I’d build something, admire it briefly, and then tear it down to start over. That same energy drives my work today.
Take the Ferrari F40 project, for example, people ask if it’s built for a specific rulebook or event. It’s not. I’m building it because it excites me. That’s the only reason I need. It’s a full tube-chassis, V12-powered build that’s still in its early stages, and it’s one of the most hands-on, ground-up projects I’ve ever taken on.
PENNZOIL: What was the inspiration behind your recent Ferrari project featured at SEMA?
MIKE BURROUGHS: The Ferrari 244 GTK is the one currently hitting shows like SEMA. It started when I was spending time with friends who were all into time attack racing. I wanted to join them, not to win, but to be part of the experience. I chose the Ferrari 308 GTBi because I love the way it looks. Instead of restoring it as a vintage cruiser, I decided to turn it into something wild and track-focused. It's not optimized for competitiveness, but it's exactly what I wanted it to be: fun, bold, and built my way.
PENNZOIL: What role does Pennzoil play in helping you push the limits of your engine builds?
MIKE BURROUGHS: Every build we do involves pushing engines to their limits. Whether it’s making 1,000 horsepower from a four-cylinder or running a high-revving V12, we’re asking a lot from these powerplants. Having Pennzoil Platinum® and Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ Full Synthetic in the engine means one less variable to worry about. It’s the lifeblood that keeps everything running under extreme conditions. I know the oil is doing its job so that I can focus on tuning, airflow, and temperatures. Pennzoil has been with us for years, and it has been essential to keeping our engines running and our projects moving forward.
PENNZOIL: How do you balance modern tools like CAD and CNC with your hands-on fabrication style?
MIKE BURROUGHS: I like using CAD design and CNC machining where it makes sense. I work with laser-cutting shops like SendCutSend and even have my own CNC now. But I don’t want the computer to build the car for me. People often ask why I didn’t design the entire F40 chassis digitally and bolt it together. That might be faster, but that’s not what I’m here to do. I want to build the car myself physically. Some might say I use too much tech, while others think I’m doing it all by hand. The truth is, I use whatever helps me create the best version of my vision.
PENNZOIL: Storytelling is a big part of your brand. How does it influence the way you share your builds?
MIKE BURROUGHS: Storytelling is at the heart of everything we do at StanceWorks. A lot of car content online skips over the most challenging parts of a build; viewers see a time-lapse and miss the months of effort that went into it. Our goal is to show every step, every challenge, every decision. That includes the technical reasoning behind each choice and the role critical products like Pennzoil play in this process. We want our audience to understand the “why,” not just the “how.” It’s about making high-level fabrication relatable and digestible without losing the craft. Our YouTube channel isn’t just a portfolio; it’s a platform for documenting the creative journey.
PENNZOIL: What stood out to you most about this year’s SEMA experience?
MIKE BURROUGHS: The best part of SEMA each year is seeing fresh talent come through the doors. There’s always a handful of first-time builders with unbelievable skills, people creating at a level that I find humbling. It’s inspiring to see new voices in the scene bringing original ideas to life. Spotting those up-and-comers is one of my favorite parts of the show.
PENNZOIL: What advice would you give to builders who want to break away from trends and create something truly original?
MIKE BURROUGHS: Don’t build what you think people want to see. Build what you want to build. That’s the only way to stand out. Cars are my creative outlet. I do this because it fulfills me. That passion translates into success. People can tell when you’re genuinely excited about something, and that excitement is contagious. So instead of chasing trends, chase the thing that drives you. If you build for yourself, others will follow.
Mike Burroughs is part of a new generation of builders pushing the envelope, not with big teams, but with big vision and even bigger ambitions. From reimagined Ferraris to full frame-up builds, his hands are on every inch of the cars he creates. With Pennzoil under the hood, Mike doesn’t have to compromise. He builds what he wants, how he wants, knowing his engines are protected for extreme demands.
Long May We Drive.
