For decades, hot rodding was perceived as a young person’s pursuit – those kids and their fast, noisy cars! In recent years, however, if you mention the term “hot rod” to a casual observer, they’re likely to envision a middle-aged man driving a ’32 Ford,
Leave it to Kindig It Design to take the classic design of a 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing and update it with a blend of American muscle and modern style and refinement. It’s a combination that comes off beautifully in Rich Buckley’s sleek custom coupe. Starting
When most people think of high-end custom trucks, they think of big-name builders holding court somewhere in a mythical Northern California or a glitzy Los Angeles. Some have reality shows, many have their own product lines, and some were stars before the Internet. As any
Bob Leenstra knows his one-of-17 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda convertible is ultra-rare. Add on a documented history of Super Stock drag racing and it resides in the land of ultimate Mopar scarcity and desirability. [gallery link="file" size="full" ids="98121,98120,98118"] Bob’s ’Cuda is a 440 Six Pack car with a
If you need evidence that the future of hot rod building is in good hands, just look at 25-year-old Josh Sanders of Sanders Street Rods, the shop behind Mike Chaffeur’s trick 1959 Corvette. As a car-crazy teen, Josh was taken under the wing of Denny
The list of hot rod luminaries that roamed SoCal’s sunny landscape – many profiled in this column – helped define what we know today as “hot rod culture.” And every once in a while, a handful of such legends join forces to create a special
In his many decades as a hot rodder, shop owner, and car builder, Don Richardson has had his share of cool cars and trucks. You might recall his rare ’38 Ford convertible sedan, which was a Goodguys America’s Most Beautiful Street Rod finalist a few
Some street machines are meant to be subtle. Mark Brownfield’s ’70 Dodge Challenger, “Kryptonite”, is just the opposite. With bright and bold paint, Hellcat power, and a wicked stance, this street machine takes things to an extreme! Mark teamed up with Altered Motion in Ravenna,
Any hot rod or custom shop owner knows that personal rides are rolling advertisements for the shop’s work. If that ride not only looks great but is also a top track performer, you’re covering all the bases. For Chris Smith, owner of Smitty’s Custom Automotive
“A woodie wagon makes perfect sense!” That’s the thought Greg Tidwell had when he started his search for a hot rod that he and his then-pregnant wife, Penni, could enjoy as a family. That was about 20 years ago. In fact, their son Wyatt never
