Alex Xydias' contribution to hot rodding is unrivaled. During his seven-plus decades in the industry, there’s little he hasn’t done. He founded the original So-Cal Speed Shop in 1946. His iconic lakester graced the cover of Hot Rod. He produced motorsports films. Edited both Car
Harold Chapman didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a hot rod shop owner. He started Texas-based Customs and Hot Rods of Andice out of necessity after bad experiences with other shops forced him to hire a crew of fabricators to build his first street rod.
If you’ve ever read Hot Rod Magazine, Car Craft, Hot Rod Deluxe, or tuned into the MotorTrend channel to watch Roadkill, you know the name (and face) of David Freiburger. He began his automotive journalism career at Petersen Publishing in 1991 and has helmed many
When it comes to hot rod upholstery, Sid Chavers is one of the most well-respected names in the business. A product of the San Francisco Bay Area, he’s been stitching award-winning hot rod, classic, and custom car interiors for more than 46 years and has
Rick Love knows how to keep his cool – and how to keep you cool, too. He’s worked for Vintage Air for more than 20 years and has more than 35 years of experience installing the company’s air conditioning products. A lifelong hot rodder, Love’s
Boris Maryanovsky might not be a YouTube star or TikTok phenomenon, but he can definitely be considered an influencer in the hot rod and custom world. His Cleveland, Ohio-based Street Machinery shop has been cranking out cool rides for two decades, and while his team
Tom Daniel. The name might not be familiar but if you ever saw a custom model car from the ’60s, our guess is you saw some of Daniel's work. Between 1967-1975, Tom designed 75 cars for Monogram Models. These were iconic models that are still
Even if you don’t recognize Jay Ward's name, you’re undoubtedly familiar with his work. Ward has been with animation company Pixar since it was a scrappy Bay Area startup in 1998. He caught the attention of director John Lasseter while working as a production assistant
We’ve all been spending more time on social media in recent years, as well as interacting with online platforms like YouTube. And if you’re a car enthusiast, it’s likely you’ve seen – or will soon see – content created by Emily Reeves. Reeves and her husband,
Bob Larivee Sr. knows a thing or two about car shows. After helping with the first Detroit Autorama put on by the Michigan Hot Rod Association in 1953, Larivee immersed himself in the business and soon met promotor Don Ridler, who encouraged Larivee to start
