Jalopnik
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autorama
2009 Detroit Autorama Wrap Up: Driving Out
A little secret about the Detroit Autorama is to go on the last day. You still see cars and the winners, but stay till the show closes and everybody fires up for the drive-out. More » -
autorama
Roadchamp Coupe Does Justice To Knockoffs
The Roadchamp Coupe defies categorization. It's a little bit of everything, and it adds up to a very clean, very cool hot rod we wish we could take home. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by engineerd is back in the D...for now: I've learned a few things over my 32 years on this earth. One of the biggest lessons a man... 8 Responses | Other threads
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autorama
1924 Dodge Modified, Skinny-Tired Dirt-Racing Awesome
We know absolutely nothing about this 1924 Dodge Modified owned by Clark Bates, but we're definitely going on record as wanting one. It's the coolest-ever field car. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by BTLFED does not has teh funny: Judging by the sheet on it, it is powered by a 2.3L Ford Ranger engine I'm guessing. What exactly does "A... 12 Responses | Other threads
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autorama
1933 Ford Cabriolet, A Noble Great Eight Contender
Mainly because we like rusty old rods with the propensity to kill you, we haven't paid much attention to the Great Eight Ridler contenders. But Chris Conly's 1933 Ford Cabriolet is clean and darn cool. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by tonyola: Not bad, though butterscotch is not my favorite color. What are those odd blisters in the hood panels behind the... 5 Responses | Other threads
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autorama
Lord Humongous Rides Again! Six-Wheeled Death Machine Recreated
Lord Humongous' armored killer buggy is a solid contender for the title of "Most Jalopnik Vehicle Ever Made." It's built the exact way it should've been: In an all-out garage thrash. More evil inside. More »
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Comment by engineerd is back in the D...for now: Hopefully its still a work in process and the nitrous bottles will eventually be hooked up. Maybe not to the engine,... 12 Responses | Other threads
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autorama
You Want Crazy? Pro Comp 1930 Ford Coupe
Let's say you're interested in tearing a hole in the space-time continuum, the 2009 Detroit Autorama weapon of choice? Undoubtedly, it'd be this Pro Comp 1930 Ford Coupe. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by Bubs: While undeniably a masterpiece and a nice looker, I cannot help feel that the '30s Ford coupe thing is getting... 11 Responses | Other threads
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autorama
A Tale Of Two KITTs
This may be the first time we've seen the old n' trusted Trans Am-based KITT and the new n' busted Mustang GT500KR-based KITT together at the same time. Seems like it's PSA time. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by IamZardoz: My Theorum: KITT = SH_T (as in who gives a). 8 Responses | Other threads
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autorama
Troy Trepanier's "Notorious" Will Steal Your Girlfriend
Troy Trepanier took a Chevy Nova, added a 572 cubic inch V8, a Procharger supercharger, blacked out everything and called it Notorious. This car will happily beat you up and take your lunch money. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by Racingindrag: Those front tires don't look very "dragster". If this, ...this THING actually corners, I'm in. 12 Responses | Other threads
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autorama
E.J. Potter's Bloody Mary To Dodge Tomahawk: Eat It!
E.J. Potter was known as "The Michigan Madman" for a good reason, he liked putting engines in places they had no business being. Case in point — this Chevy 350 in a very tiny motorcycle. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by Tanshanomi drives the Cadillac of Lincolns: "Kingpin angle?" ...Not much of a bike guy, are you? 5 Responses | Other threads
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autorama
Voodoo Curse: 40-Year-Old Inline-Six Gets A T3 Turbo
Ed Tillrock is a plain-spoken guy. You'd never know he was mad enough to slap a 70mm Garrett T3 turbo onto a 230 cubic inch Chevy inline-six and called it the "Voodoo Curse." More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by FromaBuick6: Well I stand up next too a mountain, and chop it down with the edge of my hand. 4 Responses | Other threads
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autorama
2009 Detroit Autorama: Deucenberg Wins Ridler Award!
Just as we suspected Friday, the 2009 Detroit Autorama Ridler Award was given to the builders and owner of the super-slick maroon hot rod called "Duecenberg." More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by leavethegun-takethecannoli: Really, that won? Must have been a bad year. The work doesn't look shoddy, but the car looks a little off.... 4 Responses | Other threads
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autorama
2009 Detroit Autorama: Dan Webb's Golden Submarine Debuts!
We've followed progress on Dan Webb's unfaithful recreation of Barney Oldfield's Golden Submarine the past three Autoramas, and it's paid off as his hand-formed mastery machine is now physically complete. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by skaycog: I think that different wheels would bring it up several notches. 4 Responses | Other threads
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autorama
1929 Ford Zephster Sports Breathtaking Lincoln V12, Tricks Up Sleeve
Woody Smith likes to build cars that are slightly different. Instead of going with an old nailhead for his classic-style hot rod, he decided on a mighty Lincoln V12. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by Deartháir - Now with more Age™!: JALOPS! STAND UP AND UNITE! Our Brother Wojzilla has thrown a tender, tasty morsel to the Jalopnik car-nerds. A morsel such... 11 Responses | Other threads
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autorama
Cadillac VSR Hot Rod Concept
GM Performance parts and Race Car Replicas have created a 400 HP V-Series-inspired hot rod concept called the Cadillac VSR. A Prowler-destroying menace built for SEMA but still terrorizing other auto shows. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by engineerd is back in the D...for now: I never understand the timing of such things. The '94-'96 Chevrolet Impala SS came along, then 10 years later Ford goes,... 12 Responses | Other threads
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autorama
2009 Detroit Autorama: The Duecenberg, A Ridler Contender For Sure
They don't announce the nominees for the 2009 Detroit Autorama Ridler Award until tomorrow, but judging by the attention to detail and gorgeous custom work from Johnson's Hot Rod Shop, the "Deucenberg" is a contender. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by discontinuuity is once again meme-free: Pretty cool. Did they start with a Vicky or a coupe body? Sidenote: is the lighting at Autorama really weird,... 2 Responses | Other threads
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autorama
2009 Detroit Autorama: Vannin' Is Back!
Tired of relentless Geneva Motor Show coverage? Us too! That's why we're here at the 2009 Detroit Autorama soaking up rad rods and cool customs. In an effort to be radically contrarian, it's custom vans! More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by Graverobber: Detroit Autorama Salute to the Van. Children under 12 get in free! Now that's creepy. 9 Responses | Other threads
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woodward dream cruise
Community College-Built 550 HP Ford Five Hundred Wrecked Returning From Dream Cruise
In a sad follow-up to a story we brought you during our 2008 Woodward Dream Cruise coverage, the Ford GT-powered Ford Five Hundred built by Washtenaw Community College students was involved in an accident returning home from the Saturday event. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but newspaper reports of the incident state that the trailer containing the Five Hundred and a motorcycle swerved out of control and flipped, requiring both vehicles to be "cut from the trailer." To WCC and the entire automotive community, we mourn your loss today. Perhaps a GT500KR-powered Focus project would make you feel better. [MLive; Thanks, Mike the Dog]
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By Andrew StoyComment by skulldriveshaft is on picasaweb jalopniking: I see what ... ... ..... So this is the American Top Gear challenge to that Gumpert driving upside down in... more » | Other threads
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autorama
2008 Builder Of The Year: Gene Winfield
His work has been seen on TV series such as Bewitched, Star Trek, and Get Smart, as well as on the big screen in Blade Runner, Robocop, Back to the Future II, and Sleeper. So it really comes as no surprise that the 2008 Motorama Builder Of The Year is Gene Winfield. He's one of the greats, right up there with Ed Roth and George Barris. He was one of the first to make a "Lead Sled" Mercury, but it's obvious that he wasn't tied down to just that particular sort of Kustom. Even if you're not into "blended" paint jobs or the low stances, you really can't ignore the talent and creativity this gentleman still has. There's so much we could say, but we'll just let you enjoy the gallery below of his display at the 2008 Detroit Autorama. -
autorama
2008 Detroit Autorama, We Hardly Knew Ye
Well, the 2008 Detroit Autorama was a swell show this year, chock full of goodness for any hot rod persuasion. We saw all of the entrants for the Ridler award, a smattering of kit car action, and some very cool traditional hot rods. Hell, we even saw a Citroen 2CV stuffed with a small block Chevy mill. This show does nothing if not inspire its attendants to take on their own projects, push their own envelope, or build their personal dream car. Every year we go we see some new style take root, or a once dead branch sprout new growth - there's just so much good stuff here to see that we can't cover it all. And with that, we conclude this years coverage with a gallery of the things that got left on the cutting room floor. Full wrap up below the fold. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by Dr.Danger is on the motherf**king internet: @Ben Wojdyla: I will definitely keep an eye out. more » | Other threads
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autorama
Plymouth Rat Rod With Machine Gun Intake
A 1934 Plymouth sedan isn't a typical starting point for a hot rod, but that's just the beginning of the uniqueness of this car. It's a hodgepodge in the best sense of the term; '79 GM A-body rear suspension, 400 cubic-inches of '73 Plymouth V8 power, a custom intake manifold, and 3 Rochester 2bbl carbs. The wood headliner is actually made from a tree that was growing in the owner's yard. That machine gun styled air cleaner even utilizes the leftover portion of the shortened driveshaft. And would you take a look at that homemade hood ornament; its a "screw" flying though a "U." The best part? The owner bought the car just to get one part for another car, but ended up deciding to build this up just for fun. It's stuff like this that make us love Autorama.
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By Mark ArnoldComment by ccc40821: @smokeydog001: Keep in mind that OCC is not in the bike building business, but in Show Business. They're bloody good... more » | Other threads
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autorama
The Larson Engineering Special
What do you call a handmade car built by a 20 something name Bob Larson and old enough to have been in the original Detroit Autorama? You call it the Larson Engineering special and it is a treasure trove of clever ideas and hellish ergonomics. We're not implying anything, but if this is the car responsible for the whole scissor doors thing, we're way less excited by it. Still the way they operate is pretty clever, sort of a pivot on a carrier mounted to a parallelogram hinge and secured with a shot pin latch, not bad for 1953, but not even the tip of the iceberg for this car. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by smokeydog001: @RichDeBene: A flame thrower! That's just righteous man. more » | Other threads
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autorama
Newstalgia Wheels' Steampunk Chopper
David Coker is an easy talking fellow from Tennessee with a passion for blending the old and the new. His company, Newstalgia Wheel, deals in all those classic style wheels you just gotta have for your hot rod. As a means of showing off those new old stock wheels, he's brought a just finished custom chopper up to the Autorama and it has a delicious steampunk style to it. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by dculberson: @j6r: I'm not sure the builders called it steampunk. I believe that's Ben's take on it. And I... more » | Other threads
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autorama
Return of the Bubble Tops: Vampyre
We don't have much info on this crazy purple bubble top called Vampyre. The owner wasn't around and the placard didn't offer much in the way of details, but it's probably one of the more sleek cars of the genre we can recall. It seems to steal a little style from the extreme low riders with the exposed upper tire and the engine dragging on the ground. It's that low body work and exposed tire style that lead us to believe this car is the work of Jerry and Eldon Titus, who busted out a similar design in the "Voodoo Spyder" back in 2005. More » -
autorama
Freakshow, The Custom Camino From Hello Kitty Hell
Freakshow has our noodle in a bind. There's not much left of the original '64 Chevy C-10, but it definitely says "1964 Chevy Pickup" on the placard. By all rights it should be the absolute baddest truck/car in the show hands down with a blown 354 cubic inch hemi, six Stromberg 97 carbs, the sickest custom headers we've ever seen all running through a four speed Muncie to a 9 inch Ford rear with 4:11 gears. It has a beer keg and an in-cabin tap coming out a skull mounted under a gun rack. And yet here we are torn - the car is pink, with white fur everywhere, and has a pink telephone on the dash. What. The. Hell? More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by fredgold56: oh boy!! i had a '61 chrysler 4-door. loved it!! as far as this thing goes, everyone needs a hobby!!... more » | Other threads
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autorama
Return Of The Bubble Tops: Atomic Punk
It's been a long, long time since bubble tops were popular in the hot rodding circles, but it seems as though they're beginning to make a comeback of sorts. With cars like Dave Shuten's "Astrosled" and Gary "Chopit" Fioto's "Beatnik", the genre is steadily gaining steam again, and the incredible creativity of the style is a welcomed respite from the sameness of the last decade. This car was built and is owned by Aaron Grote, who has dubbed it "Atomic Punk" and dragged it into the Detroit Autorama. The all new, all steel hot rod is based very loosely on 1959 Plymouth bits and really is a treat to see. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by aaron51chevy: It' has fully functioning Air conditioning. No need to have sweaty nuts....And if you really like it buy a t-shirt... more » | Other threads
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autorama
Street Legal Cheetah Replicas To Hunt Cobras
There's no question that Cobras are cool, even in fiberglass kit form. But you've got to admit that the fiberglass snakes are becoming somewhat common now with all the companiesbeing sued by Carroll Shelbymaking their own versions of the V8 roadster. So for those seeking an alternative, Ruth Engineering & Racing will be producing kits for streetable Cheetah replicas. The coupes can be fitted with any Chevy powertrain of your choice; this particular one with a 383 stroker. Suspension bits come from a donor C4 Corvette, but the leaf springs have been replaced by independent coil-overs. That means the new Cheetah should be able to tear up a road course, making this not just a cool cruiser, but a tactical trackday toy too. We'll take ours with an LS9. [RER - AmericanCheetahRacing.com]
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By Mark ArnoldComment by genenmichelle: And Thank You! Sweet Car! Really enjoyed seeing all the talent come ALIVE! Hope to see you at the shows! more » | Other threads
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autorama
We Like To Call This The Puppy Crusher
We saw this mashup at Autorama in Detroit this weekend and immediately imagined a darker, more gory version of 101 Dalmatians. The villainess would beckon her automobile from its murky depths to carry on all manner of misdeed and the car would be known as Cruella's Puppy Crusher. We spent some time talking with the builder, one Mr. Brajkovich of Brajkovich Rods and Customs from Jonestown, PA. and found out some pretty neat stuff. First, even though it isn't quite done yet, what we do see came together in only 3 months of work. Everything in the car is some kind of special, instead of the common 235 straight six, the car has the bigger and nominally more powerful 300. The exhaust is routed 3 per side into the frame rails and is dumped out the back through the open rails More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by Armand: @Adamskiy: A Jaguar V12 ought to fit in there pretty easily... more » | Other threads
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autorama
'32 Ford Hot Rod, Now in Creamsicle Flavor
Even though we tire of high dollar '32 Fords, a cleanly done and nicely finished one still catches our eye. This example of traditional hot rodding is way cooler than the megabux toys upstairs. The white and pearlescent satin orange finish really pop and the simple clean lines just beg for a good high speed run through a summer night. The ceramic coated four-into-one headers mount up to an SBC huffing and puffing through a four barrel Holley. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by thatguy01: Very nice. I'd do the engine in painted steel, instead of generic chrome/polished trim. more » | Other threads
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commenter of the day
Commenter Of The Day: Ramming Speed Edition
Who doesn't love a little high-speed humor? Especially when it's linked to a post about a car that was born during the first Roosevelt administration and later, much later, modified for unholy speed. We also enjoy a smidgen of classic SoCal pop and just a whiff of the revivalist fervor that has lately gripped Jalopnik. Guessed it yet? Well, then follow the jump. More »
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Comment by Mazda Eric: "See if you can guess what I am now..." ((pops pastry out of mouth)) "I'm a zit, get it?!?!" more » | Other threads
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autorama
Golden Submarine Sees Progress, Body Panels
We saw the beginnings of the recreation of Barney Oldfield's Golden Submarine last year, but at this years' 2008 Detroit Autorama, some very noticeable progress has been made on the car. As you can see, the incredibly detailed, lightweight frame has been worked out and sheetmetal work has begun on the sleek little speeder. We were very impressed with the crazy amount of work evident in the drilled T-cross section body frame, it looks to us as though the T-section was cut as two pieces, then shaped and welded together - incredible. More » -
autorama
"Rock Bottom" Is Biggest Hot Rod At Autorama
We're not quite sure how to size this 1995 Peterbuilt up as a hot rod. It was fabricated for something call the "Big-Rig Build-Off" and it certainly lives up to it's name "Rock Bottom". How many of those Crosley Davidsons do you thing could fit on that massive deck? No wonder the world chromium supplies are so expensive, they all went into this truck. What does one ever do with one of these when done? Is it even usable any more? So many enormous questions, not enough enormous answers. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by TR3-A: Fantastic. Hot rodding is about originality. You don't like the ride? Go build one of your own. Beautiful machine, skillfully... more » | Other threads
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autorama
ViperVette Scratches Your Project Car Itch
So after all that high end craftsmanship and attention to detail, we're assuming you need the equivalent of a unicorn chaser. We thought what better to rid you of the perfection of the main show floor and the primed and polished perfection of the Great 8 than with the 1986 ViperVette. That's right, it's the guts of a 1986 C4 Corvette with the approximate body of a first gen RT/10 Dodge Viper overlaid. Take a wild guess at how we picked it out. More » -
autorama
V8 Citroen 2CV For Safari Hoons
Amidst the sea of high-dollar muscle cars and carnauba-soaked hot rods, the last car you'd expect to see on the main floor of Autorama is a small French car. Any sort of Citroën 2CV would be distinct, but when it's one sporting safari survival equipment, off-road suspension, and a small block V8 under the hood, it looks fantastically wacky. Drivetrain and suspension bits come from an old Suzuki Samurai, hence this car's name: "Le Sami." No House of Kolor pearl ghost flames here; Le Sami has beenpaintedcoated with a thick layer of spray-on bedliner— yes, the stuff for pickup truck beds. That coating not only makes the car scratch-resistant, but also adds a degree of rigidity to the weak Citroën structure. So while most of the other cars on the show floor will only be driven off of trailers and over mirrors, this 2CV will be driven not just on the road, but off the beaten path as well.
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By Mark ArnoldComment by TR3-A: Practical? I think not. The torque of that small block will tear up the drive train unless it twists the... more » | Other threads
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autorama
1940 Ford Coupe
Here's a clean 1940 Ford Coupe that was put up for the Ridler Award at the 2008 Detroit Autorama. Owned by David Walsh out of Macon Georgia, this Ford would have probably done better any other year, because it's nearly a dead ringer for the '41 Willys we saw earlier. Deep black with a red leather interior, this one replaces the high rise intake and supercharger with eight single barrel throttle bodies with matching velocity stacks. Very nice effect and we're sure it sounds mean at full snort. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by blownsvt: i work at T&T. i tubbed the car out originaly to give more room for tires obviously, at the time... more » | Other threads
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autorama
1946 Chevrolet Custom Pickup
Last but not least on our parade of the Great 8 is this extremely custom 1946 Chevrolet Pickup. Nearly every body panel on the thing is hand built, so calling it a '46 is an effort in suspended disbelief. We're betting it will light the tires pretty quickly too since the truck is sporting a 425 HP 6.1L Hemi with fuel injection plugged into the bottom of some really nice velocity stacks. Yeah, it's a nice truck, and probably fast, but too clean for us. All these snazzy Great 8 picks make us wonder what the other folks on the floor are showing. Perhaps when we're done with all of these cars, we start showing off the fun stuff. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by BlackIce_GTS: I was just apathetic about the idea of a Ferrari engined... I don't even remember what it was. That wagon... more » | Other threads
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autorama
1956 Chevrolet Handyman Wagon
Lots of wagons among this years Great 8, here's another and this one wearing a bowtie and a lot of orange. The fairly rare '56 Chevy Handyman Wagon has undergone extensive modifications, and it shows. The bodywork amounts to over 100 modifications nad 1300 handmade parts, that's love. Under that custom engine cover is a LS1 V8 and a 4L60E transaxle. The interior is completely one off with hand formed dash and leather bits where it counts. This is a very nicely done rod, even if a bit over-done for our tastes. Kudos to the builders at Rods and Restos for a job well done. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by blownsvt: ok for everyone that thinks they are hiding stuff and wondering why that engine??? i was up there with the... more » | Other threads
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autorama
1967 GMC Pick Up
Excuse us if we didn't take much time to look into this GMC which was on the stands as a pick for the Ridler award at this years 2008 Detroit Autorama, it just didn't tickle our fancy. Sure it was built well, and everything seemed to have an appropriate level of hot roddery, but was just a little too... meh. Maybe it was the 80's era speedboat level of metal flake in the paint, perhaps the overdone front hinged hood, maybe it was just the clear lens LED tail lights, who knows. Regardless, this was one of those rods we respect for its craftsmanship, but would pass for some of the other offerings. There's just something fundamentally wrong with a truck that has the tailgate welded shut. More » -
autorama
1941 Willys Coupe
Hot rodders best be careful, or the once lusted after 1941 Willys Coupe will be the next '32 Ford of the rodding world. We know they've got a nice stout shape and wear fat racing slicks with a certain style few other cars can, but as often as we see them, you'd think they never went out of production. This particular '41Coupe is under the stewardship of Joseph Mouton Jr. who hails from New Orleans. After overlooking the massively supercharged 502 V8 mill, the car has got some real nice details throughout. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by Novaload Misses Murilee: @ƂƵЯ: Me too. And maybe a 24 hours of Lemons run on the back acres every couple of months or... more » | Other threads
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autorama
Crosley-Davidson Has A Harley V-Twin
A 1951 Crosley wagon is cool in that quirky oddity sort of way. But you'll probably want more grunt than the original 26 HP motor. Well you could try to shoehorn in a small block V8, but that would just take away some of the offbeat Crosley charm. So why not use a Harley V-twin? With 110 HP, it's hardly a slouch in the little 1600-lb. wagon. Now the Crosley can cruise Woodward and hang out at Sturgis. Check out the whole build process here. More »
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By Mark ArnoldComment by FriarJohn: Makes me want to drop a Rocket III engine in a TR3. more » | Other threads
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autorama
1955 Chrysler 2 Door Hard Top Wagon
Next up in the 2008 Detroit Autorama Great 8 parade is this very vibrant, very slick 1955 Chrysler 2 Door Hard Top Wagon. Even though the car looks like it was designed this way, a ton of heavy duty work went into this one. The car has been shortened 8", chopped 2", the windshield laid by by 15 degrees, the dash was hand formed out of steel, custom floor pans throughout, custom wood deck in the back, and on and on. The motivation comes courtesy of a Hemi with a one off Hillborn injection system and power is delivered to a set of 24" Foose wheels out back. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by cazin678: Yep- lose the cartoon wheels, tone down the paint, and maybe this is interesting... As it stands, it's just an... more » | Other threads
autorama
Detroit, 4:17 AM
Mon Jul 6
12 posts in the last 24 hours
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