• billetproof

    The Door Art Of Billetproof Nor-Cal 2008

    We thought we were all done with Billetproof Nor-Cal posts after the Mega Gallery yesterday, but then we got all these shots from Ecurie Ecrappe member and 24 Hours of LeMons Assistant Perpetrator Nick Pon. While I was shooting engines, he was shooting door art (and some hood, trunk, and toolbox art as well). Like everything else at Billetproof, the styles range from crude to obsessively detailed, primer paint to gold leaf, and there's some beautiful stuff at either end of the spectrum for those who make the jump.


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    3:20 PM on Mon Sep 29 2008
    By Murilee Martin
    965 views, 18 comments

    Most discussed om Bronx de Mowgli: The low page views for this post... is damn near heretical in nature... Where's all the proud Jalops??? Weak, fellas, weak. Murilee. MAY more »

  • billetproof

    The Billetproof Nor-Cal Mega Gallery

    Now that we've put up a few small batches of photos of Billetproof patinas, engines, and other stuff, it's probably time to share industrial quantities of photographs from last weekend in bustling Antioch, California. Making the jump will get you three big galleries, with photos by me (the first two) and Casadelshawn (the last one). Enjoy.


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    11:00 AM on Sun Sep 28 2008
    By Murilee Martin
    2,486 views, 33 comments

    Most discussed Slantsick- on layaway at SPATULA CITY: @BRAWNDO_POWERED: Pretty sure this particular Jalop will never have any money, so no worries here. I can totally see myself owning more »

  • billetproof

    The Shitty Splitty Triumphs Over Tennessee Rust... For Now

    Of all the cars we saw at the Billetproof Nor-Cal show in Antioch, this split-window VW Type 2 pickup was the hands-down winner of our Rustiest Vehicle Award. Originally a plumber's work truck in Tennessee (you can just barely make out the lettering on the sides), this Transporter became so rust-ravaged that it was junked. After 25 years of quiet oxidation beneath a canopy of kudzu in the junkyard, this Splitty was purchased by a total madman devoted VW aficionado, who got it running and brought it to California. How rusty is it? Well, a friend of the Shitty Splitty's owner put it this way: "When we drove out here, I refused to drive behind it." OK, now you Midwesterners can let loose with a fusillade of "You California boys don't know the meaning of rust, you betcha!" comments.


    4:40 PM on Thu Sep 25 2008
    By Murilee Martin
    2,317 views, 55 comments

    Most discussed mechimike: That's rusty, but its mostly surface rust. That isn't the mean ass, hard core, frame-rotting rust like we got up more »

  • billetproof

    The Engines Of Billetproof Nor-Cal 2008

    We've seen the emblems, the patinas, and the people of the Billetproof Nor-Cal show last weekend, and now it's time to look at some engines. Many, many small-block Chevy and Ford flatheads were present, of course, but we (Casadelshawn and I) made an effort to capture some of the less commonplace powerplants as well. Lots of photos here, so jump to see them all.


    2:00 PM on Thu Sep 25 2008
    By Murilee Martin
    1,553 views, 35 comments

    Most discussed British_Looks_British_Reliability: Vee eight, six, and inline four; Pump in fuel and slam the door. Coat it with a flat of black; Breathe in thru more »

  • billetproof

    The Emblems Of Billetproof Nor-Cal 2008

    I really love photographing car emblems and hood ornaments, so you know I had a good time at Billetproof Nor-Cal last weekend. Casadelshawn also got some Emblem Pr0n shots for us, and you'll see the whole mess merely by making the jump! And, yes, you can download the desktop-wallpaper-ready image files below the jump.


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    1:15 PM on Wed Sep 24 2008
    By Murilee Martin
    724 views, 13 comments

    Most discussed acarr260: Very cool stuff, Murilee. My friends think I'm strange because I like to take pictures of stuff like this when more »

  • billetproof

    Ink, Beer, And Bettie Page Hair: The People Of Billetproof Nor-Cal 2008

    As one might expect, the crowd at the Billetproof show tends to be heavy on tattoos and piercings, but (unlike, say, the inhabitants of your local hipster bar) these folks aren't just talking the talk; damn near everyone in the place had some connection to a pretty impressive set of wheels. And for your time-wasting enjoyment, I've included a photo of a celebrity and well-known car freak I spotted making the rounds. Bonus points for the reader who can identify him or her first.


    2:00 PM on Tue Sep 23 2008
    By Murilee Martin
    3,702 views, 63 comments

    Most discussed Bumblebee: Jesus Christ that girl with the GMC pickup is hot. more »

  • billetproof

    Spirit Of Billetproof Captured Perfectly: The Granada Rod!

    Out of all the old Fords at the Billetproof Nor-Cal show, this one may have been our very favorite (yes, even beating out the undeniably awesome Maserati-powered Ford). Why? It's really a Malaise Era Ford Granada! Jump away to get the rest of the story.


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    3:15 PM on Mon Sep 22 2008
    By Murilee Martin
    2,068 views, 20 comments

    Most discussed JantheMan: I am amazed, love the simplicity! It is definitly better than a Mercedes. more »

  • billetproof

    Why Run A Flathead Or Small-Block When You Could Run A Maserati Quattroporte V8?

    Much as we all love the ol' iconic Model T or A Ford with small-block V8 and primer paint, the landscape at Billetproof is so dominated by such machines- seemingly acres of 'em- that it takes something really wild to make passersby stagger back in slack-jawed awe. This is such a car. In addition to the 300-horsepower, quad-carb DOHC V8 (and Torqueflite-based automatic) out of an '81 Maserati Quattroporte, this Ford has a handcrafted independent front suspension (the coolest parts of which, unfortunately, we were unable to photograph).


    1:30 PM on Sun Sep 21 2008
    By Murilee Martin
    5,228 views, 46 comments

    Most discussed TheBrudwich: As a guy who loves rods, i will give you my definitive rod loving opinion (yay!!!!!!): Lame. Super more »

  • billetproof

    The Patinas Of Billetproof Nor-Cal 2008

    We saw a lot of great stuff at the Billetproof Michigan show, and this weekend we get the Billetproof Nor-Cal show in Antioch. I met up with the Audi Fox-owning, Belvedere-racing Casadelshawn and we broke out the Nikons to capture the rusty, crusty, and- in some cases- sparkly surfaces to be found. Stay tuned for more Billetproof fun as the week progresses (and I get around to sorting out 99 million photographs).


    11:00 AM on Sun Sep 21 2008
    By Murilee Martin
    1,696 views, 29 comments

    Most discussed StevieQ: Great photos. But why make it so hard to download such obvious desktop wallpapers? more »

  • billetproof 2008

    Roadster Rods Or Kool Kustoms?

    While the cars at the Billetproof show come in all sorts of old-skool flavors, there seem to be two ends of the spectrum: hot rod roadsters on one side, and kool kustoms on the other. We know the two don't always have to be mutually exclusive; after all, just look at some of the creations from Autorama Detroit. But the pure essence of each is pretty distinct. So, toward which pole does your compass point?


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    3:20 PM on Tue Jun 10 2008
    By Mark Arnold
    1,746 views, 32 comments

    Latest by SRekauqh: @mzs: Or these: more »