Jalopnik: zz top

Big In Japan: When Western Stars Make JDM Commercials

Murilee Martin — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:30:00 EST

The money's great, babe, and they'll never see it back home. Yeah, but then came the internet, and now those agents' promises to their clients have turned out to be lies.

We've posted a few Japanese-market ads showing American or European stars shilling cars in the past, which seems to have inspired Maxichamp and Franzouse to hip us to a whole bunch more, in much the same way that Rob Lowe became "hip conscious" in the '88 Suzuki Cultus. Check out Maxichamp's blog for his commentary on many of these ads when you're done here.

ZZ Top, Honda Z

Paul Newman, Nissan Skyline Turbo

Paul Newman, Nissan Skyline Turbo

Jodie Foster, Honda Civic Ferio

Jodie Foster, Honda Civic Ferio

Ray Charles, Honda Civic Ferio

Diane Lane, Hino Cruising Ranger

Diane Lane, Hino Cruising Ranger

Mickey Rourke, Daihatsu Charade

Bruce Willis, Subaru Legacy

Bruce Willis, Subaru Outback

Jennifer Lopez, Subaru Legacy

Jennifer Lopez, Subaru Legacy

Eddie Murphy, Toyota Celica

Charlize Theron, Honda Life

Charlize Theron, Honda Life

Jean Reno, Toyota Alphard

Jean Reno, Toyota Alphard

Alain Delon, Mazda Capella

Alain Delon, Mazda Capella

Leonardo DiCaprio, Suzuki Wagon R

Harrison Ford, Honda Legend

Harrison Ford, Honda Legend

Rob Lowe, Suzuki Cultus

Rob Lowe, Suzuki Cultus

Brad Pitt, Honda Integra

Jack Nicklaus, Nissan Gloria

Anthony Hopkins, Honda Avancier

Roger Moore, Toyota Corona

Roger Moore, Toyota Corona

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Further Innovations In LeMons Punishment: The Billy Gibbons!

Murilee Martin — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EDT

As a 24 Hours Of LeMons judge, it's my duty to think up ~~sadistic~~ Solomonically wise penalties for racers who transgress The Rules. Regionally appropriate penalties are always good, and thus was born the Ozzy Osbourne Inertial Penalty Horn... but more was needed. With about 20 minutes to go before boarding the plane to Houston, it hit me: Billy Gibbons!

Yes, the front man for that Little Ol' Band From Texas is one of the heavy-dutiest car freaks in the world, so that means a real LeMons Houston racer ought to sport a beard with similar length and volume. But how to make a Billy Gibbons beard from common household items, in less than 20 minutes? No problem!

Step 1: Cut a couple dozen 3' lengths of jute rope, the hairier and itchier the better. Hey, you think Billy's beard doesn't itch? You got to make sacrifices!
Step 2: Tear off a 24" strip of cloth from an old sheet, preferably one previously used as an undercar drop cloth for a transmission swap (as was the case here).
Step 3: Tie the ropes to the cloth strip.
Step 4: Unravel the ropes, to add extra body.
Step 5: Tie cloth strip around miscreant's head, arrange beard in hair shirt-style fashion under fire suit. They'll think twice about passing on a yellow flag after that, I tell you what!

Here we see LeMons Supreme Court Justice Loverman modeling the Billy Gibbons in LeMons Circuit Court HQ (aka dive motel in hydrocarbon-scented Clute, Texas). Come on back later on for more Yeehaw It's Texas LeMons fun!

Cadzilla, A DeLorean And ZZ Top: A Boyd Coddington Tribute

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:40:00 EST

For those still continuing to cope with Boyd Coddington's death, here's a video that should put a smile on your face and maybe dry up a few of those tears. One of Coddington's most beloved custom cars was the Cadzilla, which was created for ZZ Top singer Billy Gibbons (sometimes referred to as CadZZilla). Truly a unique ride, the custom cost around $900,000 to build. This might explain why ZZ Top put Cadzilla in so many videos. Our favorite has to be the video "Doubleback" for the Back To The Future Part III soundtrack, which features both a DeLorean and Cadzilla. As always, the day is saved by three leggy young women in a custom hot rod. We love America.

Every Girl's Crazy 'Bout a Ford Coupe Man

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:00:00 EDT

Apparently, all one really needs to get a dance with the girl of his dreams is a Chuck Lombardo hot-rodded '33 Model 41, and the apparitions of Frank Beard, Dusty Hill and Billy F. Gibbons. Oh, and some spandex-clad hotties as stylists/entourage. Mostly, we don't miss the '80s. Sometimes, however, we do.

ZZ Top! Honda! Who'da Thunk?

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 03:52:21 EST

We know we plugged Japander yesterday, but we have to go back and highlight a spot by the men who are probably the most significant celebs on the site, in car terms: ZZ Top. And they're not plugging some sort of Coddington-ized loonmobile, either. In fact, it's the sub-sub-sub compact Honda Z. Needless to say, the Right Reverend Billy G. was not cruising down the road in his V-8 Ford that particular day. If this ad went nationwide in the US, we get the feeling that concert attendance among the band's core constituency would severely drop. By the way, we should point out that Billy is a very nice man and we like him a whole lot. And after all, he bought Lester Bangs a whole wardrobe. Ah, what dichotomies we weave, no?

ZZ Top [Japander]

Bricklin Pops Chery Brand Before GM Can

Davey G. Johnson — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 12:17:43 EDT

According to Visionary Vehicles' spokeswoman Wendi "Oh Lord, Take Me Downtown, I'm Just Looking for Some" Tush, the Chery vehicles they're importing from China won't be branded as such in the US due to pressure from GM, who claim the word's too similar to "Chevy." "They're bigger than we are and they have more lawyers than we do," she explains. "It's all about keeping value to the consumer." That and not getting the dingleberries sued outta Bricklin's tush, we suspect.

Chinese car maker Chery will market under different name in US [Detroit News]

Ah How-How-How: Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top to Publish Autobiography

Davey G. Johnson — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 10:13:42 EDT

The guy with the beard in ZZ Top who isn't named Hill, Billy F. Gibbons is nearly as well-known for his cars as his amped-up Texas boogie. Gibbons tells his tale this fall in Rock 'n' Roll Gearhead (Motorbooks). With accompanying photographs by the mighty David Perry, Gibbons will reportedly spill the beans about life on the road, his amazing collection of cars (we've heard he drives an Aspire when he wants to roll incognito, although "Cruisin' down the road in my inline four," just doesn't quite have the same ring to it), and his astounding plethora of guitars. He's bad, he's nationwide, and the book drops October 15th.

New Book Tells ZZ Top Frontman Billy F Gibbons' Life Story Through His Amazing Collection of Custom Automobiles and Guitars [Autowire]