Lil' Jon Buttera
See the article on Buttera's '64 nova SS--originally printed in HOT ROD magazine (June 1985):
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Another Close call...
In Jeapordy- yet another of the pioneers of hot rodding from our era, and builder of of what many consider to be the original "Pro-Touring" car in 1985- the "Novette":
Lil' Jon Buttera
See the article on Buttera's '64 nova SS--originally printed in HOT ROD magazine (June 1985):
Lil' Jon Buttera
See the article on Buttera's '64 nova SS--originally printed in HOT ROD magazine (June 1985):
The King is Dead
Boyd Coddington, the hot-rod innovator whose creations won the coveted Grand National Roadster Show's America's Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) trophy a record seven times, died Wednesday morning after a lengthy hospital stay. He was 63.
Coddington was raised in rural Idaho but moved to Southern California as soon as he came of age, to pursue his dream of building hot rods. He quickly earned a reputation for subtle, stylistic innovations on what had been an almost overdone theme--the '32 Ford roadster. That branched out to '33s, '34s and then all manner of surprising twists on iconic themes.
Cars with names such as Boydster, Smoothster, Alumacoupe and Chezoom redefined what a rod could be. His wheels were equally well known, particularly those shaved from billet aluminum. He soon earned the nickname "Billet Boyd" for his aluminum-machining techniques.
One of his best qualities, realized at the height of his creative passion in the mid-1990s, was his ability to gather a talented team to produce the creations he envisioned.
In the early '90s, he had assembled one of the best teams ever, including builder Lil' John Buttera and designer Chip Foose, to produce some of the best hot rods the hobby had ever seen, raising the level of what could be expected from such a craft.
His early works were swaddled in simple, flowing lines. The Foose-designed Boydster was an early Coddington interpretation of the iconic '32 Ford roadster, but Boyd's take was stretched three inches, lowered and smoothed out beyond what anyone else had ever done. The subsequent Boydsters II and III carried that theme but with full, flowing fenders.
The Smoothster was a yellow, full-fendered '37 Ford riding on Corvette mechanicals and a Corvette drivetrain.
A Corvette engine also powered Chezoom, a '57 Chevy so heavily modified that only 10 percent of the original sheetmetal remained. While the look was unmistakably '57 Chevy, it was unlike any '57 ever seen, with a lowered, channeled body and a reclining cruiser elegance not normally associated with the muscle of the original.
Like Chezoom, Cadzilla was a reclined cruiser take on a more modern Cadillac. Designed by Larry Erickson and built by Boyd for ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons, it is one of his most well-known creations.
Coddington experimented with aluminum in offbeat creations such as the Mitsubishi-powered Alumacoupe, the truck-based AlumaTruck and the shiny Aluma-Dub-Tub.
Coddington went through his share of troubles, including a bankruptcy in the late 1990s. He is best known outside the rodding community for his Discovery Channel show, American Hot Rod, which often showed his short-tempered side. But ultimately, his influence on hot rods and customs cannot be overstated.
"It is my firm belief that Boyd is the founding father of this street-rod movement," said Gary Meadors of the Goodguys. "From the Boyd cars to the Boyd billet aluminum wheels . . . that whole smooth look that he brought to street rodding is what set him apart. He took our hobby to a whole other level with all the exposure he got in media outside our world. He was a forerunner, and he will be missed."
Coddington was raised in rural Idaho but moved to Southern California as soon as he came of age, to pursue his dream of building hot rods. He quickly earned a reputation for subtle, stylistic innovations on what had been an almost overdone theme--the '32 Ford roadster. That branched out to '33s, '34s and then all manner of surprising twists on iconic themes.
Cars with names such as Boydster, Smoothster, Alumacoupe and Chezoom redefined what a rod could be. His wheels were equally well known, particularly those shaved from billet aluminum. He soon earned the nickname "Billet Boyd" for his aluminum-machining techniques.
One of his best qualities, realized at the height of his creative passion in the mid-1990s, was his ability to gather a talented team to produce the creations he envisioned.
In the early '90s, he had assembled one of the best teams ever, including builder Lil' John Buttera and designer Chip Foose, to produce some of the best hot rods the hobby had ever seen, raising the level of what could be expected from such a craft.
His early works were swaddled in simple, flowing lines. The Foose-designed Boydster was an early Coddington interpretation of the iconic '32 Ford roadster, but Boyd's take was stretched three inches, lowered and smoothed out beyond what anyone else had ever done. The subsequent Boydsters II and III carried that theme but with full, flowing fenders.
The Smoothster was a yellow, full-fendered '37 Ford riding on Corvette mechanicals and a Corvette drivetrain.
A Corvette engine also powered Chezoom, a '57 Chevy so heavily modified that only 10 percent of the original sheetmetal remained. While the look was unmistakably '57 Chevy, it was unlike any '57 ever seen, with a lowered, channeled body and a reclining cruiser elegance not normally associated with the muscle of the original.
Like Chezoom, Cadzilla was a reclined cruiser take on a more modern Cadillac. Designed by Larry Erickson and built by Boyd for ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons, it is one of his most well-known creations.
Coddington experimented with aluminum in offbeat creations such as the Mitsubishi-powered Alumacoupe, the truck-based AlumaTruck and the shiny Aluma-Dub-Tub.
Coddington went through his share of troubles, including a bankruptcy in the late 1990s. He is best known outside the rodding community for his Discovery Channel show, American Hot Rod, which often showed his short-tempered side. But ultimately, his influence on hot rods and customs cannot be overstated.
"It is my firm belief that Boyd is the founding father of this street-rod movement," said Gary Meadors of the Goodguys. "From the Boyd cars to the Boyd billet aluminum wheels . . . that whole smooth look that he brought to street rodding is what set him apart. He took our hobby to a whole other level with all the exposure he got in media outside our world. He was a forerunner, and he will be missed."
Monday, February 25, 2008
anyone help me find this car?
Yes / I would like to find this car / not one that looks like / I want the one from the filming of the TV Movie Hot Rod from 1979 / Anyone know where it is?Saturday, February 23, 2008
Rat what?
Friday, February 22, 2008
beautiful day in the neighborhood
When Harry met Sally .... something like that. Harry is the Hugger orange 69 because I am nearing the final assmebly of the car and it is being difficult the whole way .... Sally is the 81 Z/28 that is in need of a few new parts (4 speed) and a fresh coat of paint ... man, I have OCD ...Obsessive Camaro Disorder.
Greg's '69 -- Coming together
Here's Greg's Car after bringing it back from the bodyshop.
Stay tuned for more as he really pulls it together and nails down the details.
Stay tuned for more as he really pulls it together and nails down the details.
HEAVY D.
I got another chance to publish some work in a Petersen Publishing rag-- Truckin'.
Not sure why I picked the single most forgotten domestic pickup truck, but I started throwing Dodge and Plymouth Musclecar details on it- and it actually turned out!
Not sure why I picked the single most forgotten domestic pickup truck, but I started throwing Dodge and Plymouth Musclecar details on it- and it actually turned out!
Kurt's Vette
KILLER is right..................but---Where's the holeshot??
Kurt's 1969 Corvette 427 4 speed
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Kurt's 1969 Corvette 427 4 speed
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RIVIERA concept
Not really a "concept" -- just a digital rendering of a 3d Model I've had laying around. I built it- originally for a MuscleMachines Die-Cast internal project, and never finished it.
'69 Cutlass- Arizona Car
Looks like $3000 or best offer.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/564147551.html
Also- a '79 Z28 for $2,000
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/581376034.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/564147551.html
Also- a '79 Z28 for $2,000
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/581376034.html
Thursday, February 21, 2008
GOT SKILLZ
The top on this roaster (BELOW) is hand-formed Aluminum. Where are the seams?
I worked with this cat when I was still in Ohio- at Don's.
He has his won shop own- his stuff is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G
http://ohiometalcraftsman.blogspot.com/
I worked with this cat when I was still in Ohio- at Don's.
He has his won shop own- his stuff is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G
http://ohiometalcraftsman.blogspot.com/
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