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Working as a professional automotive technician, one of the most important things you learn with experience is how deep to get into a repair. The best decisions you can make are when a job should be passed on to someone else, for example an expert in any given area., One such repair is rebuilding an engine. Sure, most technicians have completely rebuilt an engine, and likely more than once. We often have a project at home such as a [...]

Every now and then, you see a vehicle build that just went above and beyond what your brain thinks is possible. Upon seeing Leroy Edwards' open-air hot rod at Sick [...]

Technology is accelerating Lane Automotive's ability to pick and pack items quickly and accurately right when that speed is needed most--during its daily order fulfillment surge. That's when many of [...]

The article focuses on the transformation of a 1957 Chevy truck into a high-performance hot rod. It details the extensive modifications made to the truck, including a custom frame, suspension upgrades, and a powerful big-block V-8 engine. It showcases the meticulous upgrades aimed at enhancing both performance and aesthetics.

Hyundai's N brand, known for its high-performance cars, is shifting its focus from petrol-powered vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs). As a result, the popular hot hatch, the i20 N, is being discontinued in Europe. The i20 N is highly regarded for its agility, comfort, and affordability, making it a standout in the hot hatch market. However, this transition to EVs marks the end of an era for Hyundai N's petrol-powered hot hatches. The i20 N is a compact car with a turbocharged engine that produces 201 horsepower, and it has received praise for its combination of traditional hot hatch enjoyment and modern features. The car was priced at £24,995 when it was new. [Extracted from the article]

Lowdown Roundup is an annual truck show held in Des Moines, Iowa, that has become one of the most popular events in the Midwest. The show was created by Heidi Henckel and her husband Tom, who were frustrated by the lack of shows for custom trucks in the area. Over the years, the event has grown and now attracts participants from all over the country. The weekend-long event features activities such as cruising, contests, and a raffle, with all profits going to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The show also includes a variety of vendors for attendees to visit. The organizers are already planning next year's event. [Extracted from the article]

The Southern Tradition Car and Truck Show 2024 was a successful event held at the Etowah River Park in Georgia. Founded by Waka and Heather in 2018, the show aims to keep the spirit of Georgia's biggest car show alive. The show featured a wide variety of vehicles, from mini-trucks to lifted trucks, classics to hot rods, making it inclusive for all automotive enthusiasts. The event also included food vendors, activities, and annual photo shoots, creating a sense of community and lasting memories. The show is highly recommended for those looking for a small car show experience with a big impact. [Extracted from the article]

This article from Street Trucks features Greg and Carrie Nettles' 1991 Chevy C1500, a truck that has become a memorable and eye-catching ride in the world of OBS trucks. Originally customized in California, the truck eventually made its way to Georgia before being purchased by the Nettles family. The truck's unique history and original features, such as the Belltech lowering kit and fleet blue paint, have been preserved and enhanced by Greg through various upgrades, including new control arms, shocks, and wheels. The truck's '90s sport truck vibe is complemented by a polished exterior and a high-quality audio system. The truck has been recognized at SEMA and featured on the cover of Belltech's anniversary calendar. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the impressive modifications made to the Kennons' 1955 Chevy Nomad, highlighting its blend of classic styling and modern performance enhancements. Topics include the installation of a powerful Chevy LT5 engine; the meticulous custom chassis and suspension work; and the luxurious interior outfitting, which together create a standout hot rod that honors its American muscle car heritage.

The article focuses on the repair and replacement of sheetmetal floors in a 1969 Camaro by Hot Rods by Dean using high-quality panels from Auto Metal Direct. Topics discussed include assessing the extent of rust damage and the decision to replace rather than patch; the installation of wider inner wheelwell panels to accommodate modern wheels; and the meticulous welding techniques used for a professional finish.

The article discusses the expo that was held at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio from July 12-14, 2024. Key topics discussed at the expo included the prestigious PPG Street Machine of the Year and Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year awards, which showcased top builders' intricate fabrication skills and flawless paint jobs. It also provided participants with an opportunity to test their driving skills on a tight course.

Larry Stanley, a retiree from Indian Wells, California, fulfilled his lifelong dream of owning a 1966 Mustang convertible with the help of Eric Bishop, the owner of Bishop Custom Cars in Palm Desert, California. Larry wanted a brand-new Mustang with a mean and lean look, and Eric was able to deliver. The car was built in just 18 months and features a custom chassis, a NASCAR-style 351 Windsor engine, and various modifications to the body and interior. Larry has already put about 1,300 miles on the car and has won several awards at local car shows. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides an overview of Troy Trepanier and his shop, Rad Rides by Troy, which is located in Manteno, Illinois. Trepanier is a well-known car builder who has been in the industry for over 30 years. Unlike many custom car builders who focus on a specific genre, Trepanier's shop has produced a wide variety of vehicles. The article discusses Trepanier's early experiences with car building, his involvement in Bonneville racing, and some of his notable projects, including a '36 Ford Roadster and a third-generation Camaro. The article also mentions future projects, such as a '39 Hudson pickup. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the customization of a 1960 Ford Thunderbird by Hollywood Hot Rods. The owner of the car, Peter Chifo, was inspired by an illustration in a magazine and decided to modify his Thunderbird. The modifications included removing door handles, emblems, and faux air vents, as well as changing the front bumper, headlights, and taillights. The interior was also customized, and the suspension and engine were upgraded. The car made its debut at a car show and has been well-received by the custom car community. [Extracted from the article]

Beth Meyers and Roy Brizio Street Rods collaborated to build a '32 Ford Phaeton, which won the 2024 America's Most Beautiful Roadster Award. The Phaeton body design, featuring four doors, a folding top, no side windows, and a removable windshield, was not exclusive to Ford. The couple modified the body extensively, including reshaping the back, shortening the doors, raising the rear wheelwells, and narrowing the body. The car was finished with a mirror-finish black paint job, flames, and pinstriping. It is powered by a 347 small-block engine from Roush Racing and features a Tremec TKO 600 five-speed transmission and a Winters quick-change V-8 rearend. The interior is refined with custom seats and door panels wrapped in black leather. Beth's car was the first by a woman to be added to the America's Most Beautiful Roadster trophy. Beth and Ross Meyers also run a museum called 3 Dog Garage in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, which houses a collection of over 100 cars and trucks, a restoration shop, and a library. Admission to the museum is free and can be scheduled for car clubs or community service organizations. [Extracted from the article]

Kindig-It Design won the 2024 Ridler Award for their hand-built 1953 Corvette. The Ridler Award is a prestigious prize for custom car builders, and the competition has evolved from building hot rods to creating works of art. The winning Corvette was completely unique, with no parts from an actual 1953 Corvette used in the build. The car took years to create and was kept a secret during the process. It featured a custom-built aluminum body, a powerful LS-based V-12 engine, and a one-off suspension inspired by Formula 1 and Indy Car designs. The car was meticulously painted and finished, with every detail carefully crafted. The winner of the Ridler Award is chosen from a group of finalists, and the competition is sponsored by Meguiar's. The builder, Dave Kindig, expressed his desire for the competition to continue pushing the boundaries of design and raising the bar for custom car building. [Extracted from the article]

This article from Street Trucks magazine features Brandon, who grew up in a family passionate about hot rods and trucks. In 2021, Brandon inherited his father's auto body shop and decided to create a new project by customizing a Ford F-150. He spared no expense in customizing the truck with the help of the team at Phat Phabz and his body shop team. The result was a truck that combined old-school aesthetics with modern luxury and performance, showcasing Brandon's dedication to the craft and his roots in the custom truck community. The truck was a testament to Brandon's journey and his father's legacy. [Extracted from the article]

This article from Diesel World Magazine features Cody Helms and his 1997 Dodge 2500 truck. Despite not having an unlimited budget, Cody has steadily increased the performance of his truck through knowledge and determination. He has made various modifications to his truck, including upgrading the fuel pump, turbo, and manifold, as well as adding performance parts to the engine. Cody has also focused on reducing the weight of the truck and improving the suspension system. Through his experiences, Cody emphasizes the importance of learning from others and finding cost-effective methods to build a high-performance truck. [Extracted from the article]

This article recounts an incident from Henry David Thoreau's journal in which he is tasked with tracking down and capturing his father's escaped pig. Thoreau reluctantly takes on the responsibility and embarks on a pursuit through gardens, fields, and streets, encountering various obstacles along the way. Eventually, with the help of others, Thoreau successfully captures the pig and brings it back home. The article provides advice on how to catch a pig if one ever needs to do so. [Extracted from the article]

Belltech Suspension, located in Fresno, California, is a leading innovator in the custom truck industry. Since its establishment in 1983, Belltech has been known for its groundbreaking lowering suspensions for Chevrolet pickups. The company's design team developed the drop spindle, a revolutionary solution that not only lowers trucks but also maintains front-end geometry for superior roadworthiness and ride quality. Over the years, Belltech has expanded its product lineup to cater to Ford, Dodge, and import truck owners, and has grown into a state-of-the-art facility spanning over 75,000 square feet. Partnering with KW automotive in 2005 further enhanced Belltech's capabilities. Today, Belltech remains a go-to brand for truck enthusiasts seeking high-performance and stylish customization options. [Extracted from the article]

The article evaluates the 1932 Ford Tudor Sedan offered by Roy Brizio Street Rods.

The article evaluates the custom-built 1948 Ford woodie manufactured by Schwartz Performance.

The article discusses the Ferrari Testarossa, a flamboyant and extravagant supercar that was often misunderstood. Despite its appearance, the Testarossa was actually a practical and docile car to live with. The Testarossa was introduced in 1984 as a replacement for the 512BB and featured a 12-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder. It was longer, wider, and lighter than its predecessor and remained in production until 1991. The Testarossa gained popularity and achieved sales of almost 10,000 cars. Today, it is considered undervalued compared to its contemporary rivals. The article also highlights the personal experience of the owner, Merlin McCormack, who has turned the Testarossa into a daily driver and has traveled extensively with it. [Extracted from the article]

Ray Christopher is an 83-year-old car-builder and hot rodder who has gained recognition for creating Ford-sanctioned GT40 replicas. He has been building cars since he was a teenager and has a passion for motorsport. Christopher has built various vehicles, including a trike with a V8 engine, a GT40 clone, and a Model A pick-up. He has also built show-cars that have been featured on magazine covers worldwide. Christopher's career took off when he met the chairman of Ford Europe, Bob Lutz, who provided him with reference material and original body molds for the GT40 replicas. He eventually started his own company, GT Developments, and produced dozens of cars each year. Christopher's work also includes replicas of the Lola T70 and the McLaren M8F. He later sold the rights to his original design, the R42 supercar, to the Hildebrand family. Despite his age, Christopher continues to build cars and has plans for future projects. [Extracted from the article]

Story and photos by Graham J Park IN the UK in the ‘60s, it was Beatlemania. The UK bought us the Mods & Rockers but not a car culture like [...]

Report and photos by Lloyd Wilson Just some of the ‘32s lined up in Deuce Doin’s for the Saturday display. THE West Coast Nationals is held annually in late August [...]

From Brent Taylor and The Ruskin Museum Bluebird at speed. Background Kiwi hot rodder Brent Taylor visited the Ruskin Museum in Coniston, England. It features The Bluebird Wing, which houses [...]

From Lloyd Wilson WHEN hot rod clubs were first formed in New Zealand they took their lead from their American counterparts in many ways. Remembering that the earliest hot rodders [...]

Photos and info from the Peter Bennett Collection Research by Craig Stare & Paul Grace Here’s a great shot of Dane Baxter beside his ’39 Chev Coupe and Graham Hennessey [...]

Features / ANGLIA 105E CELESTIAL FANDANGO This dreamy 105E has certainly led its owner, Rhys Couldrake, on a merry dance over the years. But today, evolved into its ultimate form, [...]

American Rebel Holdings announced they are the primary sponsor of Tony Stewart's National Hot Rod Association Funny Car, driven by Matt Hagan, at the Midwest Nationals in St. Louis, MO [...]

Story and photos by Craig Stare MANY years ago, a local Rangiora hot rodder, Reid Caldwell, owned a small North Canterbury auto parts store. He carried a good range of [...]

Story and Photos by Graham J Park HOT rodding started way back in the ‘40s & ‘50s and slowly grew popular with young American males, and as word got around, [...]

New from Macs Speed Designed and fabricated in New Zealand, the all-new MACs Speed Shop Flowmac's muffler has a mellow tone for that proper hot rod sound. Each muffler features [...]

By John Eva IN 1971, Maurice Gaskell, an early member of Pegasus Bay Rod & Custom Club (pre-Pegasus Bay Drag Club), built a chopped and channelled ‘33 Ford coupe, first [...]

Article by: Jamie Webster, Liberty & Lows PETER Horne grew up and lived in Bedfordshire, England. As a young lad, his father took him to a show called the NSRA [...]

From John Eva The Purchas Street premises showing Dick's own 34 Chevy delivery under construction. He did all the woodwork in the body and made his own moulds for the [...]

Story and Photos by Paul Grace and Steve Kelly. IN today's hot rod world, we're blessed with the extreme availability of parts to enable anyone to build or assemble a [...]

Photos and story by Greg Stokes NEW Zealand hot rodding kicked into gear in the sixties and a lot of guys were inspired by this very magazine. In the seventies [...]

Photos and info from the Peter Bennett Collection Research by Craig Stare & Paul Grace An epic shot of two Deuce Roadster hot rods circa 1956-'61. The one on the [...]

Report & photos by Graham J Park THE Palmerston North Hot Rod Club held this year's event under clear blue skies and a light, cool easterly wind. It's one of [...]

Story and Photos by Graham J Park TO me, the soul of a hot rod begins with its history, who has owned it, the changes in its appearance, and its [...]

Lost & Found ANY help on this one, Paul? We published it in Custom Rodder, Out of The Past section back in Jan 1986. We had no ID then or [...]

WRITTEN BY SAILOR GUEVARA A bottle of American Metal whiskey As the American whiskey industry continues to grow and expand, so does the ingenuity and pioneering spirit expressed in the [...]

NEWS / News & events / NEWS & EVENTS Speed demons take to the Sands The 11th VHRA Hot Rod Races were held from 22-23 June on the beach at [...]

REVIEWS / MOTORING ART JACQUELINE DAVIES American Pop Art and the rockabilly scene both help to inform this British creator’s vibrant automotive work MW Vintage hot rods have inspired some [...]

In the old days, beach cars, like hot rods and specials, were created by impecunious young types attempting to turn tired old automotive dullards into something exciting to drive on [...]

6.10am Canals: the Making of a Nation 7.35 Channel Tunnel: Life on the Inside 8.00 Abandoned Engineering (AD) 10.00 War Factories 11.00 The World at War 12 noon Make It [...]

TODD RYDEN MICHAEL CHRISTENSEN It’s great to see a husband-and-wife team who share a passion for hot rods like Beth and Ross Meyers. The couple has amassed a collection of [...]

JEFF SMITH KEVIN DIOSSI If you’ve been reading HOT ROD for any length of time, you will be very familiar with the name Troy Trepanier (pronounced Tre-pan-yer). I first met [...]