Posts Tagged ‘ Car of the Month ’

Featured Vehicle: Rick Springfield’s 1963 Corvette

By Ashley Smissen , August 31, 2010 in Rod Shops

Back in the 1980s, singer Rick Springfield was the proud owner of a silver-blue 1963 split-window Corvette Stingray. While he loved the look of that car, he didn’t enjoy driving it as it was lacking in comfort and conveniences. Eventually, Springfield sold the car, but hoped that someday he could have another one that drove as well as it looked.

Enter Jared Barris, the grandson of George Barris, known as the “King of Kustomizers.” Jared, the only grandchild of the legendary movie and TV car builder, was friends with Springfield’s son, Josh, and had heard that Springfield was longing to once again own a 1963 Corvette, only this time he wanted it to be completely customized and comfortable.

Featured Vehicle: 1931 Model “A” Stake-Bed Pickup

By Ashley Smissen , July 26, 2010 in Rod Shops

Loren and Jody Hulber’s 1931 “Fieldstone Farm” pickup is a staple at their town’s Memorial Day parade. Every year, the town mayor chooses it to ride in for the parade. It’s also a mainstay at the local farmer’s markets that the Hulbers sell their farm’s produce at.

However, the townspeople of Macungie, Pennsylvania, may be surprised to learn that the pristine pickup they’re used to seeing around their town actually has quite an interesting history: it was once owned by actor Lorne Greene of TV’s “Bonanza” and was used at his California estate. After Greene and his wife passed away, the truck was sold to Bandana restaurant chain owner and farmer David Seitz, who used it at his estate in St. Louis.

Featured Vehicle: ‘Tuxedo’ Three-Window Coupe

By Ashley Smissen , July 2, 2010 in Rod Shops

Pete Schmid took a glass body and cut, stretched and fabricated it into the sleek, regal hot rod it is today. Schmid, who’s the owner of Louvers Unlimited, a street rod fabrication and louver business in Craryville, New York, knew there was one thing his car had to be: hot.

“I wanted to build a ‘hot’ hot rod that was low and sleek,” said Schmid.

To get the look he was going after, Schmid started with a Speedstar Coupe glass body from Rat’s Glass, and, from there, went to work customizing it.

Featured Vehicle: ‘One Nasty-Looking’ 1969 Chevy Camaro

By Ashley Smissen , June 10, 2010 in Photo Galleries, Rod Shops

“Sinister functionality” is the term Michael P. Manning uses to describe the concept of his 1969 Camaro. Since the day the original concept of the car was formulated, he knew one thing: it had to be a menacing muscle car.

Featured Vehicle: CalAir 1957 Chevy Wagon

By Ashley Smissen , February 4, 2010 in Interior, Paint & Body, Photo Galleries, Rod Shops

The CalAir 1957 Wagon, restored by Garret's Rod Shop.

The story of this outrageous orange surf wagon starts more by accident than by plan. Along with a ’58 Camaro, the stock 1957 four-door wagon came to the shop as part of a trade for some previous work done.

“The all-original California wagon was in good shape, with a decent restoration started on it,” said one of the car’s builders, Garret Kitchen. “In fact, the former owner said it had sat around in the California desert for many years before it started its journey back to life.”

Car of the Month Photo Gallery: A Year of Cool Cars

By Ashley Smissen , December 15, 2009 in Photo Galleries, Rod Shops

In 2009, Hotrod & Restoration began showcasing unique, eye-catching vehicles in our “Car of the Month” section. From traditional hot rods, to a radical custom truck to sleek muscle cars, this year’s Car of the Month collection is sure to impress! Click on any of the photos to learn more about each month’s featured vehicles. Plus, don’t miss our sneak peek of what we are working on for the February 2010 Car of the Month!

Car of the Month: 1953 Chevy 150 Sedan

By Ashley Smissen , November 23, 2009 in Rod Shops

1953 Chevy 150

Parke Bishop, Jr.’s 1953 Chevy 150 Sedan is a prime example on how to put a modern twist on a classic car and make it a standout in both arenas.

Featuring an array of both custom and aftermarket parts this “cinnamon and ginger” show-stopper stands somewhere in the middle of retro and recent, and the industry has taken notice; the car was one of seven finalists competing for the 2008 Goodguys Custom Rod of the Year award and has been featured on the show circuit.

The spicy sedan, which Bishop originally purchased for $500, features a stock Chevy chassis, custom cross-members and a Heidt’s front end and Currie 9” rearend.

Truck of the Month: 1953 Ford F-100

By Ashley Smissen , August 13, 2009 in Rod Shops

Custom trucks are truly never finished. Even after Otto Rhodes and Bill Dickey fabricated a vehicle the custom car industry acclaimed as being a benchmark creation, Rhodes continued to modify Mountain Pearl in a quest to keep it cutting edge.

1932 Ford Sedan “Delivery” is a Show-Stopper!

By Ashley Smissen , July 20, 2009 in News & Events, Rod Shops

Dave Lane’s concept for this vehicle was simple— to build the ultimate Sedan Delivery. Keeping in mind that the car was meant to be a commercial vehicle, possibly hauling products or providing a storage area for tools or other items, Lane took a utilitarian approach.

Edelbrock’s 1946 Ford Woodie

By Ashley Smissen , July 13, 2009 in Rod Shops

HRR July Car of the Month

Woodies have long had a treasured place in the Edelbrock family history. After World War II, Vic Edelbrock Sr. started using woodies to tow his midget racing cars. In fact, according to Vic Jr., he would need to get a new woodie every year to tow the vehicles around California, to places like Gilmore on Thursday nights and to San Bernardino on Friday nights for races. He used them until the late 1940s, when a ’51 or ’54 Ford became his tow vehicle of choice. Later he would use a pickup truck.