Posts Tagged ‘ Cool Cars ’

Photo Gallery: Cool Cars from the 2009 SEMA Show

By Ashley Smissen , November 30, 2009 in News & Events, Photo Galleries, Rod Shops

Click on any of the thumbnails above to learn more about these outrageous rides, all of which were on display at the 2009 SEMA Show in November. Found inside manufacturers’ booths, as well as on the show floor, these cool cars qualified as major eye kandy!

All photos by Ashley Majeski Smissen.

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.

1933 Brizio Hemi Coupe Brings the Heat

By Ashley Smissen , November 20, 2009 in Rod Shops

1933 Brizio Hemi Coupe

During one of his visits to Brizio’s South San Francisco-based shop, businessman Jorge Zaragoza fell in love with a yellow 1933 Ford Hemi- powered coupe that was in the final stages of assembly at the shop. He decided to add a similar car to his already-impressive stable of collector cars.

Surf’s Up! Woodies & Wagons Bring in Big Bucks!

By John Katz , July 5, 2009 in Rod Shops

Daryl Chrispen of The 401k Club in Anaheim, California restored this 1937 woodie for his wife, Laurie. It features a custom interior and wood work done by John Phillips.

The surfboards. The sand. The faded wood and primered fenders. The whine of the starter leading to the unmistakable thrum of a well-massaged Flathead. It’s a dream many have dreamed, but far fewer have actually lived.

“Woodies represent a unique niche in U.S. automotive history, much like muscle cars have their niche,” noted Gary Meadors, founder and chairman of Goodguys Rod & Custom Association, in Pleasanton, California. “They bring lots of joy to people— and special attention whenever and wherever they appear.”

“Woodies just make people happy,” added Suzy Carr, cofounder of The Wood N’Carr in Signal Hill, California. “They are crowd-pleasers. Go to any rod show, and if there is a woodie [on display] there will be a crowd around it.”

Car of the Month: 1965 Pontiac GTO

By Ashley Smissen , May 1, 2009 in Paint & Body, Rod Shops

GTO
Although it has been known throughout the years by such endearing names as the “Tiger,” the “Goat” and the “GeeTo,” by far the most revered name for the Pontiac GTO has been “The Great One.” When it debuted in late 1963, the GTO introduced a new breed of intermediate, high-performance muscle cars that took the automotive world by storm.

Market Snapshot: 1950s Fin Cars

By John Katz , March 1, 2009 in Paint & Body

Fin Car

Nothing says the 1950s like a pair of tail fins— and by extension, the insolent chariots that flew beneath them. Enthusiasm for these cars has been growing for at least the past decade, as collectors rediscover not only their soaring style but their surprisingly modern performance. Baby Boomers, still the hobby’s biggest spenders, recall them fondly; and some models are holding their value, or better, in a generally declining collector-car market.

Michael Rovillo who does research for Mac’s Antique Auto Parts in Lockport, New York, told us that Mac’s fastest-growing catalog is the one that covers 1949-1959 Fords.

Car of the Month: Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

By Ashley Smissen , March 1, 2009 in Rod Shops

Classic Caddies specializes in the Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz.

It was love at first sight for Don Horton when he saw his first 1959 Cadillac back in the fall of 1958. “From that day on I was hooked,” said Horton, who now owns Classic Caddies in Port Sydney, Ontario, Canada. “I was 13 years old and this was my first love, and it would last a lifetime.”