BMW Z3 - GoldenEye

"Bond returned in 1995 with a German set of wheels - although he only managed a short ride in the country before handing the car over to his American contact, Jack Wade."

http://www.007.info/Cars.asp

technorati tags: custom cars,hot rods, hot rods: tuners, cars

READ MORE - BMW Z3 - GoldenEye

BMW Z3 - GoldenEye

"Bond returned in 1995 with a German set of wheels - although he only managed a short ride in the country before handing the car over to his American contact, Jack Wade."

http://www.007.info/Cars.asp

technorati tags: custom cars,hot rods, hot rods: tuners, cars

READ MORE - BMW Z3 - GoldenEye

Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Volante-The Living Daylights

Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Volante-The Living Daylights

For the last few Roger Moore films, specialised cars were again sadly lacking. Once Timothy Dalton appeared in The Living Daylights, things were about to get back to normal.
Bond returned in an Aston Martin V8 Vantage along with a soft-topped Volante.
The car was equipped with 'laser guns' in the wheels, out-riggers for 'skiing', automatic, self inflating, spiked tyres, jet propulsion and the usual concealed guns.

technorati tags: custom cars,hot rods, hot rods: tuners, cars

READ MORE - Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Volante-The Living Daylights

Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Volante-The Living Daylights

Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Volante-The Living Daylights

For the last few Roger Moore films, specialised cars were again sadly lacking. Once Timothy Dalton appeared in The Living Daylights, things were about to get back to normal.
Bond returned in an Aston Martin V8 Vantage along with a soft-topped Volante.
The car was equipped with 'laser guns' in the wheels, out-riggers for 'skiing', automatic, self inflating, spiked tyres, jet propulsion and the usual concealed guns.

technorati tags: custom cars,hot rods, hot rods: tuners, cars

READ MORE - Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Volante-The Living Daylights

Custom Car: Banacek's 1970 American Motors AMX

Made by George Barris from the 1970 American Motors AMX for 70's TV show "Banacek" starring George Peppard. The first major modification was to lower the overall silhouette by chopping 4.5" out of the top section with a 2" slant on the windshield posts. To further the extreme fastback image, long tapering windsplits are streamlined louvers extending f rom the roof line to the lower panel. A courtesy safety lighting system was installed utilizing the louvers, with full red taillight and stop lights, full amber lights for deceleration and caution, and a full green light for forward motion.

All four wheel wells have been re-radiuses with the top portion of the radius flared and extended into the center of the door in front. The rear extends to the rear of the fender. The frontal area has been lengthened fifteen inches with a matching lower pan and louvered grille installation. The rear fenders were also extended to follow the streamlined windsplits. The hood has twin canted tunneled forced air scoops molded into the hood panel conforming with the fender line. Saddle antique and walnut was used with color combination in the interior.

The exterior finish consists of Murano Pearl uppertone with coordinated Rustic Orange along the lower section. The interior sports twin bucket seats with head rests and safety belts. The rear compartment has been completely carpeted and the dash has matched naugahyde crash padding. The louvers front and rear have been chrome plated along the leading edge with textured paint effect. SS Cragar wheels with chrome outer rims support the Firestone Wide Ovals sporting white lettering on the black sidewall.

technorati tags: custom cars,hot rods, hot rods: tuners, cars

READ MORE - Custom Car: Banacek's 1970 American Motors AMX

Custom Car: Banacek's 1970 American Motors AMX

Made by George Barris from the 1970 American Motors AMX for 70's TV show "Banacek" starring George Peppard. The first major modification was to lower the overall silhouette by chopping 4.5" out of the top section with a 2" slant on the windshield posts. To further the extreme fastback image, long tapering windsplits are streamlined louvers extending f rom the roof line to the lower panel. A courtesy safety lighting system was installed utilizing the louvers, with full red taillight and stop lights, full amber lights for deceleration and caution, and a full green light for forward motion.

All four wheel wells have been re-radiuses with the top portion of the radius flared and extended into the center of the door in front. The rear extends to the rear of the fender. The frontal area has been lengthened fifteen inches with a matching lower pan and louvered grille installation. The rear fenders were also extended to follow the streamlined windsplits. The hood has twin canted tunneled forced air scoops molded into the hood panel conforming with the fender line. Saddle antique and walnut was used with color combination in the interior.

The exterior finish consists of Murano Pearl uppertone with coordinated Rustic Orange along the lower section. The interior sports twin bucket seats with head rests and safety belts. The rear compartment has been completely carpeted and the dash has matched naugahyde crash padding. The louvers front and rear have been chrome plated along the leading edge with textured paint effect. SS Cragar wheels with chrome outer rims support the Firestone Wide Ovals sporting white lettering on the black sidewall.

technorati tags: custom cars,hot rods, hot rods: tuners, cars

READ MORE - Custom Car: Banacek's 1970 American Motors AMX

Custom Car: Starsky and Hutch (Ford Gran Torino)

Starsky and Hutch (Ford Gran Torino),
Stunt cars, camera cars, tow cars, dolly cars, and cars used for "beauty" shots varied in model year from 1974 to 1976, since the bodystyle of the Gran Torino was unchanged. Obviously, no 1976 models were used in the pilot or the first season. The cars, on lease from Ford, were custom painted by Spelling-Goldberg Productions (on top of the factory red paint color)with the distinctive single white stripe (running from the front fender, across the doors, up and over the roof, and then symmetrically back down the other side), but in the 3rd and 4th season the producers leased one of the 1000 Limited Edition "Starsky & Hutch" PS 122 units painted to match the show's car, produced by Ford Motor Company in 1976, as a backup vehicle for the cars they were leasing at the time. The '75 models that were used during the first season had cloth bench seats and 'Bright Red' paint(code 2B). In '76, they were replaced by 3 new Torinos that had vinyl benches and were specially painted the previous year's 'Bright Red' because Ford used a different shade of red for the new models; the cars can be identified by their silver 'sight shields'(bumper filler panels)which Ford used on specially painted cars.

Ford never manufactured a Gran Torino painted in this fashion for the 1974 or 1975 model year. However, due to the success of the television series, Ford did release a limited edition (only 1000 units) "Starsky & Hutch" replica Gran Torino in 1976 (the final model year for the Torino line). Manufactured at the Chicago plant, one of these code "PS 122" units was used in the 3rd and 4th seasons of the show. This car was originally equipped with a 400 CID V8; however, one of the stuntmen damaged the engine beyond repair, and Spelling-Goldberg replaced it with a 429 CID V8. This car still resides in California.

technorati tags: custom cars, hot rods, hot rods: tuners, cars

READ MORE - Custom Car: Starsky and Hutch (Ford Gran Torino)

Custom Car: Starsky and Hutch (Ford Gran Torino)

Starsky and Hutch (Ford Gran Torino),
Stunt cars, camera cars, tow cars, dolly cars, and cars used for "beauty" shots varied in model year from 1974 to 1976, since the bodystyle of the Gran Torino was unchanged. Obviously, no 1976 models were used in the pilot or the first season. The cars, on lease from Ford, were custom painted by Spelling-Goldberg Productions (on top of the factory red paint color)with the distinctive single white stripe (running from the front fender, across the doors, up and over the roof, and then symmetrically back down the other side), but in the 3rd and 4th season the producers leased one of the 1000 Limited Edition "Starsky & Hutch" PS 122 units painted to match the show's car, produced by Ford Motor Company in 1976, as a backup vehicle for the cars they were leasing at the time. The '75 models that were used during the first season had cloth bench seats and 'Bright Red' paint(code 2B). In '76, they were replaced by 3 new Torinos that had vinyl benches and were specially painted the previous year's 'Bright Red' because Ford used a different shade of red for the new models; the cars can be identified by their silver 'sight shields'(bumper filler panels)which Ford used on specially painted cars.

Ford never manufactured a Gran Torino painted in this fashion for the 1974 or 1975 model year. However, due to the success of the television series, Ford did release a limited edition (only 1000 units) "Starsky & Hutch" replica Gran Torino in 1976 (the final model year for the Torino line). Manufactured at the Chicago plant, one of these code "PS 122" units was used in the 3rd and 4th seasons of the show. This car was originally equipped with a 400 CID V8; however, one of the stuntmen damaged the engine beyond repair, and Spelling-Goldberg replaced it with a 429 CID V8. This car still resides in California.

technorati tags: custom cars, hot rods, hot rods: tuners, cars

READ MORE - Custom Car: Starsky and Hutch (Ford Gran Torino)

Custom Car: Mannix's Roadster

Mannix was one of the most violent shows of the sixties and it featured a special George Barris custom Oldsmobile Toronado. "

"For the series, Barris was asked to create an adventurous, sophisticated automobile that would suit a man of action. After looking over a series of scripts, he decided that a convertible Oldsmobile Toronado would do the job. He presented his Mannix Roadster concept to producer Bruce Geller and series star Mike Connors, who both gave it their approval."

"Barris transformed an Oldsmobile coupe into a roadster with a leather-covered tonneau cover installed over the rear seat area. This tonneau wrapped around the seats and formed a type of storage container for crime fighting and survival equipment. The interior also contained other amenities, including hidden gun compartments, radio-telephone, short-wave transceiver, and a tape recorder."

"To create this Toronado Roadster, Barris fabricated a sub-framed X-member and installed it in the floor for strength. A sectional roll bar was also built which sat under the new tonneau cover. This new design followed much of what Oldsmobile had done with the Toronado’s production bodywork. However, Barris created a clean, new look for the front and rear end of the vehicle by using many custom touches."

"The nose was redone with new fenders, grille and lights. The fenders were extended and remolded with chrome caps on the tip. A new grille opening was fabricated and extended to blend in with the fenders. The grille was installed with a mesh backing topped with a fine tube grille and custom oval Cibie head-lights. A special fiberglass hood was built with a pair of wind-splitter ridges that flowed back into the cowl."

http://www.jmannix.net/roadster.htm

custom car

READ MORE - Custom Car: Mannix's Roadster

Custom Car: Mannix's Roadster

Mannix was one of the most violent shows of the sixties and it featured a special George Barris custom Oldsmobile Toronado. "

"For the series, Barris was asked to create an adventurous, sophisticated automobile that would suit a man of action. After looking over a series of scripts, he decided that a convertible Oldsmobile Toronado would do the job. He presented his Mannix Roadster concept to producer Bruce Geller and series star Mike Connors, who both gave it their approval."

"Barris transformed an Oldsmobile coupe into a roadster with a leather-covered tonneau cover installed over the rear seat area. This tonneau wrapped around the seats and formed a type of storage container for crime fighting and survival equipment. The interior also contained other amenities, including hidden gun compartments, radio-telephone, short-wave transceiver, and a tape recorder."

"To create this Toronado Roadster, Barris fabricated a sub-framed X-member and installed it in the floor for strength. A sectional roll bar was also built which sat under the new tonneau cover. This new design followed much of what Oldsmobile had done with the Toronado’s production bodywork. However, Barris created a clean, new look for the front and rear end of the vehicle by using many custom touches."

"The nose was redone with new fenders, grille and lights. The fenders were extended and remolded with chrome caps on the tip. A new grille opening was fabricated and extended to blend in with the fenders. The grille was installed with a mesh backing topped with a fine tube grille and custom oval Cibie head-lights. A special fiberglass hood was built with a pair of wind-splitter ridges that flowed back into the cowl."

http://www.jmannix.net/roadster.htm

custom car

READ MORE - Custom Car: Mannix's Roadster

Custom Car: The Monkeemobile

The Monkeemobile is a modified Pontiac GTO that was built for the Monkees TV show. The car features a tall split windshield, a T-bucket convertible top, modified rear quarter panels, exaggerated tail lamps and an extra row of seats where the rear deck should have been. The front grille sported the GTO emblem. The engine was a 389 cubic inch Pontiac engine with Edelbrock valve covers and manifold. Dean Jeffries was contracted to build the car in 1966, and there are now three versions of the car. Two of these fronted the TV series, and one is a recently created replica. The drag racing type parachute to stop the car provide for amusement on the show. Jeffries also converted the Lincoln Futura into the Batmobile as he was contracted to do by George Barris. Note the similarities between the Batmobile and Monkeemobile: both are equipped with parachutes, and both have a split front grille with a vertical blade projecting. In effect, the cars share many of the same styling themes, including bladed edges. It can be surmised then, that the existing styling of the Futura laid the ground work for that of the Monkeemobile.

The first version of the engine originally sported a 6-71 supercharger. Because the car had too much power and was difficult to drive with the original blower, a dummy blower was fitted to all the models. This version of the car was used on the first season of the show and in only one episode of the second season. It has a backwards logo on the passenger side of the door.

The second car was used as a touring car for shows and events. It did eventually get into the second season a few times. The only notable difference was the logo. This logo also changed a few times after the series ended. This version is currently owned by George Barris. The third version was recently built from a 1966 Pontiac Le Mans instead of a GTO but carries the same features as the original. This creation was by Dick Dean for Barris' East Coast promotions to be used at car shows and other events.

The Monkeemobile has been used by other rock bands such as The Sisters of Mercy ("Black Planet" video) and The Missing Links (a Monkees tribute band).

READ MORE - Custom Car: The Monkeemobile

Custom Car: The Monkeemobile

The Monkeemobile is a modified Pontiac GTO that was built for the Monkees TV show. The car features a tall split windshield, a T-bucket convertible top, modified rear quarter panels, exaggerated tail lamps and an extra row of seats where the rear deck should have been. The front grille sported the GTO emblem. The engine was a 389 cubic inch Pontiac engine with Edelbrock valve covers and manifold. Dean Jeffries was contracted to build the car in 1966, and there are now three versions of the car. Two of these fronted the TV series, and one is a recently created replica. The drag racing type parachute to stop the car provide for amusement on the show. Jeffries also converted the Lincoln Futura into the Batmobile as he was contracted to do by George Barris. Note the similarities between the Batmobile and Monkeemobile: both are equipped with parachutes, and both have a split front grille with a vertical blade projecting. In effect, the cars share many of the same styling themes, including bladed edges. It can be surmised then, that the existing styling of the Futura laid the ground work for that of the Monkeemobile.

The first version of the engine originally sported a 6-71 supercharger. Because the car had too much power and was difficult to drive with the original blower, a dummy blower was fitted to all the models. This version of the car was used on the first season of the show and in only one episode of the second season. It has a backwards logo on the passenger side of the door.

The second car was used as a touring car for shows and events. It did eventually get into the second season a few times. The only notable difference was the logo. This logo also changed a few times after the series ended. This version is currently owned by George Barris. The third version was recently built from a 1966 Pontiac Le Mans instead of a GTO but carries the same features as the original. This creation was by Dick Dean for Barris' East Coast promotions to be used at car shows and other events.

The Monkeemobile has been used by other rock bands such as The Sisters of Mercy ("Black Planet" video) and The Missing Links (a Monkees tribute band).

READ MORE - Custom Car: The Monkeemobile

Hot Rods, Part 3

A custom car is a phrase that became prominent in American pop culture in the 1950s, and has enjoyed special interest popularity since that time. It relates to a passenger vehicle that has been modified to improve its performance by altering or replacing the engine and transmission and to make it look "unique", unlike any car that might have been factory finished,always a personal "styling" statement by the re-styler/re-builder.

A development of hot rodding, the change in name corresponded to the change in the design of the cars that were being modified. The first hot rods were made from pre-WWII cars that had running boards and simple fenders that bent over the wheels. These were modified by removing the running boards and either removing the fenders entirely or replacing them with very light "cycle fenders". The purpose was to put the most powerful engine in the lightest possible frame and body combination. The suspension was usually altered to make the car lower; the front was often made much lower than the rear. Much later some hot rods and custom cars swapped the old solid rear axle for an independent rear axle, often from Jaguar. Only rarely was the grille of one make of car replaced by another; one exception was that the 1937 Buick grille was often put on a Ford. The original hot rods were plainly painted like the Model A Fords from which they had been built up, and only slowly begun to take on colors, and eventually fancy orange-yellow flamed hoods or "candy-like" deep arcylic finishes in the various colors.

With the change in automobile design to encase the wheels in fenders and to extend the hood to the full width of the car, the former practices were no longer possible. In addition, there was tremendous automotive advertising and subsequent public interest in the new models in the 1950s. Hence custom cars came into existence, swapping headlight rings, grilles, bumpers, chrome side strips, and tail lights. The bodies of the cars were changed by cutting through the sheet metal, removing bits to make the car lower, welding it back together, and adding a lot of lead to make the resulting form smooth. By this means, "chopping" made the roof lower; "sectioning" made the body thinner from top to bottom. "Channeling" was cutting notches in the floorpan where the body touches the frame to lower the whole body. Fins were often added from other cars, or made up from sheet steel. But in the custom car culture, if you were someone who merely changed the appearance without improving the performance substantially, you were looked down on.

Paint was an important concern. Once bodywork was done, the cars were painted unusual colors. Transparent but wildly-colored candy-apple paint, which was applied atop a metallic undercoat, and metalflake paint, which adds aluminum glitter within candy-apple paint, appeared in the 1960s. These took many coats to produce a brilliant effect -- which in hot climates had a tendency to flake off. Custom cars also continued the habit of adding decorative paint after the main coat was finished, of flames extending rearward from the front wheels, and of scallops and hand-painted pinstripes of a different color than the rest of the car. The latter, most often being of a single coat, would be expected to be of a simpler paint.

READ MORE - Hot Rods, Part 3

Hot Rods, Part 3

A custom car is a phrase that became prominent in American pop culture in the 1950s, and has enjoyed special interest popularity since that time. It relates to a passenger vehicle that has been modified to improve its performance by altering or replacing the engine and transmission and to make it look "unique", unlike any car that might have been factory finished,always a personal "styling" statement by the re-styler/re-builder.

A development of hot rodding, the change in name corresponded to the change in the design of the cars that were being modified. The first hot rods were made from pre-WWII cars that had running boards and simple fenders that bent over the wheels. These were modified by removing the running boards and either removing the fenders entirely or replacing them with very light "cycle fenders". The purpose was to put the most powerful engine in the lightest possible frame and body combination. The suspension was usually altered to make the car lower; the front was often made much lower than the rear. Much later some hot rods and custom cars swapped the old solid rear axle for an independent rear axle, often from Jaguar. Only rarely was the grille of one make of car replaced by another; one exception was that the 1937 Buick grille was often put on a Ford. The original hot rods were plainly painted like the Model A Fords from which they had been built up, and only slowly begun to take on colors, and eventually fancy orange-yellow flamed hoods or "candy-like" deep arcylic finishes in the various colors.

With the change in automobile design to encase the wheels in fenders and to extend the hood to the full width of the car, the former practices were no longer possible. In addition, there was tremendous automotive advertising and subsequent public interest in the new models in the 1950s. Hence custom cars came into existence, swapping headlight rings, grilles, bumpers, chrome side strips, and tail lights. The bodies of the cars were changed by cutting through the sheet metal, removing bits to make the car lower, welding it back together, and adding a lot of lead to make the resulting form smooth. By this means, "chopping" made the roof lower; "sectioning" made the body thinner from top to bottom. "Channeling" was cutting notches in the floorpan where the body touches the frame to lower the whole body. Fins were often added from other cars, or made up from sheet steel. But in the custom car culture, if you were someone who merely changed the appearance without improving the performance substantially, you were looked down on.

Paint was an important concern. Once bodywork was done, the cars were painted unusual colors. Transparent but wildly-colored candy-apple paint, which was applied atop a metallic undercoat, and metalflake paint, which adds aluminum glitter within candy-apple paint, appeared in the 1960s. These took many coats to produce a brilliant effect -- which in hot climates had a tendency to flake off. Custom cars also continued the habit of adding decorative paint after the main coat was finished, of flames extending rearward from the front wheels, and of scallops and hand-painted pinstripes of a different color than the rest of the car. The latter, most often being of a single coat, would be expected to be of a simpler paint.

READ MORE - Hot Rods, Part 3

Hot Rods, Part 2

The "classic era" of hot rod construction ended around 1965, partly because the supply of vintage tin had diminished, but mostly because new cars were equipped for greater speed and power from the factory with little or no modification required.

Today, there are still a large number of hot rodders and street rodders. The Street Rod Nationals serves as a showplace for the majority of the hot rodding and street rodding world to display their cars and to find nearly any part needed to complete them.

There is still a vibrant Hot Rod culture worldwide, especially in the United States and Sweden. The hot rod community has now been subdivided into two main groups: hot rodders and street rodders. Hot rodders build their cars using a lot of original, old parts, and follow the styles that were popular from the 1940s through the 1960s. Street rodders build cars (or have them built for them) using, primarily, new parts.

Hot rod builders such as Jesse James, who is also famous for his motorcycle modifications (choppers), have profited through their exposure on sensationalized TV shows. Boyd Coddington, famed hot rod designer currently stars in American Hot Rod, a documentary series on Discovery channel. One of his cars appeared in the music video of Gimme All Your Lovin’ by the rock band ZZ Top. The Discovery Channel airs several shows dealing with modern interpretations of kustom kulture such as Monster Garage, American Hot Rod, and Overhaulin'.

Juxtapoz Magazine, founded by the artist Robert Williams, has thrived as a recent extrapolation of kustom kulture art. It has also begun to garner respect as an exhibitor of contemporary artistic talent that transcends kustom kulture's bounds.

There is a contemporary movement of traditional hot rod builders, car clubs and artists who have returned to the roots of hot rodding as a lifestyle. This current traditional hot rod culture is exemplified in a whole new breed of traditional hot rod builders, artists and styles, as well as classic style car clubs like the Deacons, the Shifters, and the Dragoons. Events like Viva Las Vegas, and GreaseOrama showcase this return to traditional hot rods and the greaser lifestyle. Underground magazines like Garage, Rolls & Pleats, and BurnOut showcase this return to traditional hot rods by covering events and people around the world. There are number of independently released DVDs featuring this traditional hot rod revival with names such as Mad Fabricators, Hot Rod Surf ‘All Steel All Real’, and Hot Rod Havoc.

The culture is vibrant in Sweden where there are many automobile enthusiasts, also known as raggare. Meetings like Power Big Meet and clubs such as Wheels and Wings in Varberg, Sweden have established themselves in Swedish Hot Rod culture. Since there is very little "vintage tin" the hot rods in Sweden are generally made with a home made chassis (usually a Ford model T or A replica), with a Jaguar (or Volvo 240) rear axle, a small block V8 and fiberglass tub, but some have been built using for instance a Volvo Duett chassis. Because the Swedish regulations required a crash test even for custom-built passenger cars between 1969 and 1982 the Duett option was often used since it was considered a rebodied Duett rather than a new vehicle.

Many 50's and 60's cars are also hot rodded, like Morris Minor, Ford Anglia, Volvo Amazon, Ford Cortina, '57 Chevy, to name but a few.

READ MORE - Hot Rods, Part 2

Hot Rods, Part 2

The "classic era" of hot rod construction ended around 1965, partly because the supply of vintage tin had diminished, but mostly because new cars were equipped for greater speed and power from the factory with little or no modification required.

Today, there are still a large number of hot rodders and street rodders. The Street Rod Nationals serves as a showplace for the majority of the hot rodding and street rodding world to display their cars and to find nearly any part needed to complete them.

There is still a vibrant Hot Rod culture worldwide, especially in the United States and Sweden. The hot rod community has now been subdivided into two main groups: hot rodders and street rodders. Hot rodders build their cars using a lot of original, old parts, and follow the styles that were popular from the 1940s through the 1960s. Street rodders build cars (or have them built for them) using, primarily, new parts.

Hot rod builders such as Jesse James, who is also famous for his motorcycle modifications (choppers), have profited through their exposure on sensationalized TV shows. Boyd Coddington, famed hot rod designer currently stars in American Hot Rod, a documentary series on Discovery channel. One of his cars appeared in the music video of Gimme All Your Lovin’ by the rock band ZZ Top. The Discovery Channel airs several shows dealing with modern interpretations of kustom kulture such as Monster Garage, American Hot Rod, and Overhaulin'.

Juxtapoz Magazine, founded by the artist Robert Williams, has thrived as a recent extrapolation of kustom kulture art. It has also begun to garner respect as an exhibitor of contemporary artistic talent that transcends kustom kulture's bounds.

There is a contemporary movement of traditional hot rod builders, car clubs and artists who have returned to the roots of hot rodding as a lifestyle. This current traditional hot rod culture is exemplified in a whole new breed of traditional hot rod builders, artists and styles, as well as classic style car clubs like the Deacons, the Shifters, and the Dragoons. Events like Viva Las Vegas, and GreaseOrama showcase this return to traditional hot rods and the greaser lifestyle. Underground magazines like Garage, Rolls & Pleats, and BurnOut showcase this return to traditional hot rods by covering events and people around the world. There are number of independently released DVDs featuring this traditional hot rod revival with names such as Mad Fabricators, Hot Rod Surf ‘All Steel All Real’, and Hot Rod Havoc.

The culture is vibrant in Sweden where there are many automobile enthusiasts, also known as raggare. Meetings like Power Big Meet and clubs such as Wheels and Wings in Varberg, Sweden have established themselves in Swedish Hot Rod culture. Since there is very little "vintage tin" the hot rods in Sweden are generally made with a home made chassis (usually a Ford model T or A replica), with a Jaguar (or Volvo 240) rear axle, a small block V8 and fiberglass tub, but some have been built using for instance a Volvo Duett chassis. Because the Swedish regulations required a crash test even for custom-built passenger cars between 1969 and 1982 the Duett option was often used since it was considered a rebodied Duett rather than a new vehicle.

Many 50's and 60's cars are also hot rodded, like Morris Minor, Ford Anglia, Volvo Amazon, Ford Cortina, '57 Chevy, to name but a few.

READ MORE - Hot Rods, Part 2