Christopher Titus
Sherman Oaks, California
'56 Chevrolet Custom Roadster
Drivetrain: A brand new GM Performance Parts Ramjet 350 crate motor was tapped for this project, as the trick little engine provides a reliable 360 hp while packing the economy of modern EFI with the cool look of vintage Rochester mechanical injection. A hand-made engine cover mated with custom valve covers, both by Foose Design, ties the engine compartment in with the sleek lines of the rest of the car. Since real rods have three pedals, a new T56 six-speed manual tranny was bolted in behind the 350.
Chassis: A totally custom one-off tube frame was built by Foose Design, then fitted with new C5 Corvette independent suspension, Aldan coilover shocks, massive Baer Racing disc brakes, and a Dutchman rearend.
Wheels & Tires: Chip started off his career designing billet wheels, so its natural to assume that a car he designed would have some pretty wild rollers. In this case Foose and Titus got together and decided to fuse the modern look of giant billet "dubs" with the vintage feel of classic Halibrands. The result is a one-off design Chip calls the "Knight." Measuring 20x8 inches in front and 20x10 inches out back, these massive shoes leave a pretty big footprint, so all four wheelwells needed to be seriously cut and worked over to ensure proper fit.
Body: Sam Foose changed just about every panel on the car to obtain the look his son came up with, including chopping up the hood, fenders, trunk, rear quarter-panels, front fenders, and both bumpers. The roof was cut off, the headlights were frenched with F100 trim rings, the trim was altered, and a windshield off a Ford was utilized. A Jaguar provided the door handles, and custom red lenses filled with LED lights light things up in the rear.
Paint: Foose Fords and Mitch Lanzini prepped the panels for pigment, then sprayed the car down with a two-tone coat of BMW Silver and GMC Yukon Dark Blue. A tasteful red pinstripe sets things off.
Interior: After extending the dash 4 inches into the doors, fabricating a custom center console, cutting down a pair of Cobra bucket seats, and fitting a custom centerpiece to a stock '56 steering wheel, the Foose crew delivered the car to Gabe's Upholstery, who covered everything the seating surfaces and panels with blue and gray leather. Creature comforts include climate control by Vintage Air and a thumpin' stereo by Diamond Audio.
The "Show" CarPerhaps you noticed the other '56 Chevy on this month's cover, a red Handyman station wagon adorned with wild flames and polished five-spoke wheels. You might even recognize the car but can't quite figure out where you've seen it before. As fans of the Titus TV show can tell you, this is the car that Chris Titus' character on the show drove and worked on. While most "TV cars" are shoddy and ill-fitting piles of shiny junk upon closer inspection in the real world, this particular celebrity station wagon is totally bitchin', more than likely because it's a cherished part of the Titus stable. A stunning white tuck 'n' roll interior sets off retina-searing red paint and dancing flames laid out by Chip Foose, while polished aluminum wheels, also by Foose, round out the package. Like his roadster, this car is powered by a GM Performance Parts Ramjet 350, so it's got some muscle to back up the look. In a battle for television car supremacy we think this thing could wipe the floor with Knight Rider's Trans Am or Magnum's Ferrari.