Special DeliveryCustom rod builder Troy Trepanier, who created such memorable machines as Rumbler, the all-wheel-drive Quadra-Deuce, Sniper, and Chicayne, has just begun work on Barry Grant's '49 Chevy delivery. Barry's goal is simple: to have the world's fastest road-legal, all-wheel-drive SUV. Grant's anticipated daily driver will be powered with a blown, 435ci GM small-block, which will be topped with Demon twin carburetors. Barry insists the car will be no trailer queen, but the most exciting form of practical transport. Troy's crew at Rad Rides is hoping to have the delivery delivered by this fall's SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Eastwood Joins My Classic CarThere are two kinds of automotive TV shows-the kind where people are happy and the kind where people are mad. My Classic Car, the Speed Channel program dedicated to the collector car hobby, is definitely in the first category, especially now that the Eastwood Company is sponsoring a segment called "Eastwood Garage." This in-studio part of the show covers such topics as sourcing obsolete engine parts, replacing body panels, refurbishing gauges, and others. See your cable TV listings for local air times of My Classic Car.
Corky Coker Wins Meguiar's AwardAnybody here have Coker tires on his car? Joseph "Corky" Coker, the president of Coker Tire Company (the world's largest distributor of vintage automobile tires), was recently chosen to receive the '04 Meguiar's Award for Collector Car Hobby's Person of the Year, to be presented at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on June 19. The winner of this award is selected by a panel of automotive journalists, with judging based on his or her contributions to the hobby, including community involvement and assistance with enthusiast-friendly government legislation. Coker is a true enthusiast himself. His personal collection includes more than 70 classic cars and bikes.
Cyber Roddin'Check out these sites during your summer cruise along the info superhighway. We go Dutch. We go Hawaiian. We go crazy for some awesome automotive art.
The Real Von Dutchwww.letterhead.com/articles/bob_burns/vondutchKKKKKWe found this site-actually it's a page within a sign-painter Web site-while looking for info on Ken Howard, aka Von Dutch. This brief profile was written by sign-painter and 'striper Bob Burns, who was taught by Von Dutch during the famous pinstriper's years in Arizona and who was his friend for almost 40 years. This one-page bio is short but informative and includes some great quotes and photos. There are a couple of full-length Von Dutch biographies coming out soon. In the meantime, consider this inside-look a tasty appetizer. Print it out and hand a copy to everybody you see wearing one of those T-shirts.
Island Rodswww.hawaiian-streetrods.comKKKKDo you ever wonder what the hot rod scene is like in Hawaii (assuming you don't already live there)? If you do, satisfy your curiosity with a visit to Hawaiian Street Rods. Honolulu resident Fritz M. Amtsberg operates this site-or he used to anyway. Judging from the events page, we'd say the site hasn't been updated in a couple of years. Even so, the photo galleries of rods and customs, as well as show coverage photos, make this worth a visit. There is also a page dedicated to the buildup of Fritz' red '28 Model A Tudor sedan. We wonder if that car ever got finished.