Featured Hot Rods and Other Roadkillers

Hot rods, typically old, classic American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. Yep!

Finishing a Late Friend’s Handmade 1956 “Baby” Buick Special Mini Car

September 1, 2022 Roadkill Customs Builds and Examples

Karl Fisher is working to honor a late friend who started building a mini ’56 Buick Special from the leftovers of a car that was rusted out. [More…] Also of Interest: 55HP 670cc Harbor Freight [More...]

Reversing Gears ~ Rescuing One’s Own Derelict 1967 Pontiac GTO

July 26, 2022 Roadkill Customs Builds and Examples

Kerry Pierno has manufactured for himself a story of vehicular misfortune but is reversing gears by reviving his 1967 Pontiac GTO. [More…] Also of Interest: Pontiac GTO ~ Everything You Need To Know 1967 Pontiac [More...]

The origin of the term “hot rod” is unclear. For example, some claim that the term “hot” refers to the vehicle being stolen. Other origin stories include replacing the engine’s camshaft or “rod” with a higher performance version. Regardless, these are some of our favorites…

Barry Weiss’ Cowboy Cadillac

November 29, 2012 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Barry Weiss made a fortune selling wholesale produce and feeds his unique car collection, including this ’47 Cadillac, with the proceeds. [More…]

Charles Darmanjian’s 1947 Plymouth Rat Rod

Charles Darmanjian’s 1947 Plymouth ~ Flat Black Rat

November 7, 2017 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Charles is a one-man-show in a small three bay shop in North Troy, New York. He primarily designs and fabricates parts for cars that are far from rat rods, his project car is a 1947 Plymouth. While his business caters to newer cars, Charles admits that it’s the classics he really enjoys working on. [More…]

Doodlebugs, Scrambolas, Jitterbugs, Field Crawlers and Other Farm Rigs

September 9, 2007 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Doodlebug is the colloquial name for a home-made tractor made during World War II when production tractors were in short supply. [More…]

Lil’ Rat ~ Rat Rod Lawnmower Built for $40 Bucks

September 21, 2017 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Michael Snow from Horneytown, North Carolina saw our Farmer’s Chopper post and shared his old school rat rod lawnmower with us. [More…]

Aaron Anderson’s True Home Grown Rat Rod

October 12, 2017 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

This truck was self-built with some help from neighbors, friends, and family. All the parts — every piece, came from Wabash County, Indiana. [More…]

The NewMad ~ 1955 Chevrolet Nomad Custom

October 10, 2012 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

It took 24,000 hours and 1.3 million dollars to transform a ’55 Chevy Nomad into the award-winning Chevy “NewMad”. [More…]

DELIVERANCE ~ 1947 Ford Pro-Street Rat Rod Pickup

June 15, 2013 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

This is no ordinary Rat Rod. It was designed and built by an experienced Winston Cup race car builder with race-quality parts front-to-rear. [More…]

Big Bertha by South Texas Performance

November 16, 2017 Roadkill Customs Builds and Examples, Rides & Roadkillers

South Texas Performance Turbo Diesel Rat Rod Truck built for The Rat Hard Build-Off ~ Builders get 30 days and $3,000 to build a Rat Rod. [More…]

n2a Motors is a California based custom auto manufacturer with a mission of reviving the art of American coach building. Melding design elements from different Chevy models, the 789 shows the world that you really can't have enough of a good thing. Although the 789 looks instantly iconic, it is actually the best of three classics mounted atop a Le Mans-winning Corvette C6 chassis. Aptly named for the three years represented in the overall design, the 789 has the “hooded eyes” and chrome grille of a '57, a mid-section that's reminiscent of a '58 Impala and the "bird in flight" rear tailfins of a '59. These three vehicles are all instantly recognizable classics celebrated by people around the world. Owning and operating a classic car often proves difficult. Rarity of parts, expertise needed for installation, and potentially high upkeep or restoration costs are some of the problems with which collectors must deal. All of the money in the world spent to modify or modernize a vintage car will not change the reliability or performance problems associated with it. The 789 offers the best of both worlds: retro looks and styling, and it will fire up every time you turn the key. The body is constructed of lightweight composite panels. n2a Motors has developed a process of using 80% carbon composite with 20% fiberglass. This process gives a light-weight rigid part as if it was 100% carbon composite with the minimal properties of fiberglass that allows for show quality paint and finish. Customers can either provide n2a Motors with a donor C5 series (1997 -2004) or C6 series (2005-current) Corvette, which currently retails for approximately $65,000 (though used models can be had for less), or n2a Motors can locate one for you. After stripping the Corvette of its stock body, n2a Motors hand-grafts the retro body panels over the stock frame, suspension, and massive 440-horsepower, 6.0-liter aluminum-block V8 engine. A full range of upgrades are available, including up to 800 hp power trains, custom suspension, audio/video/navigation systems, interior customization, and more. n2a Motors will build each 789 to meet each customer's specifications. However, please note that no previously built combination of paint scheme and interior treatment will be duplicated.

California Man Merges Three 1950s Chevys Into One Iconic Car

October 28, 2021 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Melding design elements from different Chevy models, the 789 shows the world that you really can’t have enough of a good thing. [More…]

The Roadkill Customs 1949 Studebaker Shop Truck

February 14, 2018 Roadkill Customs Builds and Examples, Low Budget Builds, Rides & Roadkillers

The Roadkill Shop Truck Project: Take a ’77 Camaro and S-10 frame rails and build a new soul for the ’49 Studebaker in 30 days for $1,000. [More…]

Rey Payumo’s 1963 Chevrolet Impala

April 3, 2013 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Rey Payumo of Kailua, Hawaii found this 1963 Chevrolet Impala packed with junk in a garage in Hayward, California. [More…]

Mad Driving Skills in a Shoebox Ford

April 29, 2018 Roadkill Customs Hot Rod Lifestyle, Rides & Roadkillers

This Shoebox Ford was shot at the Annual Freak Race held by the Ford-Freak club of Finland. This was the fastest run at the time. [More…]

George Poteet's 1956 Chevy Two-Door Sedan

Supercharged 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Gasser

December 21, 2018 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

This 1956 Chevy Gasser was built for George Poteet by Roadster Shop in Mundelein, Illinois. [More…]

This 1927 Oakland Racer Fits Just Perfectly

December 7, 2018 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Brian uses his Oakland as his surf wagon, driving it to San Onofre to catch waves. He also makes his own 1920s and ’30s style surfboards. [More…]

Mike Partyka’s 1931 Ford Model A Pickup ~ New Skool Rat Rod

January 9, 2019 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

“I wanted to build something with raw horsepower, raw aggressiveness, and stretch the limits of what a hot rod/rat rod can be.” ~ Mike Partyka [More…]

1941 Dodge Power Wagon ~ Stacey David’s Sergeant Rock Lives

February 24, 2019 Roadkill Customs Builds and Examples, Rides & Roadkillers, Roadkill Offroad

A look back at a kid with a dream. Follow the design and fabrication of Stacey David’s 1941 Dodge Power Wagon, a childhood dream. [More…]

Velvet Cherry ~ Jerry Dunbar’s Volksrod

May 16, 2019 Roadkill Customs Hood Rides & Hoopties, Rides & Roadkillers, Volkswagen and Volksrods

Jerry Dunbar’s 1954 Volkswagen oval window beetle turned radical volksrod dubbed “Velvet Cherry”. [More…]

David Freiburger’s Twin-Turbo 1973 “F-Bomb” Camaro

March 7, 2017 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers, Roadkill Muscle

The F-Bomb Camaro is based on a 1973 F-body and was recreated as Vin Diesel’s ride for Fast & Furious 4 right down to the 1,500-hp twin-turbo 406 CID V8 Engine. [More…]

RATical ~ A Completely Hand-Built Dually Rat Rod Truck

November 19, 2019 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Sean Puz’s very cool, completely fabricated, dually rat rod truck with 454 big-block bored 30 over and a 4L80e overdrive transmission… [More…]

1991 Toyota MR2 Twin-Engine Powered Jet-Car

April 5, 2006 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers, Roadkill Imports

This 1991 Jet-Powered Toyota MR2 is thrust driven by twin (2) GE T58 turbine engines, has 4 fuel tanks, and is very, very quick… [More…]

A Trans-Am Inspired 1966 Ford Pro-Touring Mustang

September 14, 2020 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Erik Gagnon built his pro-touring patina 1966 mustang for the sole purpose of having fun, auto-crossing, and beating the hell out of it. [More…]

The Rusty Truck Hillbilly Hauler and Fifth Wheel Camper ~ Full Tour

July 19, 2022 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

The Rusty Truck, built by the late Aza Ziegler, is 1942 Chevrolet 1 ½ ton Hillbilly Hauler and Fifth Wheel Camper. [More…]

Harley Earl’s Legendary 1951 LeSabre Dream Car

July 27, 2012 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Originally planned as a super streamlined car, Harley Earl’s legendary Buick Le Sabre was aimed at winning over a world audience. [More…]

1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza ~ Hand Me Down RestoMod

June 10, 2019 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Petrolicious caught up with Christopher Mejia and his favorite, a Chevrolet Corvair Monza out of a collection that’s 25 cars strong. [More…]

Ride Along ~ Jeff Brock’s Record-Setting Bonneville Run

November 1, 2018 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Bonneville Salt Flats during Speedweek 2012 — In car footage shows Jeff’s world-record setting run clocking in at over 160 miles per hour… [More…]

Rustic Nail & Co’s 1948 Dodge 1-1/2 Ton Pilot House Shop Truck

December 16, 2018 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Kyle Cochran from Rustic Nail & Co. gives us a tour of his custom 1948 Dodge 1-1/2 Ton Pilot House shop truck. [More…]

2,600HP LS Engine Powered Land Speed Record Crusher Goes 460 MPH

January 16, 2019 Roadkill Customs Builds and Examples, Rides & Roadkillers

BUILD BIOLOGY: What has 2,600 HP and goes 460 MPH? This LS Engine Powered Land Speed Record Crusher. [More…]

BAGGED ~ 1969 Chevrolet Impala RestoMod

March 29, 2019 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Casey J. Porter from Combustion Chamber meets with Jay Ruiz and goes over his stunning 1969 Chevy Impala restomod. [More…]

The AMC Gremlin ~ An American Motors Marvel

July 17, 2019 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

Though largely written off as a truncated Hornet, the Gremlin had a personality all its own and performed reasonably well during its first few years. [More…]

Inventor Builds Steampunk Hot Rod From Scratch

October 1, 2019 Roadkill Customs Rides & Roadkillers

The Automatron is a horse-drawn carriage inspired hot rod, boasting a 3.5L supercharged V8 engine with an estimated top speed of up to 110mph. [More…]