Street Rods

Just when I think I've seen everything in kit car concepts, someone comes up with an entirely new twist on a theme. How about a street rod that looks like a downsized Kenworth or Peterbilt? Lil'Big Rig, a company near Andrew Jackson's home in Hermitage, Tennessee has engineered kits just like that - appropriately named "Lil' Kenny" and "Li'l Pete." And though they are based on donor full-sized Cheverolet, Dodge, or Ford pickup trucks, they pack some visual heft just like the big bruisers, sleeper cab and all.

Take a road trip out to Brookville, Ohio and learn a little bit more about the rat kulture while you’re driving.  Rat rods and the rat kulture are something that is actually becoming mainstream and the culture is being built upon beautiful bodies just like the 1930/ 31 All Steel Ford Roadster Pickup Replica that is offered in Brookville.  For those kids who like to fix these old cars up and push the newest style, now becoming the "retro- depression era, there are rat rod diecast cars, rat-rod-style beach cruisers, and even a clothing line promoted by Hollywood types. It used to be the early 1970’s that fell under the "kulture" motif but now it’s replica’s like the 1930/ 31 Ford Roadster that are getting all the attention. 

It's been over fifty years since the original 1957 Chevy Convertible entered the scene to become one of most adored classic cars in America. Today it is commonly restored to its original condition or modified according to owner’s personal tastes and, as it gets older, it only gets better. Regularly used in movies, TV, music toys, and graphics, this is an icon of an era. It’s probably the '57 Bel Air that is among the most recognizable of that time and the boys in Minnesota have already figured that out. They know that the Bel Airs have a roomy feel and the style is tastefully restrained in terms of the tail fins and the chrome. Other models have been seen as oversized and over-decorated in many cases but it all depends on your personal choice.

Everything has a second wind. Once the Greeks started the name Zephyr, it seems to have taken off like a lot more than just the powerful god of wind. From Disney characters, candy brand names, and video games, the name “Zephyr” seems to be popping up all over the place.   Now the 1939 Lincoln Zephyr Sedan Delivery has a replica which is produced by Deco Rides and you can even load a motorcycle into it because of the unusual 17-foot length of the vehicle.  That’s right…I said motorcycle. In fact, I think Kawasaki even makes a “Zephyr” motorcycle themselves.  You can’t get more kitsch than that.  There is enough room on this Sedan Delivery replica for a 9-foot long ramp that can hold a 39.5-inch tall chopper motorcycle.

Zephyr was originally the name of the powerful Greek god of the wind.  He was apparently pretty charming as he had several wives including the goddess of the rainbow.  Back in his day, the Lincoln-Zephyr coupe was also considered to be a pretty charming vehicle in his own right. With the low raked windscreen, integrated fenders, and aerodynamic design, this bad boy was always turning the ladies heads. Even though he’s probably older than your grandfather, the Lincoln Zephyr coupe is still thought to be one of the first successful streamlined cars in history and it lives on today thanks to the boys at Deco Rides.

For 30 years Unique Motorcars of Gadsden, Alabama has carved out a hefty reputation as makers of award-winning Cobra replica kit cars, and only Cobra kit cars. So it was with a lot of informed deliberation and years of gathering input from experts in the industry that the Weaver family, brothers Alan and Maurice and mother Jean, took the big step of entering the street rod market with their '36 Cabriolet, a stunningly faithful body replica of a 1936 Ford Cabriolet.

Don Small is the owner of Bell Auto Parts and this guy is sitting on the shoulders of giants. Way back in 1934, a certain competition called the Gilmore Gold Cup race changed history and Don Small is still connected to that momentous occasion through this 33 Ford Roadster. The race was covered seventeen years later in Hot Rod magazine and there is a famous photo of the Ford roadsters when they were originally paraded down Broadway.  It had actually begun in 1923 when George Wight established an auto wrecking yard in the city of Bell and then came others such as Lee Chapel, Karl Orr and Roy Richter who took over for Bell. Richter’s accomplishments and those of Bell Auto Parts are legendary and these boys are all celebrating their history through the 33 Ford Roadster.