17 Of The Most Iconic Hot Rods Ever Made
Hot rods don’t conform to anything. They come in every possible shape in every possible size with every possible configuration.
Yes, they might be uncomfortable or downright impractical at times, but that’s not the point here. They have the looks, they have the power, and that’s all that matters.
Golden Sahara II
Legendary custom car designer George Barris made history when he remodeled a 1953 Lincoln Capri that got its roof sheared off in an accident into a sick-looking car the world knows today as Golden Sahara II. Besides the stunning looks, the tech used in this custom rod was decades ahead – something that came in handy in the 1960 Hollywood classic ‘Cinderfella.’
This iconic hot rod could be driven remotely, its doors could open automatically, and its braking system could detect obstacles. The best feature, however, was the Goodyear Neothane tires that lit from the inside and created an insanely dramatic effect during night drives.
1957 Chevrolet 3100 ‘Quiksilver’ Custom Pickup
Hand-built by Oklahoma’s Hot Garage in 5 long years, this 1957 Chevy 3100 ‘Quiksilver’ is believed to be one of the most iconic custom-built trucks ever. This ostentatious rod featured chromed parts, ultra-smooth lines, super-cute body panels, and a perfectly lowered stance.
Just like its superb exterior detail, the Quiksilver also had plenty of rod stuff under the hood – most notably a gigantic 540 cu-in big block Chevy V8 that churned out 650 horses at the crank. And as one might expect from a ride of this stature, it fetched $214,500 at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction in 2016.
1939 Lincoln Zephyr ‘Scrape’
One of the most beautiful rods ever built, the ‘Scrape’ is the brainchild of former Hot Rod editor and auto enthusiast Terry Cook, who spent years just planning the design. With widened fenders, chopped pillars, and a slashed roof, the Scrape was more about looks than it was about performance.
Originally with purple paint, this iconic Lincoln was sold for $250,000 in a 1999 Pebble Beach auction. After that, it remained in LA’s Petersen Automotive Museum till 2013 when it was acquired by ‘Storage Wars’ star Barry Weiss, who changed it to its current state and color.
So-Cal Belly Tank Racer
This unique rod is built from a $5 belly tank that was used to carry extra fuel under the wings of a WWII plane. Thanks to its, understandably, aerodynamic shape and a Ford Flathead V8, this land missile was able to hit 198.34 mph in 1952.
A genius invention of So-Cal Speed Shop, this rod, however, provided no kind of protection. The driver sat in a thinly upholstered seat with his hips between the frame rails, his feet in the car’s nose, and his back against the fuel tank.
1929 Ford ‘Dick Flint’ Roadster
When Dick Flint’s Roadster graced the cover of May 1952 Hot Rod, it became the first issue to sell over half a million copies. Flint built this fully custom rod in 1949 by melding the best of the bodies of three different 29 roadsters.
Its beefed-up Mercury Flathead V8 and enhanced aerodynamics translated to a top speed of 143.5 mph, that Flint clicked at El Mirage in 1950. This hot rod was sold for $577,500 by RM Auctions (now RM Sotheby’s) in 2013.
1956 Ford F-100 ‘Str8 Edge’
This 1956 Ford F-100 ‘Str8 Edge’ is another of Hetfield’s hot rod collection currently displayed in LA’s Petersen Automotive Museum. It was already modified when the rock star bought it, not to its present shape though.
For the customization seen here, the Str8 Edge first had to be restored to its original condition. Its stylish 60s look is owed to winged tail lights and ‘ventiports’ sourced from a 1953 Buick while its behemoth 455 cu-in V8 is from an Oldsmobile.
1932 Ford Model 18 Deuce Coupe
Having made it to January 1998 Rod & Custom cover, this stunning Deuce coupe combined the best work of several of the top rod builders. Built from a 1932 all-steel coupe, the top was dropped by 3″ while the cowl was raised by a quarter to create a perfect stance.
Among other external tweaks, the front grille shell was shortened and ‘bull-nosed’, and the folding hood was hand-formed and increased by 3″ in length. Under the hood, a rare 427 SOHC Cammer V8 was installed that worked in sync with a custom forged crank, a modified Ford C6 automatic transmission, and a custom intake mated with dual Holley four-barrel carburetors.
1929 Ford Model A Rat Rod
The 1929 Ford Model A is already an ancient classic. This one, however, was converted into a sensational masterpiece and an ultimate rat rod by Rod City Garage with a deliberate rusty look and some serious stuff under the hood.
A chopped top, a channeled floor, eliminated side windows, a custom Z’d frame, and a shortened ’32 grille on the exterior were combined with a Ford 2.0 Pinto motor, a Weber carburetor, and a T9 5-speed manual to make the beast it is!
1936 Ford ‘Jack Calori’ Coupe
This 3-window coupe was built by Jack Calori, who earned fame both as a racer and an avid hot rodder. Featuring the race-prepped 1946 Mercury flathead from Calori’s former race car, this rod was a mighty powerplant.
Other notable touches include a dropped front axle, stepped rear frame, a 39 LaSalle grille, Chevrolet headlights, and a clamshell hood. It made it to the Hot Rod magazine cover in November 1949 and was auctioned off by Mecum for $407,000 in 2018.
1936 Delahaye ‘Whatthehaye’ Street Rod
Nicknamed ‘Whatthehaye,’ this stunning one-off was the result of legendary rod builder Boyd Coddington’s cool experimenting on a 1936 Delahaye. It features a behemoth Viper V10 powerplant mated with a 6-speed Dodge Viper gearbox on a Coddington Pro Ride chassis.
An awesome blend of the 30s sleek lines and 21st-century power made the Whatthehaye a hot rod icon back in the day. It was sold by Barrett-Jackson in their 2015 Scottsdale auction for a staggering $671,000.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 Custom Pickup
This 1950 Chevy 3100 Custom Pickup crossed the block at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction in 2017 for a staggering $205,700. Think it’s overpriced? Well, it’s not!
With several external modifications aimed at enhancing its stance, a classy interior hailed one of the best in any hot rod truck ever, and some serious stuff under the hood (a 500 hp Chevy Performance Hot Cam LS3 crate engine mated with a 4L65E auto transmission), this custom pickup is worth every cent!
1934 Ford ‘California Kid’ Coupe
Hailed one of the greatest rods of the 1970s, this coupe starred alongside Martin Sheen in the 1974 movie ‘The California Kid.’ Built with a Resto-rodding design concept by Pete Chapouris, this stunning rod was already famous before it graced the big screen.
It was known for its fire-spitter Ford V8 paired with an FMX gearbox and its iconic paint job (black exterior with vivid flames), which went on to become one of the most copied hot rod designs in the decades to come.
1942 Willys Pickup Rod
Originally a 1942 Willys pickup, this hot rod was the result of a stunning conversion in the late 70s. Underneath its bright body was a host of rod stuff, most notably a full-floating Dana 60 and a 355 Chevy small-block mated with a Turbo 350 transmission.
A fiberglass replica front-end and ultra-fat rubber tires at the rear were used to complement its steel body and bed. Yet another transformation in 2008 replaced the small-block V8 with a 426 Hemi, making it an insanely tempting street rod.
1940 Ford ‘Boyd Coddington’ Pickup
Don’t judge this pickup by its stock looks. Yes, its myriad body tweaks and a subtle roof chop are hard to notice but they don’t really matter. What really matters is the behemoth 560 hp Roush crate 427 packed under the reshaped hood.
The powerplant engine is mated with a Tremec 5-speed stick that works in sync with a modified C4 Corvette independent rear suspension. Built by iconic rod designer Boyd Coddington, this pickup bagged a decent $374,000 at Barrett-Jackson’s 2015 Scottsdale auction.
1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe Rod
Alan Johnson’s personal car, this 3-window coupe went crazy customization. An all-aluminum 434 cu-in SB2 NASCAR roller motor mated with a fully polished engine, Richmond 6-speed transmission, and Winters quick-change rear-end suspension made it hard to catch on the track.
And much like under the hood, its exterior was also highly detailed. Having been featured on such magazines as Street Rodder, Rod & Custom, and Popular Hot Rodding, it was included in Super Rod’s list of 100 hottest rods and was Goodguys finalist in 2001.
1933 Ford ‘Vern Luce’ Coupe
This 1933 coupe was built by the man, the legend Boyd Coddington for owner Vern Luce in 1981. Coddington’s first major build, the Luce Coupe is credited with propelling him into the spotlight as a Kustom genius and rod master.
This stunning beauty help popularize billet wheels, especially after it won the Al Slonaker Award at the 1981 Oakland Roadster show. The Vern Luce Coupe is considered one of the greatest hot rods ever, largely due to its historical significance.
1961 Beatnik Bandit I
The Beatnik Bandit I is Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth’s second rod on this list. Named after a bank robber, the body of this car was made from Fiberglass and the chassis used was sourced from a 1950 Oldsmobile.
The Bandit I was powered by a 303 cu-in 5L Oldsmobile V8 mated with a GMC 4-71 supercharger. Roth created the bubble top by heating regular plastic in a pizza oven before forcing it into a mold using compressed air. Genius!
