Hot Rod Chevy Gasser It takes all kinds, we know that, but you gotta like the gasser style from the 60's. Straight axle jacked up in the front with a slight lift in the back too. It's an attitude. It says, "I'm fast and I was built to run." So stumbling along at the Goodguys Southwest Nationals in Scottsdale, enjoying the sun and the 3000+ cars, I found one that stopped me in my tracks. It's a gasser alright, but it was pink. Pink! Not that goofy Mary K pink or some faded, pale pretty in pink, this was HOT pink and it was glowing in the Arizona sun. People walking by kept turning their heads sideways. Delirium? I gotta get a story about this car. Questions poured out when I finally had a chance to meet Bob Starks of Weatherford, TX. The story Bob told about his car epitomizes, "My Ride is Me." After buying a 1966 Chevy II Super Sport new, then selling it to buy a house, Bob has painstakingly remade his car. (Check out the pictures of the original car at the bottom of this...

Bodywork 101 - Straighten a Body Panel like Pro   You can’t expect to learn bodywork in 1 afternoon, no matter how good the teacher is, but one thing’s for certain: You’ll never learn unless you get in there and try it. This blog and the ones that will follow will show some basic bodywork techniques anyone can do (especially if I can do it!). Since I’m starting from nothing, I hope the pictures and videos will help you get started too.   Just starting, that’s where I am with my 1963 Falcon Wagon build. The body’s really not that bad, but after 45 years on the road, a Sherman tank needs panel work before glossy paint. As I mentioned in the "Holman & Moody Boss 429 - (you should read this)" I headed over to Squeeg’s Kustom to get started learning. I hooked up with Matt Vesay and interrupted his work on a stretched Dearborn Deuce body to get started on the upper splash apron (just above the front bumper) from a custom getting painted. The panel was fiberglass, but that didn’t really matter for what I needed...

The first step in fixing a problem is admitting you have one. Hi, I’m Craig, I don’t know crap about bodywork. (Hi Craig). With that out of the way, I moved onto the next step. That’s seeking help. I turned to my new friends over at Squeeg’s Kustoms in Mesa, Arizona. Squeeg’s has been turning out show quality paint and bodywork since 1964 and Doug Jerger, the owner and Squeeg’s son, has kept the business rolling. One of Doug’s latest paint jobs was for his America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) contenting 32 Roadster. I was in good hands for my shotgun lesson in body work to support the 63 Falcon Wagon project. When hot rods and custom car building’s in your head nearly every waking minute, hanging out in a shop like Squeeg’s might as well be Disneyland. When I pulled up, Doug and the Jerry Courlton were standing out front marveling at the fresh custom paint on Jerry’s Corvette super gas race car body. Wow. It’s tough to put down this many colors without having that, “I’m stuck in the 80’s” look, but Doug nailed the graphics and...

1963 Ford Falcon Build Update   In case you missed the last story, I'm rebuilding my 1963 Falcon Wagon. Originally, I just planned to put some paint on it and re-do the interior, but after inviting a bunch of friends over (here's the story), my wagon's now a stripped hulk sitting in my garage. Borderline panicking but not quitting, I've still got great friends helping out. We're making progress. It'd be easier to get out to the garage if it wasn't 112 today!   First off, I have to mention the tireless help I've been getting from my friend Ken Ford. (perfect name for the project, right?) Ken's a body guy and was looking for a reason to get dirty on a project. He's got a Harley at home now has built several VW's in the past, including a few vans, so he knows how to get body panels looking good.   It's a good thing too! We've been moving around the car looking for disasters. We really only found 1. The previous owner decided to fill the cowl vent. I guess it looks a little smoother, but I'd...

Custom Van with a Blown 428 Pontiac So you’ve owned it since you were 16?Yes.And that was when?1973.So then, what’s the next obvious question…Why’d a 16 year old kid buy a van?I’m a drummer! Mark Greenwell of Phoenix, AZ drove this 1966 Chevy Van to the 2007 Scottsdale Goodguys show and immediately caught my eye.The sun setting on those retro-perfect murals blew me away.I knew right away this van had a story.Check these out: (click to enlarge) I hadn’t looked inside yet. The original murals were painted in 1978.That was right after the van was totaled in an accident coming back from Flagstaff, AZ in the snow.$550 bought the van back from the insurance agency and Mark, a mechanic by trade, went to work.His work paid off when the truck was featured in the 1982 centerfold of Truckin Magazine.Back then, it ONLY had a turbocharged 350 mounted between the seats.Then, in 1987, Mark rebuilt the truck again.This time, he went over the top.Take a look inside: You’re looking at a twin turbo 428 Pontiac with and Hillborn Fuel Injection backed by a Powerglide trans with race converter and trans...

When you were a kid, did you collect trading cards with monsters driving crazy hot rods? I did! So it was great to find J. Tingler. As a fellow HAMB member, Tingler set me up with a custom shirt showing the monster in me driving my own hot rod! (at a very reasonable price too) I love the shirt so much, I got one for my Pops. Admittedly, it's not for everyone, but those are the same people who'd probably still be calling the engine in my car a "Mustang" or "Ranger" motor. Everyone knows it's a PINTO motor... embrace it! Embrace the monster in you! Not my best photo editing work, but you get the idea! Here's a look at some of Tingler's other work, 2 of my favorites: Tingler does all kinds of hot rod art and is available for custom work as well. Here's him in action with the airbrush in hand... VIDEO Get in touch with Tingler at his website or stick around MyRideisMe.com... I hope he'll be posting pictures of his Gasser style 63 Fairlane. Hey, I've got one of those...