
Fiberglass:
Evolution
& Ease of
Spraying
’Glass
Making Good
Even Better
Evolution & Ease of Spraying ’Glass
Making Good Even Better


By Brian Brennan, Photography by NotStock Photography
By Dale Moreau, Photography by the Author
By Brian Brennan, Photography by Luke Munnell
By Brian Brennan, Photography by Wes Allison
By Brian Brennan, Photography by Matt Lankford
By John Gilbert, Photography by Chadly Johnson
By Ron Covell
By Ron Covell, Photography Shawn Holloway
By Ryan Manson, Photography by Brian Brennan
By Ron Ceridono, Photography by Tate Radford
David Garvey’s 1961 Corvette is powered by a supercharged LT4 engine, resting between a Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis, all brought together through a Paul Atkins interior, making this a perfect example of a restomod treatment of vintage styling. (Photo by NotStock Photography)


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Wes Allison, Rodney Bauman, Gerry Burger, Tommy Lee Byrd, Ron Ceridono, Michael Christensen, Ron Covell, Grant Cox, John Drummond, Eric Geisert, John Gilbert, Joe Greeves, Ken Gross, John Jackson, Chadly Johnson, Barry Kluczyk, Scotty Lachenauer, Don Lindfors, Ryan Manson, Josh Mishler, Dale Moreau, Don Prieto, Todd Ryden, Jason Scudellari, Chris Shelton, Tim Sutton, Chuck Vranas, John Winter — Writers and Photographers
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he American hot rod has long symbolized freedom, individuality, and raw power, embodying the rebellious spirit of automotive enthusiasts. Originating in the pre–World War II era, hot rods have become a cultural phenomenon that captivates generations and solidifies their place in automotive history. They frequently appear in TV shows, advertisements, and music, often setting the stage for celebrations.
Over the years, an entire industry has emerged around hot rodding, ranging from coffee cruises to trade shows like SEMA, promoting both the hobby and trade. However, significant economic downturns have impacted this vibrant culture. The recession in 2001, brought on by the dot-com bubble’s collapse and the events of September 11, led to a slow recovery that forever altered the automotive media landscape. Many car magazines faced cutbacks, reshaping how enthusiasts consumed automotive content.
The financial crisis of 2007-2008 further entrenched these changes, with the housing market’s collapse leading to widespread instability. The hot rod community felt this impact deeply, with numerous automotive magazines closing their doors. This highlighted the vulnerability of the hobby and industry, which, despite its resilience, took nearly a decade to reestablish.


Interestingly, despite his accolades, he hasn’t won the Triple Crown of Rodding, an event he played a pivotal role in creating. His goal for the event was to provide young hot rodders with a supportive platform free from industry politics. Renowned for his generosity, he mentors aspiring builders and nurtures friendships across the industry. It is with great pride that HRIA presents the 2024 Person of the Year Award to Bobby Alloway, acknowledging his significant impact and ongoing commitment to the hot rod community.



he 1961 Chevrolet Corvette is a defining model in the Corvette lineage, emblematic of American muscle and an outstanding example of automotive engineering for its era. Adding to the allure of this C1 is the modern integration of aftermarket components, such as a Chevrolet Performance supercharged LT4 and a Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis, which enhance the classic car’s dynamics and driveability. David Garvey of Tennessee had this in mind when he contacted Paul Atkins of Paul Atkins Hot Rods and Interiors.
David’s 1961 Corvette retains the pivotal evolution in Corvette aesthetics. The front end features refined styling, with a prominent chrome grille that highlights the elongated, sweeping shape of the body. Dual headlights were integrated into the fenders, adding to their aggressive stance. The rear end was characterized by round taillights set into a pronounced tail section, reminiscent of the C2 Sting Ray to come. These gave the car a distinct visual signature along with the lower rocker panel trim. All required body- and paintwork was handled at Paul Atkins Hot Rods and Interiors in an R&M yellow and white cove; the painted cove (its last year) is a holdover from earlier Corvettes.




t the dawn of hot rodding, there was only one way for a rodder to source a body to build a hot rod from to find a genuine, factory-made, real steel body. The majority of early hot rods, not counting the oddball marques, were built using genuine Ford bodies. However, as the years passed and many old Fords found their demise battered beyond recognition racing on a circle track, the herd thinned out. Thinned out to the point that a “genie” body by itself began commanding top dollar.
Hot rodders have always been an imaginative bunch and found inspiration from the Chevrolet Corvette, popping out fiberglass replica bodies ranging from T-buckets to Deuce roadsters to fill the void. The demand for fiberglass bodies proved strong enough to justify the expense of evolving and tooling up to stamp out and reproduce steel bodies. That said, there’s still a place in the market for fiberglass vintage Ford bodies and a plethora of ’glass bodies, ranging from 1956 Ford F-100 cabs to a wide spread of Corvette generations available. The vehicle featured in our story is a 1963 split-window Corvette, but the steps to repairing, bodywork, and repainting any laminated fiberglass body are the same.




hen you turn into Arnie Chupp’s driveway in Oregon, which is more of a country road, you are instantly surrounded by gardens and trees. Further on, there are small ponds and a bridge over a creek that would make the Gardens of Versailles jealous. Arnie carries on that artistry in many mediums, from painting to sculpture. His 1932 Ford chopped-and-channeled coupe, Oldsmobile-powered, is just another of his artistic endeavors.


his is the last of our articles on building the BBT Fabrications 1959 Impala, which was featured in (and on the cover of) the Sept. ’24 issue. This time, we’ll focus on the extensive work done on the car’s front end.
Like most cars on the road for 65 years, there was some rust damage poorly repaired in the past and a host of nicks and dings. Every square inch of the sheetmetal was gone over carefully, and any defects were either replaced with new metal or straightened to perfection.
The hood’s fit was compromised on all sides, so the BBT crew decided the best way to make it perfect was to cut off all the damaged edges and replace them with angles formed from new 18-gauge sheetmetal. This is a labor-intensive process, but it will ensure the gaps are laser-straight and that the hood edges are full-thickness metal for enhanced durability.


n the world of hot rodding, every build has a story, but few transformations can match the journey of the 1936 Ford that rolled into Hollywood Hot Rods—a true automotive phoenix rising from the ashes of an “ugly duckling.” When Troy Ladd laid eyes on the donor car, it was buried under a thick coat of black primer, adorned with outdated 17-inch billet wheels that seemed more fitting for a crime scene than a classic hot rod. Skulls, spikes, and other tacky embellishments screamed for attention. At the same time, the interior displayed a seemingly random selection of faux ostrich and alligator vinyl, punctuated by a dashboard that looked more like a toy than a work of art. The dashboard was an outrageously flat piece of red plexiglass housing an “improper” collection of gauges—definitely not what you’d expect from a classic build. Powered by a Dodge engine (a 318, as Ladd remembers), this was one beast of a car with many miles to go before it could earn the title of “custom.”

Photography by Shawn Holloway
Artwork by Eric Brockmeyer
rom 1949-1951, the Mercury was the premier car to be customized in the post–World War II era. Scott’s Hotrods ’N Customs, in Knoxville, Tennessee, has embarked on a project to build a state-of-the-art 1951 Merc convertible in the traditional style. These cars are very difficult to find these days, and after stripping their customer’s car down to bare metal, they uncovered a lot of sub-standard work. Fortunately, the customer had the will and the means to make everything top notch, so the crew at Scott’s cut away the defective work and ensured the project’s foundation was in shipshape before embarking on the modifications.
Eric Brockmeyer was called in to make renderings to guide the construction. The car they started with was originally a four-door sedan, and when the previous builder turned it to a convertible, the front doors were left stock length, which was badly out of proportion for a two-door body style. Since much of the four- to two-door conversion had to be redone, they decided to make the doors even longer than the OEM convertible doors would have been. They extend back to the point where the roof fabric meets the quarter-panel, giving the car a very sleek look and making it much easier to enter and exit the rear seats.


eneath the shimmering blue and champagne hue lies a project that’s more than just a car; it’s a labor of love, sweat, and an unyielding passion for automotive excellence. Meet David Goodwin’s 1955 Chevy Bel Air, a shining example of Pro Touring ingenuity combined with classic American muscle.
At the heart of this automotive masterpiece is David Goodwin of Vancouver, Washington, whose first brush with horsepower began long before the iconic 1955 made its way into his garage. David recalls his college days, balancing studies and a part-time job at a sawmill while cruising in his ordered Chevelle 396.



echnology advances in leaps and bounds these days. With a new smartphone coming out every week, it seems that features so advanced in modern vehicles were unheard of only a few short years ago. So, it should come as no surprise when a company like Holley announces a new system that modernizes what’s been available for over a decade—and that system is the Holley Sniper 2 EFI. Designed as an upgraded replacement for the original Sniper system, the Sniper 2 features upgrades in many of its electronic components with built-in features and factory settings based on 10-plus years of developmental data from the original Sniper system.

e get why Derrick Lyon of Washington wanted to remove the anemic small-block that his 1985 Monte Carlo was delivered with—any self-respecting hot rodder would. This was a time when horsepower wasn’t a popular word. However, Derrick figured out how to have his choice in hot rods from both an aesthetic and performance standpoint.



f all the modifications that can be made to any early Mustang, one of the most significant is installing an improved independent front suspension system from Classic Performance Products (CPP). This kit truly resolves two issues simultaneously: It not only improves ride and handling characteristics, it also allows the removal of the spring towers that intrude into the engine compartment and make engine swaps so tricky.
Ford’s Mustang, along with the Plymouth Barracuda, was introduced in 1964, creating the genre that would become known as “ponycars;” basically these were compact cars with “sporty” design elements. Mustangs were introduced on April 17, 1964, well before the usual introduction date for new models. As a result, the very early Mustangs are often referred to as 1964-1/2 models. However, Ford identified all the first year’s production as being ’65s. At the outset, Ford had modest sales goals for the Mustang, expecting to sell around 100,000 for the year—that goal was achieved in the first three months. After 18 months of production, more than a million Mustangs were sold, making it Ford’s best-selling new model since the Model A.


f you follow auctions, as I do, much history passes before us. A prime example is the iconic Tommy Foster 1932 Ford roadster, featured on January 7-19, 2025, at Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Florida. This channeled roadster comes from the Richard V. Munz Collection.
The event brochure, authored by Chelsey Hinsenkamp and Ken Gross, provides insight into the significant achievements of this unique roadster. Few vehicles inspire as much admiration in American hot rodding as Tommy Foster’s creation. Starting in 1949, Foster meticulously crafted his masterpiece over 15 months, achieving legendary status in the process.
This roadster’s journey was remarkable. It won First Place trophies at prestigious venues, including the 1952 and 1953 International Motor Show in New York, the Mid-America Motor Show in Cincinnati, and Speedorama in St. Paul. Its prowess continued to shine at the 1952 Motor World Fair in Miami while securing a close Second at the 1952 Motorcade of America in Chicago. By 1953, the roadster debuted at the inaugural Detroit Autorama and was crowned the Most Outstanding Car.
View Index
- Affordable Street Rods
- American Autowire
- AMSOIL
- Art Morrison Enterprises
- Auto Metal Direct
- Automotive Racing Products
- Bowler Performance Transmissions
- Championship Auto Shows
- Classic Instruments
- Classic Performance Products
- Classic Performance Products
- Dakota Digital
- Eaton Detroit Spring, Inc.
- FiTech EFI
- Flaming River Industries
- Flaming River Industries
- Golden Star Classic Auto Parts
- Granatelli Motor Sports, Inc.
- Haywire
- Heinzman Street Rod Shop
- Hot Heads Research
- Lokar
- Lokar
- National Street Rod Association
- New Port Engineering
- Paint Over Rust Products
- Powermaster Performance
- Rjays Speed Shop
- Roadster Shop
- Scott’s Hotrods
- Steve’s Auto Restorations
- Summit Racing Equipment
- That’s Great News
- Thermo-Tec Automotive
- Triple Crown of Rodding, LLC
- Wheel Smith
- Wilwood Engineering
- Woody’s Hot Rodz
