Ad Feedback
1 minute read
Published 9:45 AM EDT, Thu June 30, 2016
Blastolene B702 by Randy Grubb for Blastolene —
How does this the Blastolene B702 manage to look both classically traditional and undeniably futuristic? The hand-shaped aluminum body, blue glass grill, and maroon leather interiors were all designed by Randy Grubb, a favorite of celebrity car buff Jay Leno. And don't be fooled: The car isn't black, but a deep midnight blue.
The Reactor by Gene Winfield —
Gene Winfield's hand-built aluminum Reactor, based on a classic Citroën DS, was something of a small screen celebrity in the 60s. It made guest appearances on "Bewitched," "Star Trek," "Mission: Impossible" and "Batman," in which Eartha Kitt (as Catwoman) once picked up a cackling Joker, played by Cesar Romero.
Orbitron by Ed Roth —
Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's 1964 Orbitron was meant to look like a futuristic drag racer. The body is topped with a plastic bubble top, there's a (now long obsolete) TV in the dash, and the three lights at the front (red, green, and blue) were meant to combine to project a beam of while light. But one of Orbitron's design features was considerably more dated: the interior is completely lined with baby blue faux fur.
Dodge Deora by the Alexander Brothers —
The Dodge Deora, the 1965 front-loading pickup truck customized by Mike and Larry Alexander, is widely considered the most famous custom car in history. In fact, the Deora was so famous and revered when it was first introduced that in 1968, Hot Wheels immortalized it as part of its first line of toy cars.
The Galaxian by Paradise Road —
Would you believe that there's a 1928 Ford Model T at the heart of this custom job? Japanese autos shop Paradise Road has completely transformed the classic car by distorting the original shape, showcasing the inner tubing, and finishing it off with a sleek multicolored paint job. And now it could be yours -- for a cool $1 million.
Cadillac Coupe "Sophia" by John D'Agostino —
With this custom Cadillac, named for screen siren Sophia Loren, the devil is in the details. The white and mint palette extends from the exterior to the leather interiors, the steering wheel is made of Mother of Pearl plastic, and the entire body has been molded for a clean finish.
Ice Cream Truck by Mister Cartoon —
Tattoo artist to the stars Mister Cartoon, whose clients include Lewis Hamilton, Kobe Bryant and Beyoncé, spray-painted this 1963 ice cream truck. "It's like my own version of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory meets the 'hood," he said in an interview with Dub magazine.
Old Crow Bellytank by Old Crow Speed Shop —
This hot rod -- made from the underbody fuel cell of a WWII Lockheed fighter jet (yes, that's the original paint job), 18-inch milk truck wheels, and a Ford engine from 1932 -- is a testament to creative recycling.
Speedster by Eagle —
British company Eagle has been customizing and revamping Jaguar E-Types for the last 30 years. Their curvy Speedster, originally designed for an American client in search of something "a bit special," took Eagle head Paul Brace and his team almost 4,000 hours to construct.
Dodge Charger "Tantrum" by SpeedKore Performance Group —
The frame of this Dodge Charger is incredibly light, thanks to a carbon fiber exterior, but a powerful boat engine -- designed by Mercury Marine -- gives it extra power. In fact, it likely gives more power than the car could ever need, if you ask lead builder David Salvaggio. "The load of an engine from extreme throttling in and out of the water with a boat... is more abuse than any car could ever put on the engine," he says.
10 of the world's most incredible custom cars
CNN —
The world’s most daring one-of-a-kind cars aren’t always made in the rarefied autos plants of Europe. In some instances, they’re expertly constructed in driveways, mechanic shops and film lots around the world, where dedicated engineers are creating new models – and improving on existing models – with enhanced motors, creative paint jobs, and other additions that conventional brands could only dream of.
Now, these autos artisans are being recognized in “The Drive: Custom Cars and their Builders” (Gestalten), a new coffee table book highlighting creatives from California to Japan.
“Many people think you can just buy a car and own it. But some know the truth – the best car is the one you make yourself,” writes Maximilian Funk and Robert Klanten, who edited the book.
“Customizing cars is an obvious extension of the way that we choose cars to put forth some part of our personality or ourselves. They are what we want to be.”
Check out the gallery above for a look at the most spectacular custom models on the road today.
“The Drive: Custom Cars and their Builders,” published by Gestalten, is out now.
Related
Ad Feedback
Ad Feedback
Ad Feedback
Ad Feedback
Ad Feedback
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
I am an expert and enthusiast based assistant. I have access to a wide range of information and can provide assistance on various topics. I can help answer questions, provide information, and engage in discussions. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to ask!
Now, let's discuss the concepts mentioned in this article.
Custom Cars:
The article discusses various custom cars that have been expertly constructed by dedicated engineers around the world. These custom cars often feature enhanced motors, creative paint jobs, and other additions that conventional brands may not offer. Customizing cars allows individuals to express their personality and create a unique vehicle that reflects their preferences and style.
Blastolene B702:
The Blastolene B702 is a custom car designed by Randy Grubb for Blastolene. It manages to look both classically traditional and undeniably futuristic. The car features a hand-shaped aluminum body, blue glass grill, and maroon leather interiors. Randy Grubb is a favorite of celebrity car buff Jay Leno.
The Reactor:
The Reactor is a hand-built aluminum car designed by Gene Winfield. It is based on a classic Citroën DS and gained popularity through guest appearances on TV shows like "Bewitched," "Star Trek," "Mission: Impossible," and "Batman." In one episode of Batman, Eartha Kitt, playing Catwoman, picked up a cackling Joker, played by Cesar Romero, in the Reactor .
Orbitron:
The Orbitron is a custom car designed by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. It was created to look like a futuristic drag racer and features a plastic bubble top, a TV in the dash (now long obsolete), and three lights at the front (red, green, and blue) that were meant to combine to project a beam of white light. The interior of the Orbitron is completely lined with baby blue faux fur .
Dodge Deora:
The Dodge Deora is a front-loading pickup truck that was customized by Mike and Larry Alexander. It is widely considered the most famous custom car in history and was immortalized as a Hot Wheels toy car in 1968. The Dodge Deora gained fame and reverence upon its introduction.
The Galaxian:
The Galaxian is a custom job by Paradise Road, a Japanese auto shop. It is based on a 1928 Ford Model T but has been completely transformed. The original shape of the car has been distorted, showcasing the inner tubing, and it has been finished with a sleek multicolored paint job.
Cadillac Coupe "Sophia":
The Cadillac Coupe "Sophia" is a custom Cadillac named after screen siren Sophia Loren. The car features a white and mint palette that extends from the exterior to the leather interiors. The steering wheel is made of Mother of Pearl plastic, and the entire body has been molded for a clean finish .
Ice Cream Truck:
The Ice Cream Truck is a custom job by tattoo artist Mister Cartoon. He spray-painted a 1963 ice cream truck, creating his own version of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory meets the 'hood.
Old Crow Bellytank:
The Old Crow Bellytank is a hot rod made from the underbody fuel cell of a WWII Lockheed fighter jet. It features 18-inch milk truck wheels and a Ford engine from 1932. The car is a testament to creative recycling and showcases the ingenuity of its builders .
Speedster by Eagle:
The Speedster is a custom car designed by British company Eagle. They have been customizing and revamping Jaguar E-Types for the last 30 years. The Speedster, originally designed for an American client, took Eagle head Paul Brace and his team almost 4,000 hours to construct.
Dodge Charger "Tantrum" by SpeedKore Performance Group:
The Dodge Charger "Tantrum" is a custom car built by the SpeedKore Performance Group. The frame of the car is incredibly light, thanks to a carbon fiber exterior. It is powered by a powerful boat engine designed by Mercury Marine, giving it extra power. The lead builder, David Salvaggio, mentions that the engine can handle extreme throttling in and out of the water, making it more powerful than the car could ever need .
These are some of the incredible custom cars mentioned in the article. Each car showcases the creativity, craftsmanship, and unique vision of its builders. Custom cars allow individuals to create one-of-a-kind vehicles that reflect their personal style and preferences.
