WTF Friday: Spitting Image

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Dec 27, 2013

I’m sure, that at some point, most of us, have owned one vehicle while simultaneously wanting another.

I’m also pretty sure that very few of us are in a position to purchase vehicle, after vehicle, when our interests change with the passing seasons.

This means often we have to make do with what we have. When it comes to modification, given enough time, a nice middle ground can be found between what you want and what you have.

However on certain occasions it’s virtually impossible to bridge the gap between project A and vision B, and this 1976 Spitfire 1500 “rat rod” is a perfect example.

spit_rod_before — While not the exact car used to create the one below this was the starting point…

spit_rod_3 — …and this was the end point

The eBay listing for this vehicle does little to explain exactly how this car came to be –or where the original sheet metal went– but it does mention what “few” (seat belts, wiring, and wheel spacers) things needs to be completed to make it street legal.

The ad also mentions that it drives both forwards and backwards, though something about the wording makes me question whether or not it turns.

I suppose insignificant details like that are better discussed in person.

spit_rod_8 — This and the angle below are perhaps the best attributes…

spit_rod_2 — I actually don’t mind the rear wheel set-up all that much..

spit_rod_4 — Shocking how far this has come from the original, quite attractive, side profile

spit_rod_5 — I’m really curious if the body started as something else…like a shed

I’m sure buried somewhere in the insanity that is turning a ’76 Spit Fire into a hot rod lays the owners original vision but to the casual onlooker this car is …well… odd.

To my surprise it seems like turning a Triumph into a hot rod has been done at least one time successfully as pictured below:

Who knew?

Theme Tuesdays: Tis The Season

By

DaveT

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Dec 24, 2013

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Christmas is right around the corner, and even if you don’t celebrate there is no denying that the ‘Holiday Spirit’ is in the air; malls are packed, people have forgotten how to operate an automobile, and Home Alone one and two are on around the clock.

This weeks Theme Tuesday celebrates the festive season with a collection of holiday themed photos and art work.

christmas_2 — Perhaps the best Christmas tree setup ever. Until you need to locate the car that flew off the track…

christmas_5 — I might have to try this when I get a bigger driveway…

christmas_jeff — Jeff Watson getting in on the Holiday spirit

christmas_11 — Lowered trucks haulin’ stuff

christmas_6 — This was one of the first photos I found on the H.A.M.B, great looking truck

christmas_17 — Santa ditched the red sleigh for something a little more stylish this year

christmas_10 — Seeing these pictures actually makes me miss the days we used to get a real tree…

christmas_14 — It’s actually pretty awesome how many Hot Rodders use their cars to go get trees

christmas_22 — I might have to do some hunting for more photos of this…

christmas_25 — Someone stole this poor fellows Christmas cheer

christmas_20 — Love the nod to American Graffiti with this piece by Infamous Jim

christmas_15 — Sadly my wife wasn’t too down with me sending these out as Christmas cards

christmas_16 — Santa sittin on what look to be Truespokes

christmas_12 — Can’t quite make out the signature on this one if anyone knows let me know and I will link it up

christmas_19 — Nice piece by Aaron Kirby

Something a little different from Jimmy Smith

christmas_13_cruiz_in — Roger Warrick also does a lot of great Theme work which you can check out here

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

All Killer, No Filler

By

DaveT

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Dec 23, 2013

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While on the Los Boulevardos forums getting my fill of builds that are too late, too low rider, and too custom, I came across this really cool 61 Ford Pick up build that was cross linked to the Hokey Ass Message Board.

Originally intended to be a shop truck this build snowballed after the animal faeces were removed and things turned out to be a little rougher than the builder thought.

After a serious amount of clean up the frame was Z’d and JW garage Mustang II IFS components were installed up front while a two Link was fabricated for the rear.

Following the completion of the suspension the floor was rebuilt, and a fairly built 289 Motor from a Mustang found it’s way under hood.

The ball kept rolling from there and the owner left literally no bolt unturned before spraying the truck with a silver base coat.

Shortly after the truck was treated to seriously awesome flake, lace, and pinstripe job before the oh-so appropriate Astro Supreme wheels were bolted up.

The truck is sold now but the Los Boulevardos build thread is here but the one on the H.A.M.B goes into a heck of a lot more detail and is worth view.

The owners also got a shop which you can check out on Facebook at Ryno Built.

Thowback Thursday: 2012 Boot Hilll Automotive Car Show

By

DaveT

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Dec 19, 2013

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Jumping on the #throwbackthursday vibe this week with some 2012 event coverage that has yet to see the light of day.

This coverage was originally intended to follow up another unreleased post, but somehow both got lost in the shuffle that was summer of 2012.

With winter slowing things down to a more manageable pace I’ve decided to finally liberate these photos from the depths of my computer, so rewind with me if you will to June 2012.

Boot Hill Automotive Resurrection is, as the name implies, a one stop restoration and customization shop capable of taking on any project big or small. A number of pretty sweet local builds have rolled out of this facility including the Boot Hill Hauler 56 F-100 pick-up that took home the Grand Champion award at Mega Speed 2013.

For three years running Boot Hill has hosted a charity BBQ event on the vast shop grounds in Erin Ontario and today’s photos are from the second year.

1969 — Exceptionally clean 69 Dodge Dart

boothill_tip — I believe this Boot Hill branded tip was on the back of a 57 Bel Air

buggy_1 — If memory serves me it was quite hot the day of the event making this ‘unkeeryd’ the perfect ride to show up in

buick_wagon — This Caballero wagon is actually part of a matched set that was shown at Mega Speed in 2012

caddy_vipme — Tim (of Tim and Brenda’s Place) gold Caddy

camaro — 454 Powered 1980 Camaro, nice to see a few people still keeping this generation fresh

dmc_2 — Doc Brown passed through for an infinite number of seconds

lowerd_2 — Dale’s Impala is always super clean

toe_truk — This ’48 is another build that’s graced the Mega Speed floors

toe_truk_ls — Can’t remember what the asking price was on this LS-7

One of the nice things about this event was that Boot Hill kept most of their installation bays and garages open allowing people to take a look at some of their works in progress.

While finished products are always nice a lot of the real beauty behind these builds hides in details that are covered up when the wrenches are put away.

ford_motor — The Mustang around this motor wasn’t quite together but I loved the ITB so I had to get a couple shots

wip_1 — This 1929 Essex is not well and complete and was at the 2013 International Autoshow

wip_2 — A 350 with all the modern comforts (A/C) was installed

wip_3 — This entirely new floor pan is the kind of hidden details I’m talking about

maseratti_front_1 — This 1967 Maserati Quattroporte sedan was abandoned for quite some time before it got sent to Boot Hill

maseratti_interior_1 — It has received a full restoration now and the interior now features five hides of hand stitched Italian leather. Completed photos are available here

Lots of people were gathered around this project all day…

viper_v10_powered — …and this is the reason why

viper_v10_powered_rear — I think I might shoot off a few emails and see if this car was ever finished…

nash_1 — Close this throwback post out with NHL star Rick Nash’s Pro Touring Camaro

Winter Wednesdays: Low All Year

By

DaveT

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Dec 18, 2013

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On Sunday I had the 3 out in it’s first real ‘storm’ since it’s been on air and it honestly took it like a champ.

No frozen lines, ride pressure and height stayed consistent, and she was as sure footed as a mountain goat.

I still plan to do a mid winter air ride review but so far so good exactly as I expected.

My lip didn’t much like being used as a plow though and has since been taken off after a chunk of ice gave it a bit of a knocking.

Nothing I can’t fix however, I mean I’ve done it before.

Theme Tuesdays: Wall Taps

By

DaveT

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Dec 17, 2013

1

Continuing the one two punch of drift related Theme Tuesday posts is this week’s edition on the wall tap.

Wall taps are always exciting to watch because when they go well it’s graceful and elegant, and when they go wrong it’s levels of chaos ranging from beautiful to horrendous.

As much as I love to see a good wall tap in person I can’t help but feel a little bad for whoever has to pound out the damage later on when they go sour.

walltap_9 — Nakamura and his coke bottle trick. Click here to watch the video

walltap_8_michael_essa — Micheal Essa putting his m3 right against the wall

walltap_3 — I believe this is a Western Canada car

walltap_6 — Vintage speedhunters watermark on this flick

walltap_12 — The Eleven’s Paint & Fibre FC shows up once more

You may have noticed a Santa like individual hanging out in some of these photos. If you want to know more about Bil watch the video below.

WTF Friday: She Got A Donk (and A 1JZ)

By

DaveT

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Dec 13, 2013

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The Donk community is an interesting subset of the automotive culture because they never really seem to interact with ‘the rest of us’ too often.

They do what they do –often with little regard to what anyone else thinks– while the rest of us stare in utter disbelief, or try to ignore the fact they exist.

Any time that I’ve delved into Donk territory I’m always a bit surprised at just how much work goes into some of these cars.

Sure many are just hum drum older domestic vehicles rammed with bondo, a lift kit, twenty fo’s, and an eye popping paint job, but others actually have a decent amount of work done to them. On occasion some of them even pack relatively potent power plants under the hood.

Case in point: this Box Chevy Caprice with a Toyota 1JZ under the hood.

Judging by the comments in the youtube video below this swap is sending both Chey and Toyota fans into a sacrilege screaming tizzy.

I find myself oddly OK with the car however because as far as I know 1JZ motors are not in any short supply and if this opens the doors for more Toyota powered Chevy’s (and vice versa) I’m all for it.

How about you?

If you are interested in more ‘JZ’ swaps take a look at the 2JZ in everything Theme Tuesday post from a few months ago.

Photo Credit: Rides Mazgaine

Who Says Playing With Chalk Is For Kids?

By

DaveT

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Dec 12, 2013

1

Found myself over on Street Source the other day where I came across this pretty cool Chevy Luv build.

After a long period of ignoring his Luv, builder Daniel Maxwell decided that when the truck was fit for the streets it needed to be body dropped. The problem was he decided this after already putting a decent amount of work into it.

Rather than cut up the first frame he built he sold it to a friend and started from scratch.

Returning to the drawing board after significant progress is something that isn’t all together uncommon in the minitruck community, but what did strike me as uncommon was Daniel’s method of constructing the new frame.

I’ve popped my head in a few custom frame threads and normally they start off with constructing a frame table –or at the very least some sort of jig based on the previous frame– but Daniel deemed all that unnecessary and drew on his garage floor instead.

Using squares, clamps, and the measure twice, cut once, method Daniel plugged away until he had a new frame under the truck that allowed it to lay out hard as proven below:

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty impressed by his resourcefulness and fabrication skills.

The entire build can be found here and I really should post more Chevy Luvs…

Winter Wednesdays: Back Again

By

DaveT

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Dec 11, 2013

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The dark days of winter have descended on Ontario marking the beginning of what will undoubtedly be a damn cold off season. A slight silver lining to a season of slush, and vehicle killing salt is that Winter Wednesdays have returned once more.

Leading off this season of snowy posts is Work VS-XX equipped Lexus sitting on some fresh powder.

Presumably this was just rolled out of storage for a few photos because those wheels are far too nice to get thrashed by the elements.

Theme Tuesday: Dirt Drops

By

DaveT

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Dec 10, 2013

0

Curiously there’s actually never been a Theme Tuesday dedicated to drifting on Stance Is Everything until today.

Not exactly sure how that happened, but it did, so to make up for lost time I’ve decided break the drift drought with a post dedicated to the graceful art of the dirt drop.