Larry Fitzgerald’s 1968 Charger

front end of 68 ChargerMany people know Larry Fitzgerald as a NFL football player with the Arizona Cardinals.  He is well known and well liked by both the fans and the sports media.  He also is present for numerous charitable events in the Phoenix area.  He is always willing to lend his name and time to Phoenix area charities.  But did you know he also is a car aficionado?  Have you ever seen his 1968 Charger?68 Charger trunk

Goodguys Spring National

Recently at the Goodguys Rod and Custom 5th Spring National car show held in Scottsdale, AZ Larry Fitzgerald’s 1968 black Charger was on display indoors under the huge tent.  It was part of the display for Drew’s Garage, a local car shop with a great following.

Drew’s Garagelogo for Drew's Garage

Drew’s Garage has been a presence in the local car scene for years and often has hosted a cruise night as part of Goodguys.  This year they opted for a smaller presence at the Spring Nationals show, but small is hardly used when describing Larry Fitzgerald’s Charger.  Here is the shop’s photos of the restoration indicating the quality of their workmanship.

1968 Chargerpassenger side of 68 Charger

The black beauty was given a total makeover by Drew’s Garage.  Of course it had to have a Hemi but this one is backed up with twin 62 mm turbos. engine of 68 Charger It was mated to a Hughes automatic 4L80E transmission and a Dana 60 rear end.  It slows down with Wilwood brakes; 6 pistons in the front and 4 pistons in the rear.  The rear is held in place with a custom 4 link rear suspension.  To top it off the Charger rides on Budnik wheels and has a Vintage AC for Arizona’s hot summers.Rear end of 68 Charger

But this car is hot year round!  What do you think?

 

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eBay Motors Guest blog Wyotech Ford Roadster at SEMA

Truck
Driver’s side view

We had the opportunity to submit a guest blog to eBay Motors blog in the TRUCK section.  We focused on a sweet roadster Ford truck done by the students from WyoTech and debuted at SEMA last year.

eBay Motors Blog

Here’s the link

Here’s three reasons we selected this truck to highlight-

1) The younger generation gets “it”

It’s nice to see the young adults learning the skills and applying them to keep this incredible hobby we call “hot rodding” alive and kicking.

2) All hands on deck

The truck is incredibly well done.  This is more surprising when you learn lots of students had a hand in the project.  Typically the more hands in the mix, the messier it can get.

3) Sleek look

The treatment, style and paint looks authentic and a nice custom look

Take a look and comment on the eBay blog here

 

Dan Sobieski’s 1962 Cadillac at Goodguys

62 CadillacAt the Goodguys Fifth Spring Nationals Car Show held in Scottsdale, AZ Dan Sobieksi brought out his green 1962 Cadillac.  This Cadillac was scrapping the asphalt.  1962 Cadillac passenger side

The judges were right to award it their So Low pick.

62 Cadillac Hood

Dan Sobieski

While you might not recognize the name, you’ll probably recall that he was a fabricator at Boyd Coddington’s shop when it was captured on TV’s American Hot Rod.  Dan formed his own shop Poor Boys Hot Rods and in fact occupies part of Boyd’s old shop in La Habra, CA.  We have spotted Dan swinging by with one of his rods at the Friday night cruise – Cruising Grand – in Escondido Ca

 

1962 Cadillac

Passenger side Cadillac

The Cadillac was down low but also spotlighted a custom authenticate flake green paint job for the roofline.  In fact it was painted just months before the Goodguys Rod and Custom show.  1962 Cadillac Roofline

Everything about this rod screamed period authentic custom.  Nice to see such a good eye for detail.  Dan has a Facebook page for his 1962 Cadillac.

1962 Cadillac rear end

Purse

On Sunday in the awards area, Dan’s lady friend had a matching purse.  PurseHave to wonder which came first the car or the purse?

Front end of 62 Cadillac
Front end of 62 Cadillac

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Lime Crush 1966 Suburban at Goodguys

Lime Crush, a custom 66 Chevrolet Suburban, we first saw at its debut at the SEMA Show in 2013, came out of the winter blues for a sunny weekend at Goodguy’s Rod and Custom’s Fifth Annual Spring Nationals in Scottsdale.

Truck of the Year Finalist
Truck of the Year Finalist

SEMA Debut

At the 2013 SEMA Show, ACCEL revealed this awesome custom Suburban, named the Lime Crush.  ACCEL Performance Group is a mixture of speed parts including Mr. Gasket.  The Suburban is an eye catcher with the custom paint -Mr. Gasket Green- sprayed on by Charlie Hutton.  The truck was done by the Roadster Shop which is based in Illinois.  The amount of body modifications and custom pieces was just impressive.  Looking at where it started from, makes the folks at the Roadster Shop even more impressive.  It was quite a build!  Here was Hot Rod Magazine’s take on the debut.

Goodguy’s Spring Nationals

At the Goodguy’s Fifth Annual Spring Nationals, the truck came out again.  It looks even better in the daylight where the lime green paint can truly sparkle!  Of course the truck drew lots of admiring glances and the detailer spent his whole time keeping the dust down.  It is always nice to see vehicles that pop up at the SEMA Show also make it out across the country for others to see in person.

Finalist  – Truck of the Year

The judges at Goodguys know quality and picked Lime Crush as a finalist for their Truck of the Year Title.  If this is their first pick, it sure raises the bar for everybody else!

Good Guys Finalist Truck of the Year

Lime Crush Decals

It’s said that the attention to the little things is what counts.  It also helps if they have a sense of humor.  All the deals on the truck, including those on the window were hand made.  On the tailgate of the Suburban is this warning decal for the roof rack, for h the obligatory surfboards.

Here’s the close up.

Close Up Roof Rack Instructions

Someone has a gnarly sense of humor.

What better vehicle to highlight for St Patrick’s Day?

 

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Teens Drive Smart Kicks Off with Bridgestone

Teens Drive Smart is a half day safe driving course focused on young drivers.  Four different times are offered on a weekend and allows youths to learn more about safe driving habits and get behind the wheel of a BMW 328i to practice what they are taught.

Teens Drive Smart

The course is offered FREE of charge and gives parents another chance to make their child safer behind the wheel.  Sometimes a youngster will listen more to outsiders than a parent.  Last year the course was offered at seven locations across the country

Registration

The course is offered FREE of charge but often fills up quickly.  Interested teens can sign up now and I encourage readers to sign up early, before the courses are closed.  More information can be found here

Bridgestone

Tire manufacturer Bridgestone sponsors this course and is part of their safety outreach.  Our own two sons attended a similar half day course back in the day and they appreciated the chance to drive a road course and try out some evasive moves without a risk (or wearing out my tires).

Sites where Teens Drive Smart will be held

This year the course will be offered in at least twelve sites starting with Phoenix, Arizona.  They also will be at Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Washington DC, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Charlotte, Miami and Nashville.  There is also a chance for other sites to be added and you can be notified of the full schedule here.

Here’s some photos from a “similar” course sponsored by Bridgestone at the previous Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, AZ

 

And some in car views of the BMW’s in action

Bridgestone In BMW View

Bridgestone in BMW View 2

Another View from in car

 

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Goodguys Spring Nationals in Scottsdale

Goodguys Rod and Customs kicked off their year of car shows at Scottsdale, Arizona on March 7-9, 2014.  Goodguys was started in 1983 and keeps getting bigger and better every year.

Goodguys

Over 2,500 cars were registered for the event, with the highest amount showing up at Scottsdale’s Westworld show grounds on Saturday.  Great Arizona weather helped contribute to the crowds that came in to see the cars and vendors.

This was the Fifth Annual Spring Nationals show and they end their season back in Scottsdale with their Southwest Nationals in November, which will be their 17th annual fall event.

The show issues out over 75 “picks” or awards at the show and rather than being judged, the show picks winners in several unique categories.  It may be a fine point but by not judging cars, you don’t have to justify why one car was “judged” better; you just pick a winner!  It is funny though to see the length some car winners(whiners) will go to win a simple $25 plaque.

Also at these shows the folks from Goodguys pick finalists in various categories for a final nationwide award.  At this show they selected finalists for

Truck of the Year

Truck of the Year Finalist
Truck of the Year Finalist

 

Muscle Car of the Year

Muscle Car of the Year Finalist
Muscle Car of the Year Finalist

Muscle Machine of the Year

Muscle machine
Muscle Machine Car of the Year Finalist

Custom Rod the Year

Custom Rod
Custom Rod of the Year Finalist

Westworld Scottsdale, Arizona

Westworld is a great venue for the Goodguys car show.  It is close to a freeway and has a large shade structure for indoor vendors (the former site for Barrett-Jackson’s cat auction).  Besides asphalt parking on top, there is a lower section, that is a combination of more asphalt and ever popular grass.

The Goodguys show includes a Car Corral area with more car parts vendors and cars in all stages of restoration and marquees for sale.  Of course some cars on the show grounds are also sporting for sale signs too.

Camaro For Sale
Rough Camaro at Car Corral

Goodguys Entry Qualifications

Only cars made in 1972 or older are allowed for the first two days of the show but on Sunday the gates are wide open to any year and marquee.

Next site for the Goodguys will be next weekend at Fort Worth, Texas.

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Tanked works on a Highlander

Tanked is a popular show on the Animal Planet where two brothers-in-law working in Las Vegas make custom fish tanks.  Their skill and ingenuity is enviable.

Toyota Highlander
Highlander morphed by Tanked

Las Vegas

Seems appropriate that the firm is based in Las Vegas, which is also the home for the SEMA Show.  At last year’s show, Toyota showed off a SpongeBob and SquarePants themed Highlander with the interior dedicated to a fish tank.  The 800 gallon tank consumes most of the interior of  the spacious Toyota Highlander.

The engine was removed and replaced with the pumps and filters for the aquarium.

Toyota Highlander

The representatives from Toyota were very pleased with the outcome  and is a big hit with the younger kids.  You had to look close to realize that there were actual fish swimming around in the tank.  Twenty species were in the tank including starfish and clown fish.

The exterior artwork on the Highlander mimicked the SpongBob SquarePants theme as well

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Chad Kroeger’s 1969 Boss 429 Mustang

1969 Boss 429 Mustang owned by Chad Kroeger

Nickelback’s guitarist Chad Kroeger sold his 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 in January, 2014 at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.  This Candy Apple Red beauty with a black interior was given a concours restoration and was one of the earliest of the hand built Boss 429’s

dscn1571

Boss 429

Kroeger, a vocalist and guitarist for Nickelback, a Canadian rock band, has a ton of money in this Mustang and it sold for $291,500 (including the buyer’s commission).

Look closely and you’ll notice no car battery under the hood.  That’s because these Mustangs had a vented battery mounted in the trunk.  And while you’re looking at the radiator support you can see the white grease marker on the passenger side.  That show’s you the attention to detail in this restoration

History of Kroeger’s Boss 429

Boss 429’s left the factory with a 427 drag pack but were shipped to Kar Kraft, an up fitter, who swapped in a 429 high output 2 bolt block.  The Boss 429’s were only sold for two years 1969-1970 and were intended to fit under NASCAR rules so they could compete against the Hemi’s from Chrysler.  Only 859 were made in 1969.

Chad Kroeger

While the crowd is a bit younger than at some classic car venues, it was still fun to see how many passers-by had no idea who Nickelback was or Chad Kroeger.  Even the promise of a signed guitar to the new buyer didn’t help some.  Some didn’t know he is married to Avril Lavigne, but at least recognized her name!  Sort of reminds me of the Silver Auction where they sold an Impala owned by Greenday’s Billie Joe Armstrong’s Impala!

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Kosmic Outcast -Indianapolis Bound

Kosmic Outcast

Kosmic Outcast 40 Ford Pickup
1940 Ford Pickup

We first saw the Kosmic Outcast at last year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas.  It was kind of hard not to notice this 1940 pickup with a lime green color and a Ed Roth vibe.  Now we learn it will be seen in Indianapolis at the upcoming Hotrod and Restoration Trade Show.  The Kosmic Outcast is billed as  “An Intergalactic Weapon of Destruction”

 

SEMA

It’s always nice to see cars that were at the SEMA show being featured at other car events.  It helps spread the wealth for car enthusiasts who can’t make it out to the SEMA Show.

Kosmic Outcast Builder

This beauty was built by Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle in Addison, IL and shows their talent and eye for perfection.  Plus it is hard to figure out what year this was originally, when you learn about all the parts borrowed from other cars like:

Kosmic Outcast Transplant List

Body modifications to the pickup include a 5-inch chop, 6-inch section,

  • ’34 Chevy truck cowl
  • ’57 Chevy hood skin
  • ’34 Ford Tudor rear window
  • ’57 Olds dash
  • ’60 Pontiac quarters
  • ’60 Plymouth Valiant tailgate and
  • ’53 Ford truck grille.

When you look at the interior, you have got to be floored.  Not sure how comfortable it is but this is a homage to Ed Roth for sure!

The pick up, if you can still call it that, is motoring around on a Olds Rocket 371 with a TKO600 tranny.   It is sure to be a hit at this upcoming show and many more!

Comments?

Can you decipher where those tail lights came from?  Post your guess in our comment section

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