Thread: Looking for builders

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Just logged in as a new member. Im looking into building a few rods for myself, and am trying to find whos good out there. i have been following Chip Foose and Boyd Coddington for the last few years. I was a hot rod builder many years ago, but i dropped out of the hobby to concentrate on buisness. Now that my buisnesses are running smooth i feel the itch that needs to be scratched again. I guess it never really leaves you. I have been out of touch for so long that i don't know who or what has been happening over the years. I lost touch before the internet, and now the info is everywhere. I guess this is as good a spot to start as any. If someone could give me some info on these two guys that would be great. I am looking for high end builders only. Chip Foose especially. Any other leads that might be useful for me would be great. Thanks

I had heard that Boyd Coddington had sold out his interests in his hot rod shop and is no longer building. Also i have been looking into a fellow named Troy Trepanier of Rad Rides by Troy. I hear some good things about him. I have been trying to get info on Chip but all i can find in order to contact him is that he has Foose Design and he is in huntington beach, ca. again any info or comment is appreatiated.

ive tried all those links and nothing came out of it. Whats the deal, is this Chip Foose guy a recluse or what. i can't find out how to contact this guy anywhere. Not even directory assistance has any listing for any combination of foose design. I know he's out there, i've read articles on the guy and seen pictures of his shop. Anything on the web dosen't give you any info on the guy, just that he's the one
P.S. finding a builder anywhere is'nt a problem, as i can travel anywhere. It's part of my job

Thanks, that helps

That # is a fax machine, if no other response at least i can fax him for info

I guess it all really depends on what type of car you want, there are some very good builders around, but there are some who specialize in certian types of cars... Bobby Alloway has been one of the hotest names in the Street Rod scene for the last couple of years as well as others like Alan Johnson, Barry White, Dave Lane, Roger Burmen, Dave Tucci, Tim Strange and a long lists of others... Then there are always the more higher profile guys like, Lil John Buttera, Brazio's, Magoo's, Posie's, ect...

If time and money are no object, there is no doubt that Foose is the hottest builder today... I would suspect that you are looking at a 3-5 year wait and a suitcase full of cash... The Grand Master cost a cool 1.2 million to build!!!

As far as I know, Coddington is still building cars, he built the Goodguys give away car for the last couple of years as well as the Alumatruck which was just reciently sold at Barrett's... A TV show about Coddington aired on Discovery a couple of months ago called American Hot Rod...

Troy Boy would no doubt be my choice, (If I did'nt build my own cars)... Troy is every bit as talented as Foose, but does not have the same marketing savy Chip does, so he does not get quite as much hype... Trepanier's latest high profile ride, The Chacane just won the Goodguys Street Machine of the Year for 2003...

It sounds like you are either new to the Hot Rod scene or have been away from it for a while... I would do some research before making a decision on which builder I would hire to build my rod... Talk to people who own cars build by these builders, look at where they are located geographically, there are many things to consider and it I think it would be worth your time to do as much research as possible...

Hope this helps...

Dave Brisco

Hey Diamond. Welcome to CHR. If you pick up a December '03 copy of Hot Rod magazine there's an article on Troy Trepanier and a Mustang he built for Ebay Motors. There's a centerfold of the car too.
He probably has a long waiting list too and it's sure to get longer after this exposure.
AL

I build my own, and a few for other people. The big name builders are great, if your check book and calender can stand the strain !!! There are many good builders around who could do an equal or better job than the hi-rollers if their customers had size huge check books. Depends too on whether you want some kind of exotic mega-buck machine, or a good lookin daily driver kind of cruiser. Not only that, but I need the money more than Foose does!!!!!!! Welcome to CHR and good luck with your project.

ya it's true i haven't been invovled in the scene for about 10 years. the last rod i built was a 66 Acadian Sport deluxe that i turned into a pro streeter back in 87. The last car i owned was a 57 T-bird classic back about 8 years ago. Then i tried my luck at a few harleys, they got boring fast. Sold them all to invest in real estate. Now it's time to release some investment cash and get back into the hobby. Really missed it and now i have the cash to build whatever i want, just don't have as much time to do the labour on it. I have more then one i want to build.

WOW!!!!, i knew the master cost but what a price tag, im sure i can find just as compitant builders. I would like to attend the Detroit car show as i here thats the meca for builders, anybody know when it is?.I have read up on the mustang build that troy did and have some pictures on it. I don't know how to add the picture to this thread. I also heard the roadster show in LA is a good one to attend. Any ideas on the must attend shows i should go to for my needs?. Location dosen't matter as i travel for buisness so i can work my schedule around events. I also plan on attending the Hot Rod Power Tour in early 2004

Dangeroustoy:, those builders you mentioned, do they have any websites. As i am up here in Canada, i would like to get as much info as i can before i make travel arrangements. The rods i want to build right away are a 69 RS/SS Convertable Camero for the girlfriend and a 57 Chevy Cameo Pick-up(always wanted one of those,there was a guy that had one up here and everytime i entered a show with my acadian he would always have his truck next to me). I always took first.

Here is a list of contact information for most of the Builders that I mentioned and a few more that I did not... There should be enough here to keep you busy for a while, hope this gets you started in the right direction...

Dave Brisco

Horton, Inc. — in Ontario, Canada
http://www.horton.on.ca/

FastLane Rod Shop — in Donohue, Iowa
http://www.fastlanerodshop.com/

Strange Motion Rod & Custom Construction, Inc. — in Cambridge, Illinois
http://www.strangemotion.com/

Posies — in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania
http://www.posiesrodsandcustoms.com/

Street Rods by Michael — in Tennessee
http://www.srbymichael.com/

Roy Brizio Street Rods - San Francisco, Ca
http://www.roybriziostreetrods.com/

Johnson's Hot Rod Shop — in Gadsden, Alabama
http://www.johnsonshotrodshop.com/

Tucci Engineering — in Marcy, New York
http://www.tuccihotrods.com/

Barry White's Street Rod Repair Company — in Placentia, California
http://www.barrywhitesrrc.com/

Arizona Rod Shop — in Phoenix, Arizona
http://www.arizonastreetrods.com/

Ball's Rod & Custom
http://www.ballsrodandkustom.com/

Cornhusker Rod & Custom, Inc. — in Alexandria, Nebraska
http://www.cornhuskerrodandcustom.net/

Hot Rods & Custom Stuff — in Escondido, California
http://www.hotrodscustomstuff.com/

Kenny's Rod Shop — in California
http://www.kennysrodshop.com/

Magoo's Street Rods — in New Zealand
http://www.magoos.co.nz/

Scott's Hot Rods and Customs, Inc. — in Ventura, California
http://www.scottshotrods.com/

SO-CAL Speed Shop — in Pomona, Denver, and Phoenix
http://www.so-calspeedshop.com/

Lakeside Rods and Rides - Roger Burman - Rockwell City, IA
712-297-8671

Hot Rods by Davis - Kenny Davis - Arkansas
479-936-4595

Diamond, have you checked out Kustom King in Edmonton. He does whiz bang cars. Big bucks, well, big Canadian bucks, but quality work. He is in Spruce Grove. 403-962-8206 Pat.

Thanks, i'll check into that. I did some research on dangeroustoys leads, and managed to narrow my choices. Tucci engineering looks promising, along with Barry White, kennys rod shop, Posies, Rad Rides, Roy Brizio, even the So-Cal boys. I even got a phone call from Chip Foose(surprized me, i thought i would maybe get a call from his secretary), seems like a real nice guy. There is a 3-5yr wait. I have something planned with him, but first i need a more intermediate builder. Dave Tucci seems to have a foose like attitude towards rods, anybody got an opinion on him?. I can't seem to find much on what Coddington is up to lately other then the boydster 2, is he slowly retiring or what?. thanks for the input CHR.

by the way fordnutz, they recently changed area codes here so that would be 780, not 403, update you your info, thanks