In the annals of modern hot-rod design there is no question that Chip Foose is amongst the best in the business. His cars have been featured on television, in magazines, online and at some of the greatest car shows around the world. However, before Foose got into hot-rods he was, get this, a Volkswagen guy. That’s right, he drove a 1985 MkII Golf GTI, a car which he says, was one of his favorites and the car that provided him with much of his early inspiration. I suppose it should come as no surprise as the VW Golf, like the Porsche 911, is one of those rare automobiles that has simply evolved over time. Through the years it’s gotten better and better, and like Chip Foose himself, it’s never lost any of the emotion that the original one set forth all those years ago.

Source: RalfBecker.com

As odd as it may seem Bottrop, Germany is home to one of the biggest moto-culture car shows in all of Europe. For 2011 Pixeleye Interactive shot this little number for Dickies Clothing and in doing so managed to capture some of the coolest pre-1965 cars, trucks and motorcycles out there. Aside from the vehicles the Kustom Kulture Show in Bottrop also showcases some of the best known hot rod artists the world has to offer, as well as an 1/8th mile drag strip where show entrants can drag their rides.

Hmm… I might just have to put this baby on my international bucket list.

Source: Ralfbecker.com

Over the last ten years or so automobile manufacturers have been jumping on the retro bandwagon. Volkswagen kicked things off early with the release of their retro Beetle back in 1998 and since then others have followed. Ford for example released the beautifully restyled retro Mustang in 2005, Dodge then followed suit in 2008 with the redesigned Challenger, and then in 2009, Chevrolet hit us with the new Camaro. Now while all these new versions of our old favorites are wonderful, there is still something to be said about owning an original. There is however one caveat to this… that being, the old muscle cars from the late 60′s and early 70′s were simply horrible to drive on the open road. Manual drum brakes, a lack of power steering and horrible fuel economy were just some of the issues, so to combat this, those of us who wanted new age performance in an old wrapper went the pro-touring route. Nowadays it’s not uncommon to see 1968 Camaros running around sporting LS7′s and Z06 brakes, or 1969 Dodge Chargers being motivated by new 6.1 or 6.4 liter fuel injected HEMI’s with 6-piston calipers, full suspension work and enhanced safety features. Granted these cars take time and money to set up properly, however when complete, the results can be simply fantastic. Below are 15 examples of pro-touring cars done right – click through and enjoy.

• 1970 Firebird Trans Am Clone

• 1970 Mark Dohohue Javelin

• 1986 Buick T-Type

• 1971 Chevrolet Camaro

• 1970 Mustang Boss 302

• 1970 Dodge Dart GT

• 1970 Dodge Challenger

• 1955 Chevrolet

• 1962 Chevrolet Corvette

• 1965 OldsmobileJetstar

• 1969 Dodge Daytona

• 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle

• 1967 Chevrolet Camaro

• 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle

• 1969 Dodge Charger

There’s just something about cars from the 1930′s, 40′s and 50′s that’s magical. Seeing those cars today makes one think about a time when life was less complicated, when automotive innovation actually meant something, and when the spirit of the open road was alive and well here in the United States. The 1939 Lincoln Zephyr is one of those cars and when viewed in person the only thing it evokes is pure emotion. Today’s automobiles, while packed with reliability and technology simply don’t, in my opinion, possess the same amount of style and flare that their bygone brothers do. It’s a shame really, but in a society where cost is key and styling is secondary, automotive manufacturers really have no choice but to compromise on everything. That’s where custom shops like Regal Roadsters of Madison, WI come into play. These guys recently took the aforementioned 1939 Lincoln Zephyr and get this… fitted it with an Aston Martin V12 engine, full airbag suspension and Magnaflow exhaust. We think the result is simply stunning, but just to make sure click play on the video and decide for yourself.

Source: Chromjuwelen.com

They always say that if you can turn your passion into a career, then you’ll never work again in your life. I’m going to say that for the most part this is true. I mean what’s better than showing up to work everyday and having fun. Meet Ben Thomas, he’s the owner of Rancho Deluxe, an old school hot rod shop in Melbourne, Australia that’s dedicated to bringing old school rumblers back to life. Ben was lucky enough to have a father that schooled him in the particulars of vintage cars from a very young age. They ended up building a few cars together and when his Dad saw that the boy had talent, he arranged to have an internship program set up for him. That lead to a four year stint working for Porsche and then, after a few years away from the business he decided to give it another go by opening up Rancho Deluxe. Now Ben spends his time working on some of the coolest old hot rods in Australia and enjoying every minute of it.

Source: Chromjuwelen.com

Chip Foose, Steve Strope, Troy Trepanier and the late Boyd Coddington, are and were considered to be some of the best hot-rodders and custom car makers in the business. Their vehicles are generally considered to be works of art, with their attention to detail being second to none. I’ve seen some of their creations in person and can safely say that these guys are the best at what they do. But what about everyone else; I mean how do civilians in the custom car world make it on their own? I’ve built two custom cars in the last six years, so I can tell you from experience that it’s no easy task. I have to confess that this article has nothing to do with the names mentioned above, good looking cars or actual customizing talent. In fact every one of the machines that you see below looks to have been put together with duct tape, vinyl siding and bailing wire. Oh, and lets not forget the bondo, lots and lots of bondo…

• 1986 called, they want their parachute pants back.

• Chicken wire grille is understated yet functional.

• Something tells me this guy is a blast at parties.

• Check out the Yugo in the middle – Bitchin’.

• Where did his left sleeve go?

• That is the teeniest, tiniest trophy I’ve ever seen… poor bastard.

• How cool, it’s got a landau top!

• Jumbo better grease himself up if he plans on getting back in that roller skate.

• Hello, my name is Dieter and I won a trophy that I will treasure forever.

• It’s all about the bondo.

• Check out the “Angels of the Road” windshield decal… nice.

• YEEEEAH BITCHES!!!!!

• Got wood?

• No really, rubber cement is what everyone uses to hold their hood scoops on.

• This poor Citroen is going to need months and months of therapy after having that thing planted on his face.

• Yeah, it’s got a HEMI… wanna’ fight about it?

• No doubt about it, this guy has the greatest hair on the list.

• Apparently she’s a “Street Fucker” – her mother must be so proud.

• Back Street Boy fan perhaps?

• Because every cool car needs at least two rear spoilers.

• Dig the sheet metal front spoiler.

• WTF? Is this guy smuggling plums or something?

• Umm… I have no words.

• I wonder if the drapes match the curtains.

• Does this car make me look fat?

• Ground clearance, we don’t need no stinkin’ ground clearance!!

• Chicks dig the car…

*Photo Credit: http://www.VWVortex.com

Old cars are finicky beasts. They have personalities, tempers and a presence that new cars can’t hope to emulate. When they run great they’re wonderful and can provide their owners with countless years of enjoyment. Keeping them running though is another story entirely and is one that requires time, money and most of all, parts. Over the years I’ve built up quite a stockpile of extra parts for my 1968 Dodge Charger. Taillight lenses, fenders, transmissions and interior parts. You name it and I have it, or least I used to have it. Over the past year I decided to sell off many of the old parts that I’ve collected in an effort to free up some space in the ole’ garage. Some have been sold at swap meets, others on the internet and yet others still by word of mouth. This past weekend I was fortunate enough to lighten my load yet again and in the process make a little money on the side. What amazed me though is the distance that the purchaser traveled.

My Charger is a pro-touring car which means that many of the original parts have been removed in favor of newer, more modern components. However for those looking to do an original restoration on a car these parts can be invaluable. I had received an email from a buyer stating that he’d be down this weekend but when he arrived I notice that the plate on his car was from Canada. I asked how far he’d driven and his answer was pretty damn impressive – 1,113 miles. I immediately questioned his sanity and he explained that he wanted to inspect the parts in person, go through any other bits and pieces I may have, and he wanted everything immediately.

At days end he left with a loaded truck and I left with a full pocket. The gentlemen explained it like this; owning an old car is like being in a fraternity, we’re all brothers in one way, shape or form and all share a love for these vintage automobiles. In his travels buying cars and parts he said that he’s made some wonderful friends, seen some beautiful places and purchased some of the nicest parts on the market. We chatted for a good 90 minutes just bullshitting over vintage iron, future purchases and cars we’ve owned in the past. By the time he left I realized he was right to make such a long trip, as not only did he walk away with some great hardware, but I’ve now got a great contact on the other side of the border and another member to the frat.

Tuners and hot rod shops have been souping up and modifying the Chevrolet Camaro since its rebirth in 2009. Back in the late 1960s and early 1970′s the Camaro was a pure road beast. Tuners would take factory showroom cars and modify them into full-on supercars. It’s now 44 years later and it seems as though nothing has changed as the guys from Baldwin Motion, one of the original super tuners, have now just released the specs for their new 2011 Camaro SS Phase III cars.

According to Joel Rosen, the legendary founder of Baldwin Motion,
“We have re-launched the Baldwin-Motion and MOTION brands again, this time capturing the true spirit of what we did in 1967-1974: Market built-to-order, dyno-proven and warranted SS & Phase III 427 & 454 Camaros, crafted by a high-tech dyno shop and available exclusively from a single authorized Chevrolet dealer.”

Available through DeNooyer Chevrolet in upstate New York, customers will have a choice of cars ranging from the SS-427 (dyno-rated at 525hp), or the 427-SC Supercar (dyno-rated at 800 horsepower). The 2011 Camaro SS Phase III cars will start at under $80,000 and go up from there. It should be interesting to see how things actually run, especially since Chevrolet is working on their own 550+ hp Camaro Z/28 that’s set to debut for the 2012 model year.

Souce: BaldwinMotion.com

You may not know this, but over in the UK, American hot rods and muscle cars have a huge following. Since their inception the Brits have been importing them to get their own taste of some big block muscle. Charger’s, Camaro’s, ’57 Chevy’s and countless Fords have been raced and modified to suit their owners tastes, just as they have been over here for years and years. The above video shows a run that took place back in 1977 in the UK. It was put on in conjunction with the National Street Rod Association (NSRA) and had in its attendance some of the coolest modified street rods out there. Hot Rodding is a hobby that truly knows no borders and is in fact popular in just about every part of the world where cars are present. The above video is a bit on the grainy side, but in my opinion it just lends to the true feeling of what the hot-rodding culture represents.

Source: RalfBecker.com

We here at RideLust work hard to give you as much interesting content as we possibly can. We review a lot of different cars, and try to deliver a blend of news, humor and commentary that you can’t get anywhere else. We love what we do, and we hope it shows. What better way to wish you a happy 2011 than to give you two of our favorite things in the entire world – hot rods and pinups? Sit back, eat a handful of Advil and enjoy these videos as you nurse your first hangover of the New Year.