Foose, Coddington, Barris and the Birth of the Ultra Hot Rods
Chip Foose is one of the most influential hot rod builders of recent times. His distinctive smooth and flowing style, showcased on TV shows like Overhaulin’, redefined the hot rod aesthetic. Foose’s roadsters featuring hand-formed aluminum body panels, low-slung proportions, and intricate paintwork sparked a new trend.
Boyd Coddington burst onto the scene in the late 90s with his “Boyds” brand wheels and custom built hot rods. His extensive use of CNC machined billet aluminum to craft wild looking parts and huge rear wheels influenced many other builders. The machined, high-tech look became a signature of the “Boyd look”.
As a legendary customizer since the 1950s, George Barris inspired younger builders but also adapted to new trends. With his team at Barris Kustoms, he created over-the-top customs like the Bandit Pontiac Trans Am which cemented his status as the “King of Kustomizers”.
These pioneering figures demonstrated the potential to blend vintage style with modern technologies in car customization. Their use of CAD design, CNC machining, and custom fabricated parts took hot rods to new heights of performance and style. They proved the passion for hot rodding was still alive and could create machines more radical than ever before. The ultra hot rod scene remains vibrant today thanks to their influence.
