FOX-BODY SPOTTER’S GUIDE
April 10, 2024
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Ponies in the Smokies 2026
Winter doesn’t fade quietly in Tennessee—it gets drowned out by horsepower. And once again, Ponies in the Smokies 2026 lit the fuse. The Sevierville Convention Center became ground zero for Ford performance, as thousands of enthusiasts rolled in, filling every inch with Mustangs, trucks, and Blue Oval builds that showed up to make noise—not sit still.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Dynamat ProXTM Sound Deadening Mat
Let’s be honest—most sound-deadening upgrades feel like a small step forward. ProX™ isn’t that. This is Dynamat taking everything they already did right with Xtreme and pushing it way harder.
Same proven butyl formula? Yep.
But now it’s twice as heavy, backed by a thicker 5 mil aluminum skin, and built to flat-out dominate noise and vibration instead of just managing it.
VINTAGE ENGINE REBUILDING
Thirty-five years and $636 ago, we bought an 80,000-mile ’62 fuel-injected Corvette in Fresno, California. Sadly, the car had been stolen once. The fuel injection was gone as well as the T-10 four-speed transmission. A pair of bare 461-X heads was in the trunk. The engine was found to have a rocking rear cam bearing, which caused oil to shut off to the rocker arms at high rpm. At the time, the prognosis was that it could not be fixed, so the motor was replaced with a ’68 350hp 327. Since 1976, the car has been in storage, along with the original engine.
Spotlighter
Brizio Street Rods Shines at GNRS 2025
Brizio Street Rods’ Unmatched Presence at GNRS 2025
The Grand National Roadster Show 2025 was an all-out horsepower spectacle, packed with jaw-dropping rides and elite craftsmanship. But one booth that truly stole the show? Brizio Street Rods. These guys don’t just build cars—they create rolling masterpieces that blend power, style, and history into one breathtaking package.
Author
Jamie Dent
Photography by Scott Killeen
A Hot Rodder’s Dream Display
Stepping up to the Brizio booth felt like flipping through the greatest hits of hot rodding. Flawless paint, precision-tuned engines, and stance so perfect it stopped people mid-stride. Every ride was meticulously dialed in, proving once again why Brizio is a household name in the world of street rods.
Crowds, Conversations, and Unmatched Craftsmanship
It wasn’t just the cars drawing a crowd—everywhere you looked, people were pointing out details, snapping pics, and swapping stories about their own builds. The booth buzzed with energy, and we made sure to capture plenty of shots of the insane craftsmanship on display.
Brizio Keeps Raising the Bar
Bottom line? Brizio Street Rods brought the heat to GNRS 2025, once again proving why they’re at the top of the game. If this year’s display is any indication, we can’t wait to see what they roll out next.
Inside the Brizio Booth: A Visual Tour
Now, let’s take a closer look at the Brizio Street Rods booth that had everyone talking. From perfectly executed builds to the smallest custom details, these photos capture the passion, precision, and power that define Brizio’s legacy. Scroll through and experience the artistry that makes their hot rods true showstoppers.
Instant T: The Wild Ride That Shook Hot Rodding and Rock ‘n’ Roll
Andy Brizio’s 1915 Ford Model T C-Cab Panel Truck, better known as “Instant T,” isn’t just a hot rod—it’s a rolling legend. Built by one of Northern California’s biggest hot rod names, this wild machine cemented its place in history from the moment it hit the streets.
Built to Cruise, Destined for Glory
Brizio originally built Instant T to drive cross-country to the 1971 Street Rod Nationals in Memphis, Tennessee—because why trailer a car when you can tear across America in style? But this wasn’t just any road-trip machine. With an iconic ribbon paint job by Art Himsl, the truck turned heads and ended up winning “Best Appearing Car” out of 1,500 entries. Not bad for a street-driven hot rod.
From Hot Rod Hero to Rock Star Ride
As if that wasn’t legendary enough, Instant T took an even crazier turn when John Bonham, the powerhouse drummer for Led Zeppelin, spotted it and had to have it. He shipped the truck to England, where it became a part of rock ‘n’ roll history, even making an appearance in Led Zeppelin’s film The Song Remains the Same.
A Timeless Hot Rod Icon
With Brizio’s masterful craftsmanship, Himsl’s mind-blowing paintwork, and a history that straddles both hot rodding and rock music, Instant T isn’t just a car—it’s a cultural icon. Whether parked or roaring down the road, this machine is pure hot rod perfection.
A Few More From the Brizio Booth
ARTICLE SOURCES
Roy Brizio Street Rods Inc
505 Railroad Ave South San Francisco, CA, United States, California 94080
