Builds
Jason Whitfield never intended to hot rod a station wagon. It just sort of happened. You see, he had this Mitsubishi Diamante wagon that Rage Performance and NuFormz used as a parts-getter. After a few runs, the guys decided that the car needed some better tunes. As the parts pickup runs got longer, they decided to add TVs. When a few extra parts were lying around—like a Turbonetics T04/T03 turbo and an intercooler—they just sort of made their way onto the car. The parts were already paid for, so why not use them?
If you ask car enthusiasts to identify their favorite ’60s Chevy, most will say a Camaro. If you want a more specific answer, you probably will get mixed responses between the ’67-’68 models and the ’69. Troy Leiphart is one of those enthusiasts who like the early models, because they are smoother looking than the ’69 and look meaner when done right. That love affair with ’68 Camaros started when he was a kid. His older brother Ernie owned a maroon ’68, and Leiphart thought it was the coolest car around. After awhile, money got tight for Ernie, so Leiphart purchased the car from his brother. Leiphart drove the cool Camaro with much pride, fixed it up and spent time at the drag races, where the car did well. Eventually the engine blew and he couldn’t afford to fix it, so he sold the car back to his brother.
As the saying goes, “some guys have all the luck.” Out in the great state of New York, there is more going on than the Manhattan madness that most folks envision. There’s a distinct geographical separation between the urban density of Manhattan and the more rural confines of the area known as upstate New York. Most of us think of New York the city, where all the cars seem to be yellow, but in other parts of the state, driving is not a form of gladiatorial combat and there are more than a few hot rods around.
From the low-key approach applied to this ’55 Chevy, it’s obvious that Jack and Gail Jenkins’ reasons for building it were based around applied craftsmanship, when you take into account the subtle style it displays. While the bodywork and paint are flawless, there’s little sign of the modifications beneath it, or the effort that went into them.
For the most part, street rodding is viewed as part of our American heritage, every bit as much as the blues and jazz, hot dogs and apple pie. It incorporates many of the traits we Yanks are known for,
combining ingenuity and individuality, plus a large dose of style gleaned from the numerous vehicles of our past. If you have any doubts, just look at the enthusiasts throughout Europe, Australia and other rodding hotbeds around the globe. They love American rodding.
Michelle Holstien of Moreno Valley, California, grew up with a passion for cars. She took auto shop in high school for two years, and her dad, Bruce, helped her build a ’72 Ford Econoline van and a ’62 Econoline pickup.
But she really had her heart set on a Boss 302 Mustang. Just listen to her talk about the Boss: “For as long as I can remember, I have always had an interest in Bosses.
Upon approach, it stirs the heart much like the sight of an old friend, with the flowing contours that recall memories of great times and fast, simple cars—before we knew much about automotive computers, CDs or the true meaning of lateral acceleration and G-force. Like a favorite teddy bear from childhood, this welcomed image warms our hearts, yet beneath that familiar façade is a grizzly bear of sorts. One that will grab you by the throat, slam you against the seat back and rip heart-pounding sensations throughout your body. This is no ordinary ’70 Plymouth Barracuda—this is a rush!
Over the years, Jon Moss has been one of the few staunch supporters of the Chevy Bow Tie image, even when there wasn’t much to get excited about. Here’s a guy who took it upon himself to argue the fact that a company such as Chevrolet, which built its considerable reputation on performance and racing, continues its domination within this high-profile segment.
Ronnie Staples has been enjoying custom cars for more than five decades, which not only dates him but also makes him somewhat of a well-versed enthusiast who knows what he wants in a modern super rod.
When firefighter Joe Chavez of Irving, Texas, was a senior in high school, he grew up in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, and drove a ’66 Chevrolet Nova. “I had a lot of fun with that car. I called it the “Alien,” and everybody in town knew whose car it was,” Chavez says. Unfortunately, when Chavez relocated to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area in 1985, he couldn’t afford to take his prized Nova along with him. As the years went by, he found himself regretting the decision more and more.
