The scene is a garage located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the major actor is David Kindig, founder of Kindig-It Design. Kindig, a highly skilled self-taught fabricator, works hard along with his wife, daughter, and a team of passionate designers of varying skills based in Salt Lake City. In 2014, the hot rod shop attracted the attention of Velocity Channel, now called Motor Trend. Since then, the awesome work done by the Kindig-It Design crew has aired in a reality show aptly named Bitchin' Rides.
Bitchin' Rides is unlike many car tv shows as it takes the team an average of 10 months to rebuild a car, and considering that there are over 10 projects at any given time in the garage, that is no easy feat. Kindig has earned celebrity status with his trademark goatee, but it's the badass rides that leave his shop that viewers have fallen in love with. Here are some of the coolest ones to emerge from Bitchin' Rides.
10 ‘39 GM Futurliner
Built for General Motors by Harley Earl, the GM Futurliners were custom vehicles with an eye on future technologies. The ‘39 GM Futurliner, measuring 33 feet in length and over 11 feet tall, was initially used as a promotional caravan in GM’s Parade of Progress.
When the Futurliner got to Bitchin’ Rides, the vehicle was given a complete restoration by David Kindig and his design team. The chassis and axis, along with the original Hydra-Matic automatic transmission and upholstery, were restored to the original version.
9 ‘27 Shadow Rod
Kindig-It Designs knows how to make a great restomod, and the 1927 Shadow Rod is no exception. The Shadow Rod, a custom-built roadster, belonged to Ron Meis, who has a couple of incredible customs in his garage. However, he approached Kindig for a wilder version of the vehicle. The rod, which took a year to rebuild, was designed to be a “grocery getter.”
With the addition of custom interiors, a Kicker sound system, and a GM performance LS3 small block, and the roadster was transformed into one eye-turning ride.
8 ‘69 Chevrolet Camaro
In Season 2, episode 8 of Bitchin’ Rides, the Kindig-It design team accepts two models of the 1969 Chevy Camaro for modification. While one of the cars turns out to be a much bigger task than the owner imagined, the second is modified into an absolute beauty.
An overhaul on the interior, which is replaced with custom upholstery, plus a custom paint job, reveals the detail to attention. Completed in 9 months, the end product has all the bearings of a legendary vehicle.
7 ‘09 Hummer H2S Concept
When the 2009 Hummer H2 appeared on Bitchin’ Rides’ season 5, there was very little that Kindig could do to modify the automobile... or so many thought. But the crew had different ideas. First, the engine was swapped with an LSA Crate GM performance engine with a 6L90E transmission.
On the inside, a Kicker L78 sound system with IQI subs was installed, along with two-tone leather seats. Flush-mounted handles and one-off EVOD wheels complete the new look.
6 ‘34 Dodge Brothers Sedan
One of the most imposing cars to ever appear on Bitchin’ Rides has been the 1934 Dodge Brothers Sedan. The vehicle, which one person had owned for over 64 years, got a breath of new life at the Kindig-It Design base.
The modifications included a one-piece hood, modified headlights, a top with flush-mounted canvas, and custom greening taillights. The car’s interior was tushed up to include a custom steering wheel and glacier leather for the upholstery.
5 ‘32 Ford Tudor
The 1932 Ford Tudor is an original henry ford vehicle with an all-steel body. Built by legendary custom designer Chip Foose and his father, Sam Foose, the automobile was designed in honor of Gary Meadows, founder of Goodguys Rod & Custom Association.
In 2013, the car, which is famous as the Goodguys logo, was designated as the giveaway prize for the season. Kindig-It design had the task of building a real-life model of the car. The end product was a hugely satisfying brilliant yellow hot rod.
4 ‘47 Cadillac Convertible
A look at the 1947 Cadillac Convertible, and you imagine what it must have been in its heydays - obviously a spectacle. Nothing much has changed since then, as the roadster would still get glances today.
The automobile, aptly nicknamed by David Kindig as “Driving Miss Daisy On Steroids,” saw a number of modifications, including a custom white interior, an exquisite paint job, and a performance motor. Completed in 12 months, the roadster was built to combine elegance and power.
3 2014 Audi R8 Spyder
Owned by former NFL star Chad Lewis of the Philadelphia Eagles, the 2014 Audi R8 Spyder featured on Episode 3, season 1 of Bitchin’ Rides. The customization, which took under two months, saw a few additions to the already impressive car. Inspired by Lewis’s affection towards Brigham Young University Cougar’s, the car had a BYU-themed custom job.
The leather seats had BYU logos engraved on the headrests, with a blue and white exterior and B-forged 20” 3 piece wheels. The most remarkable feature, however, is the Underglow.
2 ‘58 Lincoln Continental “Maybellene”
Appearing on season 4 of Bitchin’ Rides, the 1958 Lincoln Continental was modified entirely by Kindig and his crew. The project, dubbed Maybellene, involved a custom paint job, a custom-built hood, with a “Jewelry Box” encased in an acrylic bubble, and chrome door handles. The Kindig-it Design team added a V12 engine with a 4L80E transmission and Wilwood brakes to boost performance.
JS Custom Interiors beefed up the new interior with foam seats, and on the outside, the bumpers had a few adjustments to create the perfect look.
1 ‘64 Cadillac Coupe Deville
On episode 10, season 6 of Bitchin’ Rides, David Kindig, and the team got an exciting assignment: restoring a 1964 Cadillac Coupe DeVille for renowned Olympic speed skater Apollo Ohno. With a process that spanned a period of 12 months, the vehicle got a sleek Olympic-themed modification.
The 18 ft long caddy got an exquisite interior fitted with white leather and Olympic-themed gauges and trims. The square chrome door handles, jaguar caviar paint job, wide white 22” rims wheels completed the exterior.