Hot rods are not meant to be practical or even sporty, they are designed from the ground up to make a statement. This is why they are so loved amongst gearheads while others may not understand the work of art in front of them. These modified classics come in all shapes and sizes, built from a number of different classic cars over the years.
While there are some modern hot rods that come with modern technology, some of the most iconic vehicles are customized, old classic cars. Many may think that these cars are just for hobbyists and are not worth anything, but they would be sorely mistaken. The most expensive hot rod ever sold was the Tom McMullen Deuce Roadster for a staggering $700,000.
This shows the value these kinds of classic cars can hold over time. If you’re interested in some of the most iconic hot rods throughout history, here are the top 10:
10 Norm Grabowski’s Ford Model T
The Ford Model T was by far one of the most iconic hot rods in the late 50s. Designed by Norm Grabowski, the Model T was modified to include a smaller frame and created the first-ever T-bucket design.
The powertrain was also modified, with Norm making use of the 1952 Cadillac 332 engine. This engine was topped with a 3-71 blower for extra performance. The entire car was painted black and displayed at a number of shows over the last few decades.
9 The French Connection
Designed by Boyd Coddington, the French Connection is one of the most elegant and unique hot rods of all time. The sweeping design has become iconic as it hides the wheels entirely to give a uniform and futuristic look to the car.
The interior of the hot rod is designed in the same two-tone color scheme of black and red. The interior features red contrast leather and a polished silver gauge cluster. While the gauge cluster stands out, it perfectly matches the front grille for a uniform look.
8 Dick Flint
This particular hot rod was completed restored and creatively modified in the 50s. Built from the 1929 Ford Roadster, the Dick Flint is one of the most expensive hot rods in the world. The hot rod fetched almost $600,000 at the RM Auctions Art of the Automobile event.
With a minimalist interior and classic design, the Dick Flint is on the classier side of the hot rod market. The car features a signature white steering wheel and a deep brown interior. The Ford comes with a central gauge cluster and silver-finished buttons to seal off the classy look.
7 California Kid
Another iconic hot rod to take note of is the California Kid. This custom-built hot rod is based on the 1934 Ford. Designed and built by Jim Jacobs, the California Kid got its name due to a television producer, Howie Horowitz, wanting it for a TV movie called “The California Kid.”
The California Kid looks like a classic hot rod, with a massive stance and detailed flames painted along the sides of the car. The California Kid has been used in various movies and TV shows, making it one of the most famous hot rods in the world.
6 Magnitude
Designed by Jerry Magnuson, the supercharged Ford Roadster is a modern take on a classic beauty. The car is painted in a blinding orange/ bronze color with a lighter, almost pink hood and roof. The two colors are perfectly broken by a singular pinstripe along the entire car.
The interior of the car is even more stunning, with a beige and orange-wood colorway used throughout the cockpit. The two seats are split by an elegant center console, with the gauge cluster centered directly above it.
5 Kookie's Kar
Another insane hot rod built by Norm Grabowski is the hot rod known as, “Kookie’s Kar.” This unique car is credited with starting the entire T-bucket segment. Built in 1955, Norm knew he had a beauty on his hands and let it feature in the TV show, “77 Sunset Strip.”
The unique hot rod featured an exposed engine compartment. The car is a beige color with distinct red flames along each side of the bodywork. The interior of the car is also very unique, featuring leather seats and a minimal dashboard.
4 Boyd Coddington, Whatthehaye
At a jaw-dropping price of over $670,000, the Boyd Coddington Whatthehaye is one of the most expensive hot rods in the world. This classic hot rod is more on the classy side of things with a classic black body and silver hood cut with elegant silver pinstripes.
The interior of the car is kept minimal with a clean gray design. The gauge cluster is centered in the cockpit, with aluminum finishes running along the entire dashboard. Built in 2003, the hot rod is fairly modern with a V10 engine and a 6-speed manual gearbox.
3 Beatnik Bandit
The Beatnik Bandit is a custom hot rod built in 1961 by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. The car featured a few crazy and unique designs that made it fit in more at a contemporary art museum rather than a garage.
The Beatnik Bandit featured a 5-liter V8 engine fitted with a GMC supercharger. This was clearly visible as the car did not have a hood covering up the powertrain. The car also featured a signature bubble cockpit that gave the hot rod a unique and futuristic look.
2 Tom McMullen, Deuce Roadster
As the world’s most expensive hot rod, the Deuce Roadster is one of the most iconic vehicles in existence today. Although its design was not groundbreaking, the classic car had everything you could want from a classic hot rod.
The car looks similar to the California Kid but does this in a slightly different, open-top design. This makes the car even more unique, raising the price to over $700,000. As the cover car of Hot Rod magazine in 1963, it remained iconic throughout the 60s, 70s, and even today.
1 The Uncatchable
The Uncatchable is a distinctly unique hot rod that doubles as a land-speed racer. Designed and built by Aaron Brown, the hot rod is based on the 1939 Ford pickup that he managed to find in Texas. This was sitting on a Chevy frame, but Brown saw the potential as soon as he saw it.
The hot rod has an insane powertrain that can produce up to 715 hp and rev all the way to 10,000 rpm. The interior of the car is designed solely with racing in mind, but the exterior does pay homage to the vintage nature of the car itself. Due to its rare build, The Uncatchable is one of the most unique hot rods you will ever see.