The Art of the Build, Rods and Kustoms: An AACA Museum Exhibit

March 13, 2014
Story By
John McCabe

There’s something special about the guys who can look at a car and re-imagine it as something awesomely different. Guys like Boyd Coddington, Earl “Madman” Muntz, George Barris, Chip Foose and Ed “Big Daddy” Roth could always envision changes in a rolling work of art that others just couldn’t see until they were in their final stages. (See below for gallery.)

Traditionally, the Antique Automobile Club of America’s AACA Museum in Hershey, PA dedicates their displays, and the majority of their floor space, to the preservation of original vehicles. Whether it’s their complete collection of the Alphabet Fords or the world’s largest indoor collection of antique buses, the museum shows their adoration of stock vehicles. 2014 marks the first time that the museum has set aside this tradition to honor the men whose vision went far beyond the usual resto or racer, their latest display is titled “The Art of the Build: Rods and Kustoms.”

The customs range from the purely elegant, such as “Lower ’48,” (below) the first new Tucker built since the untimely demise of the Tucker factory and "Pacific", a replica of Ralph Lauren’s 1937 Type 57S Bugatti Atlantic - to the truly insane, such as "Wagon Meister", a hotrod “little blue wagon” with a Honda engine built by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and "Scoots", which lies somewhere between a Converse high-top with a Hot Wheels paint job integrated into an inline skateboard with a wing (for downforce, of course). Fortunately, it was designed by George Barris, so it’s significantly more awesome than it may sound!

What distinguishes this show from many others? How about having five Ridler Award finalists? For those who don’t know about the Ridler Awards, it is awarded annually at Detroit’s Autorama to the year’s best custom creation. Only the very best and most beautiful get nominated. These five Ridler finalists are gathered here in Hershey through April 27^th.

Kracklin’ Rose – 1933 Willys 77
The Handyman - 1956 Chevy Wagon
The 69er – 1934 Ford Roadster
D-Ranged – 1983 Ford Ranger
SwishAir – 1957 Chevrolet

Seriously? A ’57 Chevy (see below)? Yes, seriously. For those of you who think they’ve seen about everything a 1957 Bel Air can offer, "Swish Air" will change your mind. Although there are certainly more radical designs than these classics, it’s unlikely that any are more elegant, beautiful and close to perfection. This vehicle alone makes your trip worth it - although the motorized barstool by Posie’s Rods & Customs in the lobby may also be motivation enough.

"The Handyman" is so hot that you’ll most likely forget that it’s a wagon; yeah, it’s that good. And don’t let the words “Ford Ranger” fool you. It took me a while to figure out what this awesomely sexy little truck started out life as… and I worked for a company that owned a fleet of (much more traditional looking) red Rangers back in the ‘00s.

Of course, as we all know, old habits die hard and museums are all about the preservation of “old,” so there is one original stock vehicle in this particular display that is all stock. How stock?

Photo courtesy of Fred Remite, thank you! The above 1968 Camaro has all of its original parts because it was never intended as a driver! It is nestled in next to a 1967 Camaro named Low Profile (see below), done up in true custom fashion. You get to decide for yourself which is more awesome to you!

The exhibit only runs through April 27^th, so you should make plans now to see the show! If you go to the museum during March, be sure to check out their “Sirens of Chrome” exhibit that honors the hotties of the auto world through the decades, from booth girls to the secret tale and tragedy of the Rolls Royce “Spirit of Ecstasy” model! More information on this exhibit can be found at the museum's website, www.aacamuseum.org. This will be the last temporary exhibit ever to be housed in this wing of the museum, as it will be closed to the public for the next half-year and re-open as the permanent Tucker display (hopefully just in time for the Fall meet, held the first complete week of October), complete with multiple Tucker 48s, drivetrains and blueprints!

The Art of the Build, Rods and Kustoms: An AACA Museum Exhibit

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