5 Cars of the Past, Rebuilt Today

Bangalore: Possessing an antique car is no less than possessing a piece of history for any car lovers. Cars might become antique, they might be seen no more in the streets, but their craze is everlasting. For any car enthusiast, these antique cars have much more value than the top most engines, available today.

But when these antique cars are added with modern day’s technology, a rebirth of beauty and pride takes place. ‘CNBC’ has listed some of the antique cars, which is still the pride of their owners and those who don’t have them; it’s a desire for them!  

1. Beatnik Bandit

Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth is the person behind Beatnik Bandit. Roth started working on this car in 1960. During this process, the design of the car changed plenty of times. He even wanted to name this car after the cow-boys but after Roth read about a bank robbery, he named it as Beatnik Bandit.

The marque of this car made it a perfect desire for the car lovers. The fiberglass body, a suspended cover that enabled 360 degree vision made the car look more beautiful.

The first Beatnik Bandit was painted by Larry Watson in exchange of a deal that allowed Watson to take the car whenever he needed it.

The first Beatnik Bandit was sold to Jim Brucker for $50 in 1970. Brucker sold it in 1973 and sold it to Harrah. At present, the car is on display at the National Automobile Museum in Reno.

2. Cadzzilla

This model was on fire during the 50s and the 60s. Its appealing looks have made it to become one of the most stylist cars during the same period and this got continued till today.

The Cadzilla was designed by Larry Ericson and was built by Boyd Coddington. Boyd designed this car for the popular guitarist, Billy Gibbons from the band ‘ZZ Top’.

Boyd has designed plenty of designer cars during his lifetime, but Cadzilla remains one of the best of his creation.

The lowered roof and the low ride of the car was the centerfold of this car. Even when the car was parked, it looked same appealing as it used to be on the roads.

The car got its name from three words; Cadillac, ZZ Top and Godzilla. Billy Gibbons paid around $900,000 to get this car built according to his own way.

Gibbons also got a customized license plate for Cadzzila. The license plate said: ‘I8TOKYO’, which originally said: ‘I ate Tokyo’.

3. Impression

The smooth headlamps, oblique grilles and low windshield fulfilled the looks of ‘Impression’ to become a favorite car of all time.

The story behind this car started at a dinner table with a pen and a dinner napkin. Ken Reister, while having dinner, sketched out the designs of this car. It took him 7 years to bring his design into reality.

The resting model of this car was the perfect design for the roads in the mid 30s. Somewhere, it resembled to the 1936 and the 1937 Ford cards with a sleek and longer body built.

Upon completion of the design, Impression started attracting car lovers across America and was declared to be the ‘America’s Most Beautiful Roadster’ and was also awarded with the ‘Detroit Autorama Ridler Award’. These two awards were the most reputed awards during those days and Impression was the winner of both of these.

Soon after these epic wins, plenty of changes were incorporated into this car. Impression was bejeweled with more than 4,000 hand-built parts.

4. Gold Digger

The term ‘Gold Digger’ is used to symbolize a person who is greedy for wealth. Whatever the person does, he/she does everything out of the greediness of wealth.

Well, this name is the perfect match for this car of the late 1930s. Its look and capability was enough to make anyone greedy to drive it.

The tops of the Gold Digger were custom built according to the owners and the resting wheels helped the car to attract each and every eye on the road. Moreover, the dazzling golden color of Gold Digger completed its name.

The first Gold Digger was built by T & T Customs and as it is said that women loves gold more than men, Tammy Ray bought the first Gold Digger. Tammy Ray owned a gold mine in Georgia.

Gold Digger was awarded with the ‘Ridler Award’ at the ‘2010 Detroit Autorama’.  Its glittering and appealing looks got this award.

5. Radster

Kevin and Karen Alstott’s are the proud owners of this Radster, designed in 1935. The entire body of the Radster was handcrafted, the interiors were totally customized and it was painted in two-toned paint.

Soon after the re launch of Radster, it won the ‘Ridler Award’ at the ‘2006 Detroit Autorama’. Roger Burman of Lakeside Rods & Rides rebuild this car and had never expected it to win the award at the Detroit Autorama.

The journey of Radster’s winning got continued after this; it also won the ‘2007 AMBR and AMBSR’ awards and the ‘2007 Street Rod d’Elegance’ title.

Prior to carving out this model of the Radster, Burman wanted was interested in building a fenderless 1935 roadster; this was never attempted before. Later on, he decided to rebuild this Radstar model which took him two years to complete.

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