Builders Showcase
While many hot rodders build their own cars, a significant proportion of the hotrods out there today have been built by professional builders. Their work runs the gamut from turning out fully completed, one- off cars built literally from scratch to helping hot rodders complete those aspects of their car construction that they themselves just aren’t capable of.
Professional builders have been the innovators, often the trend setters in hot rodding. It’s their skill, their ingenuity, their resourcefulness that have resulted in the creation of some of the automotive industry’s most innovative, celebrated cars. When you look at the sophistication and inventiveness of their building techniques coupled with their extraordinary flair for design, you could easily make the case that the epicenter for all automotive design worldwide resides right here in the good old U.S.of A’s hot rod builder community.
This is why we wanted to create a separate place on this site for professional builders called BUILDERS SHOWCASE. We know their latest project cars are of real interest to all hot rodders, so we wanted to provide a central forum where builders could show their latest creations to the entire KruzinUSA national community.
The BUILDERS SHOWCASE will have two parts: the first will highlight a single builder and show a complete gallery of their work; the second will provide a national listing of builders with a brief sampling of some of their project cars. In both cases we have provided a direct hotlink to their respective websites so you can get a more in-depth look at their operations. If you’re interested in seeing some of the most innovative cars on this planet, we would encourage you to visit their sites.
Brent's Bad to the Bone Big Block Vettes
Those of you that have been on this site before know that we're big fans of Brent Jarvis, owner and driving force behind Performance Restorations, a premier hot rod shop out of Mundelein, Illinois.
A lot of you have commented about the fact that Brent not only builds his creations as drivers, but he often races them too. For example, here's his show winning, street legal, (yeah, he drives it to cruise nights!), blown Pro Street '59 Corvette that can run in the 7's all day:
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Here's his daily driver, a '68 Chevelle that's not only a great autocross car, but can turn high 10's with ease:
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Well this past summer Brent out did himself; he built 2 vintage '65 fastback Corvette Sting Rays as his new personal rides.
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This first one was built just for vintage road racing and is absolutely period correct in terms of body, chassis, suspension, drive train, even it's Nassau Blue color. It's powered by an L88, 427 big block that hauls major booty when Brent's racing it in the SVRA vintage circuit.
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The other Vette is an all out, no holds barred street machine powered by a 900 HP, all aluminum, 565 ci big block that's hooked to a G-Force 5 speed. With 3:08 gears in the rear end, top speed close to 200 MPH.
It's already won a Builder's Choice award at Good Guys and 3 separate awards at the recent SEMA show. And it just won the ISCA Street Machine Championship. It won 4 "Best in Class" and 4 "Best of Show Street Machine" awards. It was also a "Select Six" winner at the Chicago World of Wheels.
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Brent regularly brings both of these Vettes to the monthly Park on Park cruise night.
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Their entrance to the cruise night is like nothing you've ever heard. Both of these badass machines use straight through, side pipe exhausts with no mufflers, so when that Vette duo arrives they cannot be ignored. Brent says that big block stereo rumble is "music to my ears."
But rather than talk about it, we'll let you hear exactly what they sound like. Take a gander at this video of Brent and his 2 unique, bellowing, big blocks;
If you liked the Big Block Blues, you'll love the VooDoo that he do. Check out the VooDoo Larry Kustoms Update
Get all the details from our favorite magic man. VooDoo Larry Kustoms
Have a look at a shop that turns out the hottest of Hot Rods. Getz's Hot Rods
See the man and his ride in action, Brent Jarvis tears up GoodGuys. Ain't no Trailer Queen
This is where the Big Block Blues were born. It's all there in Brent Jarvis and Performance Restorations
VooDoo Larry Kustoms Update
Talk about multi-tasking! All I can say is my latest trip to Voodoo Larry Grobe's shop shows that this hot rod building genius' talents are much in demand!
Right off the bat there's a bright red addition to the roster. Turns out that it is the original Hot Rod Lincoln of country singing legend Charlie Ryan fame. The current owner purchased the car directly from Ryan's widow and now wants a full restoration. This is going to be a hot rod for the ages and surely Charlie is smiling down knowing his pride and joy is in very capable hands.
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The VooDoo Psychosis is back together, ready for the show circuit this year. You'll see the "old" deck lid of the VooDoo Psychosis has been replaced. Louvered steel now graces the rear of this minty green gem and the old lid is now art on the wall.
This ride is in high demand; it will be the headliner at the Cruis'n Wisconsin show in July.
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This is a '50 Chevy whose headlights are getting the Voodoo Larry treatment. As we said before, ground up restos to individual one of a kind touches make this your shop for Kool Kustoms!
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The '63 Caddy has been shopped since our last visit and they're starting on the air ride suspension.
Before:
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After:
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Bothe the Jag and the '28 Sedan are nearing completion.
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Larry still has Bonneville yearnings and plans to tear up the flats SoCal style, only now in a new ride. The new belly tank is off a P38 and is a roomy 14'. (At well over 6' Larry needed a little more room.) You'll see the new tank suspended above the shop. The "old" drop is up on the auction block, so now (if you want), you can make your old school drag racing dreams come true in Voodoo Larry style. Take a look at what else is going on in Larry's kingdom.
Earlier this year the Chicago World of Wheels asked LArry to oversee the Motorama area of their show; it's devoted to old school Kustoms and Hot Rods. It was so successful Larry was asked to host again for 2011. If you were unable to make it to the Chicago leg of World of Wheels, here is a brief look at what Larry pulled together.
If you want to get close to this genius, Larry opens his shop Saturdays for customer appreciation, but call first; this is one busy dude! His club the VooDoo Kings hosts a cruise night in Itasca, IL at Buona Beef. They can get up to 200 cars a night. And be sure to mark your calendars for August 1st. It's Voodoo Larry Kustoms 3rd ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE. Last year he had over 200 cars with nearly 1,000 people in attendance. Vendors, raffles and Kustoms - what a way to spend a Sunday. If you find yourself in the Chicagoland area his summer keep your eyes out at local cruise nights; Larry really tries to get his rides around to different show. Just look for the hugh crowds around a cool car and a guy with really fly hair in the middle of it and you've hit the jackpot!
To keep up to date with the goings on at Voodoo Larry Kustoms you can visit them at Voodoo Larry Kustoms.com
VooDoo Larry Kustoms
Aptly named, VooDoo Larry Kustoms in Schaumburg, IL is a hot rod shop that has an awful lot going on. Looking at the work coming out of this hot rod hotbed, plainly VooDoo Larry Grobe works magic with metal. He's turning out some of the most original, innovative, unexpected and leading edge Kustoms you'll ever see. Larry will do anything from a ground up restoration to a custom one of a kind part to pinstriping that'll blow your mind and everything in between. With 30 years of experience under his belt it is easy to see Larry has really perfected his unique craft. His reputation is built on turning out hot rods and kustoms that set new boundaries. His attention to detail, gifted craftsmanship, creativity and ever changing pallet of work are renowned with the Old Skool Kustom culture.
That reputation has his shop full to capacity with a waiting list that could fill his shop twice again. He is currently working on a ground up resto of a '67 Jag, on Old's Coupe with all original tags and title with great historical value; said wheels once belonged to Mr. Al Capone! Once that bad boy is finished it will have show car guts and the VooDoo Larry treatment on the skins. Look for it at the 2011 Ink & Iron show. In addition there are three sedans in various stages of completiona dn of course Larry's own personal projects: The VooDoo Belly Tank, an awesome concept that Larry wants to turn into a racer and hopefully one day take it for a rip at Bonneville, "just race it like they did in '48, 100 mph, nothing extreme". The 1950 VooDoo Buick (that too will debut at the 2011 Ink & Iron) and the VooDoo Psychosis, a '31 Ford Maodel A, this car has been making the circuit for the past year but is in the shop for some minor mods. Take a look at some of VooDoo Larry's projects:
The Jag
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The Old's
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'28 Sedan
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Larry's rides:
The VooDoo Drop Tank
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VooDoo Buick
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VooDoo Psychosis
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The VooDoo Psychosis in action:
A note about the his shop, Larry says "if you take care of your shop, your shop takes care of you." How true that is. In one word, his shop is IMMACULATE! It exemplifies Larry dedication to perfection and unwavering commitment to producing only outstanding work. In addition to being a fine tuned space for Larry to work, the shop is a mini museum with unique artifacts throughout. Most notable are the matching set of Jimmy Jones needle nose bubble skirts proudly hanging from the rafters, a rare display to say the least. Take a look at his shop and you can see his artistry extends to the space around him.
VooDoo Larry Kustoms isn't a cookie cutter shop; no two builds are the same. When asked if he had a favorite, VooDoo Larry simply says, "they're all good". And that "good" sure gets attention! Larry has a basement full of awards and trophies, and he's certainly no stranger to the press. Larry frequently appears in the pages of Car Culture Deluxe and Old Skool Rods, where incidentally he was featured in their very first issue. He even has the distinction of being the first guy to push the pin up girl off the cover of Old Skool Rods! Take a look at some of his past work and you can see for yourself why anything in lipstick and heels can't hold a candle to this VooDoo!
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Some of Larry's Pinstriping
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Larry is the personification of passion, passion for his work and the Kustom Kulture. He is the president and founder of the VooDoo Kings Car Club, a club that over the past 10 years has grown to membership that now extends to 6 different states. He hosted the Brushmaster's Pinstriping Panel Jam; the works of the over 40 pinstripers that attended are going to be auctioned off at this years O'Riley Auto Parts World of Wheels in Chicago with the proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House Charities. Larry is so instrumental and respected in the world of Kustoms that he was asked to host the MotoRama Section of this year's O'Riley Auto Parts World of Wheels in Chicago, giving him the opportunity to showcase great Kustoms the way only VooDoo Larry knows how. Although easily the King of Kool, Larry Grobe is one of the nicest, most down to earth guys you'll ever meet.
If you are interested in this year's MotoRama, want to buy a piece of the VooDoo Larry Kool, (his merchandise is off the hook) have questions about a project or just want more info about Larry and his work check out his site VooDooLarryKustoms.com. When he says no one do that VooDoo like he do he ain't kidding!!
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