Hot Rods

Hot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. Nobody knows for sure the origin of the term "hot rod." One explanation is that the term is a contraction of "hot roadster," meaning a roadster that was modified for speed. Open roadsters were the cars of choice to modify because they were light.

The term seems first to have appeared in the late 1930s in southern California, where people would race their modified cars on the vast, empty dry lake beds northeast of Los Angeles under the rules of the Southern California Timing Association. The activity increased in popularity after World War II, particularly in California, due to returning soldiers, many of whom had been given technical training in the service. The original hot rods were old cars (most often Fords, typically Model Ts, Model As 1928-31, 1932-34 Model Bs, or V-8s) that had been modified to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics

There is still a vibrant Hot Rod culture worldwide, especially in the United States, The United Kingdom Australia and Sweden. The hot rod community has now been subdivided into two main groups: hot rodders and street rodders. Hot rodders build their cars using a lot of original, old parts, and follow the styles that were popular from the 1940s through the 1960s. Street rodders build cars (or have them built for them) using primarily new parts.

Flames

Flames are one of the oldest painting techniques still used to this day when car styling. They can radiate from pretty much anywhere on the vehicle. Front, sides, wheels, the list is endless though the most popular by far is flowing them from the front. They can come in varying effects from long flowing, short stubby and can be single or multi-coloured.

Perhaps the most traditional flame job is red , orange and yellow flames on a black background giving a visual feeling of power and performance to any vehicle.

Ghost flames can give a subtle but striking effect without giving that 'in your face' look. Tribal flames have also become more popular over recent years giving a more quirky look to the flame design.

Every painter has there own method of masking but the most popular seems to be the use of a mild adhesive-backed masking paper to entirely cover the surface of the vehicle before drawing the flames on then carefully cutting out the flames ready to spray the exposed area.

Done correctly, flames can be the finishing touch to any vehicle.

Custom Paintwork

Here's a great Quick Guide to Custom Paintwork

There is an unlimited variety of paintwork finishes and effects that can now be achieved with the right materials and expertise. This allows you to make your car styling as individual as yourself.

There are many manufacturers in custom paint finishes with quality products that allow you to achieve striking custom paintwork finishes. Using these products you can achieve:

Candy colours
Metal flake finishes.
Pearl finishes
Hyperbase colours
Killer colours (Fluorescents)

A wide variety of colour concentrates are available giving you an almost unlimited colour range to allow your creativity to run wild.

Find a professional refinisher who has suitable facilities and equipment and is prepared to carry out the work. Check out the colour charts and decide on the type of finish you want.

When finished, show it off to the world. That's what car styling is all about!