Nachtfalter- Rudy Rodriguez-built '40 Mercury

Owned by Pual Hoffman, metal-work by Rudy Rodriguez of Fullerton Fabrications, paint and body by Hot Rods and Hobbies. This one will forever change the rules...







The detail of this car overwhelms me with it's simplicity...








The reflection on the top pours down the sail panels, on to the catwalk and decklid, and down to the ground. The same way water pours down the curves of a naked woman's body....



We will be seeing much more of this car in the near future.

Your Man Cave Blows

The term "man cave" sounds inherently homosexual, but I don't care about that. It's the concept of the man cave that I find so infuriating.

Maybe it's because I can't subscribe to giving up the entire house, minus one shitty little room, for what I consider important. How does one go about relinquishing all control in a relationship? And where does it end?

This is how so-called men end up driving mini-vans and Jettas. This is how The Bachelor plays on the flat-screen and Monday Night Football is lucky to air on the old tube TV.

Now I'm not saying put your Pam Anderson poster in the living room, but don't let that which makes you a man be forever banished to that place where the door is to remained closed.

So put up that hot rod photo where everyone can see it, display that bowling trophy, and wear your Iron Maiden shirt with pride.

Grow a pair, men....reclaim your castle!

Steve Caballero's Coupe

Steve Caballero's old model A, built by Steve and Alex Gambino. This is just one of those hot rods that looks fun as hell to drive.

Salinas Olympic Coupe

The funny thing about this pic is it sucks. No matter, though, the car speaks for itself.

I'd only seen the Cole Foster built '36 Ford for Kirk Hammet in pics on the internet and in magazines. When I came across it a few years back at the Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, it wasn't in display in the car corral with the other cars. I had jokingly asked a friend if the car was ever going to show again and he told me, "It's here."

It was in the pits with the trailers and vendors, and it stopped me dead in my tracks. I don't recall staring at a car as long as I stared at the Salinas Olympic Coupe. The lines are pure perfection. That's saying a lot as '36 Fords are perfect from the factory, yet somehow, Cole topped perfection.

'53 Chevy

This '53 Chevy has always been a favorite of mine. Once owned by Todd Gravelle of Salinas Boyz fame, later by Rob Fortier, it has an early '50's vibe, a heavy, yet stylish chop (a roof swap from a '49-52 Chevy sedan, so I'm told), and one of the best tail-light treatments ever!

Pic of the Day

I'm starting something new for Suffocation Nation, a pic of the day post. The main reason is to go through some of my old stuff that I may have forgotten about or some of my favorites and bring them to light again. Some may be historical cars, some of great importance within our culture, or some that are just cool. I'm sure this idea will evolve, so watch for updates and send me some feedback on what you like.

The Sam Barris Merc is going to start us off. This car is an obvious choice for me as it's probably the most historic custom of it's time. It's widely regarded as the first chopped Mercury (although many debate the Quesnel Merc was chopped first), but that's not why I'm putting it up here. This photo represents something more. The restoration of the car was completed by Brizio's shop just in time for the West Coast Kustoms show in Paso Robles, 2007. The Daryl Hollenbeck paint-job was so fresh the vapors could be smelled when approaching the car and the tail-lights and interior had yet to be installed. This was one of the greatest moments in recent custom history as the younger generations had the opportunity to see what started it all, yet it was also one of the worst as it marked the last Paso. The show has continued in Santa Maria, but much of what made Paso special is gone forever.

So take a close look at this picture, marvel the profile of this beautiful 1949 Mercury and the mile-deep paint, but also check out the background....the Paso Robles Inn and the people tell a story as well.

Bring The Noise

Or don't.

My new Canon 40D in action at the 2010 California Hot Rod Reunion...







I definitely could put a fixed and a better zoom lens to work, but I'm pretty stoked with how these turned out.

Full coverage from the event coming later this week.