10 incredible custom cars from the world’s most extreme gear heads

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Published 9:45 AM EDT, Thu June 30, 2016

10 incredible custom cars from the world’s most extreme gear heads | CNN (1)

Blastolene B702 by Randy Grubb for Blastolene —

How does this the Blastolene B702 manage to look both classically traditional and undeniably futuristic? The hand-shaped aluminum body, blue glass grill, and maroon leather interiors were all designed by Randy Grubb, a favorite of celebrity car buff Jay Leno.

And don't be fooled: The car isn't black, but a deep midnight blue.

10 incredible custom cars from the world’s most extreme gear heads | CNN (2)

The Reactor by Gene Winfield —

Gene Winfield's hand-built aluminum Reactor, based on a classic Citroën DS, was something of a small screen celebrity in the 60s. It made guest appearances on "Bewitched," "Star Trek," "Mission: Impossible" and "Batman," in which Eartha Kitt (as Catwoman) once picked up a cackling Joker, played by Cesar Romero.

10 incredible custom cars from the world’s most extreme gear heads | CNN (3)

Orbitron by Ed Roth —

Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's 1964 Orbitron was meant to look like a futuristic drag racer. The body is topped with a plastic bubble top, there's a (now long obsolete) TV in the dash, and the three lights at the front (red, green, and blue) were meant to combine to project a beam of while light.

But one of Orbitron's design features was considerably more dated: the interior is completely lined with baby blue faux fur.

10 incredible custom cars from the world’s most extreme gear heads | CNN (4)

Dodge Deora by the Alexander Brothers —

The Dodge Deora, the 1965 front-loading pickup truck customized by Mike and Larry Alexander, is widely considered the most famous custom car in history.

In fact, the Deora was so famous and revered when it was first introduced that in 1968, Hot Wheels immortalized it as part of its first line of toy cars.

10 incredible custom cars from the world’s most extreme gear heads | CNN (5)

The Galaxian by Paradise Road —

Would you believe that there's a 1928 Ford Model T at the heart of this custom job? Japanese autos shop Paradise Road has completely transformed the classic car by distorting the original shape, showcasing the inner tubing, and finishing it off with a sleek multicolored paint job.

And now it could be yours -- for a cool $1 million.

10 incredible custom cars from the world’s most extreme gear heads | CNN (6)

Cadillac Coupe "Sophia" by John D'Agostino —

With this custom Cadillac, named for screen siren Sophia Loren, the devil is in the details. The white and mint palette extends from the exterior to the leather interiors, the steering wheel is made of Mother of Pearl plastic, and the entire body has been molded for a clean finish.

10 incredible custom cars from the world’s most extreme gear heads | CNN (7)

Ice Cream Truck by Mister Cartoon —

Tattoo artist to the stars Mister Cartoon, whose clients include Lewis Hamilton, Kobe Bryant and Beyoncé, spray-painted this 1963 ice cream truck.

"It's like my own version of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory meets the 'hood," he said in an interview with Dub magazine.

10 incredible custom cars from the world’s most extreme gear heads | CNN (8)

Old Crow Bellytank by Old Crow Speed Shop —

This hot rod -- made from the underbody fuel cell of a WWII Lockheed fighter jet (yes, that's the original paint job), 18-inch milk truck wheels, and a Ford engine from 1932 -- is a testament to creative recycling.

10 incredible custom cars from the world’s most extreme gear heads | CNN (9)

Speedster by Eagle —

British company Eagle has been customizing and revamping Jaguar E-Types for the last 30 years.

Their curvy Speedster, originally designed for an American client in search of something "a bit special," took Eagle head Paul Brace and his team almost 4,000 hours to construct.

10 incredible custom cars from the world’s most extreme gear heads | CNN (10)

Dodge Charger "Tantrum" by SpeedKore Performance Group —

The frame of this Dodge Charger is incredibly light, thanks to a carbon fiber exterior, but a powerful boat engine -- designed by Mercury Marine -- gives it extra power. In fact, it likely gives more power than the car could ever need, if you ask lead builder David Salvaggio.

"The load of an engine from extreme throttling in and out of the water with a boat... is more abuse than any car could ever put on the engine," he says.

10 of the world's most incredible custom cars

CNN —

The world’s most daring one-of-a-kind cars aren’t always made in the rarefied autos plants of Europe. In some instances, they’re expertly constructed in driveways, mechanic shops and film lots around the world, where dedicated engineers are creating new models – and improving on existing models – with enhanced motors, creative paint jobs, and other additions that conventional brands could only dream of.

The photographer who found beauty in hot rods

Now, these autos artisans are being recognized in “The Drive: Custom Cars and their Builders” (Gestalten), a new coffee table book highlighting creatives from California to Japan.

“Many people think you can just buy a car and own it. But some know the truth – the best car is the one you make yourself,” writes Maximilian Funk and Robert Klanten, who edited the book.

“Customizing cars is an obvious extension of the way that we choose cars to put forth some part of our personality or ourselves. They are what we want to be.”

The woman behind the world's most beautiful Rolls-Royce

Check out the gallery above for a look at the most spectacular custom models on the road today.

“The Drive: Custom Cars and their Builders,” published by Gestalten, is out now.

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10 incredible custom cars from the world’s most extreme gear heads | CNN (2024)

10 of the world's most incredible custom cars

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