U.S. hot rod legend Boyd Coddington dies

[tungpo1]

Sad day in the hot rod building world.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080228/ap_on_en_tv/obit_coddington

[bigdisneydaddy]

While its undeniable that many groundbreaking cars left his shop, I always felt that he was better at using other peoples talents than his own. The show did not paint him in a favorable light and there were many people, including his investors in the wheel comapny, who questioned his ethics.
From what I read about the cars built in the show, they were thrown together quickly and it showed in the quality of fit and finish. No matter how you viewed him he is/was an icon of American car culture.

Scott

[ftwildernessguy]

I saw the dedication to him last night on OCC. I gotta agree with Scott about his role in the shop and on the show. I question a lot of these custom build shows like his and OCC - is it really in the best interest of the customer to have these artificial deadlines imposed? If I saw my car or bike being built the way they do sometimes, I would think twice about taking possession.

[bigdisneydaddy]

I think Charlie leaving was a big signal, for those that didnt know, Boyd was working out of his kids shop during the show, because of the bankruptcy of the wheel company Boyd was left with little or no credit. Notice that they never had the parts they needed for a build and nobody would ship things without his ex cutting a check ? I have worked for people that ran their company like this, it is NO fun at all, it takes all the day to day business problems and amplifies them 10x. Notice how several of the big car builds for his buddy Scotty ended up at the next B-J auction ? small coincidence ? not exactly since they were hyped as TV show cars, rumor had it that Scotty put some money up front and they split on the back end. I saw through it early in the show but it always bugged me how Boyd pretended to be the simple hot rod builder.

[loveDmouse]

It was sad to hear of his passing. My husband was watching American Chopper last night and when I woke up he told me about it. (I have been home sick all week)
I had always wondered about that show. I knew it wasn't good when Charlie left. We enjoyed watching it and then it was gone and I never could find when it was ever going to come back on. I see why now. I didn't realize all the bankruptcy and other troubles going on.
63 is young. Sad.

[tungpo1]

Chip Foose is the man:thumbsup2

[loveDmouse]

Chip Foose is the man:thumbsup2

You are right about that. Not only is he extremely talented but he is a great human being too! He does a lot of good things. :thumbsup2

[Mmketeer]

Oh wow, my husband is very saddened to hear this and I was surprised to read he was a former cast member.

It's sad day in the car world...

[LONE-STAR]

Chip Foose is the man:thumbsup2

I was just fixing to say this and you already posted it. But its true.