South City Rod & Custom Shop Tour: Diverse Hot Rod Builds | Behind the Build Ep. 7

South City Rod & Custom: A Diverse Hot Rod Shop

• 💡 South City Rod & Custom, led by Bill Ganahl, is highlighted for its diverse and award-winning custom car builds.
• 🏆 The shop has gained national recognition, winning accolades such as Builder of the Year and Street Rod of the Year.

Family Legacy: Bill's Father's Roadster

• 🚗 A significant build is Bill Ganahl's father's 1954 or earlier period-correct roadster.
• 🛠️ This car features a 331 Cadillac engine mated to a 40 Ford transmission and a 34 Ford banjo rear, built with components from 1954 or earlier.
• 👨‍👦 Bill cherishes the car as a piece of family history, honoring his father's legacy as a writer and builder.

The St. Christopher Coupe: A Standout Build

• 🔥 The shop's national prominence surged after unveiling the multicolored St. Christopher Coupe (a '33 Ford) at the 2023 Grand National Roadster Show.
• 🎨 This Willys hot rod features a unique candy blue over black flame paint job, designed to make it stand out.
• 🏆 The car was built with a race car theme, including wheelie bars and a parachute, and ultimately won Hot Rod of the Year.

1968 Dodge Charger: Modern Power, Classic Style

• 💨 A 1968 Dodge Charger build blends classic Mopar design with modern Hemi power.
• 🔧 The build aimed to retain a 1960s aesthetic, with custom-tuned bumpers and a focus on OEM-like engine bay presentation, rather than a typical modern pro-touring look.
• 💡 The interior is a standout, featuring custom 3D-printed and machined components designed to look traditional and subtle.

Tribute Truck Build

• 🚚 A sentimental project involves building a truck in tribute to a late friend.
• 🚀 This build features a Roadster Shop chassis, full air ride, and a carbon fiber hood.
• 🛢️ Special attention was given to the bed treatment, fabricating custom elements to accommodate the air ride without compromising the bed's appearance.

Shop Philosophy: Tradition Meets Technology

• 🧩 Bill Ganahl describes his shop's approach as a blend of tradition and new technology, sometimes humorously calling it an "identity crisis."
• 🚀 While focusing on diverse projects, the shop emphasizes attention to detail, vibrant colors, and building cars that are meant to be driven.