By Jim Brennan

UDMan

Within the last week, Barrett-Jackson held their Spring Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is THE sale that usually determines the pricing that prominent collectible automobiles and trucks might be able to command over the next year. Because of the importance of this particular event, it is being covered by almost every automotive blog, print journal, and cable television channel, including Speed, Car and Driver, and of course, CarDomain. Based on the winning bid prices hammered at the close of the event on Saturday evening, it looks like the collectible car is being sought as a safe haven for an attractive investment. Out of over 320 Cars, Trucks, and Motorcycles sold on Saturday, 125 of them fetched over $100,000, Like the car illustrated below, the Buick Blackhawk, which sold for an astonishing $522,500, on a Scrap Title no less! Only one vehicle went over $1 million, and that was in fact the Ford Tri-Motor Airplane.

Continue reading "Final Bids at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale: Too Low, Too High, or a Mixed Bag?" »

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Topo’s widebody Charger was parked over in the West Coast Customs area at SEMA. He’s rolling on 22s with a 7 1/2 inch lip. Besides the obvious body work, there are some cool touches, like the ’63 Biscayne taillights. And if you look closely, you’ll see some G8 bits. More pics after the jump.

Continue reading "Topo's Daily Driver" »

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

CarDomain member madmods hooked us up with a spot in the West Coast Customs welding and fabrication workshop, so Rob and I headed over to the WCC corral to play with a plasma cutter and a tig welder. I’ve never welded or plasma-cut anything, so I was stoked, and Rob was so into it that he’s decided to get a tig when he gets home. I was a total natural at welding without filler material—just stay a little ahead of the puddle!—but my failure at welding the same 90-degree joint with a strip of fill was pretty epic. Plasma cutting, on the other hand, is something I feel like I could do all day long—check out my new placard!

Continue reading "SEMA 2008: Learning The Ropes At West Coast Customs" »

This morning, I hopped into the Team Angry CLS55 AMG, and we headed over to West Coast Customs to have some brunch and check out the shop. Since we were in Southern California, I was hoping that Mexican food would be on the agenda, and I wasn’t disappointed. Along with wash stations to rinse all the road grime off the Bullrun cars, there was a dope taco bar, and I chowed down before heading in to check out the facility. The first ride I saw was this Mercedes CLS55—the same model I’d arrived in—that had been converted from a four-door to a coupe. The job was seamless, and I loved how the conversion  made the car look like a mile long. I also really dug the matte-green Charger parked across from it. I honestly can’t remember the last time I’ve seen such an eye-catching color. God, this thing looked cool.  I’ll post up all the pictures I took in our Events Section after I get back to town, but for now, check out a few more of the sick rides I saw after the jump

Continue reading "Brunch at West Coast Customs!" »

While West Coast Customs has two hit TV shows, a record label, and a line of audio gear, it’s their insane work which really sets them apart. Of course, with the kind of success they’ve achieved, it was only a matter of time before they went worldwide—and that time is now. There’s already a franchise in Malaysia, and in 2008 they expect to open shops in Germany, Australia, and Russia. Perhaps most spectacularly, WCC recently held the grand opening for a location in Dubai. The crew over at our sister blog, SoundDomain, has pics of this facility—thanks Chad!—and it looks insane. Since money is essentially no object in that Middle Eastern playground, the shop is located in a part of town we’d compare to Rodeo Drive, and the walls and floors are covered in marble and travertine! No joke! Hop over to the SoundDomain blog to see more pics!