02-27-08: Famous hot-rod builder and designer Boyd Coddington died this morning of undisclosed causes at 63.
Most recently known in enthusiast circles from his involvement in the hit cable TV series, American Hot Rod, Boyd has come into our living rooms with his creativity and innovative team leading persona. Obituaries around the net tell that he grew up in rural Idaho and moved to Southern California.
His creations in the rod world include several well known customs that include works for ZZ-Top. He won several awards for cars such as the Boydster, Smoothster, Alumacoupe and Chezoom. He also dabbled in the Mustang realm in 2003 with the Boyd Codington / Roush California Roadster. The customized Mustang built by Roush and designed in part with Coddington featured a unique two tone pain scheme that later became very popular in Mustang custom circles, as well as distinctive Boyd Coddington designed wheels.
His line of wheels were a large part of his legacy. The unique billet and cast wheels have been a significant part of the aftermarket custom business since the early 1990’s. We shall all miss his innovative style, his creations, and his influence on the custom car world.
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Boyd Coddington, the hot-rod innovator whose creations won the coveted Grand National Roadster Show's America's Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) trophy a record six times, died Wednesday morning of undisclosed causes. He was 63.
Coddington was raised in rural Idaho but moved to Southern California as soon as he could to pursue his dream of building hot rods. He quickly earned a reputation for subtle, stylistic innovations on what had been an almost overdone theme--the '32
Ford roadster. That branched out to '33s, '34s and then all manner of surprising twists on iconic themes. Names such as Boydster, Smoothster, Alumacoupe and Chezoom redefined what a rod could be.
His wheels were equally well known, particularly those shaved from billet aluminum. He soon earned the nickname "Billet Boyd" for his techniques machining aluminum.
One of his best qualities was his ability to gather talented partners to produce his many fine creations.
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http://www.boydcoddington.com/store/Albums/Default.aspx
This man will be sorely missed in the automotive enthusiast world
RIP Boyd, and best wishes for his family and closest friends.