American Hot Rod
American Hot Rod is a reality television series that originally aired between 2004 and 2007 on the Learning Channel and Discovery Channel. The series followed car designer Boyd Coddington and his crew as they built hot rods and custom vehicles at his wheel and car shop in La Habra, California. The show was known for its frequent rows and bust-ups, and a high staff turnover rate. Some crew members went to work for Overhaulin's Chip Foose, a former partner of Coddington's, for a more relaxed environment; even Coddington's own son could not work there for long.
| American Hot Rod | |
|---|---|
Boyd Coddington (r) and his wife Jo sign autographs aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Nimitz in 2005 | |
| Starring | Boyd Coddington |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 76 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Craig Piligian |
| Production locations | La Habra, CA |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company | Pilgrim Films & Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | The Learning Channel, Discovery Channel |
| Release | January 13, 2004 – September 27, 2007 |
The series ended when Coddington died, following complications from surgery, in February 2008. The car shop closed on June 20, 2008.
Custom cars built during the series included the "Alumatub", a '61 Impala Bubbletop, a '63 Chevy Corvette Stingray, and a '42 Woodie. In July 2007, the shop made an Elvis Tribute Car, a modified 1957 pink Cadillac, sponsored by Reese's.