Lil' John's new buggy

I dogeard those mags. with the Strohs modified to death!

I'm hoping your new project might have something to do with a return to your roots. Say a vintage competition coupe, bantam altered or ????

 

John, welcome to the board. The last time I saw you was when you drove your rod from so-cal to the street rod nationals in Columbus, ohio. At the host hotel parking lot, you were engaged in a conversation with Tom Mcmullen about real hot rodders driving their hot rods.

 

I think this should be why we all build cars!
To many people seem to be worried about the next magagzine feature or pro's pick/trophy. Whenever I go home from a car show, I leave in my favorite car...the one I built.

I've always liked the way Lil' John looks forward, rather than back when building his cars.

 

Yeah...those are the words I was looking for...

 

That's what it's supposed to be about building what YOU want, someitmes some of these guys forget that. That being said Butterra probbly has more talent than any ten guys on this board put together. Oh and Wayne Leary said to tell ya hi.

 

I wasn't going to comment on this post and maybe I shouldn't, but here goes. Whether you like the car or not is not so important, what I think is important is what Mr. Buttera has done in his life with cars. The guy freaking built an Indy car at home !!!!!!! I think it all boils down to a matter of respect...Respect for someone who has pushed the envelope time after time. The bottom line is; he could out-build anyone here on the HAMB and that's saying something; because some the fabricators here on the HAMB are so talented it's amazing.

 

That's awesome! You guys are lucky there are no F-bombs in that text....

This guy whittled a steering wheel on his CNC machine. He didn't like it, and decided at the last minute to whittle another one before leaving in the morning to drive the car on a shakedown cruise from his home in CA to Indy. Right out of the box, the car was to be driven cross country. So, he sleeps where he can watch the CNC machine from his bed, and through the night kept tabs on it, and it was done in the morning. Put it on and left.

Now, it's not Trad rodding, but it is all hand made and one-off parts, and that's bad ass. John is a kick in the pants, and the car, when really studied, is a freakin' one car art show. The wheels were made specifically for each corner of the car, and the rest is just cool.

I like it, and if any of you guys ever end up with it, and don't like it 'cause it's not a belly button rat rod I'll gladly take it off of your hands.

Brandon.

 

Hi lil` john ! Im with you , I built mine the way I wanted it ! and it has gone in and out of style ! but I like it the way I see it ! not others , and I drive the hell out of it ! mine just past the being cool point again ? " old school " a year or to ago ? because of my firewall, you inspiried ! thank you, raidiall tires , alternator, unilite dist msd , and sit`s to low ? Im not stuck in time ! and have a new six speed behind the flat head , and am looking foward to the future of hot rod`s ! whipple supercharger , is next on the list ! aghhh ? I have enjoyed learning from you ! over the years thank`s Casey.

 

I'd start buying Hot Rod again,

if they had new articles by Lil' John .

 

showing my age here
got to ride in the tall t at minn dragways around the pits when he was in town for the nats that summer ( i did not have d. license then)a friend of mine was on the pit crew for t. hoover and knew him well from chassis building their funny.
rear tires rubbed a little but was the nicest finished rod i rode in for number of years ... so cool to be in a magazine car!!!
a inspirational day
paperdog

 

Looks like some pretty good bodywork. I'd like to see the chassis. The wheels aren't my cup-o-tea, but it's not my car.

 

I like it but the WHEELS?

 

Preface: Mr lil john ia one of the most talented builders that this hobby has ever known. Does that mean his cars are universally liked?
Impossible!
I like this car, but body looks like a toaster. I prefer paint, flat or shiny. I like older wheels, wire or steel.
I say this with the utmost of respect for a man that is a true pioneer.
I don't think anyone here should waste a moment of time worrying whether everyone likes their ideas.

 

Picking on Lil' John cars on this site is like picking on Super Models on a fat chick appreciation (ok- BBW to be P.C.) site. They both aren't even in the same universe. I had a first love puppy dog crush on the brown T in grade school, but as they got smoother the cars went further away from my own personal tastes that were more in line with what I would eventually find in the Don Montgomery books. Does it mean I can critique work I could NEVER accomplish in 10 lifetimes- HELL NO!!!
Lil' John deserves a lot more respect than "keyboard rodders" knocking on his cars.

 

The wheels are good-looking five spokes, with a deep lip. What's not to like? They look even better up close, and match the rest of the detailing in shape and texture. I'll take a set for my Plymouth...

No, they are not $40.00 pep boy smoothies, or vintage Kelsey Hayes bent-spokers, but the design isn't as bad as you guys are making it out to be... you guys just have the "billet blinders" on. Good design is good design. hahaha.

I'm not losing sleep over any of this, but they are pretty neat.... but then again, I like muscle cars too.

 

Thank you...

One could learn alot about fabricating by just looking at one of his builds .... the T is the one that got me really paying attention to detail when building something

CC

 

Damn Jim, probably one of the most profound statments I have ever heard you make.

Yes Lil' is in a league of his own from the Race Car chassis he has built over the years to the start of a Movement called "Billet".

He has always let the way and never followed anybody.

You don't have to like all the stuff he has done, but He deserves respect.

 

Lil John - do it how you want to do it mate. You don't have to explain anything (but I'm knocked out that you have posted).

What the car looks like is down to the builder - you can follow fashion or you can create a trend if you have the talent. How many of these dyed in the wool traditionalists were lusting after a pastel coloured Boydster ten years ago.

Trends come and go - skills and talent like yours transcend all that.

 

This isn't some sort of sucking up to a Hot Rod legend but I agree with him.......Ok the wheels aint my choice and not sure about the mirror scallops but the proportions are just right...build what the fuck you want and don't even consider some ass with an opinion..
I have a very shiney A roadster (OOOh not satin black and it has fenders, bollox it has mud guards or wings as the english call them) and a very cool Nash Kustom (that's shiney too) and what the fuck I just paid for them...that's right I didn't even build them..I have to admit I admire people who build cars as I just don't have the time and to be honest can't be arsed...and don't have the cash (both cars I have I paid less than half what they would have cost to build)
Lil John, I don't really like the modified but It has potential.. build what you like..it's your time and money..

 

One thing I personally hate about forums is the way certain keyboard heroes will say a car is shit or rubbish or cackey poo, when that is really just their opinion. Some might call it 'freedom of speech' but I call it ignorance!

It is all about personal preference, and god forbid we should all like or want the same style of car, but if you don't like a car some guy has built, then say you don't like it, but don't tell the world it is shit because that makes you look like an ignorant turd!

This says it all about derogatory car critics:

Don't tell me what you are going to do, SHOW ME WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!

 

John is a craftsman and builds some cool shit! I happen to like the older cars he did rather than the new one but thats me. He builds some kick ass bikes too. Im not gonna go any farther. I like what i like and you like what you like.. Enuff said.
DAVE

 

Think about this. His old cars that many of you covet were just as advanced as this modified is right now. They just look old now... The T was light years ahead of it's time, and sports the very same suspension you thumb your trad-only nose at. The Stroh's car does not look much different fundamentally than this one, they were even side by side at one event... and if for nothing else, you gotta respect that it wasn't even done more than a few hours and he jumped right in it and drove it thousands of miles. Yes, it had a few bugs, but it made it there and back. He's not building old cars that will appeal to the HAMB, he's still pushing the envelope and the front axle on this car has more beauty than 60% of the cars in the "post your ride" thread... you don't have to like it, but it's apples and oranges.

 

its quality and craftsmanship is better than anything i will ever build but this one isnt pleasing to the eyes.

 

its good to see John in here! I agree with fathack, that new modified car deserves some coverage in the street rod magazines. Buttera cars always set the standard for others. The new car has alot of slick details that could fill several pages but all you see is the latest fiberglass rat rod painted to look rusty evry month. I loved chris Butteras old 69 camaro street machine. That is the car that first turned me on to Lil Johns work. Time to give credit where its due. Thank you for a life time of inspiration.

 

It is not my taste of car either and that is just my honest opinion like it or not.

 

I didn't say 60% were lacking... I said it was an exceptionally nice front axle! There's a difference....

 

more pics

 

Whoa! Thanks for posting those pictures, Penfifteen! I've been wanting to see more of this car since the first postage stamp sized pictures appeared in some of the "leading" magazines months and months ago!

Word is, it will be in a magazine feature real soon, though!

Buttera and Robinson (aka "Fat Jack") have been my two car-building idols since I got into cars back in my early teens! VERY cool to be seeing more of this car and hearing a few words from a long-time Hero as well!