The Rudy truck now resides in La Jolla,CA. The local Bentley/ Rolls dealer bought it at the Speed & Style auction. It's on display in the showroom, but not for sale. Low Life
I was going to post some pics of other cars Rudy has built stuff that is way more relevant to the HAMB and an image search landed me on his shop site. So apparently he has moved out of his garage and into a bigger shop. Pretty rad. fullertonfabrications.com/
Kool, I didn't know that Rudy had built anything but "Rudy's truck" I can't wait too see more builds. I've always loved the truck.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=402440&highlight= http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=407918&highlight=
Built by rudy Rodriguez. I have no way of knowing if this is the truth, historically speaking, and not sure it really matters in the overall scheme of things, but I've been told by people whose knowledge I respect and trust, that this is the first truck to have been built in this style. Regardless of whether or not it is or isn't, it's neat little truck that is exceptionally well engineered and has been well proven over many thousands of road miles. Here's a picture I took in Winnemuca several years ago and fooled with in PhotoShop. Here's a picture I took at the museum in April. This is the way the truck looked, more or less, after Rudy built it. It sold at auction for over 50 G's. More than I would have thought. Rudy Rodrigeuz has built quite a few cars that are nicer than this one by miles and miles, but I still like this one, even though it's not really my kinda hot rod. The guy does some neat work. Rich
10-15 yrs ago I lived in Buena Park and I had a neighbor named Rudy who did some bitchin work in his backyard. At the time he had a chopped merc and was a MBZ mechanic. Is this the same Rudy??????????
Rich, there was another truck built in a similar fashion around the same time..i have never seen it.... but the hooker truck is still around and has the look a lot of people wanted to emulate and/or copy. for the uneducated.... CK Deluxe... cant remember what issue, but long before the mag was bought out.
Gues I've seen that in a rag a couple years ago and didn' pay any attention to who the builder was. Ive built 4 mid thirties fenderless trucks because I like them. And they sell rather well.
Boy do I feel stupid....It's a Monday. I've seen other Rudy builds. The Merc is just awesome, the chop has a lot of attitude. Thanks for the link Happy Trails, Mick
Every once in a while someone builds a car that people try to copy and emulate, and they all fail miserably. Creating a fucked up trend in the process. This is one of them, 'lil John's 3W is another. And eventhough they kickstarted trends I personally dont care for, there is something "right" about those first cars... ( and I'd own the 3W, if I could... Bring it back to what it looked like when I saw it in HRM.)
cant really add anything other than it sure would be nice if people copied the other stuff he built. That heavily chopped 34 three window in his shop photos is just perfect.
Too true. No other will be the first time you've seen that exact look. I dig both of them, but I really can say I would never have done most of the details that make them what they are. Not my favorite combination but, I did get some ideas, though. I started building my truck fenderless before attitudes turned them so cliche, but I didn't go that way to be in a trend. I happen to like some of the elements. Put mine side by side with the Rudy truck and you won't find much in common once you get past the absence of fenders. Oh, I will sleep better knowing where I left that thing...
Is the truck displayed in the showroom of a Bentley / Rolls dealer? Thought that was two different worlds....
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