As hot rodding and customizing boost into the new millennium , the hobby ’s international pursuit became stronger and more seeable , especially in Japan . The " Rod"riguez spicy rod is a fine example of a Nipponese hot rod .
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pursuit in American rods and custom among the Japanese had been arise steady since the mid 1980s . Japanese enthusiasts began import vintage American cars and parts , and soon they were building hot rods and custom of their own . By the early 2000s , Japan bluster a distinctive and thriving red-hot rod and custom panorama .
In February 1987 , Junichi Shimodaira started a business in Nagoya , Japan , call Paradise Road . In addition to import American car and parts , Paradise Road became a full - inspection and repair hot rod , custom , and lowrider shop equal to of a variety of construction tasks . In 2002 , Junichi wrench a 1930FordModel A Tudor sedan into a unwarranted show rod that he describe " Rod"riguez .
" Rod"riguez combine hot rod , customs duty , and lowrider styling pool stick in a completely original way . The startling , show - rod - inspired nose was made by cut off the ends of a 1959 Cadillac front bumper and welding them to a hand - manufacture nitty-gritty grille section . The grille opening was replete with expanded metal mesh and hardware - store coat hooks .
The body was radically carry over the shape , and the chair edge of the cowl was reshape to complement the outlandish grille shell . invert 1958Chevroletparking - light bezels were frenched into sculpture pods to serve as tail lamp .
The frame itself was boxed and Z’d four inches up front and six inches in the derriere . Traditional hot rodsuspensioncomponents consisted of a TCI dropped - axle kit up front and a Chevy 10 - bolt rearward death with tube shocks and a TCI fountain out back .
A 303 - cid Rocket V-8 and Hydra - Matictransmissionfrom a 1949 Oldsmobile was installed . The factory was essentially stock , but got a far - out show perch face via a ' 60s - style fogged rouge caper , a impost treble - inletcarburetorscoop , custom - made wavelike headers , and mess of chrome . A radiator from a ' 68 Mustang was mounted behind the wild nose .
In this phase , " Rod"riguez was sport in the February 2003 issue of Cruisin ' , a Nipponese hot rod and custom cartridge clip . Junichi still had more idea , and tore " Rod"riguez down for a redo . The top was chopped in a unique hero manner .
The rear of the top was left at line of descent height , but the A- and B - pillars were cut four and two inch , severally , to bring the top down at a rakish novel angle . The original grille insert was put back with a new one fabricated from square tubing , complete with a stylized gold " R " in the center .
Junichi also added wildly sculpted fender , craft in metallic element . Spiderweb - work supports were fashioned from chromed rebar perch to hold the forward sections in place . Cragar Star Wire wheels with bullet centre caps were mounted on ' LX - style whitewalltires .
For the second go - around , the torso was land up in Tequila Gold metal paint , with telling pinstriping by multitalented Japanese artist Makoto Kobayashi of M&K Custom Signs .
" Rod"riguez ’s interior equalize the genre - bend style of its outside . The dash and bore panel were left mostly line . Custom - made seats with segmented cushions in between out tube frames were mounted bland on the floor . The flatulence storage tank and assault and battery were hidden behind the seat , underneath furry , ' LX show rod - expressive style carpet . An early ' 60s Fordsteeringwheel was cut down into an aircraft panache yoke , yet another ' 60s show rod - inspired trick .
Junichi shipped his prize to the U.S. , where he entered it in the 2005 Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona , California . He and his car were also on script for the 2005 West Coast Customs Cruisin ' subject in Paso Robles .
Junichi is prominent among a new wave of Nipponese car enthusiast that convey a brisk perspective and groundbreaking ideas to the humans of hot rodding and tailor-make in the other 2000s . Concurrently , several American hot rodding celebrity made the long trek over to Japan to be honored guests at the Mooneyes Yokohama Hot Rod and Custom Show .
This ill-tempered - continental hybridizing - pollination of building ideas and finish provided an exciting jibe in the weapon system for red-hot rod and impost building trends . honest of all , the blossom forth Nipponese panorama attend to as evidence that the liveliness of live rodding and tailor-make transcends ethnic , geographical , and linguistic barriers .
