Car-building legend Boyd Coddington, whose testosterone-injected cable TV reality show “American Hot Rod” introduced the nation to the West Coast hot rod guru, has died. He was 63.
Original Story from The Fresno Bee
California car-building legend Boyd Coddington dies at 63
by Jeff Wilson (AP)
Boyd Coddington died at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in suburban Whittier at 6:20 a.m. Wednesday. His La Habra office spokeswoman Amanda Curry wouldn’t disclose the cause of death.
Coddington, who started building cars when he was 13 and once operated a gas station in Utah, set a standard for his workmanship and creativity, with his popular “Cadzilla” creation considered a design masterpiece. The customized car based on a 1950s Cadillac was built for rocker Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.
“That was a groundbreaking car. Very cool,” said Dick Messer, executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.
“This was your modern era George Barris,” Messer said. “He did things to hot rods and customs that weren’t being done by anyone else. But the main thing is he designed cars that were drivable.”
Coddington was a machinist by trade, working at Disneyland during the day and tinkering with cars in his home garage at night and on weekends. His rolling creations captured the imagination of car-crazy Southern Californians and soon he was building custom cars and making money.
Most often, he customized 1932 Ford “little deuce coupes.”
“It was one of those things when a hobby turned into business,” Messer said, noting Coddington was also “one of the first guys to get into the custom wheel business.”
Wheels by Boyd were fetching $2,000 apiece, which was unheard of two decades ago.
Coddington also surrounded himself with talent. Alumni from his shop include Jesse James and Chip Foose, who went on to open their own shops and star in reality TV shows.
Coddington twice won the Daimler-Chrysler Design Excellence Award and he was inducted into the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame, the National Rod & Custom Museum Hall of Fame and the Route 66 Wall of Fame.
Always dressed in a Hawaiian shirt, Coddington said he loved his “American Hot Rod” Discovery Channel show, which featured ground-up construction of $500,000 hot rods.
“The viewers are … people who lived in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and loved these cars. Now, they have money,” Coddington told The Associated Press in a 2004 interview.
Es triste que este Maestro haya desaparecido. Ha dejado una gran Escuela y espero que muchos hayan aprendido, para que ese conocimiento no se pierda.
Gracias!! Thank You very much!!!
By Tacvbo. May 12th, 2008 at 7:06 pmBoyd coddington open manny doors to the hotrod world his custom cars has allways bin top notch. rest in peace boyd you did good in the hotrod world.
By Ricardo Blas. April 28th, 2008 at 2:02 amI have just learned of Boyds death! So ,so sorry to hear that a legend is gone. He will live on in the cars and the things he taught others. My husband , who lived for custom cars, passed away 6 years ago . He learned a lot from books and tv from Boyd Cottington. He redid very many cars and his son and grandson are following his love for them.I lOVED AMERICAN HOT ROD!!! BOYD WILL BE MISSED!!
By Barb Filer. April 22nd, 2008 at 6:52 ami only watched his tv show,and boy did i learn something different in every episode
By luis f. alicea sr.. April 13th, 2008 at 6:23 pmOn a vacation to Califorina we stoped my the shop to see Boyd, We watched his talent each week. Our thought’s will be with the family.
Texas fan Julian Gann
By Jokey & Renee. April 8th, 2008 at 10:51 amHaving only known him through tv its hard to know the real person but i can say your show inspired me to build a hotrod of my own! i,m one person in a small town i can,t imagine how many others feel the same! hotrodders around the world have lost an inspiration u will be missed by all. god bless the cottington family and may u rest in peace
By chick- champion mi. March 18th, 2008 at 4:29 pmMay God bring peace to Boyd’s family at this time, and may they be strengthened with the knowledge that simply the name “Boyd Coddington” brings instant recognition throughout the entire world of hotrodding. God bless and Godspeed, “Sir” Coddington. You will surely be missed.
By Carnutt51. March 10th, 2008 at 1:10 amGod wanted the BEST to build HIS rod
By Bill Boutell. March 5th, 2008 at 3:23 pmOne of a few real icons in the custom car industry, he will be missed greatly but never forgotten. He was a true gentleman and car lover this was first hand from a meeting with my son. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
By Brian’s Automtoive peekskill ny. March 2nd, 2008 at 6:01 pmHe will be missed but not forgotten just a big fan from Denver, Co. who wishes he could afford one of Boyds great rods. God bless.
By Joe Madrid. March 2nd, 2008 at 5:53 pmR.I.P.
By dave. March 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 amWE WILL MISS YOU. THE LEGEND MUST GO ON. I HOPE THAT THIS WILL REACH HIM SOME HOW.. SADDLY MISSED. I THINK I SPEAK FOR MOST CAR GUY’S AND GIRLS. AMEN
The Godfather of Hot Rods has passed on but will NEVER be forgotten…
RIP BOYD
Be sure to build the man upstairs a Rod or two as only you are worthy of that task.
From FORD and HOT ROD fans here in Sydney Australia
Roy Velardi
Editor of Street Fords and Xtreme Fords magazines
By Roy From Sydney Australia. March 2nd, 2008 at 3:49 amGod bless him and the family, he will be miss. He is right now cruising with God in one of his hotrod and hanging out. My thoughts and prayers goes to the family godspeed to you BOYD!
By Freddie V. BROOKLYN N.Y.. February 29th, 2008 at 5:58 pmwow! he was young
By Ralphw. February 29th, 2008 at 3:47 amIt’s never a good thing to hear, when a big member of the Hot Rodding community is lost-be it national or a local personallity.
By Eliteman76. February 28th, 2008 at 3:51 pmFrom my wife and I-our thoughts to the family and friends.
Our world lost one interesting guy, for sure…
R.I.P.
A legend indeed and one of the best. I miss him already.
By Retyler. February 28th, 2008 at 9:38 amMay God bless his family and love ones, and let us all be thankful for what he gave to us all who love cars.
May his family be at peace soon. They are always hit the hardest. Soo sad when anyone dies. My prayers go out to his family and friends that they may get through this.
By 71hotrodpinto. February 27th, 2008 at 10:37 pmGod Bless….
Boyd was a true legend.
By Sean in Louisiana. February 27th, 2008 at 8:40 pmHis show was fun to watch. And his commitment to custom car excellence will never be forgotten.
To all his family at Boyd Cottington, God Bless.
He will be truly missed in the car world.
Wow - one things for sure: Boyd made a statement, in life, in his work, in his dress and in death. 63 yrs old…he looked reasonably healthy…will be interesting to hear what happened.
By E-tek RACING. February 27th, 2008 at 5:45 pmWe’ll all miss his style.
Boyd set the standard in car building. His talent will live on forever as he was a true Icon. My thoughts are with Boyd and his family. Godspeed keep the petal to the medal
By S.Graham. February 27th, 2008 at 5:36 pmBoyd set the standard in car building. The industry has lost a true Icon. Bless Boyd and his family
By S.Graham. February 27th, 2008 at 5:32 pmThe muscle car world has lost a true legend.
RIP Boyd, you and your unbelieveable talent will be missed.
By Becky. February 27th, 2008 at 3:12 pmI’m so very sorry to hear of your loss… I had only met Boyd a few times over the years, He was always very pleasant. May you find peace in knowing, Boyd touched so many life’s…. The world has lost a true artist… My thought and prayers are with you and your Family.
Very Sadden,
Chip Foose’s younger sister,
By Jodi Foose. February 27th, 2008 at 3:01 pmJodi Foose
I am sure people will comment on his work ethics from the show but remember no one was forced to work for him and he did help quite a few people in need. I pray for his family.
By Scott. February 27th, 2008 at 2:34 pmHe will be missed in the muscle car world , but he spirt will alway be with us at the track ……keep it to the floor BOYD ,,,
By Tony. February 27th, 2008 at 2:33 pmI got to see Boyd up here at the World of Wheels show in Abbotsford BC, his sense of humour and wild shirts will be missed
By Uncle Paul. February 27th, 2008 at 2:15 pmI now wish I had thought to save a copy (of course), but Coddington was the only person to get a custom car on the cover of The Smithsonian magazine back in the ’90’s (I think) with Cadzilla.
I think if we look past the bushwash theatrics of American Hot Rod we would find a hotrodder, not too dissimilar to the likes that haunt Ford Muscle and other performance sites.
R.I.P., Boyd.
By Murff. February 27th, 2008 at 1:13 pmGodspeed Sir, Godspeed……..
By motorhead427. February 27th, 2008 at 12:56 pm