Hot Rod Pinup Megan O'Mary Megan is the epitome of, "the girl next door" complete with an affinity towards sci-fi and horror films and her own perspective on alien abductions!  Looking closer at this sweet and sassy little pinup, we find she's really "the girl next door" with a twist. Soon to be 21 year old Megan O'Mary is not afraid to tell you what's on her mind or to put herself in the spotlight. Her tattoos and crimson red hair make Megan stand out in a crowd and it's a combination of her great looks and her winning personality and charm that helped Megan score the title of Miss Grand National Roadster Show 2011. If you missed the pinup contest, check out her photos below and her  interview from 'outta this world' with me. Congrats on your pinup contest win at the 2011 GNRS. Speaking of cars...This question might make some of the guys cringe - but how would you customize your own 55 Chevy to make it the ultimate girl-mobile? I LOVE 55 Chevys but I am a girly girly but not that much! I'd probably deck it out...

Custom Studebaker Pickup from 2011 Grand National Roadster Show I promised I had a few customized Studebakers up my sleeve that I found at the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show....so here's #2 (Check out this Studebaker Ute if ya missed #1!) Who's ever seen a Studebaker pickup like this one!? Believe it or not, this 1949 Studebaker Pickup has been in the works for about 25 years. When the current owner, John Saltsman, got the truck it had already been chopped about 6" by "Merc John." With a small block Chevy drivetrain (just like my Studebaker coupe,) John used it as his daily driver on long commutes for at least 8 years. As John drove it, his vision for what he wanted it to become grew. He had a "wild and mild" proportioned-custom in his mind. As its been completed, this Custom 1949 Studebaker Pickup has a laundry list of custom items from customizing legends! It started with the 6" chop of course. To that was added a 15 1/2 " channel. And as "one thing led to another," this pickup was transformed with: a 59 Chevy trunk lid, 55...

Custom Car Building Inspiration at Petersen Automotive Museum Recently I found myself at the Petersen Automotive Museum to check out their newest exhibit, Supercars. Every time I'm there, I leave wanting to go home to my garage and become a mad car-scientist! There are so many things there to provide inspiration, you can't help it! From cars with interesting histories, like this 1974 Dale. A 3-wheeled car said to get 70 miles per gallon, it was used by its builder/con-artist Liz Carmichael (a transvestite whose real name was Jerry Dean Michael) to scam nearly $2 million dollars from would-be buyers! The car was a hoax and this is one of 3 prototypes built. More interesting car history is held by the 1948 Tucker. This model was Preston Tucker's personal car and one of only 50 pilot models produced. Nonetheless, the car had some very advanced features for its time as well as an interesting story to go along with - told in the movie Tucker: The Man and His Dream. The Petersen also has plenty of modern cars. Like this 2005 Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR. Who knew that SLR stood...