BOOK REVIEW – Roy Brizio Street Rods: Modern Hot Rods Defined
Review by Russell Purcell
Recently, the hobby of building custom cars has regained its momentum and popularity, largely due to the proliferation of television programs, magazines and websites dedicated to the wants and needs of the automotive enthusiast. For the gear-head looking to make the boldest statement on four wheels, there is only one solution, the creation of an over-the-top street rod by a top builder.
Roy Brizio is one of the best hot rod builders in the world, and his designs and level of craftsmanship are unrivaled when it comes to building a truly special, one-of-a-kind automobile. Author Bo Bertilsson’s latest work – Roy Brizio Street Rods: Modern Hot Rods Defined – offers the reader a unique look at the legendary builder’s beginnings, concepts and ideas. What makes Roy Brizio special is the fact that he embraces the hot rod culture wholeheartedly, and unlike many of his rivals, he soldiered on through the hobby’s rough patches and continued his quest to develop the best cars in the business.
In the book’s forward, Vic Edelbrock explains that “a street rod is the car of your dreams,” and that men like Roy Brizio “become the dream makers.” Brizio has completed eight “dream” projects for Vic and his family over the years, which says a lot about the quality of workmanship on Brizio cars, as Mr. Edelbrock has the resources to have just about anyone build him a car. The author contends that Roy Brizio’s San Francisco-based shop “produces more great-looking driver hot rods than any shop in the business.”
Roy’s love for hot rods was passed down to him by his father Andy, whose love for automobiles led him to open a shop (Andy’s Wheels & Tires) and develop a T-bucket kit known as Andy’s Instant T. Roy became immersed in his father’s business and quickly learned to weld and fabricate, as well as how to put a hot rod together. With these new skills, Roy would begin a lifelong journey of shaping metal, fibreglass, and dreams into some of the most stunning custom cars the automotive community has ever seen.
As the business grew, so did his father’s client list, and young Roy was able to make lots of contacts that would pay off in the future. However, the 1970s brought a poor economy, tight emissions standards, and out-of-control gas prices, in effect, putting the brakes on the hot rod hobby. Eventually, Andy Brizio had to close his chassis shop due to the lack of demand, and his focus became catering to drag racers through his other business, the Champion Speed Shop. Roy refused to listen to his father’s recommendations to close the hot rod business. Instead, Roy forged ahead by performing repairs on customer cars, as well as purchasing and revamping existing hot rods in an effort to keep the hobby alive. Through the potent mix of hard work and dogged ambition, Roy soon had his own shop. A lucrative partnership led to the production of replica 1932 Ford stamped steel frame rails, which eventually led Roy to develop complete frames under the Deuce Factory name. He followed this up with a deal to sell Westcott fibreglass roadster bodies, enabling his new venture, Roy Brizio Street Rods, to build very high-quality complete cars for a growing clientele.
Quality leads to a reputation, and for Roy, this meant he attracted big corporations looking for show cars on which they could display their products at the big trade shows such as SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers’ Association). It also meant that a long line of affluent (and celebrity) customers looking for cars capable of winning awards and turning heads was forming outside the shop’s door.
Brizio’s shop is one of the most respected in the United States, and his team of fifteen builders creates about a dozen cars a year. Everything is done in-house except paint and upholstery. One thing that sets Brizio’s team apart is that they try to use as much of the donor car’s original steel body as they can, but to ensure safety, they like to use new frames and modern (or new) components. Having a modern drive train and suspension fitted makes for a more reliable car, as well as one that is more fun to drive. It is also evident that when it comes to a Roy Brizio car, beauty is not only skin deep. The expansive gallery of images that accompanies the text proves that his craftsmen take as much care in the engine bay, undercarriage and other hidden recesses as they do with the paintwork, upholstery and shiny bits up top.
The book is divided into chapters based on the model and year of the original cars used to create Brizio’s stunning creations. It is obvious that he favours Fords, as we get to see Roy’s take on a selection of Model A’s and T’s, as well as 1932 Fords in sedan, coupe and roadster form. Chapters five and six will introduce you to some of the shop’s greatest Ford projects, beginning with a stunning 1933 coupe powered by a blown Hemi and draped in a blazing, flame-licked paint scheme. A six-page feature on rocker Eric Clapton’s 1940 coupe will no-doubt be a favourite, especially when you learn that Eric claims that the car is so beautiful that he goes unnoticed behind the wheel. Now that is one hell of a compliment for an automobile.
Unlike some builders, Roy is open to suggestions from his customers, and seems to be willing to experiment with odd combinations when it comes to fitting engines under the hoods of his largely Ford-bodied machines. While some of the subject cars stay loyal to the blue oval, others derive their motivation from Chevy crate engines and donor Corvettes. For a little European flair, we get to see cars built around engines from the likes of Alfa Romeo and even Jaguar. Others are sourced from specialty suppliers like Edelbrock, Ford Motorsports and of course, Roush Engineering. This is the beauty of building a hot rod, or any custom car for that matter, as traditional restrictions and design parameters can be shelved, allowing you the freedom to create your own road-going dream.
The only criticism I have for this book is a technical one. The collection of photographs used to showcase Mr. Brizio’s cars was shot by Steve Coonan, Geoff Mills, and the author himself. Most of the images are well composed and beautifully lit, but the overuse of creative filtering, and a reliance on the Photoshop colour saturation tool, make some look unnatural and cartoonish. Unfortunately, the strange colour palate of these latter images draws the reader’s attention away from the hot rods that should be the obvious point of focus.
For anyone interested in the history of modern hot rodding, this book is a must have, but I enjoyed it more for its ability to convey the true love and passion Roy Brizio obviously has for the subject matter with which he works. We all work towards finding a way to get through life doing the things we are most passionate about. Roy Brizio has managed to achieve that dream, and it shows in each and every car that rolls out of his California shop.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7603-3544-4
www.motorbooks.com
CAN$38.90
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