Celebrated Hot Rod Builder Will Be MissedOn Wednesday Feb 27 we were saddened by the news that legendary hot rod builder Boyd Coddington had died. The celebrated American Hot Rod star passed away at the Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in Los Angeles as a result of complications brought on by a recent surgery. Coddington was 63.
From his earliest days growing up in rural Idaho cars have been his passion, and through cars he expressed his genius. Cars built at Coddington’s garage in La Habra, California have won the prestigious “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” an unprecedented seven times and the Daimler-Chrysler Design Excellence Award twice. Among other achievements, Coddington has been inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame, the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame, and the National Rod & Custom Museum Hall of Fame. In 1988 he was voted Hot Rod magazine’s “Man of the Year.” Even after a lifetime of designing, building and driving cars, when Boyd Coddington had time off he still went to swap meets and car shows. He loved being around both cars and the people who love cars.
AMSOIL began its relationship with Boyd at the Tulsarama, Oklahoma’s 100th anniversary celebration in mid-June 2007. Coddington and his crew were called upon to bring a ’57 Belvedere to life after fifty years preserved in an underground vault. The intention was to install AMSOIL lubricants and filters in the classic hardtop. Unfortunately, decades of water seepage resulted in the Belvedere being unsalvageable. Nevertheless it was an enjoyable weekend and the beginning of a friendship between the Coddington family and the AMSOIL family.
The relationship with Coddington soon evolved and his next AMSOIL undertaking was a Bonneville build. The aim was to set a new record for the fastest pre-1934 roadster, 3 liter/blown gas/modified with Jo Coddington at the wheel. The building of the AMSOIL/Coddington roadster, dubbed “Salt Fever,” was aired on TLC’s American Hot Rod in September.
AMSOIL began its relationship with Boyd at the Tulsarama, Oklahoma’s 100th anniversary celebration in mid-June 2007. Coddington and his crew were called upon to bring a ’57 Belvedere to life after fifty years preserved in an underground vault. The intention was to install AMSOIL lubricants and filters in the classic hardtop. Unfortunately, decades of water seepage resulted in the Belvedere being unsalvageable. Nevertheless it was an enjoyable weekend and the beginning of a friendship between the Coddington family and the AMSOIL family.
The relationship with Coddington soon evolved and his next AMSOIL undertaking was a Bonneville build. The aim was to set a new record for the fastest pre-1934 roadster, 3 liter/blown gas/modified with Jo Coddington at the wheel. The building of the AMSOIL/Coddington roadster, dubbed “Salt Fever,” was aired on TLC’s American Hot Rod in September.
AMSOIL appreciated the relationship that had developed with the Coddingtons, the work Boyd did for us and the confidence he had in our products. Our sympathies go out to Boyd’s wife Jo, and his three sons Boyd Jr., Chris and Greg.
