Way OT: More TV

[treed2 at wsu.edu (T. Reed)]

On Sat, 6 Mar 2004, Dan Smith wrote:
> Larry's question about Hot Rod TV reminded me, has anyone been watching American Hot Rod? They're currently building an entire hot rod out of aluminum, by hand. The frame weighed 80lbs. The body is made out of hand bent aluminum sheet butt-welded together. Imagining the cost of having someone hand-build you an aluminum skin in a very short time period (all other projects set aside) and having it butt-welded instead of overlapped boggles the mind. The reason for the specific welds is that the body isn't going to be painted. Like every other piece of the car (except for the custom billet aluminum rims, which are attached to spindles), it is being polished then brushed and left naked. Flames will be acid etched into it. While American Choppers turns out some pretty unique bikes with brilliant vision, this Alumatub as it's called is a true work of art.
>

Yeah; I watched part of that at a friend's house on his dish. Pretty cool.

I just wish they'd ditch the "stupid guy that yells at everybody". The
whole act was cool for about 15 seconds on American Chopper, then it
started to feel like I was watching a testosterone soap opera.

I'm still drooling over those zillion dollar CNC lathes and milling
machines. I could.. like.. make a new fender for my Scirocco out of a
solid block of steel. Heheh!

-Toby