Boyd Coddington
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Boyd Coddington | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 28, 1944 |
| Died | February 27, 2008 (aged 63) |
| Occupation | Automobile designer, |
| Website | [1] |
Boyd Leon Coddington (August 28, 1944 – February 27, 2008)[1]
Background
Coddington grew up in Rupert, Idaho, where he got his first car (a 1931 Chevrolet truck) at age 13.[2] He attended machinist trade school at Idaho State University and completed a three year apprenticeship in machining. In 1966, he moved to California building hot rods by day and working as a machinist by night. He soon became known for building unique hot rods and in 1977 he opened his own shop, Hot Rods by Boyd, in Cypress, California. His first customer was Vern Luce whose car (a '33 coupe) won the Al Slonaker Award at the 1981 Oakland Roadshow. In 1988, Coddington founded Boyds Wheels Inc to manufacture and market custom automobile alloy wheels made from billet aluminum. In 1997, Coddington (along with his then chief designer Chip Foose) was inducted into the Hot Rod Hall of Fame.[3] In 1998, Coddington had to re-organize Boyds Wheels as the result of bankruptcy.[4] On April 7, 2005, Coddington pleaded guilty of perpetrating a "Ship of Theseus" fraud. Coddington had registered completely custom-fabricated, hand-built cars as antique automobiles in order to avoid emissions and tax liabilities.[5]
Until his death, Coddington had a 50,000 square feet (5,000 m²) garage located in La Habra, California and had 70 employees. He died on February 27, 2008 from liver failure.
Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. |
- Episodes of the TLC TV show American Hot Rod indicate that a fierce rivalry exists between Coddington and his former chief designer and company president Chip Foose.
- Coddington's creations have won the Grand National Roadster Show's prestigious "America's Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR)" award seven times.[2]
- Coddington would have been the first to start the buried Belvedere in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2007, but the car was too badly damaged by long-term immersion in water.
References
- ^ Boyd Coddington, Hot Rod King, Dead At Age 63
- ^ a b Lienert, Dan (June 1 2004). "The Hot Rod King". Forbes.com.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Troubled Company Reporter - BOYDS WHEELS: Third Quarter Report". InterNet Bankruptcy Library. December 18 1997.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Troubled Company Reporter - BOYDS WHEELS: Reorganization Plan Filed". InterNet Bankruptcy Library. July 23, 1998.
- ^ Antique Car The HotRod and Roadster Era.
External links
- Boyd Coddington Official Website
- American Hot Rod Official Website
- Boyd Coddington Helps Exhume Buried 1957 Plymouth Belvedere in Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Historical narrative of Boyd's company and life
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