In the hot rod and custom design world, visionary builders strive to create some of the most thought-provoking concepts the hobby has ever seen. Going into unchartered territory, it takes lots of studying and experience to bring something from its initial impression into reality. If a shop is lucky, the crew is able to develop their own look to make their cars stand out from the rest, thus bringing their memorable style to a level of national-and sometimes international-recognition. Early on, incredible automotive sculptures rolled through the doors of shops owned by the likes of Barris, Winfield, and the Alexander Brothers that would later inspire generations to continue to advance the crafts they presented to the planet. While some builders today lean toward flowing lines and elegance, others tend to look to highlight some of the more aggressive, attitude-driven points on a car. One such shop that just so happens to be a hotbed of creativity on the East Coast is located in the picturesque seaside city of Portland, Maine, home of Extreme Rod and Custom.
Over the years, the shop has achieved a loyal following due to its own personal Extreme style, where the crew's particular look combines dramatic lines with a wicked stance, while infusing plenty of power and cutting-edge technology into the mix. It's a formula that works well for them and one that has turned out many finished creations, prompting car owners from each coast to take notice.
Led by metal master Ray Tourigny, the shop's team regularly works their magic on some of Detroit's finest creations, showcasing their multiple talents. These talents frequently include chopping, sectioning, pancaking, and aggressive restyling. On a recent visit to check out what was new in the shop, we came across what we consider a jaw-dropping triple threat, which warranted a closer look in detail since each of these three current projects were truly unique in how they were evolving. These venomous assemblages of steel included a '60 Ford Ranch Wagon laced with pure evil, a '55 Studebaker Champion almost ready to slice though the sound barrier, and a '49 Olds drop-top that left us in a cold sweat! Let's take a moment to spotlight the highlights of each car and just what makes each so special.
The StarwagonBen Hermance of Hermance Design brought to life the razor-sharp lines of the Starwagon for car owner Mike Murray of Waltham, Massachusetts, who had envisioned the model as a galaxy-hopper ever since riding in one in the '60s as a child with dear old dad at the helm. After locating a rare, low-mile original Ford Ranch Wagon, which Mike drove on and off for almost a decade, it was time to get serious and create the two-door Starliner wagon that Detroit never built.
Starting with a solid factory base, a Chris Alston front clip was added, incorporating independent suspension with an Air Ride ShockWaves system for a smooth-as-silk ride. Encompassing endless custom metal fabrications that include removing the factory B-pillar and replacing it with a custom-fabbed piece echoing the Starliner, raking forward the C-pillar, chopping the top, and sinking the windshield, this wagon will leave you breathless. Add in a ground-scraping stance, over-the-top power derived from an injected 514-inch big-block Ford linked to a six-speed transmission, and aggressive big-inch wheels, and it's easy to see that launching this behemoth from a green light will most likely give you the feeling of leaving a NASA launch pad.