American Hot Rod
American Hot Rod is a reality television series that originally aired between 2004 and 2007 on The Learning Channel and Discovery Channel. The series followed renowned car designer Boyd Coddington and his crew as they built hot rods and custom vehicles at his wheel and car shop in La Habra, California. The show was known for its frequent rows and bust ups, and a high staff turnover rate. Some crew members went to work for Overhaulin's Chip Foose, a former partner of Coddington's, for a more relaxed environment; even Boyd's own son could not work there for long.
The series ended when Boyd Coddington died, following complications from surgery, in February 2008. The car shop closed on June 20, 2008.
Custom cars built during the series included the "Alumatub", a '61 Impala Bubbletop, a '63 Chevy Corvette Stingray, and a '42 Woodie. In July 2007, the shop made an Elvis Tribute Car, a modified 1957 pink Cadillac, sponsored by Reese’s.
Hot rod shop
- Boyd Coddington: shop owner, he died suddenly February 27, 2008, due to complications from surgery.
- Jo Coddington: Boyd's wife appeared in all five seasons, ran the collectable store, consignment store, all corporate builds.
- Diane Coddington: accounting dept., Boyd's ex-wife, appeared in Seasons One through Four until wheel shop was sold to American Racing
- Chris Coddington: Boyd's son, custom wheel sales dept., appeared in all five seasons, wheel division sold to American Racing during S4 but he appeared on S05E02
- Duane Mayer: shop foreman, appeared in all five seasons, now runs his own shop.
- Dan "Chicago" Sobieski: appeared in all five seasons, then opened his own shop.
- Lee Hayes: sheet metal man, appeared in Seasons Two through Five, debuted working part-time with S02E12
- Robert Taylor: fabricator & assembler, appeared in Seasons Three through Five
- Chad "Bluebear" Geary: assembler, appeared in Seasons One and Two, fired during S02E06 for insubordination
- Jimmy Pett: Fabricator and assembler, appeared in Seasons One through Three, gone by Season Four
- Chris Smith: fabricator and assembler, appeared in Seasons Four and Five
- Tommy Puriton: janitor, appeared in all five seasons
- Keith "Flanders" Hickson: freelance welder and fabricator, appeared in Season One
- Rick Rempel: fabricator, appeared in one episode in Season Four before returning to Canada
- Scott Parker: appeared in Seasons Two through Four, quit during S04E10 after staying to help complete the '61 Impala Bubbletop build
- Mike Curtis: machine shop, appeared in Seasons One and Two, fired during S02E22 for working for competitor Chip Foose on the side. Later appeared on Overhaulin'
- Roy Schmidt: metal worker, appears in Seasons One through Three, died of lung cancer on Oct. 27th, 2005 at the age of 64 during filming of S04E03
- Thomas Loddby: mechanic, appeared in Seasons One through Five, left during S03E02 to start a shipping business, returned in S04E11 working on a part-time basis
- Al Simon: chassis builder, appears in Seasons One through Five, quits during S02E14, returns during S02E22, and leaves again during S05/E08
- "Speedy" MacDonald: hot rod shop, appeared in Seasons Four and Five before leaving during S05E06 to return to Connecticut.
- Jon Rockwell: metal fabricator, appeared in Season Four, debuted in S04E12, gone when Season Five began
- Sean Dooley: metal worker, appeared in one build in Season Two, fired during S02E01 for insubordination
- Jimmy Hudson: metal fabricator, appeared in Season Four, debuted in S04E11, quit during S04E18 for personal reasons
- Brad Johnston: fabricator, appeared in Seasons Two through Four, quit during S04E09 after being confronted about excessive absenteeism
- Liz Miles: apprentice, appeared in Season Five, debuted in S05E07, fired during S05E08 reportedly over an alleged salary dispute
- Tony Piro: apprentice, appeared in Season Four, debuted S04E04, laid off S04E05, returned as an intern on S04E06, and eventually fired S04/E19 for lack of experience
- Jon Mayo: machinist, appeared in Season Two, quit during S02E08 to move to Hawaii
- Kevin Christianson: CNC machinist, appeared in Seasons Two through Five
- Chris Campbell: driver, appeared in Seasons Two through Four, fired during S04E04 for multiple accidents and mishaps
- Ben Vasquez: fabricator and assembler, appeared in Seasons Four and Five
- Ken Whitney: assembler, appeared in Seasons Two through Four, had own business specializing in wiring and computers, called in on an as needed basis.
- Jeffrey "Scott" Howard: fabricator and assembler, appeared in Season One only
- Jimy "Tig" Kraus: assembler, appeared in one build in Season Two, fired during S02E02 for lack of experience and alleged careless work habits
- Trish ???: metal worker, appeared in a couple of builds in Season Two, fired during S02E08 for missing a day and not calling in
- Louie Biegler: metal worker, appeared in one build during Season Four, debuted and quit during S04E04 because he couldn't keep hack it
- Albert ???" metal worker, appeared briefly in Season Four, debuted in S04E04
- Mike Bennett: metal worker, appeared in Season Four, debuted in S04E04
- Memo Sanchez: limo driver, appeared in multiple seasons, fired during S05E11 for allegedly conducting personal business on company time
- Willie Johnstone: assembler, appeared briefly in Season Two
- Craig Jull: fabricator, appeared in Season Five, debuted on S05E10 to help out with the Bonneville Racer build
- Robert Gallegos: apprentice, appeared in Season Five, debuted in S05E02
Body shop
- Justin Bergsto: body shop, appeared in Seasons Two through Five
- Rafael Garcia: body shop, appeared in Seasons One through Five
- Charley Hutton: painter & body shop supervisor, appeared in Seasons One and Two, quit during S02E10 and opened his own shop Charley Hutton's Color Studio in Nampa, ID. He also appeared on Rides and Overhaulin', and wins a Ridler Award with Chip Foose.
- Andrew "Beetle Bailey" Petterson: body man, appeared in Seasons One and Two, left in Season Two to join Charley Hutton
- Greg Morrell: painter & body shop, appeared in Seasons Three through Five, debuted on S03E02
- Bernt Karlson: body shop, painter, appeared in Seasons Two through Five, debuted in S02E12 as an independent contractor, then came aboard full-time on S02E15.
- Brian ????: body shop apprentice, appeared in Season One, gone when Season Two began
- Jose ????: body shop, appeared in Seasons Three through Five
- Paul Fortin: body shop, appeared in Seasons Three through Five, debuted on S03E02
Episodes