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Larry Erickson's Aluma Coupe revolutionized the automotive industry's perception of hot rods. Explore more stunning images of hot rods.
Publications International, Ltd.In 1991, Larry Erickson, then a Cadillac designer, envisioned the Aluma Coupe during a flight from Southern California to Detroit. His sketch combined the modern midengine design with elements from the Pierson Brothers' '34 Ford coupe and Art Chrisman's dramatically chopped '30 Ford Model A coupe. This groundbreaking design not only redefined hot rod aesthetics but also influenced how automakers approached hot rod concepts.
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Having previously collaborated with Boyd Coddington on CadZZilla™ in the late 1980s, Erickson teamed up with him again for this project. Initially planned as a roadster featuring an American V-8, the design evolved when Mitsubishi considered creating a show car based on its 3000 GT. After Mitsubishi's chief product planner, Ron Kusumi, met Coddington, he saw the perfect opportunity to showcase the company's components through this innovative build.
Erickson developed a scale model to refine the concept, and Coddington's team began construction. Dave Willey crafted the tube chassis, later coated in gray, along with the suspension components. The front suspension featured an independent cantilever design with inboard coil-over shocks, while the rear also adopted an independent configuration.
Marcel DeLay shaped the body, which transitioned from a roadster to a coupe to address structural integrity concerns. The vehicle was named the Aluma Coupe, partly because its body panels were entirely made of aluminum.
Mitsubishi components heavily influenced the car's design. Russ Collins of R.C. Engineering in Torrance, California, tuned the
The Aluma Coupe is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine from a 1991 Mitsubishi Eclipse.Erickson also designed the interior, incorporating Mitsubishi Eclipse gauges, bespoke Connolly leather seats, and a Boyd steering wheel. The project concluded with a flawless yellow-pearl paint finish and Coddington's Tri-Fan wheels after 11 months of work.
The interior of the Aluma Coupe features bespoke Connolly leather seats and a Boyd steering wheel.Unveiled at the 1992 New York Auto Show, the Aluma Coupe garnered widespread media attention. It solidified Coddington's reputation as the leading hot rod builder of his era and paved the way for greater automaker participation in the hot rod scene.
In 1993, Ferrari collector David Sydorick acquired the Aluma Coupe. He has showcased the vehicle at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles and other locations. Sydorick occasionally drives the car, exhibits it at Southern California events, and stores it at his Beverly Hills residence.
To learn more about custom cars and hot rods, see:
- History of Hot Rods
- Custom Car Profiles
- Hot Rod Profiles
