Buzz
In the early 1980s, ZZ Top's Billy F. Gibbons commissioned the creation of a custom 1933 Ford, which would eventually gain fame as the Eliminator. Explore more stunning hot rod images.
Publications International, Ltd.The ZZ Top Eliminator hot rod achieved iconic status by featuring prominently in numerous rock music videos. The worlds of rock 'n' roll and hot rodding share a deep connection, both revitalizing traditional elements—whether blues music or vintage Fords—with a dose of power and flair. It's no wonder many rock stars, including ZZ Top's Billy F. Gibbons, are passionate about hot rods.
Inspired by Pete Chapouris' the California Kid, Billy enlisted Don Thelan's Buffalo Motor Cars to craft a chopped 1933 Ford in the early 1980s, later dubbed the Eliminator coupe. The car featured a classic Pete and Jake's chassis, complete with a dropped tube axle and four-bar suspension at the front, paired with a Ford nine-inch rear end.
Thelan reduced the steel three-window body by three inches, Steve Davis crafted a distinctive three-piece hood with uniquely scooped side panels, and Kenny Youngblood created the iconic "ZZ" graphics. Other standout features included a smoothed rear splash pan with a recessed license plate, '39 Ford teardrop taillights, and lowered '34 Ford headlights.
Billy has always prioritized reliability over high-maintenance performance engines. The Eliminator was powered by a dependable 350-cid Chevy V-8, featuring a Camaro Z-28 hydraulic cam, a polished intake manifold with a single four-barrel carb, and a Turbo 350 transmission. To top it off, Eric Vaughn engraved the ZZ Top logo onto the valve covers.
The coupe's artwork graced the cover of ZZ Top's 1983 multi-platinum album, Eliminator, while the actual car became a star in its own right, appearing in four music videos that dominated MTV's airwaves.
The ZZ Top Eliminator played a starring role in the band's "Sharp Dressed Man" music video, among others.Each video included a fairy-tale-like segment where a hardworking but underappreciated teenager is transformed by the arrival of stunning women in the Eliminator. ZZ Top members bestowed the protagonist with a magical set of keys adorned with a distinctive ZZ keychain, turning the hot rod into a symbol of fantasy and wonder.
Gibbons' Eliminator brought hot rodding into the spotlight, captivating an MTV generation of teens who had never witnessed the thrill of a real hot rod in action.
Billy has always been passionate about hot rods, but the Eliminator was his first vehicle to achieve global recognition. The demand for public appearances grew so immense that California Street Rods built a replica of the Eliminator for touring purposes. Today, Billy owns both the original and the clone, along with a collection of other renowned rods and custom cars. His contributions to hot rodding are nearly as significant as his impact on rock 'n' roll.
To explore more about custom cars and hot rods, check out:
- History of Hot Rods
- Custom Car Profiles
- Hot Rod Profiles
