The love of hot rods takes many forms for many people. Look at any Deuce Coupe or Tri-Five made in the last eighty years and you’ll find no two people wind up with exactly the same ride. From pinstriping to steelies to autocrossing roadsters, the culture is kept alive and well by the people who take a look at a vintage car and say, “What if I…?”

Such is the case for Troy Ladd, the Burbank, California based designer who founded Hollywood Hot Rods as a creative outlet for those who wanted something a little more on the wild side. Testament to this was the man’s trio of gleaming metallic hot rods that made a showing at the recent Grand National Roadster Show, which took place January 23-25 at the Fairplex in Pomona, California.

Sans paint yet brimming with style, the cars–a 1936 Packard, a 1932 3-window coupe, and a 1932 roadster pickup–represented a strong statement for the case of coach-built perfection. Each has been given a high degree of care and attention to detail, but it’s the Packard, dubbed the “Mulholland Speedster,” with its lengthy build and hand-formed body, that will make waves next year as it gears up to win the coveted America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (also known as AMBR) award.

Not that Ladd and his work have been short on recognition from the hot rod industry. Over the years, awards from such organizations as Goodguys, SEMA, GNRS, and LA Roadsters have all been heaped upon Ladd and Hollywood Hot Rods, and there will definitely be more in the future as long as the man and his team continue doing what they do best.

Speaking on behalf of Ladd was Jim Aust, manager at Hollywood Hot Rods, who was able to give us some background behind these builds and what it took to get them to where they are now. In the conversation, we also learned about Ladd’s background, and why it’s hard to pick favorites.

Diving Deeper

Rod Authority: How did Ladd get the business started? What is his background?

Jim Aust: “Ladd started the company on his own. He started out working on old cars as a youth; one of his first cars was a ’65 Mustang, which he ran and maintained on his own. He later had a ’36 Ford coupe, which got him into hot rods and the circles they ran in, like LA Roadsters.

He later went to Vanguard College in Costa Mesa and graduated with a business degree. He then spent the following years as a project manager on large buildings before starting Hollywood Hot Rods in 2002.”

The roadster pickup, one of the three bare metal hot rods seen at the Grand National Roadster Show in January. It packs a 680 horsepower Jon Kaase Ford BOSS motor, Tremec six-speed transmission, and weighs just 1,900 pounds.

RA: What was the underlying crux of these cars? What was HHR trying to accomplish?

JA: “Just being able to show the quality of the metalwork we do at HHR, our specialties in TIG welding and metal finishing. Every car on the display was highly modified.

The Packard had about 60-70 percent of new parts and panels put on it. The industry standard wasn’t good enough for the Packard in our minds. We wanted to go the extra mile, and we will as we get the car prepared for next year’s GNRS. All handmade pieces, and the same goes for the ’32 3-window.

On the Ford, every piece is custom-made: the roof was chopped, the cowl was modified, the windshield is a V-windshield, the doors were sectioned, the rear wheel wells were raised. But it still looks like a ’32 3-window. All handmade. It’s TIG-welded, hammer-finished, then ground.”

RA: Which one is your favorite and why?

JA: “The ’32 3-window was made with making it Ladd’s personal car in mind, as he had designed that for himself. He eventually sold it. The Packard was sold to Bruce Wanta, but all three of them are special in their own way; it’s like that old saying, “picking your favorite child,” that’s kind of how I look at it. You can’t pick just one, because they’re all fantastic!”

The 3-window coupe was designed and crafted as Ladd’s personal ride.

RA: Which one took the longest to build? Which one has the most interesting build history?

JA: “The Packard has been an ongoing project over four years. Every part is hand built: body, suspension, and the chassis are custom made. We kept the chassis under wraps from the outside public for a very long time. It’s easily the oldest of the bunch, as the ’32 3-window and roadster pickup took less time because they had reproduction frame rails. The Speedster will debut at the next Roadster Show all finished, painted, and complete. It’s been reshaped and hand built, two-thirds the original size, and very sleek and streamlined, whereas the original car was not.”

Looking To The Future

While anyone who got to see these bare metal rides at GNRS left with a good impression, Aust told us that the effect will be all the more punctuated come 2016, when all of them will be painted, polished, and sitting pretty. In the meantime, Aust tipped us to the upcoming L.A. Roadsters Father’s Day Show in June, where HHR may make another showing of the Mulholland Speedster. “Otherwise, just keep your eyes peeled for next year,” he added.

Works of art like these are what makes waiting another 11 months worthwhile. Until then, however, updates, pictures, and more can be found through the HHR website and Facebook page.