Europe is known for style, often forward thinking and setting trends from fashion to automotive design. Paris just might be the center of European style and with that in mind we present this concept street rod from France. The car was built by designer Franco Sbarro and his students and unveiled recently at the Paris Auto Show.

It’s called the Eight. It was built in eight weeks, and features a V8 engine .The shape and layout have the familiar look of a ’32 Ford coupe, however that’s just about where the similarities end. The bodywork looks like something from a post apocalyptic thriller. With angular lines, a unique grille shape and an open roof, the car truly is an exercise in shape and form. Matte black paint absent of any striping or accent, ties the car with recent trends in the rod and custom world. Wheels appear to be about eighteen inch and are finished in black. In traditional hot rod fashion the exhaust exits out the sides of the vehicle just ahead of the doors.

Lending even more to the exotic nature of the build is the Maserati V8 making about 360 horses. Inside the cabin is finished with a combination of wood, leather and painted surfaces. The door panels and floor are matching wood and the seats have distressed leather accents. The center console features a stylized aluminum shifter assembly that all blends very nicely and of course, the latest technology has been incorporated heavily here as well. The car utilizes a six-inch screened Parrot radio on the driver’s side and a large screened tablet mounted on the passenger’s side of the dash.

Sbarro brings out a new creation each year to the Geneva Auto Show but this year he chose to make his debut early in Paris. Whether you like the car or not we think it’s great to see young people constructing a custom of any kind. That may just be the best part of this build – getting the younger generation involved!