Part of the greatness of kustom culture is the curiosity–wondering just what someone was thinking when they were creating something unique and mind-blowing. Ian Roussel’s “Space Junkie” was just that: slammed, streamlined, and sporting a paint scheme that would melt the heart of any kustomizer out there.

A self-described “mad scientist with a welder,” Roussel’s hero is the late Ed Roth, whom we all know as the creator of the “Rat Fink” character that permeates hot rod culture, as well as a builder with a wild imagination when it came to old automobiles; it’s easy to see where Roussel’s wacky take on the conventional came from. Over the years, Roussel’s eccentricity has garnered attention and fame from hot rodders throughout the nation, and made him a hit on programs like Car Warriors and Monster Nation.

Just as Roth’s modus operandi produced bizarre rat rods with a high degree of polish and detail, so too is the Space Junkie. It’s essentially a 1931 Chevrolet coupe, fitted with airbag suspension to let it alternate between low-slung and not-so-low-slung ride height.

The boomerang lever on the console acts as the throttle for Space Junkie.

The powerplant is a straight-eight sourced from a 1948 GM vehicle. It probably doesn’t do much for performance, but it definitely accentuates the old-fashioned factor, along with the wooden spoke spinners that call to mind cars of the early 20th century.

Driving the Space Junkie is when things get interesting. A roll-up aluminum door, fitted to the roof of the Chevy, presents a cool take on the sunroof. Inside, there’s only space for one pedal–the brake. The throttle is controlled by way of the boomerang-looking lever on the console; how’s that for kustom?

See more pictures of the Space Junkie on Imgur, and head to Roussel’s website to see some of his other incredible projects.