"American Badass" Kid Rock Music Video Build

The 1934 Ford 3-Window Coupe, aptly named “The American Badass,” is a true icon of American hot rodding, blending classic 1930s style with the precision and performance of a world-class custom build. Originally constructed in 1998 by award-winning Roy Brizio Hot Rods of San Francisco, California—by Brizio craftsman Dan Aguirre—this car reflects the exceptional craftsmanship and pedigree that have earned Brizio's shop multiple Oakland Grand National Roadster Show victories and Hot Rod Magazine covers. Built for Kid Rock to appear in his American Badass music video, the coupe was later sold in 2005 to Christopher Allen Edwards of Eureka, California. With a no-expense-spared investment of over $190,000 at the time (equivalent to more than $250,000 today), this car embodies high-end traditional hot rodding at its finest and even captured First Place at the NSRA Nationals in 2010.

The body is a chopped Gibbons fiberglass 3-window shell finished in deep PPG INK Black 3-stage paint with traditional red hot rod pinstriping. It features suicide doors with electric windows, manually operated safety locks, and hidden actuators for both the rumble seat and tilting all-steel hood, all remotely controlled. The car's exterior lines are clean and sleek, with shaved door handles, electric wipers, and limo-tinted side and rear windows. A trunk-mounted battery helps preserve the smooth silhouette, while every visible surface exudes show-quality craftsmanship.

Under the hood lies a masterfully rebuilt 1949–1953 Mercury 24-bolt Flathead V8, completely reengineered in 2020 for reliability and performance. The 259 cubic inch engine produces a dyno-tested 305 horsepower, thanks to custom forged aluminum pistons, a custom ground camshaft designed for supercharger use, adjustable solid lifters, and ported, stress-relieved block work. The engine features polished Offenhauser aluminum heads, a B&M polished supercharger on a B&M intake, and a Holley Sniper Electronic Fuel Injection system. Additional highlights include MSD electronic ignition, Vintage Air air-conditioning that blows ice cold, Jet Hot–coated headers with cutouts and Glass-pak mufflers, and a Walker radiator with a temperature-controlled fan. Every detail—from the Lokar throttle linkage to the Beehive oil and air filter housings—reflects precision and polish.

Power is delivered through a competition-prepped 1966 Ford C4 transmission with a B&M Quick Silver shifter and B&M transmission cooler, optimized for smooth street and highway driving. The rear end is a Ford Versailles 9-inch differential with 2.70 highway gears and Versailles disc brakes, giving the coupe excellent cruising manners.

The braking system features Wilwood polished aluminum 4-piston front calipers and Lincoln Versailles rear disc brakes with an integrated parking brake, all connected through stainless Aeroquip braided lines. Suspension is handled by a boxed steel Brizio Hot Rods frame, Aldan Eagle gas-charged coilovers with chrome springs, and stainless control arms. The Heights Hot Rod BX103 front end ensures proper geometry and responsive steering through a manual rack-and-pinion setup. The chassis, spindles, and rotors are all powder-coated in INK Black, adding durability and an immaculate finish. Rolling stock consists of red-painted solid wheels wrapped in Hercules wide whitewalls—15x8 in the rear and 15x6 in front—finished with baby Ford moon hubcaps.

Inside, the craftsmanship continues with a luxurious Italian red leather interior, including seats, door panels, console, and rumble seat, all complemented by English red wool carpeting and matching wool floor mats. The Banjo steering wheel sits atop a tilt GM column, while a 1940 Ford dash, sectioned and shortened, houses a complete array of Classic Instruments MOON Eyes gauges—speedometer, tachometer, oil pressure, water temperature, and voltage. The car is equipped with power windows, remote-controlled safety locks for the suicide doors, console-mounted switches for wipers and accessories, and a Kenwood Bluetooth sound system with JBL speakers, Rockville subwoofer, and CRUNCH amplifier. Modern touches include USB and Android connections, phone compatibility, and a hidden radio antenna for a clean look.

Every inch of “The American Badass” Coupe reflects meticulous attention to detail and functional artistry. It features AN fittings and hoses throughout, a hidden master disconnect switch, FI electric fuel pump, Blue Dot tail lights, and even a cigar lighter for modern convenience. Safety and reliability meet show-stopping style in this one-of-a-kind Brizio-built masterpiece—a rolling testament to American hot rod culture, performance engineering, and timeless custom design.