Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Interview With Alan Taylor at SEMA discussing the Craftman Comet. If you're paying close attention, disregard the LSX454 footage… we did NOT put an LS motor in the Comet. It's a Roush 427R.

Join us Saturday December 20 at the shop for our 8th Annual Christmas HAMB Soiree and open house! Get together on a cold winter’s night to benchrace and spread some christmas cheer with fellow hot rodders! Please Bring a dish to share. BYOB.

Click here to view the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1469691323277659/?ref=22




Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Craftsman Comet Episode 6, Suspension is now live. Check it out.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

The Paint Spot is doing a great job on the Violent Valiant! Check out these photos fresh from the Paint Booth and Valspar Automotive #valsparauto







Wednesday, October 1, 2014

This friday October 3, is our 3rd annual Iron Invasion Open House from 3-6pm. See some of the neat projects that are underway and bench race.


Episode 5 of the Craftsman Comet on stiffening the body.

Here's Episode 4 on the Teardown of the Craftsman Comet.

Here's Episode 3 on the Craftsman Comet video series, about the car itself.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Episode 2 of the Craftsman Comet video series is now live! Check it out and meet the crew at the shop…

Thursday, August 28, 2014

If you're in Chicagoland, take a trip to Aurora Municipal Airport this weekend to check out EAA - Warbirds of America's B-17 Aluminum Overcast and sign up for a flight. It's well worth the cost and if you're lucky, there will be some WWII veterans on the flight with you. We'll post more photos from our flight so stay tuned!

Click here to book your flight!


Friday, August 22, 2014

Mopar Fans Rejoice

Both the Hot Rod Division and the Skunkworks Division have some pretty cool Mopar projects underway. Which is your favorite?


Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Craftsman Tools, the Comet, and America.

We mentioned that we are building a '65 Comet for Craftsman Tools. Well here is the first video sneak peek… "America". Enjoy and share with your friends. This video series will be a bit different than what has been done in the past.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTbMQbMOuyQ


Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Did you know there is a rare DIECAST version of the Raybestos GTO-R? This one popped up on ebay so we thought we'd pass it along.

Click here for the auction.



Tuesday, August 5, 2014



Craftsman Tools and HRCC/Skunkworks are teaming up to build this awesome 1965 Mercury Comet-R to terrorize the autocross and challenge circuit! The Comet-R will be debuted at SEMA this year in the Craftsman booth, and be on tour for 2015 at a major autocross or challenge event near you! Stay tuned for a link to the Restoration Rollout website link where you can follow along on the build.

Check out our build partners: Nitto Tire, Hurst-Drivelines, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Weld Racing, Tremec Transmissions, C&R Racing, Holley Performance Products, Vfn Fiberglass, Painless Performance Products, Flowmaster Mufflers INC,  Moser Engineering, RideTech, Flaming River Industries, Auto Meter Products, Inc., Wilwood Disc Brakes, Roush Engines

Friday, July 25, 2014

Mjölnir mocked up, ready for the new Skunkworks chassis to be fabricated.



Thursday, June 26, 2014

HRCC continues to expand worldwide! Here's a new article in France's American Muscle Cars magazine. This is our second publication in France. Pretty cool!


Monday, June 16, 2014

If you're on Facebook, we just passed a pretty significant milestone… 100,000 fans!



photo by McGaffin Digital Photo.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

The next Whistling Death BangShift installment is out and based on some of the comments popping up, we want to address a few key points…

Why build a 300 2 door sedan? When was the last time you went to a show and saw one? Nobody wants them. We specifically WANTED to do a 300 because 2 door sedans are better suited for OUR Trans Am inspired chassis (ala the Raybestos GTO). It's not a bolt in affair. That is also why we were ok with a rusty car to start with. The floors and rockers get cut out whether they are pristine or swiss cheese. So why cut up a car that can still be restored original or as a nice restomod? Especially since they made 20,000 total 300 2 door sedans. How many are left? How many were parted out to save a SS? They are the unloved 66-67 Chevelles. Also why we WANTED a 300. To show that you don't have to have an SS or even a Malibu to have a bitchin car. If this were a 138 car, no one would question saving it. With the jig that Dennis and Keith built, Keith and Drew will have no problem putting this back together with the Original Parts Group replacement panels. When the next installment comes out, it will make sense. We will be able to replace all of the problem areas on any 66-67 Chevelle, just like the factory.

Click here to read the BangShift article.






Monday, May 12, 2014

If you followed the Raybestos GTO build, then you'll recognize this speedo that we just bought for the Violent Valiant. Maybe the last NOS Stewart Warner reverse sweep speedo in the country? Took 2 weeks of searching to find one! What a shame that it's been discontinued. They told us after the GTO was finished, that sales of this speedo went through the roof.


Saturday, May 10, 2014

Introducing "Whistling Death"

Read all about the newest purpose built Trans Am style car to come out of the HRCC Skunkworks Racing Division on Bangshift! A 1967 Chevelle 300 we are calling "Whistling Death." If you were a fan of the Raybestos GTO-R, then you'll love this! Click here for the full article!







Violent Valiant Bangshift update

Here is the next installment on the Violent Valiant build from the HRCC Skunkworks Racing Division on Bangshift covering the firewall.  Click here…





Friday, April 4, 2014

If you're going to be in Chattanooga TN this Saturday April 5 for the Coker Tire Spring Cruise, then be sure to check out the Kosmic Outcast! It's Corky Coker approved!




Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Whistling Death

Here is Chad's rendering of Whistling Death, our HRCC Skunkworks Road Racing 1967 Chevelle 300 2 door sedan project. Power comes from a LSX 454 with Hilborn Fuel Injection. Our principal build partner is Original Parts Group as they are the leading supplier of Chevelle replacement parts. It was great working with them on the Raybestos Brand GTO-R project and we're excited to be working with them again! Stay tuned to our page and BangShift.com to read about the progress!

http://bangshift.com/general-news/introducing-project-whistling-death-a-1967-chevelle-from-the-skunkworks-at-hot-rod-chassis-and-cycle-that-should-be-feared/

Tremec Transmissions, Vfn Fiberglass, FORGELINE, TMI Products, Aeromotive Fuel Systems, Painless Performance Products, Flaming River Industries, Scoggin Dickey, Holley Performance Products, Nitto Tire, McLeod Clutches, Viking Performance, Inc., Hammerhead Differential, Dynatech, Shields Windshields, Dederichs Motorsports, Moroso, ABC Performance, COMP Cams, TechAFX. Want to see more of Chad's illustration and design work? Cruise on over to Django Studios.


Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Mjölnir

The '57 Saratoga got an altitude adjustment in the shop so Drew can begin work on the top of the trunk opening.


Thursday, March 20, 2014

50,000 Fans on Facebook! Thanks to all our fans and customers and crew past and present. This is year is off to a bang with our 10th Anniversary, the formalization of the Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle Skunkworks Division and now we are a day or two away from announcing our "Whistling Death" project. Stay tuned!

Photo of the Black Pearl by Kim Peterson.


Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Time is running out on our Spring Suspension Installation Sale! Bring your car in for a 10% LABOR DISCOUNT on RideTech air ride Installation, axle and suspension packages installation, Mustang II installation, and disc brake conversion. Call to make an appointment today! Valid Feb 1 through Mar 31. Share with your friends! Tell us you saw it on our page and get 10% off all suspension kits with installation. Use code "HRCC-FB" Call 630-458-0808 to make an appointment and save!


Tuesday, March 11, 2014

The Detroit Autorama was a complete success. Everyone was really great, and met plenty of friendly HRCC fans!! I still can't believe the awesome reception the Outcast received. Thanks to Tremec for having the Outcast in their booth. Had a great time!


Thursday, March 6, 2014

Upgrade to a 5 or 6 speed!

Now is the time to make you car even MORE fun to drive with a Tremec 5 speed or 6 speed transmission. There is no better way to increase the drivability of your pride and joy than with this ever popular upgrade. Call today to make an appointment get 10% off labor and be banging the gears just in time for Spring! Mention code T56BLOG. 630-458-0808


Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Here's an anniversary photo of the '32 Plymouth PB coupe "Moxie" with the completed fabrication on the sectioned grille shell and insert and the custom chin pan.


Friday, February 28, 2014

Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle Skunkworks

With our 10 year anniversary, we are proud to announce the formalization of our Race Car Division as the Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle Skunkworks. Since the beginning, we've built 1964 and earlier hot rods and customs or any year race car. The race car division has always been a little under the radar. We've consistantly built cages and suspension in drag car Camaros, and road racing Porsches and muscle cars. It was our best kept secret. We joked internally that it was the "Skunkworks"…. top secret stuff that goes mad stupid ridiculously fast! It seemed only natural to expand that work into something more visible to our customers and fans around the world. The first car to come from the new Race Car Division will be the Violent Valiant. We'll be announcing the 2nd car in March. We're all very excited about the expansion of the Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle brand and look forward to the future building killer hot rods. mind blowing show rods and purpose built race cars into our next decade.


Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Chicago World Of Wheels

Headed to Chicago World of Wheels? Come by and see the Kosmic Outcast located in booth 511. Right next to Ogden Top & Trim and John Meyers' AWESOME Great 8 "Fearless" Phaeton! Also check out the Violent Valiant in the Tremec Transmission booth in bare metal. You don't want to miss it!


Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Here are some photos from our Racer's Cabin Fever Movie Night this past Saturday. Again, thanks to everyone who came and especially to Jimi Day for giving the presentation on the Ultimate Street Car Association. Lots of positive comments on the Violent Valiant too. Good times!