Hollywood and the aftermarket

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If there’s one thing you see in the movies that you can hope to make a part of your life, it is the uniquely customized car. I was just at the huge annual trade show held in Las Vegas by SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Assn. There were thousands of booths of everything you can add to a vehicle once you’ve purchased it. There were Hollywood tie-ins everywhere, some less transparent than others.

There sat Jay Leno’s 600-horsepower, E85-capable Corvette in the GM display. ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Patrick Dempsey’s customized ’66 Mustang fastback was in the Ford booth. The description card next to the car listed ‘McDreamy’ interior components. Dempsey, a big Mustang fan, races them in his spare time.

Hollywood influences the automotive world more then you might realize. One of the wildest things this year was a new body. Not just any body but a remanufactured 1967 Mustang body from Dynacorn International. This means you can make your own car from the ground up, or have one made for you.

Why pick the ‘67-’68 body over the original ’64 1/2-’66 body? Well, the second generation has a wider engine bay -- able to accept larger engine choices. But the secret may be the interest generated from the number of people wanting to make their own ‘Eleanor’ Mustangs, the car made popular in the film ‘Gone in 60 Seconds.’ This is probably one of the most famous movie cars ever. Movie culture and car culture collide again.

-- Josh Hancock