Fast N' Loud: Top 20 Cars in Richard Rawlings Garage
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- 20 1932 Ford Roadster
- 19 2015 Dodge Ram 2500
- 18 1968 Shelby Mustang GT 350
- 17 1952 Chevrolet Fleetline
- 16 1998 Chevrolet Crew Cab-Dually
- 15 1968 Shelby GT Fastback
- 14 1970 Dodge Challenger
- 13 1974 Mercury Comet
- 12 1965 Ford Mustang 2+2 Fastback
- 11 1967 Pontiac Firebird
- 10 1932 Ford
- 9 1967 Mustang Fastback
- 8 2005 Ford GT Custom coupe
- 7 1975 Datsun 280 Z
- 6 Jaguar XK120 Roadster Replica
- 5 1966 Saab 96 Monte Carlo Sport
- 4 1933 Chrysler Royal 8 Coup CT Imperial
- 3 1915 Willys-Overland Touring
- 2 Ferrari F40
- 1 Lamborghini Countach 1989
Richard Rawlings' fascination with cars began at a young age; he was greatly influenced by his father's love for everything that has 4 wheels and an engine. At the age of 14, he bought his first car, and after a couple of years he bought several more cars. He is the star of the reality show Fast N' Loud, a program in which Richard and the Gas Monkey Garage (a custom body shop that Richard opened in Dallas) restore or customize interesting cars they can find. The show has gained significant popularity around the world thanks to the fascinating stories associated with cars.
Richard does sell the cars featured in Fast N' Loud, but sometimes he keeps a few cars that he particularly likes. This has led him to acquire a whole collection of cars over the years that tend to resemble his own personality. Sources say that the value of all the cars he owns will add up to at least a million dollars.
We have no doubt that we can find some special cars in his garage that are worth a look. And as an avid car enthusiast and owner of one of America's most famous custom body shops, we're sure he knows a thing or two about cars. As we delve deeper into his collection, we find an uncanny similarity between the cars he considers valuable and his own performance.
20 1932 Ford Roadster
As you would expect from a 1930s car, it all just reminds you of a seemingly distant time when gangsters ruled the streets of New York. One thing that reminds me of that era is hot rods. People started fiddling with their cars themselves, trying to make them go faster.
Enter Richard Rawlings' Ford Roadster and you'll be greeted by a pretty beige interior fit for a mob boss. Look under the hood and you will see a flathead V8 engine and three Stromberg 97 carburetors. If you thought these were the only hardware upgrades on this hot rod, then you were wrong.
19 2015 Dodge Ram 2500
We all know that US citizens and their pickup trucks are completely inseparable; this is because trucks offer so much utility to people. Do you want to organize a barbecue? The truck can haul everything you need, from a decent-sized grill to a tray of 3-inch tomahawk stakes and absolutely everything in between.
Richard Rawlings' daily driver is his darkened Ram 2500.
There isn't much to say other than that it's a great all-round truck, it has all the comforts of a luxury car, and it's relatively tall, with footpegs fixed at about knee level for a person of average height.
18 1968 Shelby Mustang GT 350
This classic '68 Shelby convertible is one of his favorites as they built it themselves. Nothing is more reminiscent of the bond between father and son than a built car and its builder. Our love for anything with four wheels and extraordinarily high ground clearance extends to this Shelby as they lifted it up and installed fog lights.
It's honestly a cool car with a unique fit, big off-road tires and a crazy audio system, everything you could want in a car that you can take to the beach and not worry about sinking into the sand.
17 1952 Chevrolet Fleetline
Whitewall tires were popular back then, and the 52nd Fleetline is a great addition to any car collection to add some retro spice.
This is the first car that Richard Rawlings and the Gas Monkey Garage team have built together and, as you might expect, it would be right for Richard to keep it.
This Fleetline was in pretty rough condition when they got to work with rust all over the place which is no surprise as it is over 60 years old.
16 1998 Chevrolet Crew Cab-Dually
It is quite possibly the most outlandish car in Richard's collection. With a 496 V8 under the hood, it can put out a lot of power. Technically speaking; it's a truck, as it was named Truckin' magazine's 10 Best Trucks of All Time.
Never worry about speed bumps in this roadster because it has a hydraulic suspension system that can be controlled from an iPad built into the dash. The seating arrangements are pretty unique to say the least as there are 4 bucket seats and a leather upholstered bench for a more comfortable cruising with your squad.
15 1968 Shelby GT Fastback
It can be argued that the decade of the 60s was a golden era for American muscle cars; they absolutely embodied the identity of the country, and the Shelby GT Fastback is no different. It is XNUMX% original according to Richard.
Everything from the exterior to the smallest detail inside has been perfectly restored and it would be extremely difficult to find another example of a Fastback built as well as this one.
The overall look screams beauty, which is why he bought this car and gave it to his wife. Nothing draws more attention than a blonde driving the cleanest Shelby.
14 1970 Dodge Challenger
The Dodge challenger is imprinted in pop culture today in large part because of the hugely popular Fast & Furious franchise. However, this particular first-generation Challenger has been replaced by a modern supercharged Hellcat engine that boosts power to a whopping 707 horsepower.
The engine isn't the only new thing about this bad boy. Richard and his team improved the radiator, transmission, brakes and coilovers. The harmony between modern performance and classic appearance in an iconic shell complements each other perfectly. Did we mention that it is also blacked out? Yes, Mr. Rawlings loves black cars.
13 1974 Mercury Comet
Many people outside of the United States have not even heard of Mercury's comet. This holds a special place in Richard's heart as his first car back in the 80s was also a Mercury Comet.
Although he could not find the exact car, he did find a nearly perfect replica of the car he loved so many years ago.
We can imagine that he was delighted with the acquisition of this piece, because he gave the Gas Monkey team three weeks to restore this American memorabilia.
12 1965 Ford Mustang 2+2 Fastback
Another classic American muscle in Richard's collection is the 2+2 Fastback, by no means the oldest of the bunch, but certainly a special one. He was once shot by a car thief who was trying to steal his 1965+2 Fastback 2 Ford Mustang; fortunately he survived to tell the story.
It is impossible not to emphasize how recognizable the appearance of the car is even from afar. As much as three vertically stacked taillights on either side of the car, there's a certain charm this classic gives off that makes you feel all dizzy inside.
11 1967 Pontiac Firebird
Currently not owned by General Motors, Pontiac continues to live on as a true classic they created long before. The brand has contributed to what the automotive market is today.
Believe it or not, Richard Rawlings purchased the first two Pontiac Firebirds ever produced.
Call it luck or pure luck, but he contacted Chuck Alekinas, a retired professional basketball player, and managed to buy both cars for $70,000. The serial numbers are even 100001 and 100002 although it took a bit of work, this is one of the coolest cars in his already amazing collection.
10 1932 Ford
The 1932 Ford is a "typical hot rod," as Richard Rawlings would say. They were produced in large numbers and people wanted them to go faster, the criminals also wanted to make their cars faster in order to outrun the police. This is what sparked the hot rod craze before World War II: the average consumer could make some modifications to get more power from early engines; worlds other than the engine designs currently developed.
The car looks like it came out of a Hot Wheels baby box. There's nothing wrong with Richard driving that '32 Ford regularly, confident that if something breaks, they know how to fix it.
9 1967 Mustang Fastback
No other 1967 Mustang Fastback has survived as well as this one. For starters, most fastbacks have been raced on the drag strip or modified to put out insane power, but all they've used are manual transmission models. This means that lovers of speed left the automation alone.
The engine is 6-cylinder instead of V8, it was built at the San Jose plant; that would be our guess as to why a 43,000 mile car still hasn't broken down.
8 2005 Ford GT Custom coupe
No one in their right mind would dare to rebuild a car as valuable as the legendary Ford GT for fear of breaking something or reducing its reliability.
However, the original owner of this Ford GT crashed into a stationary object and damaged the front of the car. This prompted Richard Rawlings and Aaron Kaufman to purchase it.
After repairing and replacing the damaged parts, they decided to improve the already impetuous fast supercar. Among other things, they installed a 4.0-liter Whipple supercharger and an MMR cam set, but most of their upgrades were for improved handling.
7 1975 Datsun 280 Z
This nimble baby was the first imported Japanese car built by the guys at Gas Monkeys. For those unfamiliar with the brand, Datsun used to be called Nissan, and the 280Z is kind of the granddaddy of the ridiculously popular 350Z and 370Z.
Richard paid just $8,000 for the 280Z and, with the help of renowned tuner Big Mike, got the SR20 engine up to an incredible 400 horsepower. The 280Z is also called the Fairlady in Japan and is used in many video games, including the beloved Wangan Midnight.
6 Replica roadster Jaguar XK120
Yes, you read, right, guys, there is a replica written there. Richard's team built the body around predominantly Ford components, including a Ford V8 engine for plenty of power and a 4-speed manual transmission.
What is amazing about replicas is that they are insured and any decent mechanic can repair them with no problem.
Using fiberglass as a bodywork has its advantages such as it never rusts, add glossy black paint and the car looks a lot like the antagonist's car from the Batman comics. Feel the wind in your hair as you drive around town in this adorable convertible and watch people wonder what the hell you're driving.
5 1966 Saab 96 Monte Carlo Sport
The engine is only 841 cc. cm will leave many wanting more, but when you put it in an incredibly light body, you have a rally car. Gas Monkey Garage built this vicious little car with a roll cage, sturdy steering column and MOMO bucket seat for spirited driving.
It's about the same small size as a classic Volkswagen Beetle and handles it just as well since you can throw it in tight turns on loose surfaces. Now this is one way to experience a real rally car, it even hits the redline when you lightly push the gas pedal.
4 1933 Chrysler Royal 8 Coup CT Imperial
Again, with whitewalls, why can't manufacturers just bring back whitewall tires? Richard has another hot rod in his collection in the form of a 1933 Chrysler Royal Coup Imperial. It was kept in a private and secure location protected from the elements until Mr. Rawlings had a chance to buy a car.
Despite being idle for a very long time, the V8 engine starts thanks to the installed electric pump. We're pretty confident that this Chrysler's two-tone color scheme will dazzle even the most demanding onlookers.
3 1915 Willys-Overland Touring
Ford sold the most cars at the turn of the century, followed closely behind by Willys-Overland. This barn find was close to Gas Monkey's own shop and was purchased in an unrestored condition, along with all the dust and cobwebs collected. Sitting in the salon, you can feel that you have returned to the past.
To start the engine, it was necessary to turn the lever in front of the hood.
The Richard Rawlings collection simply shows that technology has evolved by leaps and bounds since the car was first made available to the public.
2 Ferrari F40
The Ferrari F40 was a supercar built for legal racing. This is just a hero of the 90s. Evidence of this are the countless walls of the bedrooms, hung with F40 posters.
All Ferrari F40s were painted red at the factory, but Richard Rawlings is actually black. The reason is that the original owner actually wrecked the car, which led the guys at Gas Monkey Garage, along with Richard Rawlings and Aaron Kaufman, to buy the wrecked F40, repair it, and repaint it black.
1 1989 Lamborghini Countach
Another flashy Italian car in Mr. Rawlings' car collection is the Lamborghini Countach. When it first appeared in 1974, the world was stunned by its wedge-shaped body, the front of which was much lower than the rear of the car.
The V12 engine is right behind the driver, which sounds like a match made in heaven.
Richard Rawlings' Countach actually has a different, bulkier front bumper to meet stricter US safety specifications. Frankly, it ruins the streamlining effect from the tip of the front bumper to the top of the windshield.
Sources: gasmonkeygarage.com, inventory.gasmonkeygarage.com
