Our friend Ralf Becker has a website called Chromjuwelen, which is German for “Chrome Jewels.” Ralf has a taste for the weird, and he loves all things related to cars and speed. Much of his work covers the hot rod culture in Germany, which is both active and eclectic. If you’ve never seen a vintage Opal with a V-8 stuffed under the hood, just spend some time on Chromjuwelen, and I can guarantee you’ll come across one.
When it comes to building hot rods, few things surprise me. A first generation VW GTI transformed into a rat rod, however, is a new one, even for me. The car, named “Bad Luck,” was filmed at a recent German hot rod event dubbed Rust & Roll. I wish I could tell you more details about the car (like what kind of V-8 sits where the 1.6-liter four-banger used to go), but I couldn’t find any specifics on the owner or the build. I would have loved video of the car in action, too, since I’ll bet it’s capable of some fairly impressive burnouts.
Love it or hate it, you’ve got to admit it’s original.
Source: Chromjuwelen
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
