Loose Change, named for the Neil Young song of the same name, was built just over 10 years ago, and it was the first hot rod to ever be built by Chris Andrews. It is the first vehicle that he built himself, and it showcases his incredible attention to detail, creativity, and style. At its heart is a 400-cubic inch Chevrolet V-8 engine with triple Rochester carburetors, which is mated to a Tremec TKO five-speed manual transmission, and its power is funneled to a Halibrand Champ Car rear end.

This pickup is based on a custom chassis that was also built by Chris. He found a 1932 Ford truck body in Houston and mated it to the chassis after chopping the top, to create a more aggressive stance. The body was not modified or refurbished in any way, and the only ornamentation on the car’s exterior is the subtle pinstriping by James Crawford, such as the “Loose Change” name pinstriped under the tinted rear window. The pop-out windshield adds to the car’s mean look and allows the driver and passenger to experience added ventilation at speed. The only polished part of the exterior is the car’s rear-mounted, 10-gallon gas tank. Finally, the finishing touch is a period-correct 1932 Texas license plate.

The interior is as bare bones as the exterior. Both the driver and passenger seats are of riveted metal with handwoven wool seat cushions and leather headrests. Between the seats is a red Schwinn banana seat fashioned as an armrest. The transmission tunnel and doors all retain the same weathered look, while the dashboard is covered by similarly weathered-out tan leather that has been bolted directly to the firewall, with pennies used as washers. The base of the Hurst short-throw shifter is wrapped in a canvas that matches the color of the body. The car also features a Tilton NASCAR pedal box, as well as a Schroeder Sprint Car steering box.

As Chris Andrews’ first custom build, Loose Change came out incredibly well. It showcases Chris’s superb attention to detail and design, as well as his personal sense of style.

Loose change in my pocket

Future in my hand