By Jack Haworth
In late 2023, fabricator Riccardo Salatino and his customer-turned-business partner, Jason Zimmerman, launched Blazin' Rodz—a custom car building shop in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. The duo wasn't interested in easing into the new business; they wanted to make a statement.
"What do we need to do to put ourselves on the map right away?" asked Zimmerman.
A daunting question for a brand-new business, but Salatino had a radical idea for what to do with a '70 Chevrolet Chevelle. This would not be a sleek restomod, but a mind-bending design that pushed the boundaries of custom car building—a classic car that possesses the handling of a Porsche, the power of a drag-racing car and the luxury of a modern sports car.
"I gave this idea to the guys and said, 'Let's all brainstorm this together to make this thing just an absolute monster,'" said Salatino. "That's how the Chevelle was born."
At 370 days and $2.8 million later, the masterpiece dubbed "Doughboy" was ready for its debut at the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Once the Blazin' Rodz team rolled their creation onto the show floor, there was an immediate buzz.
The heavily modified '70 Chevelle drew plenty of attention from SEMA Showgoers and media, all trying to get a closer look of the radical build that combines a twin-turbo Chevy-based big-block delivering 2,800 hp, a full coach-built steel widebody, front suspension geometry from a C7 Corvette, custom CNC-machined billet components throughout, and dozens of 3D-printed parts for both the exterior and interior.
To celebrate their ingenuity and design, Blazin' Rodz was presented with the 2024 SEMA Best Engineered Vehicle of the Year Award—a coveted accolade honoring a SEMA Show feature vehicle that demonstrates exceptional engineering throughout the entire vehicle or an aspect of the vehicle that goes beyond just physical appearance.
"It was really nice to be able to step back and watch how much people enjoyed it," said Salatino. "Our crazy idea came to fruition; I couldn't put into words how we all felt [at SEMA]."
It took long hours, embracing new technology, and the creative synergy of a talented team, but Salatino's "crazy idea" proved to be just the answer their team was looking for.
Blazin' Rodz is officially on the map.
Building a Monster
Salatino began his career in the off-road industry, before eventually changing course to pursue his passion for classic cars and hot rods. He opened his own shop in 2019—RFS Motorsports—where Zimmerman became one of his customers.
Impressed by his work, Zimmerman offered to help...
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Photography courtesy of Blazin' Rods