One of my more recent automotive kicks is to take a 1972-79 Ford Ranchero and build it up into a muscle ute. Not like a hot rod, but like a badass shop truck: clean, restoration look body, beefed up rear suspension so I could haul stuff around in the lined bed, a stout engine and overdrive automatic, and of course, the Magnum 500 wheels that just look killer on these big Fords. Like any other car that is stuck in my head like a bad song, I search eBay, looking for the ideal candidate. This is what I found. This is not the ideal candidate. This is a nightmare that someone is trying to sell for at least $35,000.
If you’re familiar with a custom car building television show called “Leepu and Pitbull”, then you are one step ahead of me. Consisting of shop owner Steve “Pitbull” Trimboli and designer Nizamuddin “Leepu” Awlia, the premise of the show is similar to other build shows: irresponsible timelines, fabricated drama, an so on. But the punchline are the cars themselves. If people consider Awlia’s work “art”, then I quit, because there is no feasible way that I could consider what happened to this 1972 Ford Ranchero anything less than a disfigurement. With the Dodge Challenger-inspired nose and taillights on a body that is a combination of IMSA flares and everything wrong with Mad Max builds, it looks more like a car designed for Grand Theft Auto than anything else. It’s automotive androgyny! And to top off the whole pile of wrong, this was a Dub Magazine-sponsored build, so of course the wheels are big enough to work on a Conesetoga wagon.
If you think I’m being harsh or mean on this Ranchero…yeah, you’re damn right I am. This is awful, and if anyone shells out $35K for it they’ve lost their minds. Tell me what you think…I honestly want to know.
The great George Barris would have rather cut his hands off than have his name associated with this hideous monstrosity.Ridiculously large wheels,fender flares that look like they were designed by a kindergarten class, electrician’s tape “flames”. and as for that nose treatment – well words fail me.
The basic concept is quite cool, just put right those things and this car would grace any garage – including mine!
In his early years the “great” George Barris built a lot of automotive art and history that shaped a lot of young gear head’s lives, but he’s had more than a few flops as well. Especially in the last years of his “creative” life. Some of his misses were really really bad
Just look up the John Travolta Firebird Fever, Calico Surfer, The bolt on upgrades he offered for the 3rd gen Camaro, the hideous Mustang abomination that he put Don Prudhomme’s name on – only to have Don reject it completely. Let’s not forget the Sonny and Cher mustangs… 6″ fur in the trunk and some kind of weird cookie tray like things bolted to the hood…
This Ranchero needs to be crushed and burned
Needs headers, some inner fenderwells and nitrous…yea, I never cared for customs OR the giant wheels with rubberband tires, but to those who do…enjoy.
Suggest you watch the show with the mindset you’re gonna look past the bullshit and see what’s going on beneath it…if somebody could bring leepu back from the edge AND show him some modern technique he’d be amazing IMO…wait…he’s already amazing…and Barris couldn’t hold a hammer to him on his best day. Tasteful? no…amazing? Oh hell yes.
Amazing? Taking Chrysler parts and duct taping them to a classic ford is the equivalent too smearing shit on the Mona Lisa. Somebody should feed leepu to a pit bull and donate that abortion to the crew of mythbusters for one of their explosion episodes.
Good god, I thought we got rid of leepu when the british tv show got cancelled. I don’t think he’s built anything tasteful. Can you just imagine if he was a chef? This meal was inspired by ice cream, barbeque and soup. I added the leepu touch by boiling it in used gear oil
Aaaaggghhhh!! I thought Leepu had disappeared for good but it seems he has managed to inflict himself upon a new audience. Just because you have a canvas and materials does not make you an artist. Leepu’s ”designs” are at best awful and at the other extreme his improvements are downright dangerous ( I don’t know if you can find episodes of Chop Shop London (?) on the net for proof).
Just when you thought TV couldn’t dumb down any further.
The sad part of this build is that this is one of Leepu better designs. If you seen the show you know what I’m talking about.
I think Leepu has CTE.
With different paint I’d roll with this.
If you look at it like you would a fashion show it is not so bad. When you look at clothing lines from a fashion show you look at elements of the line, not necessarily the whole outfit. So, as a whole this thing is a pile of fugly but….I like the stance, I like the lines….here is what ANGRYJOE would do….Lose the fender flares and add some smaller more tasteful ones. Add a NASCAR style wheel and tire set up. Loose the rear view mirrors and the rear spoiler. Gloss black with a flat black hood stripe with red pin stripes….This is one of those builds where you look at elements…not the whole package…
Angry joe. Are you angry because someone cut off your balls and inserted them in your mouth. Must be. Sounds like you spend too much time at faggy fashion shows. This is a car Forum so save your high fashion comparisons for the ladies in your book club.
Front end looks more like a ’70-’71 Ranchero than a Challenger to me.
Meh, not right, but not horrible.
A quick look at these flash in the pan crap-artists would show they’ve ruined other cars as well.
In 2 yrs nobody will remember these talent-less goons.Jay
I would never buy anything that ‘leepu’ touched unless it was to cut off his work and put original metal back.
Looks like the after effects of a Taco Tuesday.
I have a 72 Ranchero I’m building for the 2nd time (champion battery blew up).. It has been customized to look decent and not a 72 with a disfigurement like this one. Clean, neat body lines are very important.
This Lepu guy could get hired at the Counts Customs shop. They have similar taste.
Looks like a Hotwheels car!
I may/can accept this design if its out of a Plymouth or Dodge based , just a thought