The Rise and Fall of American Hot Rod... What REALLY Happened!? Where Are They Now!?

In this video, we go through what REALLY happened to the car TV show that started it all: "American Hot Rod." The show ran 5 seasons and probably could've gone longer if shop owner Boyd Coddington hadn't passed away unexpectedly in 2008. We will explain what happened to cast members
Mike Curtis, Mike Rowe, Duane Mayer, Chip Foose, and MORE! Watch til' the end to see where they are today!

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#AmericanHotRod #BoydCoddington #ChipFoose

[georgekelly]

Working long, unplanned hours + back to back impossible deadlines = Toxic work environment.

[alainv]

Chip Foose and Jesse James were not on American Hot Rods, they are EX employees of Boyd Coddington shop and were already having their own shops and tv shows when American Hot Rods started

[billybowbob]

It's not worth the money to bust your butt every day only to be dumped on and treated like crap. Never considering the personal lives of your employees is a common failure of the business owner. In the end, what did the dedication and abuse get them? The guy died and their jobs were lost. Look after your own life first!

[virtualscouser]

Dwayne was the behind most of the drama with the other employees and went running to Boyd hoping to score more brownie points by narc'ing on the other guys for any small infringment. I don't recall him doing anything on that show of value except give the network their drama clips for the, "On the next episode of American Hot Rod..." (cue yelling). Watch the clip of when Brad Quits, that says everything to Dwayne and his attitude to everyone.

[tedbiernacki]

I used to watch this show with the ole mighty Boyd Coddington!
I used to think to myself this should be shown at business school ... and students should be told this isnt how you run your business and treat your employees ! 😮😮😮

[s]

Dwayne treated a lot of the guys poorly on that show.

PS: I thought this video was about the staff, you touched on a couple of people, some that weren't on the actual show, the rest of this was about Boyd.

[ducky]

A lot of great craftspeople got treated like crap on that show!!! Glad to see most went on to success!!!

[rogerw]

By the time the show introduced Boyd Coddington to the general public, he was no longer capable of doing the builds that had made him famous. It was the staff that carried the show. That show was all conflict, all the time. It was a perfect example of a toxic and antagonistic work environment. Like 'American Chopper', it was a show that became unwatchable rather quickly if you were more into the cars than the needless drama.

[G_Machine_Joe]

The chassis builder with the huge mustache was the best...he did his job, didn't take crap from anyone and didn't mingle with the other guys. Stayed to himself and was MATURE.

[mcats]

Really could not stand Boyd. Making his employees work weekends and holidays just so some rich a-hole could debut the car at some show or event!

[chuckm]

Between Boyd's ego, Dwayne being an ass, the unrealistic builddeadlines, the drama etc, it all leads to unhappy employees. I still think there was something going on between Charley and Boyd's wife, since she was so upset when Charley left Boyd.

[hermangroenewald]

I think we can all agree, we all loved Charlie. He was a really sincere person

[Bohemiahotrodandcustom]

I loved all the cars they built but I hated the drama. Dwyane was an A grade bully and a a- hole.
The only thing Boyd did was put his name on the completed car, nothing else.
It was the crew that kept that place together.

[jkherd]

Foose was the true talent, after he left nothing new came out of Cottingtons shop, it was just reusing the same old ideas

[williamduhamel]

If you’ve watched Wheeler Dealers when they filmed in California there is an episode where Mike Brewer goes to a shop and Mike Curtis helps him. I just don’t remember what episode.

[diysecuritygear]

A boss that thinks it's funny to promise the impossible EVERY job gets old quick. Employees realize they're just getting usedto the detriment of their own happiness.

[mraztca]

Foose Signed all his creative rights to Boyd. Anything he designed became Boyed intellectual copyright.
So he decided to leave AND take his designs with him.
I think Foose was sued but ended up winning. Which is why Boyd didn't like him anymore, he felt the designs were his because Foose was his employee.

[jaydawg]

The 2016 Dwayne Meyer crash was alcohol related. The "suicide" doors on the hot rod he was drunk driving almost earned their nickname when the impact threw him out of the vehicle. *Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.*

[vincentsubmarinismo]

Its a testament to Boyd Coddington, that he is disrespected even in death.

[IreneRChoi]

_She's _*_MIGHT_*_ just be the most humble and heartwarming person to exist_ 💖💟😘😘
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