GANGSTER CHOPPERS

Friday, November 17, 2017

Bottom Dollar - In Print

bottom dollar, john dodson, gangster choppers, easyriders magazine, easyriders, chopper, harley davidson,

Bottom Dollar Kucklehead Gangster Choppers

Easyriders Magazine January 2018 featuring the Gangster Choppers built bike "Bottom Dollar"

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Welcome to the BOTTOM DOLLAR Knucklehead

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Knucklehead - by, Gangster Choppers

Beautiful Virginia scenery with the 1947 Harley Davidson Knucklehead custom built by Gangster Choppers.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

The Dodson DeLuxe

Gangster Choppers, the Dodson DeLuxe

Completed in early 2017 just in time for the riding season to kick off! Beautiful Sportster powered Chopper featuring one off parts from the Craftsmen at Gangster Choppers. Here is a little run down to get you interested. rigid frame, wide glide front end, 21" front wheel and the classic 16" wrapped in Metzler rubber on the rear. Hand made dual headlight bracket, rear tail lamp / tag mount, exhaust pipes, sissy bar grab rail, and foot controls just naming a few.

The unique finishes shows off the raw beauty of the workmanship in the Gangster Choppers shop. The fuel tank and rear fender is highly polished aluminum while the 1954 Chevrolet Surf Green powder coat covers the frame, triple trees and other items.

Keeping it "Made in Virginia" the Dodson's chose to keep the trades in house, the engine and transmission was rebuilt in house, The powder coating and ceramic coating was performed in house. Tasks thats not even thought of like mounting the tires, wiring the bike, polishing the fasteners and the fuel tank and rear fender are all examples of "Made in Virginia".

Pulling from years of experience and friends in the industry the bike showcases a Goodson air filter, Pingle fuel filter, Thunderjett tricked out carburetor, Barnett clutches and clutch cable, Pangea Speed handlebars, Cole Foster hand grips, Joker Machine foot pegs.

When asked what special touches stood out, John Dodson replied, "the one off stash tube that mimics an old generator is the one item I really like." It was machined by Big Kenny, that's the Matriarch of the shop that is now three generations of Dodson's deep. All three doing their part to keep choppers cool.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

BOOGIE WAGON Dodge

Another Dodge Shorty RESCUED and made better by the good folks at Gangster Choppers. Cragar SS, 63" side pipes to be installed, killer sound system, Factory color Crimson Red inside & out - jambs and all! 318, 727, 9.25" differential. Period PERFECT cup holder with cassette tape slots and be-dazzled in 1984 pennies.

Dodge Shorty Van

1984 Dodge Shorty Van

America First

Dodge Shorty dressed in Cragar SS

Dodge Street Van

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

UN-Glamorous Tasks Of A Working Shop

Who repairs the trailers? Thousands of miles logged on the trailers annually, everything wears out and needs fix'n.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Gangster Choppers Got'em Selves Another Delivery

Gangster Choppers drug another nice piece home. Always hunting, always looking for the classics. This 1957 Chevy Sedan Delivery is beyond a remarkable find. It is a mind blower!

Originally hot rodded in 1968 with the drivetrain from a 1967 Corvette, the owner had a vision and was really up on "what was cool". Already a factory optioned V8 car with power steering, the L79 327 was slid in, a 1962 bellhousing was used, and the Muncie M20 from the 'Vette was reused too. The car is geared 3.70:1 using the original differential and axle housing.

Every casting date code has been checked and documented, the brake drums and even the wheel cylinders were all original. Items like the water pump, intake manifold, distributor, thermostat housing all correct for the period! The gauges are all Stewart Warner date coded 1968, the Ansen Top Eliminator wheels were still wearing the tires date coded 1967. Rare items don't stop there, the 327 cid wears a set of original Dougs Headers long tube headers with collectors! The mufflers are original Smittys!

The car was last driven and parked in the owners garage in September 1974, when discovered the battery was still connected and had the date code bubbles removed indicating June 1972. The owner had passed away and his Son and his Widow had decided to proceed with selling the '57. Talking with the Son and his Mom, stories of dozens of bed sheets and blankets dry rotting and literally falling off the car was told, stories of the tires being inflated with the pressure checked once a year, the water being drained from the radiator and engine. Stories of the early offers on the car and then obviously people just forgetting it still sat in the garage. Not to mention the 3/4" inch of dust on the car covering the 1967 Corvette blue the car was painted in 1968.

More may be written and documented on the "very slight" restoration of the '57 on this blog, all I can recommend is stay tuned. For now, unbelievably just a couple weeks after acquiring this awesome time capsule it is fully on the road and cruising. We were very careful to preserve the car as being a real 1968 hot rod, nothing on this car says Taiwan or Korea and we didn't change the vision of the original hot rodder in 1968.