Chuck Vranas draws inspiration from a lifetime fascination with traditional hot rods and customs every time he picks up one of his cameras. Ever since he started burning film on wicked cars over a decade ago he has captured the essence of each ones inner soul. Well known for his dramatic images and East Coast writing style, he has put down thousands of miles over the years crisscrossing the country, even hopping the pond to England, to pursue some of the coolest stories and soup-jobs on the scene.
A true enthusiast and car owner, Chuck owns the notorious Lady Luck II ’23 Ford T-bucket and has recently completed the Voodoo Doll ’27 Ford Touring for his wife Kim which competed for America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, CA in 2009. He currently has a ‘66 Ford Thunderbird mild custom project named Stardust in the design stages as well as a post-war era-styled ’32 Ford roadster with a ’58 Cadillac V-8 and Halibrand quick-change rear. In 2008, Chuck received his Rookie license at the 60th Anniversary of Speed Week at the Bonneville Salt Flats piloting the Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop’s Flathead V-8 powered ’32 Ford roadster on the 3-mile course, attaining a speed of 117.056 mph.
A graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, Chuck began his career covering automotive events for some of the finest national and international rodding magazines published. Today, his Milestones, Features, Shop Tours, Tech Articles, and Event Coverage can be read on a regular basis in Street Rodder, Rod & Custom, Classic Truck, Custom Classic Truck, Camaro Performers, Chevelle, Chevy Classics, Super Chevy, Custom Car UK, Classic American UK, Rolls & Pleats, and Kustoms Illustrated magazines.
He has also used his photography to collaborate with authors on two book ventures so far: “Great American Hot Rods: A Full Throttle Chronicle of Custom Cars from the Street, Show and Strip” on KP Books, and the children’s book “Custom Cars (Motor Mania Series),” with Lerner Publishing. Stay tuned to hear about new upcoming hardcover books he has in the works.
