In the '80s Boyd Coddington was "The Man"! His cars were considered the "top 'o the heap" for the national interest in handbuilt hot rods.

As the trends changed, he continued on the same path, and obviously had a strong enough follwing to keep his shop full.

In case you haven't noticed, the strongest trend right now is toward "low-buck, do-it-yourself" style... and bash the guy who doesn't agree with this philosophy. Boyd chose to follow his own style, and I would have disrespected him if he didn't.

I also suspect that the personality that we loved to watch on TV, was scripted. If it wasn't, then do you really think his customers, workers, and wife would really have tolerated it??? Here's a hint. If it's on TV.....it may not be real!

Anyway, people should respect him as a human being, and leader in the hobby. RIP