HOT ROD SPEED WORKS and Mustang Madam.

On Thusday May 15th I went to HOT ROD SPEED WORKS because my mustang had been overheating.




It’s particularly difficult for me because I live in hot sunny California where the temp outside often gets in the high 90’s as it is. Indeed, I really needed help.

One of my problems was knowing where to go. The reason this was a problem is that I am very protective of my car ( even valet drivers have to fill out an application and get interviewed to drive it 4 ft.) and I had gotten many conflicting opinions from people telling me what I should do. I met one of the staff of Hot Rod Speed Works ( Rory Fontana) at a car show at Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank. He looked at my radiator and said to me “ you have overheating problems don’t you” at first I thought he was psychic, I asked him how he knew. His explanation is what sold me on coming to Hot Rod Speed Works. Rory has EXTENSIVE YEARS of Mustang theory and practice and knows them better than anyone I have spoken to yet, save, the editor of Mustang Monthly Magazine – Miles Cook.

Here is Rory Fontana ( whom I call “ The Surgeon”) discussing my Mustang with me.

While I was at Hot Rod Speed Works I interviewed owner Jay Beynon and met all the staff, each who have a specific and meaningful role at the shop. Manager “Phil Roche” specializes in Corvettes, Lead Technician “Rory Fontana” specializes in Mustangs as well as Mopars, “Cherokee” also specializes in Corvettes and “Dustin” is the invaluable support for all of them. Between all the staff they have over 30 years of experience working on hot rods and muscle cars of every type. Aside from the experience, they each love the cars and their work more than anything and it shows. From left to right, Jay Beynon, owner, myself, and Phil Roche, manager.

Phil hard at work…

Dustin keeping the morale up…

Here is Rory hard at work as usual…


Jay Beynon himself of course has several hot rods and corvettes himself which he restores, and takes to shows and DRIVES. The shop is at 14757 Keswick St. Van Nuys, Ca. 818 808 9705 , www.hotrodspeedworks.com.

Jay told me that because their shop is new, they “try harder”, having just started the business about a year ago. Their “trying harder” shows up very nicely in the gorgeous cars they turn out, as well as the affluence of business. Right now they have so many jobs they almost have to turn work down, nearly all of it coming from word of mouth.

Jay Beynon is so passionate about doing quality work that they go the extra mile to ensure the job is done correctly – even if it ends up coming out of his own pocket. “It’s my passion and my reputation, it’s got to be perfect or it doesn’t leave the shop.” he says.

Hot Rod Speed Works does every thing from a complete restoration starting with something like this 1964 galaxie interior shot….

to a simple oil change. Their staff are walking Hot Rod, Mustang, Corvette and Mopar “encyclopedias”. When you combine the passion with the knowledge you really get a perfect combination and formula for success. A fair amount of their work has been fixing things that someone else didn’t do quite right. For example, this motor was bored to thin, which caused the cylinder walls to leak. The owner brought it here and they discovered and fixed the problem.

They do complex work such as this custom header built for a 1971 Mustang, converted from a 302 to a 351W

Here is the 71 Mustang which the custom header is for…

Here some current projects at Hot Rod Speed Works…

This is a 1971 Nova which “Cherokee” is taking care of…

Here’s an SS Chevelle that was dropped of recently…

They recently finished Gilbey Clark’s ( Guns n’ Roses) 1964 1/2 Mustang converted from 200 six cylinder to a 302 V8, 4 lug to 5 lug conversion with front and rear big brake kits (4 wheel disc) generator to alternator conversion…fully upgraded chassis for improved handling.

1968 Corvette Roadster with frame off getting ready for it’s rebirth…

1974 Corvette Roadster

Trans Am in for a makeover..

Here is a 1956 Chevy 350 with blower… GORGEOUS HUH?

Here I am hugging my new aluminum radiator before it goes in which I will tell you about tomorrow. For now, let me just say how pleased I am with my experience and choice of who works on my mustang.

Over and out!

CONTACT ME FOR QUESTIONS !