And now for something completely different: here on facebook Marketplace is Space Junkie 1.5, based on a 1931 Chevrolet, with an asking price of $150,000, negotiable. You might be able to buy the truck and trailer for Junkie, too, so you can wheel her home from Kaiser, Missouri. The backstory begins with Ian Roussel’s 2016 build of Space Junkie 1.0. A few years later, Roussel was back at it, scavenging 1.0 to build the bubble-topped Junkie 2.0 – this time penned by Johnny Jalopy. Junkie 2.0 sold at BJ’s 2020 Scottsdale auction for $44k. But Junkie wasn’t done having children – our seller ended up with the body from 1.0, forming the basis for the car you see above. Part of the build was filmed on Full Custom Garage, with Ian Roussel involved; the car was completed by the seller and some talented pals. We have NW Iowa to thank for this down low tip!
Junkie 1.5 sports a 4.4 liter Pontiac Silver Streak straight-eight flathead breathing through twin Weber 40DCOE carburetors. The carbs hang on custom manifolds that rear out of the engine bay like mechanical seahorses. The transmission is a GM 350 automatic. Air-ride suspension all around doesn’t prevent a wickedly low ride. The wheels are narrowed Detroit steelies.
The interior is built for effect, not comfort. Those curved surfboard seats won’t indulge you over a five-hundred-mile run. This car is meant to get to the show and back. The seller says that the switches in the yoke-like steering wheel all work – but doesn’t tell us what they do. LED lighting is installed inside and out. Junkie 1.5 doesn’t appear to have a top, whereas Junkie 1.0 had a roll-up aluminum “sunroof”.
Roussel is a fan of the late “Big Daddy” Roth, and Roth’s influence can be seen in the bold graphics, long nose, and front wheels set at the outside edge of the vehicle. But Junkie 1.5 also has its own kind of “refined rat rod” aura, with that flathead motor, wrapped exhaust, clear bullet headlights, and slender blade running vertically down the front grille. The interior color is a controversial choice – it works, but it’s weird. I would change out the whitewalls for blackwalls, and some sort of top would be handy, even if it were a tonneau. Valuing hot rods is an exercise in frustration. Name brand, vintage rods can sell for huge money but after that, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The sale of Junkie 2.0 for $44k was not auspicious, however.
Wild stuff! Any one know if Ian’s show is sill going? After a whole bunch of channel changes he disappeared.
I’m seeing reruns on Motor Trend. The cable channel. Don’t have the app.
He’s on YouTube now.
I might as well add that his YouTube channel is Full Custom Ian @fullcustomIan. He’s still busy pushing up videos of his talent.
And very active on Instagram – full_custom_ian
Yes he had new shows. And
i saw him bring back Space junkie . I have Optimum and it’s on motor trend channel 156 in Hudson valley NY. 🐻
I don’t know if the shows are current, but I watch them on Motor Trend TV. This car was just featured again.
I’m waiting for another season – fingers crossed. He’s still shown on Motor Trend. I just watched the episode with Space Junkie 1.5.
No, thank you.
Watching Ian Roussel work is brain boggling. The man has mad skills! Love this Kustom.
Been doing metal work my entire life but Ian makes me look like I couldn’t open a can of beans.
Never crossed paths with him. I’ve always been reasonably ok at straightening suff – but not in the artist league! I’ll have a look.
Ian is the master of metal. It’s amazing me how he take nothing and makes outrageous rides four wheels, three wheels and two wheels. I never seen a guy so calm and have patience on doing the job. He is a humble man. Love watching his show. Good luck to the seller.. 🇺🇸🐻
Ian is probably the best fab person around. Love his show and his builds. The dogs are Great too!
I have watched every episode and am so hooked I am now watching some of them over again on Motor Trend Go. I love the episodes where he collaborates with Victor. The transformation of literal junk to a masterpiece is amazing! He seems like the kind of dude that every man would like the privilege of hanging out with.
Love the show. I also approve the fact that he puts his hard work out there, even if it sells for “only” 44K. But I can’t see six figures for this recreation, which I don’t like nearly as much as the original. It was raw, like most of his builds, and the spoked non spinning wheels were really unique.
I’m not a fan of the Star Wars remakes either, so that tells you something.
Ian Roussel is the cleverest metal/fibreglass/polycarbonate etc. fabricator that I have ever had the pleasure of watching build a car. He builds masterpieces from absolute scrap. I think the episodes that blew my mind were the ones where he built a car based on a Porsche 928 I think it was, where most of the original shape was made from aluminium, cardboard, foam, fibreglass etc. and then when it was finished he made a fibreglass plug from it, removed the plug which destroyed the original, made a mold from the plug before having the new body professionally molded by experts. The five sections were then removed from the molds, glassed together and painted to make an absolutely beautiful 2 door super car. Unbelievable, and he seems to do it with such laid back ease, guessing half the time if he is doing it right or wrong, but as he says, if it’s wrong or he doesn’t like it, he just does it again! Now I am going to have to find the episodes again and re watch an absolutely gifted craftsman at work.
I expect this puppy could lay ome serious rubber, that is if you could locate the accelerator mechanism/device.
I have watched I think all of Ian’s “Full Custom Garage” and I think Victor Cacho comes up with some of the best retro mods
Just as importantly, let us not forget the shop inspectors. They are key to the process.
Great write up and excellent comments!
In addition to being an extremely gifted designer/fabricator, Ian is a very good actor the way he weaves his ‘shop inspectors’ into some episodes. It seems realistic and natural to watch him involve his two ‘adopted’ Pit Bulls. I too have watched every episode and have my DVR set to record all repeat shows on the Motor Trend channel. I’ll never get tired of watching this genius at work.
The craftsmanship is undeniable but that thing has to ride like a shopping cart.
Wow! And folks on this site complain about getting in and out of C4 Corvettes?
I’m ready for Ian and Victor to collaborate more…..with more enhancements. And yes, I have watched ALL episodes multiple times