IN CHATSWORTH California, what looks like a parking lot full of rusting cars, is actually home to some of the most original custom-built rides in the world. The vehicles that leave the 'Icon' workshop under the 'Derelict' brand are unique reimagined classics. Dated vehicles in awful conditions are revamped, making them fit for modern day driving. However, the company never restores the shells, giving these vehicles their trademark rough and rusty look. Founder Jonathan Ward told Ridiculous Rides: "Derelict will never repeat the same build twice, each one is a singular high-functioning sculpture." The first ever Derelict build, still owned by Jonathan, is a 1951 DeSoto Wagon mashed up with a Chrysler Town & Country. By combining elements from the two cars, the Derelict DeSoto is completely authentic on the outside, but modern on the inside. Modern A/C units and bluetooth audio connectivity are some of the modern-day features of this one-of-a-kind masterpiece. But why keep the original shell? "I wanted something alternative but imperfect, so that I don't have to worry about it - I don't want to be that guy who is super stressed out about that first scratch," said Jonathan.
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 I wanted something alternative, but imperfect.
00:06 We get a lot of grief from people.
00:08 I don't really care.
00:09 Each build is a singular, high-functioning sculpture.
00:14 Chatsworth, California.
00:22 This may look like a parking lot full of rusting junk,
00:28 but don't be fooled by the scruffy shells.
00:30 The vehicles that lead the Icon Workshop
00:34 are unique reimagined classics.
00:37 Derelicts will never repeat the same build twice.
00:44 Each one is a singular, high-functioning sculpture.
00:54 But why the unorthodox finish?
00:57 I wanted something alternative, but imperfect,
01:00 so I didn't have to worry about it.
01:02 I didn't want to be that guy who's super stressed out
01:05 about the first scratch, the bumper rash, stuff like that.
01:09 And this vehicle is an epic two-car mashup.
01:13 It's technically a Chrysler Town & Country,
01:15 but the front hood and grill is a like-condition,
01:19 kinda, sorta, the same green '52 DeSoto sedan.
01:23 Bolted the two together, and then I was like,
01:25 "Yes, okay, now we're on."
01:27 Original car didn't have AC.
01:30 All the knobs in the switches are still kinda,
01:32 sorta, in the original position.
01:34 For the modern AC controls,
01:36 I could maintain the consistency.
01:38 Like, same with the gauges.
01:39 I didn't restore 'em and make 'em all pretty.
01:41 Everything down to the acrylic
01:43 and the typeface is authentic.
01:44 But behind the scenes,
01:46 it's all video circuit board, state-of-the-art.
01:49 And then the audio system,
01:51 it's a Bluetooth-dependent
01:53 digital sound processor-interfaced
01:55 amplified audio system with bass,
01:58 meaning I just control it from my phone,
02:01 and there's nothing visual
02:02 that you have to interface with in the vehicle.
02:05 This was a 3,000-hour build for Jonathan and his team,
02:10 and it comes complete with some quirky touches.
02:14 It's just fun to add a little bit of tongue-in-cheek,
02:16 have a little sense of humor in these builds.
02:18 With this one, I went to a really cool old
02:21 aircraft surplus place and bought some vintage hardware
02:24 that's used throughout the vehicle.
02:26 There's a cool before-flight release safety pin
02:30 that I used as the hold-down on the air filter enclosure.
02:34 Overflow reservoir for the radiator.
02:37 I scored a 1800s whiskey bottle.
02:41 And then with all of our vehicles,
02:43 everything has our mascot, the icon lizard, on 'em.
02:47 Fun thing with the derelicts is
02:48 he's never in the same place,
02:50 and it's always responding to the shape of the car.
02:53 Just feels natural, like he would sun himself there.
02:57 He's right there up front on the hood.
02:59 Jonathan's company started out
03:03 as a land cruiser service center,
03:06 and he wasn't prepared for the impact
03:08 the DeSoto build would have on his business.
03:11 We're a little pinched.
03:12 Is Thursday or Monday good for you?
03:16 When I built this wagon,
03:18 it was like a nights and weekends personal project.
03:22 But then within like a week or two of finishing it,
03:25 it started getting all sorts of love and attention.
03:28 And next thing I know, it's on the cover of Hot Rod magazine.
03:32 It won some design awards, and I was like,
03:34 "Oh, I guess I can keep building these.
03:36 Let's call 'em derelicts."
03:38 And now the Icon team are producing
03:41 10 of these one-off customs a year.
03:43 It starts with generally,
03:45 either a client has an appreciation for our antics,
03:48 and they come and say, "I just love the concept.
03:51 What do you want to build that you haven't built yet?"
03:54 Or it's hyper-specific.
03:57 Something that the client already
04:00 has a deep emotional relationship with.
04:04 Then I'll get kind of down and dirty with the client
04:07 to understand a great number of things,
04:09 including what's their style?
04:11 What materials do you find appealing?
04:14 How obnoxious do you want it to be?
04:16 Do you want it to be fast,
04:17 or do you want it to be stupid fast?
04:20 But despite business booming,
04:22 not everyone shares Jonathan's vision.
04:24 We get a lot of grief from people with the derelicts
04:27 where they think we're idiots
04:29 for putting all that time and energy into it,
04:31 but leaving it looking as if it's left in the barn.
04:34 You know what, though?
04:37 I don't really care.
04:39 It's stuff that excites me.
04:41 And the fact that it's not for everyone
04:44 kind of makes it better to me.
04:46 (upbeat music)
04:48 (whooshing)
04:51 (dramatic music)