Ep 6. Fruit Rod

In episode 6 of season 1 of Vegas Rat Rods, titled "Fruit Rod," Steve Darnell and his team at Welder Up take on the challenge of creating a unique and eye-catching hot rod that pays tribute to the agricultural roots of Las Vegas. The customer, Lizzy, is a farmer who has a special love for fruit and wants her hot rod to reflect that passion.

The team starts by scouring the junkyard for old farming equipment and tools that can be repurposed and incorporated into the design of the car. Steve and his lead fabricator, Travis Deeter, come across an old combine harvester and immediately see the potential for turning it into the body of the hot rod. They strip the combine down to the bare bones and begin the lengthy process of cutting and welding it into the shape of a car.

As they work on the body of the car, Steve and Travis also start brainstorming ideas for how to incorporate fruit into the design. They decide on a bright orange paint job and a series of custom-made orange slices that will be used as decorative accents. To create the orange slices, they turn to their resident artist, Dave Lefler, who hand-carves each slice out of metal and adds a splash of color with a few coats of orange paint.

Not content with just a couple of orange slices, Steve and his team take things one step further by installing a whole fruit-basket's worth of produce on the car. They add a banana-shaped exhaust pipe, a watermelon transmission casing, and a grapefruit gear shift knob. The team's attention to detail and dedication to the fruit theme is impressive, and the end result is a hot rod unlike any other.

As with all of the cars created on Vegas Rat Rods, the fruit rod is more than just a pretty face. Steve and the team also put a lot of effort into making sure the car runs and performs as well as it looks. They install a powerful Chevy engine and a high-performance suspension system to ensure that Lizzy will be able to enjoy a smooth ride in her fruit-themed hot rod.

Despite a few setbacks and challenges along the way, including a last-minute change of heart from Lizzy about the color of the car, the team manages to complete the fruit rod in time for the big reveal. Lizzy is thrilled with the final result and can't wait to take her one-of-a-kind hot rod out for a spin.

Overall, "Fruit Rod" is a fun and entertaining episode of Vegas Rat Rods that showcases the creativity and resourcefulness of Steve and his team. It's clear that they are passionate about what they do and are willing to go above and beyond to create cars that are both visually stunning and high-performing. If you're a fan of classic cars, hot rods, or just appreciate good craftsmanship, this episode is definitely worth a watch.