Boys perch atop an old car badly stuck in the surf on Nye Beach. Getting trapped in the sand by the tide has been a common peril of beach travel. (Lincoln County Historical Society, LCHS #32)
You may have heard that we’re giving away a beach cruiser, or rather RacingJunk.com and VisitMyrtleBeach.com are restoring a ’53 Chevy Sedan Delivery and turning it into the beach cruiser of our (and hopefully YOUR) dreams. Trust me, you’re going to be hearing about this project over the next 14 months as we finish the build with our friends over at Outcast Kustoms, along with other trusted partners, and take the custom cruiser on the road. But for now, the car is transforming from a green machine into a sleek surf-styler, and we thought we’d take a minute to reflect on the iconic beach cruiser itself. Sure, we normally focus on things that go fast, look mean, and burn out, but everyone needs a vehicle with style, sass and purpose for the lazy days of summer (or those days when summer seems a million years a way).
For those of us who love cars, the drive to the beach can be nearly as fulfilling as the sand between your toes. A great car riding the highway as the sun sparkles off the waves fills that primal part of you, and making the trek in your minivan might not be as awe-inspiring as you would like. So if you’re hitting the beach on a regular basis, thinking about upgrading your beach ride. If that little Chevy Cavalier you currently drive is running on borrowed time, enter it in a Chump Car race, and then look to one of these cool cruisers. Or better yet, enter to win one of your own!
Jeep has created the new Chief Concept designed to deliver the beach bum or surfer to the perfect beach. It is based on the Wrangler, yet inspired by the 1970s-era Cherokee, and is a throwback to the beach rides of yesteryear.The beach cruiser features a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine with six-speed manual transmission, a two-inch lift kit with Fox shocks, cropped doors and windshield, blue and white flowered cloth seats, a vintage Ocean Blue exterior with a white roof, a custom razor grille taken from the original Wagoneer, removable sides, chrome front and rear bumpers, and 17-inch slotted mag wheels. We haven’t heard when it might hit the sand, but we want one.
Whether it is a brand new car or a classic, there is nothing like cruising the beach front in a convertible. You have the top down, your surf or boogie board hanging out the back—life is good.
Woodies will always be king at the beach. The iconic outward appearance just screams beach life. You do have a couple of different options here. If you are worried that a vintage Woodie might be out of your price range, slap some wood around the perimeter of Chrysler’s PT Cruiser Slap and voila: the 50’s are back.
When was the last time you checked out a classic Chevy Suburban? Throw some air bags at the suspension, add some chrome wheels, and you have one cool cruiser big enough to haul your friends and quite a few coolers filled with beverages.
While this is a simple list, we hope you get the idea that building the perfect beach cruiser is a matter of taste. So, what you want to cruise to the beach in, and how would you modify it to suit your tastes. We want to hear from you.
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