5-Oct-19 – Not scheduled for any music videos and not needed as transportation by Billy, Dusty, or Frank, the custom-built 1933 Ford made famous by ZZ Top will be parked at River North’s Museum of Broadcast Communications for six months, beginning on October 18.

The Eliminator coupe was built for lead guitarist and vocalist Billy Gibbons in the early 1980s by Don Thelan of Buffalo Motor Cars in Paramount, California. Steve Davis made the three-piece hood and side panels. Kenny Youngblood created the “ZZ” graphics. Its design was an updated version of a 1934 Ford named The California Kid, built by Pete Chapouris.

The Eliminator’s engine is a Chevy V-8 with a Camaro Z-28 hydraulic cam. Its headlights are from a 1934 Ford and the taillights are from a 1939 Ford.

And two of them were built, to handle a high demand for public appearances.

The three-window Eliminator appeared on the cover of the 1983 album of the same name. It has appeared in at least four rock music videos for the band, including Gimme All Your Lovin’ and Sharp Dressed Man, two songs from the album.

The hot rod will be parked in the lobby of Museum of Broadcast Communications on North State Street during the run – October 18 through next April – of Stay Tuned: Rock on TV, an exhibit celebrating the intermingling of rock music and television.

(Left) The Eliminator, or possibly a clone, on display in this photo provided by Museum of Broadcast Communications.

Among 300 artifacts on display will be the suit worn by Johnny Cash on his ABC variety show, a beige suit worn by Don Cornelius when he hosted Soul Train, Davy Jones’ jacket that he wore on an episode of The Brady Bunch, Lady Gaga’s metal costume from Bad Romance, Cyndi Lauper’s dress from Girls Just Want to Have Fun, outfits worn by Sonny and Cher, Eric Clapton’s acoustic guitar on MTV Unplugged, Dick Clark’s microphone from American Bandstand, and Paul Shaffer’s Kurzweil 250 keyboard from Late Show with David Letterman.

Chicago is the first stop on a national tour.