What car was in the ZZ Top videos? Inside the iconic “Eliminator” coupe

It was a customized 1933 Ford three-window coupe, nicknamed the “Eliminator.” The bright-red hot rod—built for ZZ Top guitarist Billy F. Gibbons—became a visual trademark for the band in the early MTV era, starring in videos like Gimme All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man, and Legs, and appearing on the cover of their 1983 album, Eliminator. Below is the story behind that car, how to recognize it, and why it still matters.

What the car was—and why it stood out

The Eliminator is a classic hot rod based on a 1933 Ford three-window coupe. Chopped, shaved, and smoothed, it was finished in striking red with subtle graphics, a low stance, and a rumbling small-block V8. More than set dressing, it became part of ZZ Top’s brand, symbolizing a fusion of Texas boogie, style, and American rod culture that helped the band dominate rock video in the mid-1980s.

Who built it and when

Conceived in the early 1980s with Billy Gibbons’ vision for a period-perfect, streetable hot rod, the Eliminator was constructed in Southern California by veteran hot-rod craftsmen—most prominently Don Thelen’s Buffalo Motor Cars—drawing on the region’s deep rodding heritage. To meet touring and promotional demands, a second, near-identical “clone” was also created so the look could be everywhere even when the original was not.

Key design cues and mechanical character

The car retained the 1933 Ford’s three-window proportions but featured a chopped roofline, shaved door handles, smoothed panels, a de-chromed presentation, and polished wheels. Power came from a small-block V8 (commonly reported as a Chevy 350), paired with a street-friendly automatic—ample grunt for the low, nose-forward stance that made the car look fast even standing still. The personalized “ELIMIN8R” license plate and ZZ Top graphic accents completed the look.

Where you’ve seen it

The Eliminator’s cultural footprint was built on repeated, high-visibility appearances across videos, album art, and touring. Here are the best-known places it showed up—and why those moments resonated.

• Album artwork: ZZ Top’s 1983 blockbuster “Eliminator” featured the coupe on its cover, cementing the car as part of the band’s identity.
• Gimme All Your Lovin’ (1983): The red coupe sweeps in as a symbol of escape and cool—an instant MTV-era calling card.
• Sharp Dressed Man (1983): The car escorts the hero into a transformed, high-style life, syncing the rod’s image with swagger and confidence.
• Legs (1984): The Eliminator returns as a fairy godmother on four wheels, a narrative device as much as a prop.
• Touring and promos: A lookalike was often used for appearances, letting the band keep the icon in constant circulation.

Taken together, these appearances turned the Eliminator from a hot rod into a pop-culture artifact—an instantly recognizable emblem of ZZ Top’s MTV-era breakthrough.

How to spot the Eliminator at a glance

Plenty of red ’33/’34 Ford coupes exist, but the Eliminator has a distinct combination of styling cues that set it apart. Use the checklist below to distinguish the real look from generic tributes.

1. Body: 1933 Ford three-window coupe with a tastefully chopped roof.
2. Finish: Bright red paint with minimal chrome and smoothed bodywork.
3. Details: Shaved handles, clean grille treatment, and a low, nose-down stance.
4. Branding: Subtle ZZ Top graphics in period videos and promo materials.
5. Plate: Often shown with the personalized “ELIMIN8R” license plate.
6. Context: Most famously tied to the Eliminator album visuals and the trio of 1983–84 hit videos.

If you’re seeing that combination—especially the three-window chop, the specific red, and the pop-culture context—you’re looking at the Eliminator’s signature profile.

Cultural impact and where it is now

The Eliminator helped mainstream hot-rodding for a new generation, doing for rods what MTV did for music: making the visuals inseparable from the sound. The car’s presence matched ZZ Top’s riffs—sleek, confident, and propulsive. The original coupe remains associated with Billy F. Gibbons and has been exhibited at institutions including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland; a faithful promotional clone has also circulated at shows and events. Decades on, the Eliminator still turns up at select displays, keeping its 1980s mystique intact for new audiences.

Summary

The car in ZZ Top’s videos is the “Eliminator,” a custom 1933 Ford three-window coupe built for Billy F. Gibbons. Its red, chopped, small-block-V8 hot-rod look became a defining image of the band’s MTV-era success, appearing on the Eliminator album cover and in the videos for Gimme All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man, and Legs—and it remains one of rock’s most recognizable automobiles.

What car is on the ZZ Top album?

The ZZ Top album Eliminator features a distinctive custom-built red 1933 Ford coupe, known as the “Eliminator,” which became an icon of the 1980s and starred in several of the band’s music videos. Guitarist Billy Gibbons commissioned the vehicle, which was customized between 1976 and 1983 and featured a chopped roof, custom hood, and various other modifications that made it a legendary hot rod.
 
Details of the Eliminator

• Year and Make: The car is a 1933 Ford coupe. 
• Customization: It was heavily customized by Dan Thelan of Buffalo Motor Cars and Pete and Jake’s Hot Rod Parts. 
• Key Features: The hot rod is known for its signature red paint with custom “ZZ” graphics, a chopped roof, a custom three-piece hood, and ’34 Ford headlights. 
• Engine: It was equipped with a Chevy 350 V-8 engine. 
• Significance: The car became a symbol of the band and the MTV era, appearing in videos for hits like “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs”. 
• Current Status: The Eliminator is now on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. 

What kind of car did ZZ Top drive?

The “ZZ Top car” most often refers to the band’s iconic 1933 Ford Coupe, known as the “Eliminator,” which was featured on the album cover and in music videos for the band’s 1983 album Eliminator. Created by designer Billy Gibbons and built by Don Thelen, this custom hot rod is famous for its candy red paint, distinctive “ZZ” graphics, and heavy influence from Pete Chapouris’s The California Kid. The Eliminator brought hot rodding to a new generation through MTV, becoming a pop culture icon.
 
You can watch this video to see the Eliminator in action and learn about its creation: 1mSweetwaterYouTube · Jun 23, 2018
The “Eliminator” 1933 Ford Coupe 

• Origin: It started as a 1933 Ford three-window coupe but was radically customized by Don Thelen at Buffalo Motor Cars with input from Billy Gibbons. 
• Features: The car features a chopped body, custom hood, unique ZZ graphics, and a classic candy red paint scheme. 
• Iconic Status: It was featured on the album cover of the band’s best-selling album, Eliminator, and in numerous MTV music videos like “Gimme All Your Lovin'” and “Sharp Dressed Man”. 
• Cultural Impact: The car helped bring hot rod culture to a wider audience, solidifying its place in pop culture history alongside the music videos and album art. 

Other Notable ZZ Top Cars

• CadZZilla: A heavily modified 1948 Cadillac Series 62 owned by Dusty Hill. 
• Whiskey Runner: A customized 1934 Ford coupe that appeared in the band’s “Gotsta Get Paid” video. 

What engine was in the ZZ Top Eliminator?

Chevy V8
The body was chopped and channeled for a sleeker, more aggressive look, then finished in a vibrant, candy red paint with signature yellow-orange graphics—a now-iconic livery. Under the hood, the Eliminator packed a **ZZ4 350- cubic-inch small-block Chevy V8**, giving it plenty of muscle to back up its bold looks.

Who owns the original ZZ Top Eliminator car?

ZZ Top’s iconic “Eliminator” car is owned by the band’s guitarist, Billy Gibbons. The 1933 Ford coupe, which was built by Dan Thelan’s Buffalo Motor Cars, is a highly recognizable custom hot rod that was featured on album covers and in music videos, making it a legendary symbol of both ZZ Top and the hot rod culture. While Gibbons still owns it, the “Eliminator” is often on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
 
Key Details about the “Eliminator” Car

• Owner: Billy Gibbons, the guitarist for ZZ Top. 
• Vehicle: A customized 1933 Ford coupe. 
• Creator: Built by Dan Thelan’s Buffalo Motor Cars. 
• Significance: The car achieved fame as the cover art for the band’s 1984 album, Eliminator, and was featured prominently in the band’s popular music videos. 
• Location: While Gibbons owns the car, it is often on public display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.