What Engine Powered ZZ Top’s “Eliminator” Hot Rod

ZZ Top’s iconic red Eliminator coupe was powered by a naturally aspirated Chevrolet 350-cubic-inch small-block V8 with a single four-barrel carburetor. Built for reliability and cruise-ready performance rather than all-out racing, the small-block Chevy made the car drivable for video shoots, appearances, and touring, while still delivering the classic hot-rod rumble that became part of the band’s image.

The Car Behind the Videos

Introduced to the world in the early 1980s through music videos like Gimme All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man, and Legs, the Eliminator is a 1933 Ford three-window coupe hot rod commissioned by ZZ Top’s Billy F Gibbons. The car’s sleek profile, bright red paint, and billet-era stance helped define a generation of street-rod style and pushed hot rodding into mainstream pop culture.

Engine Details and Why It Matters

The choice of a Chevrolet 350 small-block V8 was pragmatic: it’s compact, readily serviceable, and well supported with parts—ideal for a showpiece that also had to be dependable on the road and on set. In period descriptions, the engine was configured with a single four-barrel carburetor and a mild street-friendly tune. Rather than a radical cam or supercharger, the setup emphasized smooth idle, clean drivability, and that unmistakable V8 soundtrack.

Original Build vs. Later Clones and Updates

While the famous, video-era Eliminator used a carbureted 350 small-block, the car’s popularity led to additional promotional cars and later refreshes over the decades. Some of those drivers and replicas have been reported to run GM Performance 350 crate engines from the “ZZ” family, but the Eliminator that made history in the early videos is most commonly documented with a naturally aspirated, four-barrel-equipped small-block Chevy.

Key Specs Often Associated With the Eliminator

Below is a concise look at the drivetrain characteristics most widely reported for the original, video-era car and closely related builds.

• Engine: Chevrolet 350-cubic-inch small-block V8 (naturally aspirated)
• Induction: Single four-barrel carburetor
• Output intent: Streetable, reliable power (commonly cited in the 300–350 hp range by period accounts)
• Character: Smooth idle, strong midrange, classic hot-rod sound

Taken together, these specs explain why the Eliminator was both a pop-culture prop and a usable street rod, balancing performance with dependable operation for filming and appearances.

Why the Small-Block Chevy Was the Right Choice

Beyond availability and cost, the 350 small-block’s immense aftermarket support made it easy to tune for drivability and sound. It also provided a clean engine bay presentation without the packaging challenges of big blowers or complex fuel-injection systems of the era, fitting the Eliminator’s sleek aesthetic and the production needs of high-profile video shoots.

Summary

The ZZ Top Eliminator ran a Chevrolet 350-cubic-inch small-block V8 with a single four-barrel carburetor—an intentional, streetable setup that delivered reliability, tone, and presence. While later promotional cars and updates may have used crate small-blocks, the video-famous Eliminator’s identity is rooted in that classic, naturally aspirated Chevy 350.

Where is the ZZ Top Eliminator car now?

The original ZZ Top “Eliminator” 1933 Ford Coupe is owned by Billy Gibbons and is on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, though Gibbons also has a custom-built clone of the car. Gibbons has driven the original car on occasion when he has been in the area.
 
Where it is located 

• The Eliminator car is housed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Ownership 

• The car is owned by ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons.

The car’s status

• Gibbons still owns the original car and a clone. 
• It is a driver, meaning it is functional and Gibbons takes it out occasionally. 

What kind of car was the ZZ Top Eliminator?

ZZ Top And That Car
Eliminator is more than just an album title. As the story goes, ZZ Top’s manager suggested putting Billy Gibbons’s newly customized 1933 Ford coupe on the cover. The souped-up car was built between 1976 and 1983.

Who built Cadzilla for the ZZ Top?

Cadzilla was built by the custom car shop Hot Rods by Boyd for ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, based on a design by Larry Erickson. The build was a collaboration, with Craig Naff fabricating the custom sheet metal, and the project took place in the late 1980s.
 
Here are the key figures and details:

• Owner/Commissioner: Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. 
• Designer: Larry Erickson, who was a designer at Cadillac at the time. 
• Builder: Boyd Coddington and his shop, Hot Rods by Boyd. 
• Fabricator: Craig Naff was responsible for recreating the custom sheet metal. 
• Base Car: A 1948 Cadillac Series 62 Sedanette. 
• Project: The build involved significant design and customization, creating one of the most influential hot rods ever. 

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.