Who owns the ZZ Top ‘Eliminator’ car?

The iconic red 1933 Ford coupe known as the ZZ Top “Eliminator” is owned by Billy F. Gibbons, guitarist and co-founder of ZZ Top. The hot rod remains part of his private collection and has been periodically loaned for public display at major museums and special exhibitions.

The car that became a rock-and-roll icon

The Eliminator isn’t just a custom hot rod; it’s a visual signature of ZZ Top’s 1983 breakout era. The bright-red, three-window ’33 Ford coupe featured prominently in the band’s music videos for Gimme All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man, and Legs, helping to define the group’s image at the dawn of MTV. Its appearance on the cover of the multiplatinum album “Eliminator” cemented the car as one of the most recognizable vehicles in rock history.

Ownership and stewardship

Billy F. Gibbons commissioned the car in the early 1980s and has owned it ever since. Over the years, he has maintained stewardship of the Eliminator as a working piece of pop-culture history, occasionally placing it on loan to institutions for curated exhibits. The car has been showcased at prominent automotive and cultural museums, reflecting its dual status as both a hot-rodding milestone and a music-industry artifact.

Where the car has been seen

While the Eliminator resides in Gibbons’ private collection, it has periodically been exhibited at major venues and special events. These appearances are typically time-limited loans arranged for curated displays on automotive design, music history, and American pop culture.

What the Eliminator is—and isn’t

The Eliminator is widely described as a custom 1933 Ford three-window coupe commissioned by Gibbons and built in the early 1980s. Period accounts and hot-rodding histories commonly credit Don Thelen’s Buffalo Motor Cars among the key builders, with the chassis work rooted in traditional hot rod practice and the car’s distinctive red paint and graphics tied to well-known custom stylists of the era. Like many classic hot rods, it’s believed to run a small-block V8 with an automatic transmission—built as much for presence and reliability as for outright racing performance.

To clarify commonly asked points, here are a few core facts enthusiasts tend to cite about the car:

• Owner: Billy F. Gibbons (ZZ Top guitarist and co-founder)
• Base vehicle: 1933 Ford three-window coupe, custom-built in the early 1980s
• Cultural impact: Starred in multiple ZZ Top videos and on the “Eliminator” album cover
• Public display: Occasionally loaned to major museums and special exhibitions
• Replicas: A faithful driver/clone has been used at times to preserve the original

Taken together, these points explain why the Eliminator is as much a curated cultural artifact as it is a hot rod: it belongs to Gibbons, it’s authentically tied to the band’s image, and it appears publicly mainly under controlled, conservation-minded circumstances.

Replicas and the “Eliminator II” driver

Because of the original car’s significance, ZZ Top’s camp has used a faithful replica—often referenced by fans as “Eliminator II”—for certain driving, touring, or promotional needs. This approach is common in entertainment, where a hero vehicle is preserved while a near-identical counterpart handles the road wear and logistics of appearances.

Why ownership matters

Knowing that Gibbons owns the Eliminator adds clarity to its preservation and provenance. It explains the car’s careful handling, the limited nature of public appearances, and the consistency of its presentation across exhibitions. In collector terms, continuous ownership by the person who commissioned and made the car famous contributes substantially to its historical integrity and cultural value.

Summary

The ZZ Top “Eliminator” car is owned by Billy F. Gibbons. Commissioned by him in the early 1980s and immortalized in ZZ Top’s videos and album art, the custom ’33 Ford coupe remains in his private collection, with occasional museum loans and the use of a replica for public-facing duties to safeguard the original’s condition.

Who built the ZZ Top car?

Having been inspired by The California Kid car, Gibbons brought on Pete Chapouris (the Pete of Pete & Jake’s) to do some consulting on the car, which was ultimately built by Don Thelen of Paramount, California’s Buffalo Motor Cars with a Pete & Jake’s custom chassis, complete with a dropped tube axle, 4- bar front …

Who owns the Eliminator car?

Billy Gibbons, the lead guitarist for the band ZZ Top, owns the famous 1933 Ford “Eliminator” coupe. He owns the original car and commissioned a clone to handle public appearances due to high demand after its rise to fame from ZZ Top’s music videos. The original Eliminator is on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
 
Background

• Original Car: The iconic Eliminator is a 1933 Ford coupe custom-built for Billy Gibbons. 
• Fame: It became a cultural icon after being featured in ZZ Top’s popular music videos for “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs”. 
• Clone: Due to its immense popularity, a second “Eliminator” clone was built to help meet the demand for public appearances. 
• Current Status: The original car is on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Does Billy Gibbons still own The Eliminator?

Gibbons still owns “Eliminator”, and it now resides at the Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where rock fans and hot rod enthusiasts can get a glimpse of the famous ’33 coupe year-round.

Where can I see the ZZ Top Eliminator car?

Gibbons keeps the vehicle on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, but reportedly still takes it out for a spin whenever he is in the area.