Soup it up

Grill sizzles with hot rod power

'Too many beers' spark Arizona company's idea of using shape of a Chevrolet V-8

Larry Edsall / Special to The Detroit News

The Hot Rod Grill looks like a 350-cubic-inch "small block" Chevrolet V-8 on an engine stand, but instead of valves and pistons on the inside, the manifold pivots open to reveal a two-burner, 30,000-BTU propane-fueled barbecue grill.

The Hot Rod Grill is the creation of Ryan Bluestone of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., where his family also produces Insta-clean automotive and industrial parts cleaning equipment.

Bluestone, 29, admits his inspiration for the Hot Rod Grill was probably "too many beers."

In fact, when the inspiration struck, Bluestone actually took an old Chevy 350-cubic-inch engine block and started tearing out its inner workings to see if he could craft a suitable barbecue grill base.

He found an old set of heads on eBay and produced a working prototype.

Molds were pulled from that prototype, parts were die-cast in aluminum and a leading gas grill manufacturer was secured to do the actual production.

The development process took two years. The Hot Rod Grill went on sale in late September, priced at $595 (which includes shipping).

Each Hot Rod Grill comes with an electronic ignitor, stainless steel cooking grate, temperature gauge and a stand with locking castors and full moon-style hubcaps. Bluestone said the grills are UL and CSA certified.

Also available are a grill cover, cook's apron, shish-kabob skewers that look like connecting rods and corn cob holders that look like sparkplugs.

For information, visit www.hotrodgrills.com or call (877) 744-7455.

Larry Edsall is a Phoenix-based freelance writer. You can reach him at ledsall@cox.net.