1934 Fiat Topolino The Franken Rod That Is No More

Well, Eddie van der Walt from Bethal didn’t just imagine it—he made it a reality. Eddie isn’t your typical rodder, and this build is anything but ordinary. He’s a guy who follows his own path, proving that we don’t need to look across the pond to figure out what we should be doing.

Eddie’s journey began when he stumbled upon an old, rusted-out body decaying in a chicken coop in Pretoria. That hunk of metal was a 1934 Fiat Topolino, and though it had more rust than paint, Eddie saw potential. The original Topolino came with a 569 cc four-cylinder, side-valve, water-cooled engine that cranked out a mighty 13 bhp. But Eddie wasn’t interested in preserving history—he was set on making some of his own. So, he stuffed a 5.7-liter 351 Cleveland Ford V8 under the hood.

To feed the beast, Eddie slapped on a Webber 4-barrel carb, and the custom exhausts are loud enough to wake the entire town. The original chassis didn’t stand a chance against the modern-day monster Eddie had in mind, so he fabricated his own, extra-strong version. That powerhouse engine is bolted right to the frame and linked to a Ford Capri rear diff via a C3 auto gearbox. The rear wheels might only be 13 inches, but they’re wrapped in some of the biggest slicks this side of Tarlton.

Words can’t fully capture the essence of this build.

Those massive Eagle Goodyear tires just look right on this beast of a machine. The passenger door? Bolted shut—this ride’s a solo affair. 

When it came to paint, Eddie didn’t bother with fancy 2K or Duco. Instead, he reached for Dulux acrylic PVA—because why not? The front end sports a 1936 Ford grille and '30s Chevy headlights, which, paired with that roaring 351 Cleveland V8, might fool you into thinking this is just another rod. But there’s nothing ordinary about this build. Eddie didn’t need a high-tech garage or a dust-proof build bench—his backyard, dirt and all, did the job just fine.

The firewall had to be pushed back to cram that massive engine into an engine bay that was never designed to house it. But Eddie nailed it, giving this rod a stance and attitude that’s pure perfection. 

Where some see an old roasting dish, Eddie saw a homemade bug catcher. Who else would have thought of that?

Rusty, dirty, and unmistakably homemade, this rod has high-octane blood coursing through its veins and makes even the most jaded gearheads doe-eyed.

The hand-crafted hood ornament? A one-of-a-kind touch that screams individuality. A WWII duffel coat serves as the perfect seat cover for this handcrafted marvel, and with a gas mask from the same era, you can’t help but think of "Mad Max." The hand-built steering wheel and industrial-looking gear lever set this monster’s interior apart from the rest, and the dashboard? It’s rust, plain and simple—a fitting choice.

This might not be your kind of rod, but there’s no denying it was one of a kind. Sadly, she’s no more—but she’ll never be forgotten.