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As a hobby, Willie Elder restores classic cars and trucks. So it wasn’t too difficult to come up with all of the parts from a 1939 Dodge pickup truck (and other vehicles) necessary to make a functional grill:
The generous grilling area is encased in stainless steel resembling an engine block. It’s tricked out with valve covers, exhaust manifolds, spark plugs and a water pump. The pump is from his son’s ’65 Mustang, the plugs from Elder’s ’49 Studebaker and the manifolds from his ’70 Bronco.
Some of the accessories are purely functional. The grease-drippings pan below the propane-fueled grill area — which can simultaneously cook 24 burgers, 2 pounds of chicken and a dozen hot dogs — is an oil pan from his son’s ’77 Corvette. And the air cleaner on the grill’s lid, serving as a smoke vent, is a modified stock part for a Ford Escort.
Article and Pictures via Born Rich | Photo: Willie Elder
If you liked this post, check out Alex’s huge grill mods megapost.
This one is powered by a standard-sized charcoal briquette and is capable of cooking a full-size hot dog (cut down to size) or smaller hamburger patties with ease. It gets mighty hot after it’s fired up so use plenty of caution and keep a large glass of water handy.
The link below provides full instructions for creatively recycling your empty Altoids tins. I’d need to have a dozen of these fired up in order to make a meal but it might be fine if I craved a tiny meaty snack.
Link – via UberReview
Jack Henriques, a British engineer, built what might be the largest portable barbeque pit in the world. It’s 16 feet long, 11 feet tall, and can cook three whole pigs or two cows and seven whole sheep at the same time:
Each of the seven coal trays is fixed to a custom-built scissor jack, which can be raised or lowered using a turning handle.
This ensures that the cooking temperature can be easily changed for each tray, without the difficulty of moving and disturbing the meat.
The cooker also features abattoir-style meat hooks on which whole animal carcases can be hung for cooking.
God-grilla – which can grill 500 burgers at once – was commissioned by the Stone Barn, a wedding venue in the Cotswolds village of Aldsworth, Glos.
Link via Geekologie | Photo: Caters
Previously: The 10 Coolest BBQ Grills (And Then Some!)
The RUB BBQ Chopper, built by Orange County Choppers, would come in handy when you’re in the mood of brisket, but don’t want to stop riding. It’s fully functional, and you can view pics of it in action at the link.
Before a flame war starts in the comments: yes, the headline identifies this object as a grill. That’s what we call these things in south Texas. Real barbecue pits are made of brick.
Link via Make | Photo: Men in Aprons
Update 5/31/10 by Alex: Don’t forget our Top 10 Coolest BBQ Grills (And Then Some!) post
Photo: Steve Stealey
Is that a 55-gallon drum or a BBQ smoker? Actually, it’s both! Steve Stealey of Steve’s Services – BBQ division in Carthage, Mo. came up with the idea of using a steel drum as a smoker and BBQ grill when he was on his way to a cooking contest, lost his cooker in transit, found a used barrel and the rest is history.
Link – Thanks Steve!
Be sure to check out Neatorama’s Top 10 Coolest BBQ Grills (and More) (yes, all the way back from 2006)
What to get your barbecue-lovin’ number cruncher? How about this spreadsheet barbecue grid, designed by Roma Voroneshski of Art. Lebedev Studio? Link
This reminds me that I should update one of our favorite Neatorama posts: Top 10 Coolest BBQ Grills (And Then Some!)
Photo: karlstadracing.nu – via Make
Now that is a tailgate BBQ grill! If anyone knows the story behind this unusual creation, please let us know! And if you’ve never seen it before, definitely check out Neatorama’s Top 10 Coolest BBQ Grills (And Then Some!)
Here’s a bizarre story: a man bought a barbecue smoker from a storage facility auction and found an amputated leg inside of it!
John Wood’s leg was amputated near the knee after a 2004 airplane crash. He asked doctors to give it to him so he could be buried as a whole man when he died.
The limb, which Wood had kept in the smoker at a storage facility after he lost his home, was bought by Shannon Whisnant last Tuesday in an auction of items from units that were behind on rent.
Whisnant then made a show out of the amputated limb:
… Whisnant, who put a sign on the empty smoker charging adults $3 and children $1 for a look, wants it back.
"He’s making a freak show out of it," Wood, of Greenville, S.C., told The Charlotte Observer. "He wants to put money in his pocket with this thing."
After a little brouhaha, it seems that the leg is now on its way back to its (original? rightful?) owner.
Link – Thanks Tiffany!
Summer is nearly here, and with it comes the great American culinary tradition: barbecue!
BBQ is both a rite of summer and a rite of manhood (yes, BBQ is associated with male cooking, probably because any sane woman would not go near the combination fire, meat and beer). In some parts of the USA, BBQ is not just food, it’s a religion. The fastest way to start a fight is not to talk politics, but to argue about the virtues of wood vs. charcoal vs. gas. Even the word itself is kind of controversial: is it barbecue, barbeque, bar-b-q, or BBQ? Just don’t bring it up with a purist (or the one cooking your burger!)
There’s no argument, however, about the popularity of BBQ. The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (yes, it’s a real organization – actually it is just one of many dedicated to barbecuing) did a study called "The State of Barbecue Industry Report". The 2005 study[pdf] stated that 4 out of every 5 US households own a grill – in fact, 1 in 5 own more than one grill. And not surprisingly, "the primary griller (male) in the majority of households considers themselves to be average or above in terms of cooking skills".
A central object in the BBQ world is the grill (or the smoker, or the pit depending on who you ask). These BBQ grills come in all shapes and sizes, but we’re not here to talk about the grills you can pick up at your local home improvement store. We’re talking about cool and unusual ones; if you’re looking to feed your closest hundred or so friends at your next backyard party, this is the list for you!
So, without further ado, let’s check out our picks for the Top 10 Coolest BBQ Grills.
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Grills to Go makes grills that get up and GO! The one above is the 12 ft. model that uses wood for fuel – it comes complete with the company’s distinctive "red wheel" that moves the grill up or down over 36" so you can fine-tune the cooking temperature. And oh, it also comes with standard installed tail-lights and removable hitch. |
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Is Nexo a fireplace or a BBQ grill? Why, both of course! This awesome outdoor fireplace is designed and built on the Danish Island of Mors by master craftsmen from "steel-reinforced, pumic-stone refractory core covered with beautifully colored sandstone rock or with stucco." Think about it this way: it’s the BBQ grill that your wife won’t complain about lookin’ ugly in the backyard! |
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It’s easy to mistake this Backwood Smokers unit as a safe, since, … well, it kind of looks like one. That is, until you open the behemoth to reveal 8 shelves at about 20"x20" a piece to give a total of 22 square feet of cooking surface! This model shown above, aptly called "The Competitor" (yes, men compete with each other to see who has the best grill) can cook 135 pounds of Boston Butts or 21 Slabs of St. Louis-style ribs at once. A steal at $2,445 list price. |
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Is it a mobile home that comes with a BBQ grill or is it a BBQ grill that comes with a house? Who cares? It’s awesome and you absolutely gotta have one! Actually, it’s a Bar-B-Q Shack Concession Trailer with a Cabin and 4 ft. Smoker, built by Southern Yankee Bar-B-Q. The 8′x20′ unit comes with:
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Superior Welding Services’ tailgate BBQ grill is guaranteed to make you the center of attention at tailgate parties. Plus, the grill is convenient to use: no need to pull out the grill or smoker out of the back of your truck – just park your car and start cooking! The unique Swing-A-Way Receiver Hitch also allows you to swing this tailgate barbecue grill away from your car and prevent it from blistering your paint job. |
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Ah, the novelty grills – what’s not to like about theml? Like all standard Traeger grills, the company’s novelty lines come with Autostart, EZ-drain grease system, and a variable thermostat control. With 371 square inch of cooking space, you can grill to your heart’s content. With two models to choose from (the Lil’ Pig and the Longhorn Steer), all you need is money. Lots of it, apparently, since they’re $1,495 each! And what is it with pigs and BBQ? Apparently, the irony of cooking pork in a BBQ grill shaped like a pig is irresistible to artists like Joel Haas, who made this Barbee Q. Piglet:
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Kamado’s Ceramic Barbecue Grill is probably the most artistic and beautiful BBQ grill we’ve ever seen (and yes, it’s from California). The hand-made Kamado grill was invented by Richard Johnson, an American pilot who came across a ceramic rice cooker in Japan in the 1960s. He claimed that this method of cooking makes for better flavors of smoked, broiled or baked food. Today, you can order a Kamado grill in various tile colors (so it’ll match your decor, of course!), using various fuels such as wood, charcoal, gas, or electricity. |
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Tim Kowalec built this HEMI-powered BBQ grill for Chrysler’s "What Can You HEMI?" contest in 2005. Tim’s "manly man’s barbecue grill" featured a 5.7-liter V-8 HEMI engine, and can cook 240 hot dogs in 3 minutes! |
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The Texas Legend Smoker and Grill is so big that two adults can stand up in the upright smoker – now that’s big. Texas BIG. This behemoth of a BBQ grill, built by custom builder Ritch Robin of Gator Pit, is roughly 30 feet long by 8 feet wide by 10 1/2 feet tall. It has approximately 27,500 square inch of cooking space. Check out the mind-blowing specs:
Texas Legend construction photos | completed photo & gallery of other pits. |
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It’s. Just. So. Pretty. Oh. So. Pretty. And its the one I want for Father’s Day, OK? Yup, that sums it up – this mouth-watering, budget-busting, jaw-droppingly beautiful backyard set from Lynx Professional Grills has a 42" grill with access doors, double burner, storage drawers, warming drawer, and beverage area with outdoor refrigerator, ice machine, and coctail pro (a bar area with sink and faucet). If you have to ask how much, you simply can’t afford it. |
[Update 6/8/06] What did we tell you about BBQ being the object of passion? People have been writing us because apparently, we missed a lot of cool grills, so in the spirit of catching up, here are a few more awesome BBQ grills:
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Trace Arnold designed a true monster of a BBQ grill: The Ultimate Smoker and Grill. The 55-feet long grill is the size of a tanker and is hauled by a semi. The wood-fired grill is huge: 48" by 120 ". It can cook 2,000 pounds of barbecue, 200 steaks, or 1,000 hot dogs at once. The lid is 20 feet long and goes up and down using a hydraulic system. And of course, the entire rig comes with 48-in flat screen TV with satellite hookup and Bose Entertainment system. Best of all, you can rent it for $5,000 a day plus $3 per mile traveled (excluding the cost of food). Link – Thanks DrinkKing! |
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Did you think that last one was huge? Think again: David Klose built this transportable smoker called Texas Lil’s Monster Smoker. The smoker is 57 ft. in length and 60" in diameter. It has 90,000 sq. in. cooking surface and weighs 25,000 lbs. |
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And how could we missed David Klose’s The King of Barbecues grill? Uber-Review writes:
Link – via Uber-Review |
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That last one was too hi-tech for you? How about yet another one by that talented guy David Klose: a Baby Carriage Pit:
Link | If you like that, you’ll like Klose’s cookers that look like a Continental Airplane, Beer Bottle and Chuck Wagon. David Klose, you’re awesome, dude! |
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This gives new meaning to the words "check under the hood" – unfortunately, it doesn’t exist (yet, we hope!). via The BBQ Report |
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This awesome 6 foot 11 barbecue pit shaped was built by Joe Wood of Weimar, Texas:
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While we’re on the subject of handgun-shaped grill, take a look at this 19-ft long grill made by Spook and J.W. Holtman in Lubbock, Texas, who said "Heck, it’s Texas, what did you expect?" Link [Flickr] |
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Grills aren’t just for cookin’ meat, especially if you’re a redneck! You can use it to heat up your pool as well! Todd Harrison and his daughter Veronica Harrison (who’s in 8th grade!), modded a gas grill into a working pool heater so he can use his pool in winter (with only $28 cost in propane!):
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Bucking the trend toward ever-increasingly large BBQ grill is the Q BBQ – a grill that looks like the "cross between the Starship Enterprise and a jet engine":
Not surprisingly, the Q BBQ won the Bronze Award in the 2003 Industrial Design Excellence Awards. Link |
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With Cook-n-Dine flameless cooking grill/table, you can cook and eat at the same place, literally! The center of the table heats up to form a cooking pit – you simply place your food and cook it there without the use of any pots or pans (the heated portion will turn into a concave pit). The price? $1,600 – worth it considering you will have fewer dishes to wash. Link – via Appliancist |
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That old vintage Jaguar Austin-Healey not running anymore? Let’s turn it into a grill! (This is not the automobile "grill" you’re used to seeing, huh?) Found at Classic Jaguar |
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The Jeppe Utzon barbecue by Electrolux was created by the grandson of the legendary Jorn Utzon [wiki] (the guy who designed the Sydney Opera House). This stylish, minimalist BBQ grill is the perfect outdoor accessory for your ultra-modern house. Link – Thanks Andy Hansson! |
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No, that’s not a submarine – that’s Real Grill’s TRG 500 BBQ grill! This custom made oh-so-shiny grill boasts 46 square feet of cooking area with 3 available fuel sources (gas, wood, and coal), diamond plated doors, and … a fire extinguisher! |
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SmokinTex’s Pro Series Electric Smokers look like small dishwasher but they cook like a champ. According to the company, these smokers are so easy to use (just load ‘em up with meat, shut the door, and set the temperature – that’s it!). The food is slow-cooked "gently" over a real wood smoke. |
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Unless you’re a restaurant, or you always have really, really hungry friends at your backyard barbecue, you probably don’t know Southern Pride’s ovens. Well, here it is: the XLR-1600-4. I’ll skip the technical details to focus on what’s important – its cooking capacity:
I dunno – maybe it’s just *too* small. |
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For over 30 years, J&R Manufacturing, Inc. has been making custom heavy-duty wood-burning BBQ pits. This one above is their Smokemaster E Series, a "very serious barbecue machine" and convection oven. According to the company, Smokemaster is very efficient due to its air and smoke control system. The machine can cook over 500 pounds of meat per load, at an energy cost of only 3 cents per pound! |
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Not satisfied with a regular grill, BBQ enthusiast Alex Komarnitsky got this super-sized "beta model" Grand Hall (which he said is not yet released to the public). The monster grill has ten 20,000 BTU primary burners, a 30,000 BTU infrared burner, and a side burner (yet another 20,000 BTU) for a total of 250,000 BTU cooking capacity. With almost 2,000 square inches of cooking surface, you can surely feed a hundred people (or probably four us fat Americans) at the same time! |
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When we first saw this BBQ, it seemed like a large dinosaur egg that the Flintstones would adapt to grill meat! If you think this one looks like the Kamado (see above) – you’re right:
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What do you get when you cross a BBQ grill with a beer keg? A Keg-a-Que, the perfect BBQ grill for all beer lovers. The best thing is about this grill is that it’s only $49.95, so have more money to buy meat, and of course, beer! Link – Thanks Ray! |
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If modern’s your thing, then you’ll like Piet Hein Eek’s Grills. Link – Thanks SMQT! |
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No, that’s not the Mars Rover – that’s the Pyromid Stove, "the world’s most portable grill" according to the manufacturer. The grill folds to less than one inch thick when not in use and can be set up in seconds. Moreover, the grill reaches temperatures up to 1,100 degrees °F in less than 10 minutes using only 9 briquettes! |
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Just because you’re cruisin’ on your boat, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy barbecuin’, thanks to Magma Boat BBQ grills. The company makes charcoal, gas, and combination grills for your boat, with optional boat stabilizer. |
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If you like Benihana, then you’ll probably like the Evo Professional circular flattop griddle, er grill. This model sports a 30" cooking surface, and two independently controlled burners for a combined rating of 48,000 BTU. |
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What do you give for that BBQ-loving DIY weekend warrior? A grill that looks like a toolbox, of course! But don’t let this unassuming grill from Hans Plads fool you: it is built from heavy duty, 20-gauge steel and sports a large cooking surface at only 19-lb. weight. |
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BBQ Grill goes digital with Bradley’s Digital Smoker:
The perfect BBQ smoker for the nerd in you! Link |
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Muscle Car Grill builder Steve Barker used real car parts to make this V8 engine grill!
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No, it’s not just a rusty old fridge – it’s actually a bbq grill! The inside had porcelain on steel inner liner, fiber glass insulation, and an "Afterburner" gas conversion kit. |
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Outdoor Culinary Supply’s shiny grill called "The Supreme" is all decked out in diamond plate! Link – via Fark |
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Got a spare $35,000? Then you can get the Talos Outdoor Cooking Suite by Frontgate. This sprawling behemoth of a grill has a 42" grill with 800 square-inch of grilling area, 16,000 BTU ceramic infrared rotisserie, 2 side burners, a warming drawer, searing station with griddle, bartender module and sink. |
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Ah, a classic: the Old Smokey charcoal BBQ grill, perfect for camping! |
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Gusto ultra-portable bbq grill by Woodflame uses cubes of hardwood as fuel! |
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With Oasis Outdoor Furnishing’s fire table, the table is the bbq – or if you want, the fire pit or the ice bucket. Link – via Fark |
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Kalamazoo’s Sculpture Gas Grill undulates its way to beautify your garden while kicking butt with a 50,000-BTU gas grill. Link |
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The Cobb BBQ Grill and Cooking System was an innovation that came out of Africa. The first Cobb grill was designed for rural africa, with fuel of dry corn cobs! Later units use charcoal briquettes … It has an insulated plastic base that remains cool to the touch even while the internal temperature reaches over 500 degrees! |
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Feeling too manly? Well, this pink portable barrel BBQ should take you down a notch! Link – via Random Good Stuff |
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This cute little grill is the Weber 10898 Smokey Joe Charcoal Grill, The Simpsons 10th Anniversary Limited Edition Grill. Not available anymore, I’m afraid (D’oh!): Link |
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OK, it’s not a grill that’s interesting here: it’s the way it’s lighted. You’re looking at George Goble of Purdue University lighting the 60 lbs of charcoal with 3 gallons of liquid oxygen:
And oh, this goes without saying: don’t try this at home. Please, or this may happen. |
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Take 6 PCI USB cards with 5 ports each, connect the 30 USB cables to a hacked USB cup warmer and you get … a USB grill! Link | Translated Page – via Make and TechEBlog |
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Texan grill maker Pitt’s & Spitt’s made this cute train engine BBQ pit for the TV series Monster House (the "Ghost Town" house). Link – Thanks George Shore! |
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This grill from Diamond Charcoal Island Grille is actually a new kind of charcoal barbecue unit that starts up fast with a blower and then has a garbage dispoal unit built into the bottom so you can just wash down all the ashes away! Link – Thanks Ryan Guy! |
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Got a balcony? Then this "Bruce" BBQ grill (that looks like those flower pots hanging off balconies) is perfect for you. Link – via Random Good Stuff. Update 1/5/07: Grilling on your balcony may be illegal or cause you to lose your apt. lease – Thanks Don! |
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This German locomotive BBQ grill is awesome! It sold on eBay for over $12,000: Link – via smidigt |
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A classic Holden Monaro GTS, reincarnated as a barbie! Link – via Born Rich |
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This Chevy V8 grill may not crank out 500 HP, but it does produce 60,000 BTU! Link – Thanks Trent Whatley! |
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When Andrew Fishel, the owner of New York restaurant RUB, wanted "the sickest, baddest thing in the world," he commissioned Orange County Chopper (of the American Chopper TV show fame) to create a mobile BBQ pit. |
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This is one awesome BBQ grill: a dragon-shaped welded steel grill and smoker called "Guardian of the Feast" by Ed McBride. Link – Thanks SteelisAlive! |
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Here’s the Motor Head grill by FAB Grills: Link – Thanks Russ Freeman! |
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Is that a 55-gallon drums or a BBQ grill/smoker? Actually, it’s both! Steve Stealey of Steve’s Services – BBQ division in Carthage, Mo. came up with the idea of using a steel drum as a smoker and BBQ grill when he was on his way to a cooking contest, lost his cooker in transit, found a used barrel and the rest is history. Link – Thanks Steve! |
Got any more? Leave a comment and let us know!
