Background
In 1976, Billy Gibbons convened with Buffalo Motor Cars in Paramount, California to build a customized 1933 Ford coupe. The car was built with a Corvette-style engine fabricated by the So-Cal Speed Shop. It was finished in 1983 and called the Eliminator. The car has become recognizable for its red finish and graphics, which can be seen in several of the band's music videos. The Eliminator has also made worldwide appearances in television, movies, auto shows, and charity events.
In 1979, ZZ Top reunited after a two-year break from touring and signed a new record deal, switching from London Records to Warner Bros. Frontman Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill also grew out chest-length beards. The beards, along with black sunglasses, have become distinctive aspects of the band's image. ZZ Top's sixth studio album Degüello was released in August 1979. The album went platinum and sold over a million units in the United States. El Loco (1981) experimented with the sounds of synthesizers. It went gold and initially sold over half a million copies. "Tube Snake Boogie" went to number four on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
Read more about this topic: Eliminator (album)
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