Founder Alex Xydias opened the shop on Olive Avenue in Burbank, California on March 3, 1946, the same day he was discharged from the Army Air Force.
[1][2] Xydias's first idea to open the speed shop came while watching a street race in San Fernando Valley during a furlough from the Army Air Forces.
The first streamliner powered by a Flathead Ford to go over 200 mph (320 km/h) is the Edelbrock-equipped Bachelor-Xydias SoCal Special;[4] it was featured on the cover of the January 1949 issue of Hot Rod magazine.
[5] Bill Burke of the So-Cal Speed Shop was the first to attempt to convert a P-51 Mustang belly drop tank to a hot rod roadster.
A combination of high-compression pistons, precision-engineered head porting, and exhaust tuning enhance the recreational aspect of the reliable street rider.