Grand Heft Auto Custom car designer Chip Foose has reached the pinnacle of his industry, so it's only natural that stars like John Travolta, Charlie Sheen and Sheryl Crow have come calling. By Greg Freitas Ask custom car builder-turned-TV star Chip Foose which of his multiple award-winning designs is his favorite, and he doesn't hesitate: "My favorite car is always the next one." This drive to push the automotive design envelope has powered Chip's career since he began working on cars at the age of 7 with his father, hot-rod legend Sam Foose. Although he readily admits "I actually destroyed more than I helped," by the age of 12 he'd done his first custom paint job. Now with his own shop in Huntington Beach in Southern California and his own television show, Overhaulin' on TLC, Foose's specialty car have become some of the most sought after designs in America. With specimens reaching well above $1 million, Foose found a natural outlet in Hollywood, and he counts John Travolta, Tim Allen and Adam Carolla among the loyal and elite clientele for his meticulous craftsmanship. His 2005 Impression Car required more than 12,000 man-hours over six years to install 20,000 individual parts, most designed by Foose. Paradoxically, Foose says "I like the idea of building a car fast." Enter Overhaulin', in which Foose and cohorts "steal" and restore aging rust buckets to the delight of their unsuspecting owners. Celebs including Charlie Sheen, Jay Leno, Nick Lachey and Sheryl Crow have lined up for Chip's work but with a twist: They have Foose spend one hectic week on their family and friends' cars. (Lachey had a 1967 Ford truck tricked-out for his brother Drew, while Crow surprised then-boyfriend Lance Armstrong with a redone 1970 Pontiac GTO.) "There's not a better natural high in the world than when you make someone so emotional they can't even speak for a moment," Foose says. With anywhere from 7,500 to 12,000 applicants vying weekly to be Overhaul-ed, Foose won't be at a loss for work anytime soon. Excerpted from the January/February 2007 issue of Hollywood Life.

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