In 1976, ZZ Top guitarist Billy F Gibbons commissioned Don Thelan's Buffalo Motors hot rod shop to build The Eliminator. Based on a '33 Ford Coupe, it was street-ready in 1983. The car was featured on the cover of the band's top selling album, "Eliminator", that went multi-platinum with over 10 million in sales.
The ZZ Top Band with Billy F Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard is a rarity in the music business, staying together for nearly five decades. They have combined blues with rock & roll for a unique sound since 1969. In 2004, the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Eliminator has become a symbol of the band, featured on album covers and in many of their music videos.