As a young aircraft engineer during WW II, Alex Xydias dreamed of hot rods and street racing. On March 3rd, 1948 Alex's dream became a reality when he founded the So-Cal Speed Shop. The first years in business were difficult, but early successes with his now-famous belly tank lakester led to the formation at the So-Cal Speed Shop Racing team, members of which built the first hot rods to hit 190 mph and were voted the #1 racing team by Mechanix Illustrated in 1952. Fast cars continued to run under the So-Cal banner for the next decade until Alex closed the shop in 1961.
In 1997, Alex and long-time friend Pete Chador's were selected as two of the 100 Most influential people in the high performance industry and were inducted into the Hot Rod Magazine Hall of Fame. On November 21st of that year the legendary pair re-launched the So-Cal Speed Shop to begin another chapter in its hot rod history. This 100% Hot Wheels set salutes their accomplishments and impact on the culture with two tab Fords, each bearing the famous markings of the So-Cal Speed Shop.
The following vehicles were included in the So-Cal Speed Shop 2-Car Set (56051):
| Casting Name | Color | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Blown '34 Ford Coupe | White & Red | 
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| '38 Ford C.O.E. Truck | White & Red | 
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