Artist Michael Leonhard brings a unique European perspective to his depictions of classic American muscle cars. Take a look. 

We first became acquainted with Michael Leonhard and his work a few years ago when MCG was serving as Detroit Editor at Hot Rod magazine, where Michael’s art was featured. One reason Michael’s renderings of classic American cars are so interesting and fresh is their point of view, as he comes at the subject from some distance: Austria. Michael graduated from New Design University in St.Pölten in 2001 with honors in graphic design, and upon graduation he went to work for an international advertising agency in Vienna, where he lives today.

For reasons not entirely clear even to him, perhaps, Michael has always been fascinated with American pop and lowbrow culture, and especially American cars and motorcycles. “Growing up, I soaked up everything on cars, hot rods, customs, building AMT model kits, hip hop and and rock and roll,” he says. “I hung out with my buddies skateboarding, listening to rap music, restoring an old ’50s scooter from the ground up, and dreaming of hot rods and custom cars.”

In 1997, at age 20, Michael bought his first airbrush setup (which he still uses today). A short time later, his renderings and concepts were published in the German hot rodding magazine Chrom & Flammen. Since then, Michael’s stuff has been featured in Custom Rodder, Street Rodder, Hot VWs, Super VW, Art Scene International, and Auto & Design. And Hot Rod, of course.

Michael’s unique work has been utilized everywhere, including magazine illustrations, T-shirts and sports wear, and project car renderings. The stylized, retro-futuristic orange ’71 Plymouth Road Runner pictured here is currently being brought to real life by King Hardiman of Baton Rouge, Louisiana with the aid of car builder Pierre Maible (Cars & Parts feature on the buildup here).

To see and learn more about Michael Leonhard’s art, including arranging commissions, you can visit his website and project blog. All images copyright Michael Leonhard, used strictly by permission.