Unstoppable Spirit of a 79-Year-Old Grandma | Winning Burnout Contests in Her Vintage Cadillac!

Meet Hot Rod Granny Annie: The 79-Year-Old Who’s Kicking It Old School

We stumbled upon Annie Koehler last year when she sent us an email out of the blue. She was on the hunt for a burnout contest for her 1957 Cadillac, and we couldn’t help but share her story with the world. We even posted one of her impressive burnouts on Instagram, and people went wild. So, we just had to pay her a visit in Illinois to learn more about this feisty grandma and her tire-killing Caddy.

A Car-Savvy Girl from the Start

Ms. Koehler, affectionately known as "Hot Rod Granny Annie," regaled us with stories of her car-obsessed childhood. "My sister and I would identify cars approaching our street by the sound of their pipes or engine," she shared. "We could tell the difference between a six-cylinder Chevy with a split manifold and a V8 Chevy, and even recognize a Ford. We’d size up the potential pride owner and try to get a ride in their car, just to see if they’d let us take it for a spin."

A Cadillac Built with Love

Annie’s trusty white Caddy coupe has an interesting history. Her son Jamie, who owns an engine shop, acquired two beat-up old Cadillacs and refurbished one of them into a laid-back hot rod. With a 489-cubic-inch Chevy V8, hydraulic roller cam, Edelbrock heads, 700R4 transmission, and MSD ignition, this is no ordinary ride. Jamie humbly describes it as "standard old stuff, nothing special" – but we think it’s pure gold.

A Car Built for the Open Road

This is exactly the kind of project we love to celebrate on our CARISMA series – our video series featuring cool people and their rides. This Caddy may not be the most extreme machine on the road, but it’s clearly a labor of love, built for the open road and enjoyed with enthusiasm. With a warmth that shines through the screen and a lifelong passion for cars, Annie’s story is infectious.

If you enjoyed this video, be sure to check out the rest of the CARISMA catalog. Last month, we shared the story of a garbage man who traded up to an RWB Porsche 993 – and that’s just the beginning. Head to The Drive’s YouTube channel for more.

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