Is it any wonder Frog Specialties’ founder, Philippe Danh became a gearhead at a young age. Born in Le Mans, France, the year the Chevy BelAir got its largest tail fins, Philippe lived on the main highway leading to the famous racetrack and spent many hours gawking at fancy cars and bikes making their way to the 24hours or the Bol D’Or. Several neighbours and, even a teacher of his, raced the Bol D’Or, “a la Dick Mann”, on a brand new Honda 750. Philippe then met his mentor who educated him on the fine arts of welding, machining, fiberglass and lacing wheels. Philippe then went on to race the western division of the French hill-climb road race championship while a high school junior, having built his own 50cc racer from parts bought in the classifieds or home-made.
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A year as an exchange student in Minnesota changed his life as this opened an entirely new vision with American-style motorsports and hot rodding. Later, after his return to France, Philippe – having always been an avid writer and photographer - became an automotive journalist and the editor of the magazine: “French Rod et Custom”. During that stint, he still enjoyed off-roading in observed trials and enduro. Using a borrowed Suzuki RM400, Philippe entered the first ever Drag Race in France, held on the pit straights at LeMans.
He was hooked. The following year, he managed an alcohol funny car team from Sweden, then obtained sponsorship from French auto maker, Citroen, to wrap the chassis in a one-off Citroen Visa shell. After handing the controls to Swedes Anderz Lantz and Kenta Person, Philippe got a crash course (nearly literally as well) in driving and maintaining the funky looking TA/FC and campaigned it in demos in 1983. All this culminated in passing his license runs at Britain’s Santa Pod Raceway with a 8.10sec at 181mph. |
While all these things were going on, Philippe was supervising the construction of a fifties-style custom leadsled based on a French-made 1956 Simca nicknamed “the puffy omelette” due to its shape and color… That mini sled was later shipped from France to California after Philippe got the call to head Street Rodding Illustrated magazine which was published by Tom McMullen in Anaheim, California.
Now involved in automotive journalism in the United States – Philippe acquired his first set of wheels here in the States - as a young, financially broke, immigrant - a Volkwagen. This led Philippe to attend VW shows where he got the idea to import, from France, some innovative fiberglass parts made to turn late 60s Bugs into 50s versions. The parts were made in France, a country known for offering Frog Legs as a delicacy. |
In March of 1987, Frog Specialties was registered in Anaheim, California. It remained a side business throughout Philippe’s years at SRI, Street Rodder mag, and even later at Hot Rod magazine. Finally, Frog Specialties became his sole occupation in early 1989. Three years as the exporter to France of Vance & Hines pipes, Zero Gravity, LP and White Bros got Frog Specialties on the map as an international company.
Today, . . . Frog Specialties still operates a domestic motocycle division, importing Beringer Brakes and a selection of Ermax products, and an international sector exporting OEM, restoration, and hi-performance parts for U.S. cars. Almost anything is possible with Frog Specialties - - - including, but not limited to, overseeing the development and shipment to Europe of a complete Dakar chassis and drag cars. |
As passionate as ever about motorsports, Philippe has recently been involved in Bonneville Salt Flat projects for both four-wheel and 2-wheel, vintage auto road racing, and British bikes. His two sons Teddy and Billy are both into car Drifting. A true gear head family!