Heidi Van Horne

This week we are excited to welcome the beautiful, classy pin-up/actress Heidi Van Horne to our Blog! You will probably recognize at least one of her photos, as they have quickly became well known in the rockabilly industry. She carries herself with all the attributes of a classic 50’s pin-up and has turned her passion for vintage into a lifestyle and an art form. Photographers love her, magazines can’t get enough of her articles, so of course we had to have her on our Blog. Enjoy the read and the amazing pix!

Biography: Jersey-born and Texas-bred, Heidi was raised in Houston by two New Yorkers. She was aware early on of her love for acting, but it wasn’t until 14 when local acting lessons and community plays led to her first speaking part in a feature film, Rick Linklater’s cult phenomenon, Dazed and Confused. It was while at the premiere that she realized- all the press and attention, all the cool parties and free stuff, even seeing your name on the big screen- paled compared to the feeling she got on set, working with the camera and being a part of the intense, collaborative effort of filmmaking.

She went to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, then returned to Houston to do 2 Equity roles at the Tony-award winning Alley Theatre, and finally moved to LA. While living out of her car for 3 ½ months, she did still photos with Tom Cruise for Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia, and other various extra and featured work, just to get back on the set (and be fed!) She’s since been an integral part in front of and behind the camera in numerous films, shorts, commercials, and printwork, as well as regularly appearing in roles on network TV alongside some of today’s top comedians, shooting with some of today’s top photographers (including renowned fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh and pin up pioneer Bunny Yeager) and being featured in countless popular counter-culture publications and websites.

First car: A 1983 white Chevy Van, an old service van from my dad’s work they got for $300. The seats all came from a wrecked van and the only thing on the walls was foam insulation with trucking to hole your spray foam equipment (the same material my dad used to cut my brother and I custom shin guards for soccer. They were hot as hell, but you could kick the shit outta our shins and we’d barely feel a thing!) Tip for parents, don’t give your sixteen year old daughter a van. Kegs fit in vans. So do lots of underage kids.

Dream car: A mid century Merc convertible, an even older Ford F series pickup (I have a 1960 F100), a sweet late 30’s coupe, a ’29 Model A, and… oh, wait… just one?!? 😉

Fave band: Depends on the day, but X is my top, I love classic and outlaw country like David Allan Coe, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Hank Sr., and I also love Madness, Amy Winehouse, Otis Redding and anything out of vintage Motown.

What keeps her busy: Heidi writes a weekly column about custom and classic cars for the Houston Chronicle, as well as a blog for chron.com, a pinup advice column for Bachelor Pad Magazine, and she’s a regular freelance writer for publications like Garage Magazine, Orato.com, and Primer Magazine.com.

Shes a long term member of the LA Chapter of all female car club Hell’s Belles.

Heidi has produced two editions of Pin Up Playing Cards with fellow pinup star Sabina Kelley.

Heidi has an independent workout DVD with fellow pin up model Amie Nicole, a professional trainer, done with a modern pinup style, that featured a work-in-progress hot rod in the backdrop of the intro! Amie Nicole’s crossfit shoes FIT TO ROCK (available on Amazon)

Check more at www.physiquesports.co.uk.

Currently in development on a car culture television show as producer and star.

Check out her website: www.HeidiVanHorne.com

Check out her blog: http://blogs.chron.com/heidispics/

Upcoming Events: She will be hosting the pinup contest at the Primer Nationals in Ventura on Sept 4th, Hosting and judging the pinup contest at the 3rd Annual Bedlam Ball in Long Beach, CA on Oct 2nd, with the afterparty doubling as her Bday Bash! After that she will be back in Texas at the Houston Autorama Thanksgiving Weekend to sign autographs and to judge the first Pin Up Contest! Can you say shes a busy girl?

Now to the good stuff! Check out the Sean Park Law take on the classic insurance!

More pics below.

Image by Dave Deluxe-Wiltgen