While all the work was going into the roller, NYC was also putting together the sheetmetal package. Nick had seen a hand-formed custom gas tank that reminded him of the old speedliner trains of the '30s. It gave the appearance of motion even while sitting still. He and his crew drew some sketches for something along similar lines, then cut, shaped, and welded the panels necessary to make it happen. But the crowning touch on the fuel tank would be the '60s-style LeMans-esque gas cap similar to those used on old Shelby Cobras. It really added to the old-school hot rod look of the tank. The rest of Gold Rush's hide is just as cool. An old '50s Ford/Mercury beehive oil filter found itself converted into the bobber's oil tank, and the rear fender was cobbled together from several spare fender pieces lying around the shop, with strapping and copper rivets holding it to the frame, much like an old Harley fender.
As for the controls, Gold Rush is a bit of an amalgamation in that respect. NYC made a set of downswept Z-bars with PM hand controls (you can't get much more modern than that) but then machined some steel tubing with drill detailing for foot pegs and used old lake-pipe cast covers for brake and clutch pedals, which goes along with the old hot rod idea of making what you want from scratch.
With most of the bike done, Nick sent it out for finishing, and since "slick" was the last thing he wanted people to think when they saw this bike, a glossy paint job wasn't a priority. He sent most of Gold Rush to Action Powder, where many of its surfaces were covered in Alloy Gold powdercoat. What little paint there is on the bike (namely, the ivory insets and Victorian-style pinstriping) was done by Little Mike and Dave the Pinstriper. During final assembly NYC added in its own taillight, which was machined from one of the company's spinner-style gas caps, along with a raw, unpadded, hand-tooled seat.
Although construction was done, Gold Rush's story doesn't end there. It made its show debut at the Legend Top 50 Show, and, as the NYC crew was loading it into their trailer at the event, they were told by Jimmy Shine of SoCal Speed Shop to bring it out for the award ceremony because it had won Best of Show. If Nick was trying to evoke the look of a Jimmy Shine hot rod, that's a real good indicator he succeeded.