A "hot rod with an East Coast channel" refers to a classic car, typically a Ford Model A or early Ford coupe, that has been modified with a "channeling" technique where the body is lowered significantly over the frame, but with the top left unchopped, which is a distinctive style often associated with East Coast hot rod culture; meaning the car has a deep channel without altering the roofline, unlike some West Coast hot rods that might also be channeled but with a chopped top.