A hot-rod driver? (7)
I believe the answer is:
riveter
'driver?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for riveter that I've seen before include "machine" , "workman" , "Rosie the --, cultural icon of World War II" .)