Classic Cars

Ford Thunderbird "1955"

Part 15

 Description

There’s something to be said about the shape of an early Thunderbird. It’s pure, clean and looks so light that you just want to jump in the driver’s seat and toss it around the track all day. With this killer, take-no-prisoners 1955 Thunderbird Pro Tourer, you can do just that. Completed in August 2010, it features a customized all steel body, a modular Mustang Mach 1 powertrain, a Mustang II suspension with a ton of bolt on upgrades and a comfortable, modern interior.

Custom built by Street Visions in Waxhaw NC, this all steel ’55 T-bird took one year to build and underwent 1300 hours of restoration and customization. Use of a steel body resulted in gaps that are much better than you find on typical fiberglass Thunderbird Pro Tourers and everything lines up extremely well, from the original scooped hood to the modified deck lid. Once the body was completely smooth and straight, it was covered with a thick coat of Dupont Chroma Merlot Burgundy Metallic basecoat/clearcoat that has an excellent finish and displays a brilliant shine. A few liberties were taken with the body to enhance the predatory look of this piece. At the front of the car, a custom fascia houses new halogen headlights in traditional T-bird hoods above blue tinted fog lights that are a direct fit where the cars turn signals used to be. Between those lights, a chrome mesh grille replaces the traditional Thunderbird stainless grille and extends down to where the cars bumper would normally sit. Behind the headlights, a stock Thunderbird hood sits below a correct Thunderbird scoop that houses chrome mesh inserts and features chrome “Supercharged” badges on each of its sides. Below the hood, the car’s front fenders incorporate custom fender vents with chrome mesh inserts and serve as the starting point for slick painted ghost flames that continue to the rear fenders. On the doors you’ll find custom rear view mirrors with integrated LED turn signals and traditional chrome T-bird door handles above stainless covered lock cylinders. At the front of the doors, a traditional curved Thunderbird windshield is cleared by custom Newport Engineering stainless wipers and housed in pristine stainless trim. Connected to the top of that windshield is a tan Haartz cloth convertible top with a plastic rear window. Below that plastic rear window, straight rear fenders house chrome trimmed LED tail lights, custom cut exhaust outlets and showroom fresh “Thunderbird” scripts. At the back of the car, a modified deck lid features a stainless lock cover, and a custom fabricated rear fascia replaces the traditional ’55 bumper.

Back in 1955, this Thunderbird would’ve had a 292 cubic inch Y-block V8 under the hood that cranked out maybe 200 horsepower. Today, when you pop the hood you’ll find a high-revving modular DOHC 4.6L Ford Mustang Mach 1 motor that is fed by an intercooled Mustang Cobra Eaton supercharger. To make everything communicate properly and perform without fail, a Detail Zone electronic fuel injection wiring harness and an SCT chip tuned by Pro Dyno were installed and the result was a very stout 451 horsepower and 417 lb./ft. of torque at the rear wheels. In front of the motor, a custom aluminum radiator by Arrow is equipped with a Sparco fan to take care of cooling. Behind that fan, a serpentine belt, that is standard equipment from the Mach 1, sits below a modified cold air intake and turns an inverted alternator. At the sides of the motor, coated Sanderson block hugger headers send exhaust into a true dual exhaust system with Magnaflow performance mufflers. The engine bay is completely finished with a satin black firewall and body colored hood and inner fenders. And the exceptionally clean engine features stainless fuel rails, chrome valve covers with body matched coil covers and a stainless Spectre breather. This motor is show ready and reliable enough to head wherever the road takes you. No more tuning carburetors, all you need to do is get in, turn the key, and it fires up instantly, idles perfectly, and pulls like a freight train.

There is more to this car than just a trick engine. Take a look underneath and you’ll find a Mustang II suspension with a Fat Man front sub frame and a custom boxed and modded X-member. Bolted under the front of the car is a heavy duty 1.5 inch sway bar, 11.5 inch Brake Tech disc brakes with braided lines, power steering from the Mach 1 donor car and a Flaming River stainless steering shaft and joints. Bolted under the back of the car you’ll find Mustang II leaf springs, a heavy duty 1 inch sway bar, custom Cal Trac style rear control bars and Mustang Cobra 11 inch rear disc brakes. Sending power to the wheels is the Mach 1 donor cars Tremec 3650 5-speed manual transmission. Behind that transmission is a shortened and balanced Mustang Mach 1 driveshaft that is connected to an 8.8 inch rear axle with 3.27 gears. Stopping is aided by the Mach I donor cars Hydraboost brake system, and go-juice is supplied by a Tanks Inc. 16 gallon stainless fuel tank with an internally mounted high volume fuel pump. The bottom of the car looks awesome with Chrysler Almond Metallic paint adorning the frame and Lizard Skin undercoating protecting the floor pans from the elements. At the corners, 17 inch TSW eight spoke aluminum wheels have been dipped in chrome and wear 245/40 z-rated BF Goodrich G-Force T/A radials.

The wow factor doesn’t end there. Inside you’ll find a completely custom-built interior that is a modern interpretation of the already stylish 1955 Thunderbird’s cockpit. Behind the curved windshield a custom fabricated and painted dash displays some of the best workmanship I’ve ever seen. A polished Grant steering wheel with a Mahogany rim sits on an Ididit column in front of classy looking Dakota Digital LED gauges. On the dash itself, chrome trimmed vents for the Vintage Air climate control system complement a locking glove box and a billet aluminum handle for the headlights. Below the dash a custom built and custom covered center console houses controls for the Vintage Air system, a Hurst short throw shifter and a Kenwood system that features an AM/FM radio, a CD and DVD player, XM and MP3 capability, navigation and Bluetooth connectivity which includes a steering wheel mounted mic. Custom seats that were fabricated out of Toyota parts, are covered in Katzkin leather and sit on new Hushmat and new carpet. Beside you, custom door panels feature painted toppers, leather covers with custom arm rests, chrome trimmed courtesy lights, new Relic power windows and Rocky Hinge billet door handles. The trunk is nicely finished as well, with matching carpets and side panels and a trick hidden fuel filler. The car even comes with Viper keyless entry, a power antenna and remote start; there’s absolutely nothing in this car that wasn’t done to the highest standards.

On a hand-built car like this, documentation is everything. Included with this car is a CD of completed build pictures and a build sheet that has a categorized break down of the car, a list of all the companies used during the build and maintenance specifications for the aftermarket parts.

This 1955 Thunderbird is an extremely impressive Pro Touring car that will eat any original T-Birds lunch six days a week and twice on Sunday. It features a great looking vintage shape and benefits from 50 additional years of technology. If you’re looking for something a little different with a lot of horsepower and enough eyeball appeal to bring home a trophy at virtually any show you attend, this is the roadster for you.

 

 

 

 

http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/inventory 

Classic Cars

Chevrolet  Bel Air "1955"

Part 14

 Description

If you’ve been following our email blasts lately, you probably know all about the completely custom ’55 Bel Air that we featured last week for $110K. Sure, it’s nice. But what about folks who want the best combination of custom components and drivability in a tri-five Chevy that they firstly, don’t have to mortgage the house for and secondly, don’t have to worry about roping off at all times? Fear not, RK Motors Charlotte has a car for you too! The beneficiary of a recent frame up restoration, this slick Burnt Orange and Pearl White ’55 Bel Air is an awesome custom tri-five that you can enjoy day in and day out for less than HALF the price of that high dollar show queen. With an equal emphasis on both show and go, it combines a stout small block 350 with some of the best custom components on the market to create a head turning hot rod that is fully sorted and ready to hit the road.

The timeless look of the shoebox Chevys will never go out of style, and the most successful cars are always those that don’t mess with success. So when you’re building your own, have faith in the factory and do as the builder of this car has done: make it as nice as you possibly can without altering the basic goodness of the car. For this ’55 Bel Air, that translates to a classic two-tone paint over superbly prepared bodywork and 100% stock sheetmetal. That sheetmetal was sprayed in a basecoat/clearcoat Burnt Orange and Pearl White color combination which adds a new twist to the car’s traditional 50s two-tone look. As street rodders tend to do, the finish work is simply beyond anything the factory could have managed displaying excellent gaps and panel fit that make a statement all by themselves. At first glance, the car presents as a slightly darker version of Chevrolet’s classic Sierra Gold and Adobe Beige hue. But upon closer inspection, the paint is MUCH more robust and gives the smooth and crisp panels a modern dynamic that an original 50s scheme just can’t touch. The result is a car which manages to retain a classic 50s vibe while still looking fresh and modern at the same time.

In a very successful attempt to appeal to a younger audience Chevrolet gave the ’55 Bel Air timeless Ferrari inspired detailing which has become some of the most beloved ‘car art’ of the past 60 years. Up front, a trademark body-width Bel Air bumper sits below a pristine stainless grille, clear parking lights and fresh headlights that have been fitted with stainless half-moon shields. At the top of the grille, a factory fresh Chevrolet crest is centered below a new chrome hood ornament that looks fantastic against the cars Burnt Orange paint. At the back of the hood, smoked glass sits inside of new stainless windshield trim, stainless electric wipers and slick chrome rearview mirrors. On the sides of the car, factory optioned front fender trim accents sharp front fender lines, and straight stainless quarter spears are highlighted by black paint and pristine gold “Bel Air” scripts. At the back of the car, a second body-width chrome bumper hangs over great looking stainless exhaust tips. Above that bumper, clear chrome trimmed tail lights sit above like-new chrome Chevrolet emblems and a second pristine Chevrolet crest is perfectly aligned at the center of the car’s trunk.

Pop the Burnt Orange hood on this hot ’55 Bel Air and you’ll find a dependable small block Chevrolet 350 that produces a nice, round 300 horsepower. At the top of that motor, a polished aluminum air cleaner sends air into a coated four barrel Holley carburetor and a slick polished aluminum intake. Below that intake, a Chevrolet Orange engine block props a billet distributor next to an MSD Blaster coil and hangs grooved polished aluminum valve covers above ceramic coated long tube headers. At the sides of the motor, red Moroso wire looms and red Taylor plug wires contrast well to satin black inner fenders, and at the front of the motor, billet pulleys combine with a chrome AC compressor, a new alternator and a chrome upper radiator hose to add flash. Cooling is provided by an aluminum radiator which is equipped with an aluminum overflow tank, an aluminum fan shroud and an electric fan. Not a detail has been missed under this cars finished hood, and often overlooked items like stainless fuel lines, a correct body matched firewall and a new brake booster are all present and accounted for.

The ’55 Chevrolet was an extremely solid platform that is still being enjoyed to this day, and one look underneath this Bel Air shows a 56 year old chassis that has stood the test of time exceptionally well. Both the frame and floor pans have received new stainless hardware and a new coat of satin black paint for added durability, and a proven Turbo-Hydramatic 350 3-speed transmission easily handles anything the stout small block V8 throws its way. At the back of the car, correct leaf springs and drum brakes sit at the sides of a hot late model 12 bolt Posi-traction rear end that runs street friendly 3.07 gears and includes provisions for a modern four link suspension. At the front of the car, traditional double A-arms sit inside of a modern power steering system and retrofitted power disc brakes which make stopping and turning an absolute cinch. Exhaust is handled by a true dual system that combines an H-pipe crossover, two new turbo mufflers and two rear mounted stainless tips into an awesome chorus of sound; and grip is provided by sticky 225/60 front and 245/60 rear Cooper Cobra GT radials that are bolted to slick machine finished 15 inch American Racing aluminum wheels.

The inside of this awesome ’55 Bel Air is an excellent mix of spectacular custom parts and classic GM design. The Burnt Orange tweed bench seats are in great condition and perfectly match custom sculpted tweed door panels which integrate modern armrests and chrome handles into a great looking stainless trimmed ‘V’ motif. In the front foot wells, custom covered kick panels sit behind a passenger’s side fire extinguisher and a set of like-new billet pedals that add both form and function. Below those pedals, black carpet and black rubber Bel Air floor mats throw in a killer contrast, while, at the top of the car, a red headliner stretches tight from door to door across the curved roof. At the front of the car, a classic Burnt Orange Bel Air dash features a bowtie stamped chrome insert that is anchored by a new set of Dakota Digital gauges and an iconic passenger’s side Bel Air clock and speaker combination. At the center of that dash, a Sony Xplod CD player sends great sounding music to big Pioneer speakers which are mounted in a custom sculpted bowtie package tray, and a Vintage Air climate control system turns hot summer days into ice cold road trips. In front of the driver, a cool Grant Signature Series wood and polished aluminum steering wheel sits on a polished tilt steering column which adds classy look, and behind the cockpit, custom sculpted Burnt Orange tweed panels combine with a new black trunk mat to create a place to stash your cargo.

If you add up all the ingredients which make this 1955 Bel Air such a unique car, the final tally is much larger than our asking price. And when you look at the quality of the work and detail of the restoration, it becomes very apparent that someone really spent a lot of time and money making sure everything is right. There are no shortcuts, no marginal parts, and nothing that looks out of place on what is a uniformly high-quality car; and thanks to the modern small block under its hood and modern drivetrain under its floor, this Chevy is as reliable as it is handsome. Quality never goes out of style and this ’55 Bel Air is all the proof you’ll ever need.

 

 

 

 

http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/inventory 

Classic Cars

Mercury Monterey "1951"

Part 13

 Description

Admit it, you’ve always wanted a chopped ’51 Mercury. One of the most iconic of all custom cars, the Merc ranks right up there with the ’32 Ford 3-window coupe, the T-bucket, and the shoebox Chevys. Instantly recognizable, this custom 1951 Mercury Monterey coupe packs big horsepower with a pro-street attitude, all wrapped in a gorgeous yellow shell. It was professionally built, and drives as good as it looks. If you’re tired of the same old rods showing up at the local cruise night, bring this one along and watch the crowds form three people deep when you park it.

Built by the New England Rod Shop, the tastefully modified body is the perfect foundation for a killer pro-street cruiser. Big enough to be comfortable, but with tidy proportions that only get better with a top chop, this Merc is so perfectly proportioned that you can almost believe the factory built it that way. The chop is very well done, with laid-back windshield posts and perfectly modified window trim, and it doesn’t have that flattened look that some chops get. Best of all, it remains completely functional, and the windows are bigger than the gun slits you see on a lot of chopped Mercurys. The body work on this car is first rate, and all traces of the work done to get it to look this good have been skillfully erased. Panel fit is extremely good, and you’d better believe it’s hard to do when the top, the doors, and the windows all have to be cut and fitted just right. The DuPont ChromaOne paint is a specially blended mixture just for this car, and it has been buried under enough clear to make it look about 10 feet deep. Hours and hours were spent block sanding and buffing the finish to get it to lay down smoothly, and the end result is a brilliant shine that’s virtually distortion-free. Although it’s several years old now, the finish remains shiny and bright, and there are very few signs that this car has been driven on the road.

The car has been tastefully de-chromed, but a lot of the original bright work still remains. That instantly recognizable Mercury front grille has been painted to match the body, but the bumper and bumper “bullets” that mold into the grille have been beautifully refinished. Out back, the original bumper is also better than new, and those cool taillights are original 1951 Mercury pieces. The stainless around the windows has been expertly modified to fit the resized openings, and the simple trim strip that runs from the hood to the deck lid has been straightened and polished to new condition. Glass is, of course, all new and cut to fit the chopped top.

Forty years ago, you probably would have found a warmed-over flathead under the hood, but today, you get brute horsepower, which really is the essence of pro-street. A big block Chevy has been nestled between the smoothed fenders. Built to drive, the tune isn’t radical and it starts and drives extremely well. It doesn’t need constant fiddling and happily drinks pump gas all day. There’s an aluminum intake with a Holley 4-barrel living under that cool vintage-looking air cleaner, and big ceramic-coated long tube headers take care of the spent gasses. Big, chrome valve covers brighten up the monochromatic engine bay, and you can see that a lot of time was spent hiding the wiring and plumbing. A custom fabricated radiator cradle holds a polished aluminum radiator, and there’s a minimum of detailing and other unnecessary clutter. In the case of this Merc, simple is most definitely better.

A built TH400 3-speed automatic lives behind the big block, and it drives a narrowed Ford 9-inch rear via a custom-made driveshaft. The chassis has been heavily modified for the pro-street look, including a custom rear subframe to house those massive slicks inside new wheel tubs. Up front, an independent suspension has been grafted onto the Mercury’s original frame and features rack-and-pinion steering. Out back, the narrowed 9-inch is carried on a set of relocated leaf springs and air shocks. Everything has been painted to match, although it’s clear that this car has been driven everywhere it went and not hauled inside a trailer. The exhaust system features electric cut-outs, just in case the vivid yellow paint and killer stance weren’t attracting enough attention. Front wheels are 15×7 Cragar Drag Stars wearing radial tires, while out back, a set of massive 15×15 wheels hold 19.5×33 Mickey Thompson Sportsman tires. Also note that the center caps on the wheels have been custom made, and match the paint on the body and frame.

The interior is a very nicely finished oasis of tan leather and Mercedes-Benz tan carpets. A custom bench seat has been fitted, and has been covered in glove-soft leather that also matches the door panels and back seat. The original dashboard’s shape has been retained, but a custom aluminum insert was fabricated and now holds a full compliment of VDO analog gauges. A tilt steering column makes this car all-day comfortable, and is topped by a leather-wrapped steering wheel that features a custom horn button that matches the centercaps on the wheels. Billet door handles and knobs have been fitted in place of the originals, and a cool stylized Mercury “M” emblem still adorns the refinished dashboard. A powerful stereo system makes this car an easy long-distance cruiser. Out back, the trunk has been upholstered to match, and includes a polished fuel cell.

Built to drive and priced to move, this 1951 Mercury Monterey is just the ticket for this summer’s cruising season. Unique, yet instantly recognizable, it puts a new spin on the traditional Mercury custom, and backs it up with pro-street performance and attitude. Clearly well-sorted and 100% reliable, it’s ready to go with no additional work necessary, so if you’re the kind of guy who just wants to get in and drive, this is the car. It’s big enough for your whole family, and there aren’t any exotic or bank-breaking components on it, so there’s just no excuse not to put it on the road. If this big yellow coupe sounds good to you.

 

 

 

 

http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/inventory 

Classic Cars

Plymouth Special Deluxe "1949 "

 

Part 12

 Description

This extremely cool 1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe is one of those cars that takes time to appreciate. At first glance, it appears to be a nicely done mild custom with some of the usual tricks. Then you look closer and see the original flathead engine under the hood wearing a bunch of period speed equipment. Yeah, that IS cool. Glance inside and savor the exceptionally well-executed and understated interior, complete with a lovely burled walnut dashboard. Not over-wrought, but simply beautiful. Then have a look underneath and notice all the hand-fabrication that went into just the exhaust system, never mind the other pieces. The net effect is a car that doesn’t blow you away all at once, but takes its time, leaving you with a feeling of having been seduced.

The best customs are those that blur the line between what is original and what has been modified, and this one has already won 1st place at the 2009 Detroit AutoRama. To see all the changes on this beautiful coupe, you’d really need to put it side-by-side with an original car, but some of the big changes are easy to spot. The easy stuff includes shaved door handles, tail lights, and hood ornament, as well as a heavily resculpted grille. The new tail lights have been frenched into the rear quarters, along with the power radio antenna, both popular custom tricks that always look great. The paint is about a mile deep, and is a medium blue pearl that has enough sparkle in it to power a small city, although it doesn’t show up very well under the harsh lights in the studio. In true custom car building fashion, final assembly is vastly more precise than the factory work, and as a result the doors fit exactly, the hood shut lines are even, and the deck lid is flush. Someone obviously took their time with this car, but the fact that it was a super-clean show-winning original piece certainly made the job easier.

All the chrome and stainless has been restored to show standards. Those are the original bumpers and a few elements of the original grille remain, but it has been subtly modified to give an entirely new look. That strip down the center of the hood was hand-made and the headlights are modern sealed-beam halogen units inside frenched buckets. All the glass except for the rear window is new.

While most hot rodders wouldn’t think twice about dropping a small block Chevy crate motor under the hood of a car like this, it’s infinitely more impressive when they dare to be different. This Plymouth carries a 230 cubic inch inline-six flathead, which was original equipment. But it’s pretty far removed from stock, with a custom camshaft and a comprehensive bottom end rebuild, plus enough vintage speed equipment to open a small museum. The finned aluminum cylinder head from Edgy Speed Shop matches the air cleaner, which now feeds a pair of Stromberg 97 carburetors on a matching Edgy intake manifold. Check out the cool Eddie Meyer fuel distribution block on the firewall, as well as the matching aluminum oil filter, both retro-looking parts that seem like they belong on this car. Upgrades include a 12 volt electrical system with a polished alternator, a set of hand-fabricated exhaust headers dumping into a custom dual exhaust system with cut-outs, and a lot of stainless hardware throughout.

The chassis is equally exceptional, full of wonderful details and flawless craftsmanship. The transmission is a 3-speed manual with an overdrive unit, so it cruises easily at modern highway speeds, and there’s a beefy Ford 9-inch out back full of 3.25 gears, and frankly, it’s probably overkill on this car. The front suspension appears to be original, although the rear end uses a set of tube shocks that were probably not available in 1949. That beautiful exhaust system I keep talking about truly is a work of art, with beautiful welds and a polished stainless finish that will look great forever. Remote cut-out valves open up a pair of dump tubes or direct flow through a set of vintage cylindrical mufflers for a mellow 1950s tone. The frame and floors have been bathed in matching medium blue pearl paint, while all the running gear has been given a coat of high-gloss black to really stand out. The final detail are those too-cool-to-be-believed spinner hubcaps with the hand-painted checker pattern and a set of 15-inch Michelin wide whitewall radials.

You’re in for a special treat when you climb inside. Simple and stock appearing, the upscale materials and color combination make it something you’ll show off every chance you get. The blue and crimson vinyl has been stitched up in a very 1950s pattern and the combination is incredibly elegant without being flashy. Matching door panels retain the classic Plymouth hardware and window frames, a set of dark blue carpets add formality, and the custom-made headliner is wonderful in its simplicity. Believe it or not, that’s the original dashboard, but it now includes a trio of modern gauges from Classic Instruments in the original openings, and the wood grain finish has been done in a burled walnut pattern that would look more at home in a Bentley than a Plymouth. The factory steering wheel has obviously been restored, and the satin blue finish is a cool spin on the original shiny plastic that was original equipment. A powerful stereo system has been hidden in the dash, and features a CD changer mounted in the trunk. And speaking of the trunk, you’ll find that it has been upholstered to match, complete with a custom blue tire cover. Even the CD changer has been painted to match, adding another detail that will make you love this car even more.

Great cars also include lots of paperwork, and this is most definitely a great car. The package includes an original owner’s manual, original service certificate, heater system manual, radio manual, and other dealership brochures about getting the most out of your new Plymouth. Other factory documents include a service manual and parts list, an accessories catalog, and a radio antenna instruction sheet. There’s also an early copy of “Rodding and Re-Styling” magazine from the late-40s or early-50s that shows a very similar custom Plymouth coupe on the cover. More specific to this car are the big pile of receipts and manuals for all the new components, as well as a huge album full of build photos, as well as a magazine article from Europe. We’ll also include the 1st place trophy from the 2009 Detroit AutoRama, where this was the best Mild Hardtop 49-54.

Take your time looking this one over, and I promise it’ll grow on you. You could spend an afternoon with this car on a lift and still not see every trick and detail that has been thoughtfully built into it. It is also expertly engineered, and drives extremely well. Don’t underestimate the warmed-over flathead, either. It has a great vintage snarl, and moves the lightweight little coupe easily. With the overdrive transmission, highway cruising is effortless, and it actually pulls down pretty good fuel economy to boot. And you’ll simply never get tired of sitting in that gorgeous interior. This is a show-winning custom with exceptional detailing, and that vintage engine will knock everyone out at the next cruise night. Cool customs simply don’t get much better than this. 

 

 

 

 

http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/inventory 

Classic Cars

Willys Coupe "1941 "

Part 12

 Description

Cars, like fashion, are cyclical. Who would have thought that in 2011, we’d be looking at a root beer brown and gold 1941 Willys coupe called Champagne Dream and thinking that it’s about the coolest rod we’ve ever seen. Full of modern technology and all the power options you’d want, as well as 625 thundering horsepower, this is a do-anything rod built by pros, and it’s poised to start taking home some very big trophies. It’s also completely sorted, scary fast, and amazingly comfortable. So forget what you remember about the ‘70s, because brown is back in fashion.

OK, so it’s not really brown, it’s a glittering metallic hue from PPG that seems to twinkle in the sunlight. J&R Streetrods built the steel-reinforced fiberglass body and finished it to show-winning standards. Every panel is as flat as Kansas, with a finish that you only find on rods with five-figure paint jobs. The trick flames lick between the two colors separating the upper and lower halves of the car, leaving you wondering if it’s champagne over root beer or vice-versa. And while the shape is ultra-traditional, some new tweaks were added to give this rod a unique personality, including shaved door handles, suicide doors, and rear wheel tubs to handle those massive rear tires. There’s no mistaking a Willys coupe, but this one has an identity all its own thanks to careful workmanship and attention to detail.

Other custom elements include the three-LED tail lights that are flush-mounted to the rear valence panel, a brightly plated Willys grille, and those teardrop-shaped headlights. Standard hot-rodding tricks include a hidden license plate the drops down when the engine fires, and the complete removal of any sign of bumpers or chrome other than the aforementioned grille and head lights. All the glass is new and was hand-fitted to the fiberglass shell before paint, then meticulously installed with all-new weather stripping after the paint had cured.

One thing you won’t have to worry about in this Willys is horsepower. Thanks to a 540 cubic inch GM crate motor that belts out 625 horsepower, this sleek coupe is more than just a parking lot poseur. Inside there’s a 4340 chromoly steel crank, H-beam connecting rods, and a full roller valve train. The fuel and air are mixed by an 850 CFM Holley atop a Holley single-plane intake, and fed to a set of aluminum cylinder heads, and that air filter is a work of art all by itself. Billet Specialties supplied the eye candy such as the valve covers, breathers, and air filter, while just about everything else was either chrome-plated or polished. A March serpentine drive spins the accessories, and this sucker’s loaded: A/C, power steering, power brakes, and a massive PowerMaster alternator all make this Willys more 2011 than 1941. And talk about attention to detail! Note how the flame pattern continues across the smoothed firewall, the perfectly fitted aluminum radiator in the nose, and the well-hidden wiring and plumbing throughout. The result is an extremely impressive engine bay that shows as well as the rest of the car.

The 2×6 tube chassis was also custom fabricated by the guys at J&R, and then powdercoated black for lasting durability. The transmission is a Phoenix heavy-duty 4L80E with a TCI control unit and a street-friendly 2500-RPM stall converter. Currie Enterprises built the custom narrowed Ford 9-inch out back, then stuffed it full of 4.10 gears and a Trac-Lok differential. A set of tubular upper and lower control arms support the front end, and use Air Ride Technologies Shockwave air spring and shock units to control both ride and ride height. Out back, a triangulated 4-link setup hooks the car to the pavement, again with a set of Air Ride Technologies shocks and a set of tubular control arms. GM 11-inch power disc brakes are an effective, reliable setup, and you’ll note that all the plumbing and lines have been skillfully hidden inside the frame rails for a super-sanitary look underneath. That massive 4-inch stainless exhaust system runs along the outside of the frame rails to dump just ahead of the rear wheels, making a sound that’s more top-fuel dragster than Sunday afternoon cruiser. It rides on a set of Billet Specialties GTX01 aluminum wheels wearing 26×7.50R-15 front tires and gigantic 29×18.5R-15LT rear Hoosier Pro-Street radials.

The front-opening doors reveal one of the most beautifully finished cabins this side of a Rolls-Royce Phantom. With acres of bone-colored leather, custom bucket seats, and high-end mocha colored carpets, you aren’t going to want to get out of this car because it’s nicer than your living room. Dolphin supplied the retro-looking gauges that are arrayed across the dash, while a custom console was fabricated to hold power window switches and the controls for the Vintage Air A/C system. Look a little closer and you’ll see those beautifully sculpted door panels match the headliner and trunk, and there are speakers nestled throughout the passenger compartment driven by an overhead Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo system. And save your phone calls, those stylized “W” logos on the door panels were machined just for this car and are not available anywhere at any price. The primary controls are a matching Billet Specialties steering wheel and a Lokar shifter for the transmission, not to mention a Flaming River tilt steering column that makes it easy to get comfortable.

This car comes with a stack of receipts and manuals, and has already won a garage full of awards:

Hottest Hot Rod, 2008 Goodguys Rod and Custom Association Blue Suede Cruise, Norwalk Ohio
Federated Auto Parts Sponsor’s Pick, 2008 Cleveland Autorama
1st place Full Custom Rod Coupe, 2009 Cleveland Autorama
Top 10, 2008 Steel Valley Super Nationals, Salem Ohio
Top Paint Pick, 2008 NSRA Louisville Nationals
Top 12, 2009 Canton Hot Rod Show

The Willys coupe is an icon, no doubt about that. But this one puts a highly unique spin on a familiar face, and the workmanship is flat-out astounding. I can’t imagine what it cost to build this rod, but it undoubtedly took a pile of cash as big as the car itself and more than a year-and-a-half to complete. With 2372 miles on it, everything is fully sorted and it runs down the road like a production car, not a one-off custom. It’s also blindingly fast, if you have the guts to actually put your foot on the floor and let that gigantic big block off the leash. Impossible to duplicate and finished to award-winning standards, this Willys is a new twist on an old idea.

 

 

 

 

http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/inventory 

Classic Cars

Ford Deluxe "1940 "

Part 11

 Description

In 1940, a top of the line Ford De Luxe wagon could be had for a hefty $950 dollars and was considered a symbol of success and prosperity. Over the years, most of these scarce wagons have been relegated to carefully stored concours level trailer queen status and rarely see any road time at all. This fully detailed, road ready 1940 Ford De Luxe features a potent small block Chevy engine, a modern sport tuned suspension, a custom boxed frame and updated interior amenities wrapped in one of the coolest vehicles ever produced.

With its attractive styling, the 1940s De Luxe series has always been highly sought by rodders, customizers which made them a cultural icon. In 2008, this Ford De Luxe wagon was completely restored by Treehouse Woods Automotive Woodworking. After almost two years of bodywork and carpentry, the refurbishing was complete and the car was re-fitted with a correct Birds Eye Maple body that presents just as well as it did when the car rolled out of Fords Iron Mountain manufacturing facility. The smooth and ripple free body was then covered in GM Light Mesh Brown (code B89451F) which almost appears pale yellow until you get up close to the car. At that point, you’re immediately taken by how immaculate the varnished body looks and how well every piece fits together from the doors that hang on traditional bear claw hinges to the finger jointed trim pieces. At the nose of the car, streamlined styling flows from a flat-topped hood that reaches high into the air serving as the main focal point for the car’s front end. Below the hood, a stainless grille flows along the hood line to the bumper and is flanked by Ford Deluxe exclusive body colored grilles that feature horizontal stainless dividers. Below the grille a curved chrome bumper shines like new and complements fender mounted, new for 1940 sealed beam headlights that are heavily trimmed in chrome. Stainless trim that runs from the grille to the windshield incorporates a hood latch with a painted red “V8” script. At the sides of the hood, streamlined stainless trim runs from the corners of the grille to awesome curved rearview mirrors and sits above chrome “Ford De Luxe” emblems that are outlined in red. The divided windshield features new glass trimmed in stainless and two stylized chrome wipers that are anchored to the cowl at the center of the windows. Above the windshield, a new fabric top runs the entire length of the wood panel body and parallels new covered running boards and new chrome door handles all around. At the back of the car, a brown spare tire holder includes a chrome hubcap and trim ring, and sits above another show worthy chrome bumper. Correct chrome trimmed tail lights with chrome loomed wires sit on body colored mounts and complement a locking gas cap complete with a Ford script lock cover. Traditional body matched steel wheels with chrome center caps, chrome trim rings and red “Ford De Luxe” stampings sit at all four corners and wear 205/70/14 front and 235/75/15 rear Firestone wide white wall tires.

While this Ford De Luxe wagon isn’t a hot rod or custom in the strictest sense of the word, it has been modified to provide a better performance. Flip up the hood latch and you’ll find a 350 Chevrolet crate engine sitting snuggly between glossy Light Mesh Brown inner fenders. A chrome air cleaner sits on top of a Weber 4 barrel carburetor that is complete with stainless fuel lines, a visible fuel filter and Lokar linkages in braided sleeves. Under that carburetor, a chrome Edelbrock Performer EPS intake looks great between chrome valve covers complete with a chrome Moroso breather. At the rear of that intake, a chrome sleeved coil sends power to a points distributor which feeds loomed Accel Super Stock wires. The chrome theme continues at the front of the motor with fresh belts driving a chrome alternator, a chrome AC compressor, a chrome water pump and a chrome power steering pump with braided hoses via Billet pulleys. A Griffin aluminum radiator is sandwiched between a crank driven flex fan and a nose mounted electric fan and features a chrome overflow tank. At the sides of the motor, stylish Sanderson exhaust manifolds sit next to a Painless Wiring harness on the left of the car and fresh hoses for the air conditioning on the right of the car. There’s plenty of power at any RPM thanks to the reliable 350 and all necessary components are in place for trouble free motoring.

Armed with the knowledge that woodies require a lot of special structural support for their organic bodies, the owner of this car started with a boxed Fat man frame and built in drivability from there. Housed behind the motor you’ll find a newly refurbished 700R4 automatic transmission that provides effortless cruising and good fuel economy. The transmission feeds power to a bulletproof Ford 9 inch rear end that houses stout but street friendly 3.73 gears. At the front of the car, a double A-arm suspension houses tubular control arms and stainless coil over shocks. And at the back of the car, you’ll find a factory leaf suspension complete with a heavy duty sway bar. A frame mounted brake booster sends power to front GM disc and rear GM drum brakes and combines with power steering to make for easy turning and stopping. Fuel is supplied to new stainless fuel lines from a new stainless gas tank and exhaust flows from the Sanderson manifolds into a true dual system with great sounding turbo mufflers. Aesthetically, the bottom of the car looks good with satin black floors, a satin black frame with stainless hardware and a semi-gloss driveshaft and axle.

Open the door of this wagon to find 1940s era luxury with modern updates. The maroon leather bench seats are in excellent shape and combined with the like new maroon carpet, floor mats and kick panels contrasts nicely against the Birds Eye Maple body and Light Mesh Brown dash. In front of you, the body matched dash features stainless brightwork and aftermarket Haneline gauges in a nice turned aluminum gauge panel. Below the dash, aluminum knobs for the Vintage Air air conditioning system are housed in a Birds Eye Maple enclosure above chrome trimmed foot pedals. A body matched steering column includes a shifter for the 700R4 and a banjo style steering wheel with a “V8” hood button that has been customized to include a Birds Eye Maple rim. Door panels are simple wood pieces with Birds Eye Maple housings for manual chrome door handles and up/down grab handles for the Autolock power windows. Open the glove box and you’ll find controls for the SecretAudio sound system that is complete with Eclipse speakers mounted under the dash. In the back cargo area, custom Birds Eye Maple boxes house more Eclipse speakers below a crank out rear window. The interior is simple, but striking and no corners were cut in making it comfortable and driver friendly.

Documentation included with this Ford De Luxe is a copy of original owners New York registration, summarized restoration receipts that total over 100K and recent maintenance receipts.

If you’re looking for a unique ride with some of the best modern car technology money can buy, you’ve found the right car. This 1940 Ford De Luxe wagon is exceptionally well done and utilizes top shelf components for a completely street ready ride and looks spectacular from any angle. I can’t think of anything more unique, and chances are you’re not going to find anything cooler for the money.

Classic Cars

Part 10

 Description

In the good old, bad old days, if you wanted a 1937 Ford cabriolet, you had to somehow find an original one. They were rare when they were new, and even rarer decades later. And most had already been restored, so if a stock one wasn’t quite to your liking, you were forced to spend a pile of money on a darned nice car, then endure the jeers and jibes you got from cutting up a restored piece. And ultimately, what you got was a car that wasn’t worth any more than what you paid for the original one you modified.

Well, that all changed once some of the fiberglass body makers learned how much pent-up demand there is for some of the more unusual body styles. Sure, they all make ’32 and ’34 roadsters and 3-window coupes, but in the past few months, we’ve had a ’34 cabriolet (cabriolets are different from roadsters in that they offer roll-up windows), a ’32 cabriolet, not to mention some pure fantasy cars like the pair of SpeedStars and the Zipper roadsters.

Next in line is this spectacular 1937 Ford “faux” cabriolet (it only looks like the top folds, but it is fixed) that that packs 460 cubic inches of Ford big block power, a pro-built suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes, and a show-winning paint job that isn’t too wild, but definitely isn’t ordinary.

Body makers know that they can’t just churn out sub-standard product and let the body shops fix them like in the early days of the craft. No, today’s rodders are sophisticated and know what kind of work it takes to win awards, and paying a bodyshop $75/hour to perfect half-hearted fiberglass isn’t what they want to do. So when I tell you that the body on this cabriolet is AT LEAST as good as the original Henry steel, you know what I’m talking about. Panel gaps are excellent, the fit is first-rate, and it seals up tighter than a new cabriolet would have on the showroom floor.

Once you get the substrate in line, then it’s time for the paint. But if you’re gunning for a trophy, you need something special. This car carries a unique 2-tone paint scheme comprised of Silver Jade and Black, leaving you with a sophisticated and elegant cruiser that looks both vintage and state-of-the-art at the same time. The break between the colors follows a natural line in the body, almost as if the Ford designers nearly 80 years ago were expecting this. The black keeps the silver jade from being overpowering, while the charcoal gray pinstripe adjacent to the black adds interest. There’s a lot of pearl in the silver jade, and you’ll love the way the light plays over it, especially on those peaked fenders and faired-in headlights, which were a love-it-or-hate-it proposition in 1937. And as a hot rod, it was all finished to a standard that borders on artwork, with a ton of block sanding, polishing, and buffing to give it a distortion-free final finish.

There’s not a lot of trim on this car—anything that was chrome on an original car got a coat of black, and anything that wasn’t painted was removed. There are no bumpers, no door handles, and the only adornments are the slick stainless steel inserts in the hood vents and a pair of authentic-looking cowl lamps, which I love. The teardrop-shaped headlight lenses are very much original, concealing modern headlights that keep you safe at night and feature integrated parking/turn signal bulbs. Slender side-view mirrors have been added, and they look an awful lot like the King Bee mirrors that were popular in the ‘50s. Out back, the taillights have been frenched into the body, and a flush-fitting fuel door has been installed. The license plate, always a pesky necessity, hangs below the rear roll pan largely out of sight, but 100% legal. The black canvas top is beautifully made and looks awfully convincing—you can be forgiven for thinking this was a convertible, because it certainly fooled me the first time I saw it.

Show is worthless without the go, and this car delivers in the form of a 460 cubic inch Ford big block under the hood. It’s a tight squeeze in that narrow engine bay, but careful crafting of the firewall and hood have resulted in a tidy, show-worthy power-plant that moves this relatively light car with real authority. Topped by an Edelbrock Performer 460 intake and 4-barrel carburetor, and exhaling through a set of long-tube headers, there’s probably five or six times as much torque in this car as the original 85-horsepower flathead V8 could have generated. Up front there’s a giant aluminum radiator and several electric fans keeping it cool, and accessories include power steering. Red ignition wires and distributor cap add a little bit of flash to the largely monochromatic engine bay color palette.

A C6 3-speed automatic lives behind the thundering big block, and delivers crisp, positive shifts but is unobtrusive when you’re just cruising around town. Power is fed to a built and detailed Ford 9-inch rear that hangs off a trick 4-link suspension system that has been detailed and painted to match the body. The beautifully constructed frame really has to be seen to be fully appreciated, with the X-member being boxed with lightening windows that make it look like industrial art. A custom-built exhaust system snakes through the frame to maintain ground clearance, and uses Ultra-Flo mufflers for a deep, mellow tone. Four-wheel disc brakes handle the stopping, and it rolls on a set of custom-built Panther wheels with 185/65/15 front and 235/75/15 rear Cooper touring radials—perfect for comfortable cruising. There are definitely signs that the car has been driven, but all that means is that everything works and it is fully sorted, not some cantankerous trailer queen.

The interior perfectly matches the Silver Jade exterior, with custom-dyed leather and carpets that scream “show winner” every time you open the door. From the beautifully sculpted door panels to the white carbon-fiber-like weave that surrounds the gauges, it is as artistically designed an interior as I’ve ever seen. The steering wheel is a vintage banjo-style that looks right at home in a 1937 Ford, and the fat leather rim feels great in your hand. The shifter is a modern Lokar unit that looks almost exactly like the shifter for an original Ford’s 3-speed manual transmission. The center-mounted gauges from Classic Instruments are simple and elegant, while the accessory switches have been tucked down low on the dash to keep them out of sight. And if I’m not mistaken, that’s an original Ford accelerator pedal down there next to the billet brake pedal—my father’s ’34 Ford had a “spoon” just like that one. Things like the stereo and speakers have been cleverly hidden throughout the interior. And hey, here’s something you won’t find on a roadster—a back seat! Take three friends with you everywhere you go, and do it in style! The trunk is upholstered to match, including the side panels and matching carpeting on the floor.

The hot rodding hobby has grown up. With such a wide variety of options available to today’s builder, it’s not difficult to build something truly unique. This “faux” cabriolet is also practical, if a hot rod can be considered a practical thing, thanks to a back seat big enough for three. That sounds like a no-compromises situation to me. Add in killer, show-winning looks, a gorgeous interior, and a stack of awards and magazine features, and this is a car that couldn’t be duplicated for the asking price. If that appeals to you

Classic Cars

Ford Roadster 1936

Part 9

 Description

In an endless sea of yellow hot rods, red coupes and black roadsters, it’s nice to find a custom that stands out from the crowd. After all, isn’t the true spirit of hot rodding to create something exclusive? If you’re looking for a car that’s subtle, unique and well executed, RK Motors Charlotte has the car for you. Built from the frame up, this two-tone 1936 Ford Roadster has serious show credentials and can be driven with ease.

So many of these hot rods are built for show with no chance of ever seeing the street. They are paraded around on trailers and never used as they were intended. Not so with this ’36 Ford. This roadster was built to win trophies alongside the best trailer queens at Good Guys and keep up with most modern cars on the street. The build started when a Fairlane fiberglass body was bolted behind a ’36 Ford steel hood and front fenders and between ’36 Ford steel running boards. Once the body was smooth and flawless, it was sprayed in a unique two tone R+M base coat/clearcoat. Brilliant Copper begins at the bottom of the grille and continues above the cars belt line all the way back to the tip of the round trunk lid. Below that Brilliant Copper, Chrysler Cool Vanilla adorns the fenders and running boards from front bumper brackets to rear bumper brackets. Dividing those two completely opposite but complementary colors is a tan pinstripe that coordinates perfectly with the car’s Ultraleather interior and Hartz retractable top.

The awesome two toned exterior is equipped with minimum ornamentation and quite a bit of detailed custom work, just as the hot rod gods intended. At the front of the car a traditional, contoured ’36 Ford front bumper sits below custom ’37 Ford headlights equipped with an HID conversion and LED turn signals. The Brilliant Copper grille features excellent looking stainless trim that flows up over the hood and stops just short of a custom 3.5 inch chopped and tinted windshield. A Bob Drake hand operated wiper and custom, mirror-like stainless trim complete the chopped windshield where it attaches to a tan Hartz folding top with zip in side curtains and a glass rear window. At the side of the car, traditional stainless trim adorns the hood and parallels the body of the car on the steel running boards. Shaved door handles mean that chrome is scarce with curved chrome side mirrors and chromed bronze original style door hinges being the only brightwork on the profile of the car. At the rear of the car another flawless chrome ’36 Ford bumper rides above centered stainless exhaust tips and below LED equipped chrome ’35 Ford tail lights. The driver’s side tail light features a chrome tag bracket and a ’35 Ford fuel neck with a traditional chrome Ford “V8” logo fuel cap.

Open the stainless trimmed hood on this classic roadster and take a look at the color matched, rebuilt 350 V8. Made for effortless driving, this engine is topped by a chrome air cleaner that sends air into an Edelbrock Endurashine 600 carburetor complete with braided fuel lines. On the receiving end of that Edelbrock carburetor is a chrome Edelbrock Performer EPS intake which looks great caged between billet valve covers and a chrome topped, modern GM HEI distributor. Powered by an American Auto Wire harness and fuse panel, that distributor supplies sparks through blue Summit Racing Equipment wires that are loomed by red clips and billet wires looms. Cooling is provided by a Griffin aluminum radiator that is equipped with an electric fan and runs water to a chrome thermostat housing. Aesthetically, the engine bay, painted in Chrysler Cool Vanilla, looks as nice as the rest of the car with Brilliant Copper accents and accessories including a chrome alternator, a chrome fuel pump, billet pulleys, billet brackets, a billet transmission dipstick and a set of ceramic coated shorty headers. Mechanically, there’s nothing radical in here. But that’s a good because radical causes problems on a car that’s meant to be driven and enjoyed.

If you weren’t impressed with the level of detail on the engine, just check out the underside of the car. The boxed, Fatman style frame has been powder coated to match the engine block and Brilliant Copper paint on the body of the car. Housed in that frame is a color matched Ford 9 inch rear end with 3.70 gears that is driven by a color matched driveshaft and suspended by a color matched parallel leaf springs. A color matched 700R4 automatic transmission with a Bowler lock up provides reliable shifts and 11 inch disc brakes up front and drum brakes in the rear are aided through stainless brake lines by a color matched, frame mounted master cylinder and brake booster. The front suspension is a power steering equipped Mustang II independent set up with double A-Arm construction, tubular control arms and chrome coilovers. True dual exhaust runs from the shorty headers through heat wrap into Jegs Performance mufflers and back to center mounted stainless tips. A new Bob Drake fuel tank sends fuel via stainless fuel lines past a passenger side battery shut off switch to the front of the car. Connecting the car to the pavement is 15 inch powder coated and color matched steel wheels with 1950 Mercury style center caps and trim rings wrapped in Hercules HP4000 195/60/15 radials up front and 235/70/15 radials in the rear.

Inside the car, a classy, beautiful interior greets your arrival with style and comfort. A rolled and pleated bench seat from a ’40 ford is finished in luxurious Ultraleather and is accompanied by matching Ultraleather door panels and an Ultraleather convertible cowl that features the classic ford “V8” script. In front of you, the Brilliant Copper colored ’40 Ford dash houses full Dolphin instrumentation inside a billet gauge pod. Chrome trim runs across that dash to highlight the heater and the locking glove box which houses a remote controlled Sony Xplod CD player. Below the chrome trim, in the center of the dash four billet knobs operate the electric fan, the electric trunk release, the odometer and power for the CD player. A Billet Specialties tilt column and steering wheel with a color matched rim sit above a floor mounted brake pedal and firewall mounted accelerator pedal. A Lokar shifter, complete with Lokar cables and a Lokar emergency brake feature color matched boots and sit on top of Prairie Tan carpet. That Prairie Tan carpet is mounted on sound deadening material which keeps unwanted road noise out of the cockpit. Hit the button to pop the trunk and you’ll find wooden panels finished with the same rolled and pleated Ultraleather and Prairie tan carpet as the interior. A prominent Ford “V8”

In an endless sea of yellow hot rods, red coupes and black roadsters, it’s nice to find a custom that stands out from the crowd. After all, isn’t the true spirit of hot rodding to create something exclusive? If you’re looking for a car that’s subtle, unique and well executed, RK Motors Charlotte has the car for you. Built from the frame up, this two-tone 1936 Ford Roadster has serious show credentials and can be driven with ease.

So many of these hot rods are built for show with no chance of ever seeing the street. They are paraded around on trailers and never used as they were intended. Not so with this ’36 Ford. This roadster was built to win trophies alongside the best trailer queens at Good Guys and keep up with most modern cars on the street. The build started when a Fairlane fiberglass body was bolted behind a ’36 Ford steel hood and front fenders and between ’36 Ford steel running boards. Once the body was smooth and flawless, it was sprayed in a unique two tone R+M base coat/clearcoat. Brilliant Copper begins at the bottom of the grille and continues above the cars belt line all the way back to the tip of the round trunk lid. Below that Brilliant Copper, Chrysler Cool Vanilla adorns the fenders and running boards from front bumper brackets to rear bumper brackets. Dividing those two completely opposite but complementary colors is a tan pinstripe that coordinates perfectly with the car’s Ultraleather interior and Hartz retractable top.

The awesome two toned exterior is equipped with minimum ornamentation and quite a bit of detailed custom work, just as the hot rod gods intended. At the front of the car a traditional, contoured ’36 Ford front bumper sits below custom ’37 Ford headlights equipped with an HID conversion and LED turn signals. The Brilliant Copper grille features excellent looking stainless trim that flows up over the hood and stops just short of a custom 3.5 inch chopped and tinted windshield. A Bob Drake hand operated wiper and custom, mirror-like stainless trim complete the chopped windshield where it attaches to a tan Hartz folding top with zip in side curtains and a glass rear window. At the side of the car, traditional stainless trim adorns the hood and parallels the body of the car on the steel running boards. Shaved door handles mean that chrome is scarce with curved chrome side mirrors and chromed bronze original style door hinges being the only brightwork on the profile of the car. At the rear of the car another flawless chrome ’36 Ford bumper rides above centered stainless exhaust tips and below LED equipped chrome ’35 Ford tail lights. The driver’s side tail light features a chrome tag bracket and a ’35 Ford fuel neck with a traditional chrome Ford “V8” logo fuel cap.

Open the stainless trimmed hood on this classic roadster and take a look at the color matched, rebuilt 350 V8. Made for effortless driving, this engine is topped by a chrome air cleaner that sends air into an Edelbrock Endurashine 600 carburetor complete with braided fuel lines. On the receiving end of that Edelbrock carburetor is a chrome Edelbrock Performer EPS intake which looks great caged between billet valve covers and a chrome topped, modern GM HEI distributor. Powered by an American Auto Wire harness and fuse panel, that distributor supplies sparks through blue Summit Racing Equipment wires that are loomed by red clips and billet wires looms. Cooling is provided by a Griffin aluminum radiator that is equipped with an electric fan and runs water to a chrome thermostat housing. Aesthetically, the engine bay, painted in Chrysler Cool Vanilla, looks as nice as the rest of the car with Brilliant Copper accents and accessories including a chrome alternator, a chrome fuel pump, billet pulleys, billet brackets, a billet transmission dipstick and a set of ceramic coated shorty headers. Mechanically, there’s nothing radical in here. But that’s a good because radical causes problems on a car that’s meant to be driven and enjoyed.

If you weren’t impressed with the level of detail on the engine, just check out the underside of the car. The boxed, Fatman style frame has been powder coated to match the engine block and Brilliant Copper paint on the body of the car. Housed in that frame is a color matched Ford 9 inch rear end with 3.70 gears that is driven by a color matched driveshaft and suspended by a color matched parallel leaf springs. A color matched 700R4 automatic transmission with a Bowler lock up provides reliable shifts and 11 inch disc brakes up front and drum brakes in the rear are aided through stainless brake lines by a color matched, frame mounted master cylinder and brake booster. The front suspension is a power steering equipped Mustang II independent set up with double A-Arm construction, tubular control arms and chrome coilovers. True dual exhaust runs from the shorty headers through heat wrap into Jegs Performance mufflers and back to center mounted stainless tips. A new Bob Drake fuel tank sends fuel via stainless fuel lines past a passenger side battery shut off switch to the front of the car. Connecting the car to the pavement is 15 inch powder coated and color matched steel wheels with 1950 Mercury style center caps and trim rings wrapped in Hercules HP4000 195/60/15 radials up front and 235/70/15 radials in the rear.

Inside the car, a classy, beautiful interior greets your arrival with style and comfort. A rolled and pleated bench seat from a ’40 ford is finished in luxurious Ultraleather and is accompanied by matching Ultraleather door panels and an Ultraleather convertible cowl that features the classic ford “V8” script. In front of you, the Brilliant Copper colored ’40 Ford dash houses full Dolphin instrumentation inside a billet gauge pod. Chrome trim runs across that dash to highlight the heater and the locking glove box which houses a remote controlled Sony Xplod CD player. Below the chrome trim, in the center of the dash four billet knobs operate the electric fan, the electric trunk release, the odometer and power for the CD player. A Billet Specialties tilt column and steering wheel with a color matched rim sit above a floor mounted brake pedal and firewall mounted accelerator pedal. A Lokar shifter, complete with Lokar cables and a Lokar emergency brake feature color matched boots and sit on top of Prairie Tan carpet. That Prairie Tan carpet is mounted on sound deadening material which keeps unwanted road noise out of the cockpit. Hit the button to pop the trunk and you’ll find wooden panels finished with the same rolled and pleated Ultraleather and Prairie tan carpet as the interior. A prominent Ford “V8” script is centered on the back panel of the trunk to complete the look.

Documentation for this extensive build includes a CD full of build pictures, a photo album of build pictures, a display sheet and picture featuring all of the cars major modifications and a folder full of build receipts and part numbers.

If you’re looking for something a little outside the norm, but still spectacular in its own right, give this beautiful Ford a long look. With this hot rod, it’s all about the details that give a unique look and the components that provide a great ride. There’s more in this car than the asking price, and as we always say, it’s certainly much less expensive to purchase a well-sorted existing build than to build your own

script is centered on the back panel of the trunk to complete the look.

Documentation for this extensive build includes a CD full of build pictures, a photo album of build pictures, a display sheet and picture featuring all of the cars major modifications and a folder full of build receipts and part numbers.

If you’re looking for something a little outside the norm, but still spectacular in its own right, give this beautiful Ford a long look. With this hot rod, it’s all about the details that give a unique look and the components that provide a great ride. There’s more in this car than the asking price, and as we always say, it’s certainly much less expensive to purchase a well-sorted existing build than to build your own.

 

 

 

 

http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/inventory 

Classic Cars

Sedan Limousine "Ford 1934"

Part 8

 Description

Think you’ve seen it all? Guess again. In the world of hot rodding, there’s always the desire to one-up the other guy, to do something nobody else has done, to create something that’s both jaw-dropping and functional. RK Motors Charlotte’s latest submission in the “dare to be different” category is this 1934 Ford stretched show car, which is one of only three built, and we have the only two in private hands. The body is by Downs, power is by Lingenfelter, and it’s as nicely finished as any car you’ve seen at the street rod nationals. Drive it, show it, or put it to work in a private limousine service, the choice is yours.

The craftsmen at Downs Fiberglass are no strangers to innovation, and several years ago they built a prototype ’34 Ford stretched show car and pulled molds to look at the potential of putting it into series production. Ultimately, however, only two were built (and RK Motors Charlotte has them both), making them a unique footnote in the company’s history.

This car is very nicely finished, as are all of Downs’ bodies, and fits together better than many of those cut-and-stretch jobs that you see on the road because it was designed and built to be a stretched car from the beginning. Suicide doors up front are the same size and shape as the original Ford pieces from Downs’ other bodies, while the back doors are elongated to make ingress and egress easy and to give the body a better sense of proportion. Of course, the top has been tastefully chopped, giving it a sleek, lowered appearance, but not so low that it compromises headroom and comfort. The paint is two-stage urethane in a deep burgundy that glitters in the sun thanks to a lot of metallic in the paint. The monochromatic paint lets the body shape speak for itself, and is decorated only with a single yellow pinstripe that wraps around the car. The hood is a steel piece with vented sides to keep the hot small block well-ventilated.

Tinted glass is used throughout the car in true movie star fashion, and little details stand out, like the billet grille and painted headlight shells. LEDs have been frenched into the rear panel as tail lights, and a simple set of bumpers accent the ‘30s look of the car. You’ll also note a few modern features have been grafted onto this rod, from the side mirrors to the door handles, which are mounted down low and out of your field of vision, keeping the body sides clean without having to resort to remote door poppers.

Moving this incredible creation is not a problem, thanks to a 383 cubic inch small block Chevy under the hood. Built by the legendary John Lingenfelter and featuring his unique large-plenum intake, it makes 450 horsepower and is a torquey, tractable, smooth engine that easily moves the big body. And in true hot rod style, it rumbles through a throaty dual exhaust system and is surprisingly quick when prodded. The engine bay has been dressed up with a lot of polished aluminum and stainless, from the aforementioned intake to the chrome plated alternator. Up front there’s a massive aluminum radiator keeping it cool so it can idle for hours with the A/C cranking, and power accessories like A/C, power steering, and power brakes are all part of the package.

The engine’s power is transmitted through a Richmond 6-speed manual gearbox, then through a 2-piece driveshaft with a carrier bearing for smoothness, to a 9-inch Ford with 4.11 gears. With the 6-speed, the tall gears are a good idea, because they allow the big car to move off the line effortlessly and smoothly, while the overdrive allows relaxed high-speed cruising on the highway. The custom-built frame is fully boxed with tubular crossmembers and easily supports the body and a full compliment of passengers. Up front, there’s a Mustang II type suspension with tubular upper and lower control arms, and a cockpit-adjustable Firestone Ride Rite airbag system smoothes out the bumps. The dual exhaust system stretches from one end to the other, with a pair of aggressive-sounding mufflers that quiet down at speed just like they should. Four wheel discs provide confident, strong stopping power no matter the load. Wheels are traditional big-n-little aluminum hoops from Billet Specialties, with 15s up front and 17s in back wearing Goodyear Eagle HP radials.

You’ll appreciate the mix of traditional hot rod styling cues and luxury inside as well, where tan ultra leather covers almost every square inch of the interior. The driver and front seat passenger get their own fitted leather bucket seats and an elegantly simple dashboard. The six speed’s shifter is at your fingertips between the seats, and a simple row of Dakota Digital gauges behind a smoked piece of plexiglass gives it a high-tech look. A matching wheel wrapped in more ultra leather tops a billet steering column, which also features a billet drop bracket. Sculpted door panels house speakers for the powerful AM/FM/CD stereo system. In back, adjustable bench seats perhaps borrowed from a Suburban have been upholstered to match the fronts, along with door panels that continue the theme started up front. Courtesy lights at the base of the seat are a nice touch. Downs has also thoughtfully added a small trunk area built into the back of the body.

The task of building and finishing a car of this size to this level of detail must be a truly staggering undertaking. The engine alone was probably an $8000 piece, and the fabrication that went into the chassis has to be seen to be believed. Finished and freshly tuned by the experts here at RK Motors Charlotte, it is ready to be driven and enjoyed, or put to work in a commercial livery service. If you’re one of those guys who likes to be different and enjoys making a big entrance, you’ll probably need a fire engine to top this one. And for those of you who see a business opportunity, I suspect you’re not alone—vintage-looking cars at weddings are in demand. Whatever your intentions, this ’34 Ford stretched show car is a rare opportunity.

 

 

 

 

http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/inventory