Tabla de contenidos para Volume 6, Issue 52 - January 2025 en Modern Rodding

The 1967 Ford Mustang is one of the most popular muscle cars from an era widely accepted as the “greatest generation of muscle cars.” The 1967 Ford Mustang saw nearly 500,000 cars manufactured, making it one of the most common Mustangs. The 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby G.T. 500 is also the rarest Mustang ever built. So, when we see a 1967 Fastback, we know what we are looking at, as it is one of the most popular and sought-after muscle cars. Just something about its styling and performance makes it the “heartthrob” of muscle cars. Rick Ribeiro presents his 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback for us to enjoy on these pages. One needs to look closely, as he has added a handful of styling and performance enhancements that make this Fastback…

Regarding automotive events, every seasoned hot rodder can agree that things were better when car shows had more energy. People were willing to drive long distances and work on their cars along the way; the result was a level of excitement that’s hard to replicate these days. At a time when car shows were struggling to keep the attention of their participants and spectators, the Tri-Five Nationals hit the ground running with an energetic event format and a captivated audience of eager Tri-Five Chevy enthusiasts. Now, in its ninth edition, the Tri-Five Nationals presented by CPP gives showgoers a reason to be excited. The result is more than 2,600 Tri-Fives and thousands of spectators swarming the expansive property at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, during the second…

Some of the most recognizable and iconic hot rods are based on the roadster pickup—a Ford Model A, Deuce, fendered, or highboy. The 1932 Ford roadster pickup belonging to Scott Simpson and built at Jimmy White’s Circle City Hot Rods has a very cool 1960s vibe, complete with chromed wheels wrapped with slicks and spoked wheels wrapped with Firestone vintage tread, a dual quad Hemi, and outside the ’rails headers. When we asked Scott about how this hot rod came about, we heard an interesting story and thought passing along the high points was well worth the effort: “I remember the day it all started—more like the moment it hit me. A good friend of mine, Dano Nichols, had [died], and I felt that loss down deep. We had been…

Borgeson Acquires JJ’s Rods E-Z Firewall Boots Borgeson Universal Company, a leading manufacturer of premier aftermarket steering components based in Travelers Rest, South Carolina, has announced the acquisition of the assets of JJ’s Rods E-Z Firewall Boots (Wingate, North Carolina). Their steering columns and firewall boots have won various awards. JJ’s Rods’ product line consists of patent pending firewall boots with polished stainless steel trim rings, brake/clutch pedal boots, shift boots, and steering column mounts. JJ’s Rods’ inventory, tooling, and assets have been relocated to Borgeson’s manufacturing facility in Travelers Rest. The products will be manufactured, assembled, and shipped from Borgeson’s facility. For more info, visit borgeson.com/jj-s-rods-e-z-firewall-boots/. Grand National Roadster Show Building 9 Alert! The world’s oldest indoor custom car show is celebrating 75 years of showcasing the best hot…

Although manual transmissions have all but disappeared in new production vehicles, they remain popular with performance enthusiasts who appreciate the greater feeling of control that comes with manually shifting gears. There are indeed several manual transmission options for Chevy engines, new and vintage. Still, honestly, we’re talking about the old-school Saginaw/Muncie four-speeds and the contemporary TREMEC five- and six-speed gearboxes. Fortunately, with the essentially common bellhousing mounting pattern on everything from vintage 250 inline-6s to the latest LT engines, as well as the plethora of adaption kits, it’s possible to match virtually any Chevy engine with a Muncie or TREMEC transmission and even earlier BorgWarner T5 gearboxes. An old Muncie rock-crusher, for example, will fit in nearly everything, and aftermarket companies such as Speedway Motors offer bellhousings for the pairing.…

The engine hum seemed to sing a melody from a bygone era, a tune that spoke directly to the soul of anyone with oil in their veins and a passion for classic 1932 Ford steel hot rods. Darby Milner’s surname wasn’t just a part of his identity. It was a symbol of his destiny. Born into a family where cars were not just vehicles but vessels of memories and emotions, Darby’s journey with automobiles was almost written in the stars. The 1970s and 1980s in Kansas, where Darby grew up, were decades marked by the roar of engines at local dirt tracks and the glossy sheen of meticulously maintained cars at shows. His father, a mechanic and a devotee of 1950s and 1960s music, introduced the young Darby to the…

In past articles, we have examined several aspects of the BBT Fabrications 1959 Impala. This time, we will focus on the extensive work done underhood. Virtually every piece of metal around the engine has been custom fabricated, with great attention paid to fitting the complex panels together in the cleanest manner possible. A new toeboard was fabricated to connect the front floor to the new firewall, and tasteful steps and recesses were added to these panels to give them more strength and a touch of style. These panels also support the new body mounts. A completely new firewall was made from 18-gauge steel. The center of the firewall is smooth and flat, but a tremendous amount of work was put into making the stepped detail on the top edge, which…

Lil John Buttera is no stranger to drag racing, Indycars, street machines, and street rods. He is no stranger to Modern Rodding, appearing in our Parting Shot column in late 2022 (honored here for the second time). What gave rise to this month’s reappearance occurred during our recent trip to the 2024 Triple Crown of Rodding event. While looking at so many amazing hot rods, we came across what appeared to be an “old friend.” Still looking as it last appeared, it was the famous 1932 Ford three-window highboy coupe that Lil’ John had built as it appeared on the cover of Hot Rod back in December 1979. The coupe now belongs to James DeSanto of Armonk, New York, who has kept it in its vintage form. There is a story…

1. WHAT’S NEW IS OLD AGAIN Billet Specialties is excited to announce the release of its new valve cover adapters (PN 95025) designed specifically for small-block Chevrolet enthusiasts looking to achieve a classic look on their modern Gen V LT motors. These adapters allow the seamless integration of standard SBC valve covers with 2013 and newer Gen V LT1, LT2, LT4, and LT5 motors. Crafted from high-quality 6061-T6 aluminum, Billet Specialties’ valve cover adapters ensure durability and strength. The innovative design utilizes an OEM Gen V LT valve cover gasket on the bottom and a standard SBC cork gasket on the top, ensuring a reliable seal. Each kit comes complete with stainless hardware for easy installation. Please note that coil relocation is required for fitting. For further info, check out…

It was 1964 and you could feel that Detroit was searching for something to give to the growing segment of youth buyers who wanted more—more performance, more power, just more. That’s precisely what Russ Reiter’s 1966 Pontiac GTO is … more performance, power, and good looks, all brought about with significant expertise from Griffin Automotive Design (GAD). A little about the beginnings of the Pontiac GTO, introduced in 1964. It was initially offered as an option package for the Pontiac Tempest, featuring a more powerful engine and performance-enhancing features. The GTO, or “Goat,” as often called, became its own distinct model in 1966. This shift helped solidify the GTO’s legacy and reputation in the automotive world, enabling it to stand out even more as a symbol of performance and style…

When a diehard 1962 Chevy fan wanted someone to build an Impala convertible unlike anything seen before, Old Anvil Speed Shop got the call. The task was to build a car that could drop to the ground one minute and carve corners the next, house 21- and 24-inch wheels, and handle 1,200 hp. Obviously the first step in this process was going to be building a one-of-a-kind chassis. Paul and Jenna Bosserman started Old Anvil Speed Shop in Orange, California, in 2018, specializing in chassis engineering, fabrication, and sheetmetal work. Today, they manufacture their own CNC machined billet parts and custom wheels, and with their focus on complete custom builds, they’ve added facilities for bodywork, paint, and upholstery. One of Old Anvil’s recent builds is based on a very original…

Steve Frisbie owns and operates Steve’s Auto Restorations (SAR) in Portland, Oregon. His love of cars harkens back to working in the shop with his father. Over the years, many fantastic projects have come his way, including building a car that won the Ridler award at the Detroit Autorama. So, what would a guy in his position want for his ride? It turns out that Steve is into 1933-1934 Fords. So, what’s a guy to do when he cannot find an original 1933 Ford Cabriolet but owns a business that can do whatever he wants? He builds one from the ground up. Steve had acquired dies to stamp and build all-steel roadster bodies from 1933 to 1934. This cabriolet was built by SAR using components from their 1933-1934 Real Steel…