Tabla de contenidos para Volume 6, Issue 56 - May 2025 en Modern Rodding

When we talk about hot rods from the 1930s, we often think of Fords. There’s little doubt that mid-’30s Fords are more popular as hot rod material compared to Chevrolets. However, when he built his 1935 Chevy Standard three-window coupe, Dale Brown hit the proverbial mark. Sometimes, we all need a “push” to get started or to finish our hot rod project. Dale was no different, and thanks to his wife, Kathy, he received the necessary nudge. We assume it was one winter night when it was cold outside and they were sitting around talking when Kathy asked, “What’s holding you back?” That was the jumpstart Dale needed to pursue his 40-year-long dream of building a 1935 Chevy Standard three-window coupe. He tells us that he had designed the hot…

There’s an old saying that beauty is only skin deep—but nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to hot rods. For those who appreciate the meticulous mechanical execution of a hot rod chassis, that is beauty, too. To prove the point, we look at what’s under the skin of MeKenzie Murphy’s 1932 Ford roadster, built by Alan Johnson and the crew at Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop (JHRS) in Gadsden, Alabama. Johnson created the equivalent of a seismic event that rocked the hot rod world in 1993 when he rolled on the scene in a remarkable 1937 Ford cabriolet. The craftsmanship and attention to detail caught the attention of everyone who saw it in person or on the pages of the many magazines it appeared in. The buzz…

Pickup trucks and hot rods are synonymous with the “horse and buggy.” It’s hard to imagine enjoying one without the other. Such is the case for Steve Caudle of Arizona, who grew up with this 1936 Ford Model 68 pickup truck before transforming it into his hot rod. Every hot rodder who has built a hot rod also owns a pickup truck—or wishes he had one. Think of a pickup truck as a valuable implement in your toolbox. How does one transport parts and pieces to the sandblaster, the engine shop, or pick up treasures from a junkyard, not to mention repeatedly driving back and forth to the auto parts store? A pickup truck is the first step in building your hot rod. Unless, of course, your hot rod is…

To paraphrase Eli Wallach’s character, Tuco Benedicto Pacífico Juan María Ramírez, in the movie The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, two types of hot rodders exist in this world: those who love shifting gears and those who don’t. For those who do, TREMEC offers a variety of options, including the exceptional TKX five-speed transmission and Summit Racing Equipment has everything you need for the installation. Recently, we hung out with Jason Scudellari of HB Hot Rod to demonstrate how it’s done. TREMEC offers the TKX five-speed manual transmission for GM and Ford applications (the difference is in the length of the input shaft). The slimmest five-speed on the market, the TKX will fit most transmission tunnels without floor modifications, and three locations are available to optimize the shifter location.…

Restorations are paused for many reasons, but the most common is a lack of time or money. Many resume when those resources become available again; this often happens multiple times during the project’s life. For some, though, their restoration project turns out to be far more involved than they ever imagined, and they realize they have bitten off more than they can chew. Too many of those end up as basket cases at a swap meet. However, not all of them do. The pause button was hit on this 1973 ’Cuda more than 20 years ago, but the owner never gave up on it. Instead, it was properly stored away, waiting for the right conditions to move forward again. It arrived at Muscle Car Restorations (MCR) as a bare shell,…

Doug and Debbie Kenny from Florida own a 1957 Pontiac Safari wagon, the perfect hot rod that transportation enthusiasts could desire. To bring this project to life, they enlisted the help of Alan Johnson and his team at Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop (JHRS). In 1957, the Pontiac Safari stood out as the most expensive model in Pontiac’s lineup, yet it also held the unfortunate distinction of being the least popular. It has been reported that the 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Safari was a true rarity, with only 1,292 units produced during that year. Its appeal lay in a powerful 347ci V-8 engine, offering either 270 or an impressive 290 hp. The standard model produced 270 hp with a single four-barrel carburetor and a smooth Hydramatic transmission. Meanwhile, the optional…

We have previously examined this remarkable 1962 Chevy Impala and now we’ll concentrate on the exceptionally clean installation of aftermarket hinges for the hood and decklid. Old Anvil Speed Shop is handling the build, which continues to evolve with their innovative building style. A decision was made to use black anodized billet aluminum hinges from Eddie Motorsports. These hinges were designed as a bolt-on item for a stock 1962 Chevrolet, but the extensive modifications made to this car required some creative adjustments. The wide wheels and tires required widening the rear wheelwells, which prevents the decklid hinges from mounting in their original location. Moving the hinges 2-½ inches inboard solved the problem but it required making new mounts. Great care was taken to ensure that the geometry of the installation…

It’s one thing to stroll through the aisles of the Grand National Roadster Show or wander among the rows of outrageous hot rods competing for some gold at Triple Crown. The level of craftsmanship is stunning, revealing thought, design, and creativity, but wouldn’t you love to have X-ray vision to see through those panels to the structures beneath? (Be careful what you wish for; Apple might be working on something! —B.B.) One standout example is MeKenzie Murphy’s stunning, pinkflamed roadster. A breathtaking hot rod inside and out, we thought it would be intriguing to reveal what lies beneath that custom leather upholstery and the fabulously finished exterior panels. Convertibles, in general, and early roadsters, in particular, aren’t exactly known for their flex-resistant body styles due to the absence of a…

1. COKER’S EXCELSIOR ROADSTER BIAS-LOOK RADIAL TIRE Coker Tire is redefining the collector car market by introducing the Excelsior Roadster Bias-Look radial tire designed for traditional 16-inch wheels. This innovative tire combines the iconic appearance of vintage bias-ply tires with the comfort and performance of modern radials. Featuring five sizes—450/475R16, 600R16, 650R16, 700R16, and 750R16—the Excelsior Roadster caters to various applications, including 1935-48 Ford passenger cars and light-duty trucks. Its design allows for staggered fitments, which is ideal for hot rods. Both wide whitewall and traditional black sidewall options are available, perfect for hot rods or classic trucks. The tire’s narrow tread, tall sidewall, piecrust shoulder, and vintage-style lettering authentically mimic the look of original tires. The Excelsior Roadster’s zigzag tread, enhanced with subtle siping, effectively channels water while maintaining…

When discussing the concept of having or building an “early hot rod,” we often refer to the “appearance” of our envisioned history and translate it into our contemporary builds. Barron Guss of Hawaii is a hot rodder passionate about early hot rods and believes in constructing them using period-correct parts. In his quest to own a genuine early hot rod, he sought the expertise of Roy Brizio of Roy Brizio Street Rods, resulting in a valuable recreation of what an early hot rod might have looked like. Fortunately for all of us, Ford got it right with the 1932 Ford design. The 1932 Ford roadster body was developed by a team at Ford Motor Company, notably led by designer Bob Gregorie. Gregorie played a key role in shaping the legendary…

Over the past year, we’ve regularly visited Old Anvil Speed Shop in Orange, California, to keep tabs on a truly unique 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS convertible. Its exterior looks deceptively subtle, but it houses an impressive amount of fabrication and powertrain technology beneath its vintage exterior. Paul Bosserman, Old Anvil’s owner and founder, designed a completely new perimeter chassis for the car, replacing the original X-frame. Moreover, the chassis is welded to the convertible body, effectively creating a unitized structure that is significantly stronger than the factory foundation. In addition, Bosserman and his team of fabricators created their own suspension setups, featuring a rear four-link (with a Panhard bar) and custom upper and lower A-arms in the front—all while incorporating 22-inch front and 24-inch rear custom wheels from Schott. The…

The early ’60s saw intense competition for automobile sales among the Big Three manufacturers as they marketed their offerings to the public. One notable focus was the “personal luxury” segment where Ford held a strong lead with its four-passenger Thunderbird line. In response, General Motors’ design vice president, Bill Mitchell, examined several European models. He aimed to create a vehicle that combined the edginess of a Ferrari with the elegance of a Rolls-Royce. The result was the Buick Riviera, a name chosen to evoke the sophistication of the Italian and French coastlines. It was crafted to attract discerning buyers who could appreciate the striking new design, artfully paired with its low stance and specially tuned suspension. It delivered a high-level performance akin to that of a Grand Turismo racer. The…

While attending this year’s Grand National Roadster Show, we made our obligatory walk-bys of the manufacturers’ booths to see what was new and interesting. As always, we were not disappointed and saw all sorts of projects, but one from the past immediately caught our attention. As we passed the Roy Brizio Street Rods booth, we spotted a hot rod from yesteryear that stirred up many wonderful memories. Andy Brizio’s, the original builder and owner, 1915 Ford Model T C-Cab (affectionately known as the Instant-T) in all its remarkable glory, adorned with a stunning ribbon paintjob by Art Himsl. This truck was initially built for the Rod & Custom Street Rod Nationals in Memphis in August 1971 where it won the “Best Appearing Car” award among a competitive field of 1,600…