Tabla de contenidos para Volume 6, Issue 60 - September 2025 en Modern Rodding

Introducing America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, presented to Ross and Beth Myers at the 2025 Grand National Roadster Show, a stunning 1936 Ford highboy roadster expertly crafted at Rad Rides by Troy (RRT). This one-of-a-kind hot rod epitomizes automotive craftsmanship, creativity, and personal expression. Hot rods, by their very nature, embody the owner’s unique vision and style, unlike mass-produced vehicles designed to elicit a mere “vanilla” happiness. Every detail, from the engine to the paint, is meticulously crafted, turning aspirations into a masterpiece. This honor reflects the extraordinary effort of Troy Trepanier and his talented crew at RRT, with special recognition for Adam Banks, who worked tirelessly day in and day out on this project. Banks also supplied Modern Rodding with hundreds of build photos and data, allowing us to prepare…

Hidden in a dark corner of Modern Rodding’s super-secret Northwest Research and Development center (also known as the storage building where languishing project cars collect dust) is our 1960 Dodge Dart station wagon. Editor Brennan has dubbed it the magazine’s version of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster seen in National Lampoon’s Family Vacation, and after years of his verbal abuse about the lack of progress, we’ve decided to drag it into the sunlight and take the necessary steps to make it roadworthy once more. That first step is replacing the dilapidated wiring with a new American Autowire Highway 22 Plus kit. Chrysler Corporation had a unique method of protecting the electrical system of its cars of this era. Rather than one central fuse block, there was a main circuit breaker…

Ford created the Model A many years ago, so when you hear that a hot rodder is the third owner of one of “Henry’s Ladies,” it’s significant. John Anderson of SoCal was introduced to his 1929 Ford highboy sedan, which you see here, by his wife. John was in search of a new project, something a bit different. His wife, Kim, discovered the sedan for sale in Northern California. The Andersons are the third owners, having purchased the Model A from the second owner, who acquired it from the original owner’s children. The sedan was also restored in the ’70s by the original owner’s family for their dad. It had been stored for many years, with the odometer showing 52,000 original miles. In fact, the vinyl top was in such…

I found myself wandering the Pomona Fairplex just as the 59th Los Angeles Roadsters Father’s Day Show & Swap Meet was about to begin, when I ran into an old friend. The first time I met “SIROD 2,” the 1927 Ford track roadster originally built by Pete Chapouris II and Pete Chapouris III in 1978, was early in my career as a magazine editor. Pete III, who is now well known for Pete & Jake’s Hot Rod Parts and SO-CAL Speed Shop, called me and asked me to come over because he had a nifty little roadster to show me. The track roadster emerged from a conversation of a father-and-son noontime bench-racing session. I had heard about the car from its appearance in Hot Rod, but now I had my…

Old Anvil Speed Shop is renowned for its exceptional builds. For this project, they began with a pristine 1962 Chevrolet Impala convertible. They designed and constructed a stout full-perimeter chassis, incorporating air suspension and a 1,200hp Nelson Racing Engines powerplant. We will have several articles about this build; this one focuses on the construction of the floor and the wheelwells for the massive 24-inch rear wheels. Old Anvil designed and built a very robust chassis in-house for this project, which will have the body welded to it, creating a unibody structure. They wisely decided to start constructing the floor before the body was joined to the chassis, allowing unrestricted access for fitting the largest panels. The forward section of the floor is flat, featuring footwells for the rear seat passengers.…

In the loud and stylish world of hot rods, the differences among manufacturers shape a unique culture of automotive enthusiasts. Before 1949, Ford reigned as the king of hot rods, captivating enthusiasts with its vintage styling and availability. However, by the time 1948 arrived, the tide had turned and Chevrolet emerged as the preferred choice for those building “modern” hot rods. This shift vividly illustrates the ebb and flow of automotive trends over the years. David Nilsen epitomizes the Chevy spirit, proudly owning a striking 1962 Chevy Impala hardtop, a stunning example of the era. But that brings us to the “war of words” on what’s more popular or better looking—the hardtop or the bubbletop. Well, that’s for each hot rodder to decide, but you’ll agree that David hit the…

It’s Father’s Day weekend, and in Southern California that means you can count on spending some time at the Pomona Fairplex for the L.A. Roadsters Show & Swap. As if on cue, the weather was sunny and pleasantly warm, prompting the crowd to wear plenty of sunscreen and large-brimmed hats alongside event T-shirts, a tradition that dates back nearly 50 years. Thursday is a setup day, but as usual, swappers were present, and a lot of selling and trading was taking place. Friday marked the first official day of the 59th L.A. Roadsters Father’s Day Show & Swap Meet, featuring nearly 600 swap exhibitors in full force and a flurry of activity. There were about 300 roadsters and over 500 specialty cars (pre-1985) on display, making for an enjoyable sightseeing…

1. CPP POWER STEERING ADJUSTABLE FLOW CONTROL VALVE Classic Performance Products has developed a new adjustable flow control valve for the modern Type II GM power steering pump. It allows users to adjust the power steering’s sensitivity, or touchiness, at driving speeds. The valve features nine positions that adjust the flow from 1.75 to 3.75 gallons per minute. This modification changes the static pressure from 100 to 425 psi, lowering the flow rate to reduce the initial power assist, resulting in a more natural feel at the steering wheel. A higher flow rate enables the power assist to begin with very light steering effort. The total power assist remains unchanged, as the valve only affects how the power steering first engages. For example, if parking requires 3 lb-ft of torque…

Mike Hancho’s father got a 1959 Pontiac Catalina in Candy Apple Red when he was 16. Like many teenagers, he soon wrecked it. He dreamed of owning another one ever since, but it never worked out. That is, until one day when Mike was about 8 or 9. Mike vividly remembers the day his dad pulled in with a trailer and sat a copper-colored 1959 Pontiac Catalina on it. His dad shared the story behind it and promised that one day he would fix it like the one he had when he was 16. Mike didn’t know much about cars back then, but he loved the sound and feel of rumbling down the road in that Catalina. Years passed, and his dad tinkered with the car to improve its performance.…

https://youtu.be/_gIUlnPISAE While the popularity of EFI has grown exponentially in recent years as kits became more affordable, technology more advanced, and tuning abilities more user-friendly, it’s hard to imagine that a company with such a pedigree as Edelbrock would turn its attention back to the past with a completely redesigned four-barrel carburetor. But that’s exactly what they did with their new line of VRS-4150 race and performance carburetors. The argument for upgrading to EFI has been beaten to death, and there’s no denying its value in today’s hobby, but for all-out performance and ease of tunability, it’s hard to argue against the tried-and-true traditional carb. And for those of us who might be racing in a class where one is required, a better carburetor will always be well received. Edelbrock’s…

While on the road recently for Modern Rodding, our journey took us to ABS Classic Muscle Car Restorations in Manchester, New Hampshire, to explore one of their latest project builds being finalized for the new season. Not every day do you get to witness a completed bare metal masterpiece, the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro featured in our pages, and you appreciate all the intricate details infused into it. Thanks to longtime client Pat Floyd of Chester, New Hampshire, ABS had the opportunity to elevate one of GM’s most iconic muscle cars. Shop owner Jay Doerfler masterfully incorporated the right style and innovation into the mix. Collaborating directly with team member Nicole Boisvert, the duo achieved a flawless balance of subtle design modifications and performance, ensuring the car stands out when it…