The $250,000, 7-year restoration was a success. We have a binder of the list and pictures of the prestigious awards it has won. Boyd Coddington picked it as best of show, George Barris gave it a custom award and John Force awarded it best of show. It won a 2nd place at the Grand National Roadster show, that where the best of the best compete. It has been featured in magazines. A restoration photo album is included.
EXTERIOR: Up front a smoothed 59 Thunderbird bumper with custom grill was used. Hood was decked and shaved. It has tri-bar halogen headlights. Down each side the emblems and handles were shaved. It has a unique set of 41 Lincoln pushbutton button door openers. It also has a pair of 57 Mercury cruiser skirts. In back the trunk was decked and shaved smooth. The gas filler was removed and filled. The bumper was cut, smoothed and frenched into the body. More petite bumper guards were used. Taillights were replaced with 55 Mercury’s. We have photos of the body down to a bare metal shell. Every square inch is laser straight. I don’t see any signs of bodywork, cracks or bubbles, it was done right. Painted a gorgeous PPG Mandarin Copper. The metal flake is laid out evenly and the clear coat is polished like glass. All new Solex lightly tinted glass. Every gasket, weather strip and window seal was replaced. Every piece of chrome has show chrome finish. Every piece of stainless is straightened and polished like chrome. It rolls on a set of radial white walls with a set of Cadillac Sombrero hubcaps.
INTERIOR: It was a bare shell. It was lined with sound deadening. Soft, genuine leather upholstery was used throughout. The seats were completely restored from the inside out. In front it has a set of 1967 Thunderbird buckets, driver’s side is power. Custom made side panels, Porsche door handles. It has a 56 dash with VDO gauges. The power window switches, and headlight switch are out of site below the dash. The metal is painted as slick as the outside. Interior chrome is redone to show standards. The Ididit tilt column has a beautiful leather wrapped billet wheel. The headliner and visors are pristine, the overhead light works. On the floor is premium carpet with bound edges and matching mats. It has billet pedals and a Hurst 4-speed sticking out of the floor. It features a stereo and air conditioning for pleasurable cruising.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT: They weren’t messing around; it has a crate 460-540 hp from Ford Racing. It uses D-460 aluminum CJ heads, Blue Thunder dual quad intake with a pair of Holley 600s. The roller cam and the Doug’s headers send some beautiful notes to the exhaust. The front of the motor is full of polished components, power steering, Vintage Air and serpentine belt system. A Modine radiator and custom shroud keeps it cool. The upper hose is a polished pipe with premium clamps. The ignition system, wiper motor, horns and vacuum reservoir were neatly hidden. It has a smooth fabricated firewall; the bay is painted as nice as the car. A custom-made prop rod keeps the hood open for everyone to see the beautiful motor.
TRUNK COMPARTMENT: It’s been completely boxed, upholstered and carpeted to match the interior. A custom fabricated trunk floor was installed. It was lined with sound deadener. The back wall opens to expose more storage and the Optima battery with disconnect switch. The fuel fillers was relocated into the trunk and concealed under a fabricated lid.
UNDERSIDE: An Art Morrison custom-built chassis was all smoothed out and painted body color. It has 3x4 boxed frame with tubular front control arms and Morrison 2-inch drop spindle kit. It has Alden Eagle coil over adjustable shocks at all four corners. Flaming River rack & pinion steering and front sway bar. In back it uses a Morrison 4 link set up with chrome tubular control arms. The bottom of the motor is clean, it has a high torque starter, and a heavy-duty Lakewood bell housing connects it to the trans. It’s a toploader 4-speed, using a hydraulic clutch. It connects to a Cannon Engineering driveshaft. In back is a Hoopers Ford 9-inch rear with 3.50 gears, Moser 36 spline axles. Wilwood 11-inch disc brakes at all 4 wheels, custom e-brake assembly, stainless lines and polished calipers. The power brake booster is under the car. A neatly fabricated 2.5-inch exhaust has glass packs for a 50s hot rod sound. The floors were custom fabricated and sealed in a rubberized sound deadener.
This is an incredible car. Finished 15 years ago and driven 3,500 miles. It still shows and functions incredibly well. I personally drove it home and was impressed. It is ready to be enjoyed – show and go!
I, Jay Grams, take pride in personally writing the descriptions for virtually every car for about the last 30 years now. A significant amount of effort goes into fact checking. What I am offering is my professional impression of the vehicle.
