Vehicle Description
Dial up a Google image search for "1937 Ford" and you'll be greeted
by pages of elaborate fiberglass customs. Indeed, the De Luxe Ford
is right up there with Willys and Bel Airs when it comes to hot
rodding's greatest cultural icons. And, while we're all about
creativity and radical builds, this classy coupe truly feels like a
breath of fresh air. Founded on the proven tenets of street
rodding, the car was fully revitalized during a comprehensive,
ground-up restoration that concluded in late 2017. With an
all-steel body, factory brightwork and subdued Sikkens paint, its
basic specs could describe a relatively stock car. But a few
minutes of deeper examination reveals otherwise, as, from custom
upholstery and 4.3 liters of Vortec V6 to cool air conditioning and
a modern automatic transmission, choice modifications start adding
up to one impressive ride. If you're an enthusiast who enjoys a
near perfect mix of vintage hardware and modern convenience, here's
a classic that delivers in every way!
HISTORY/APPEARANCE
This timeless Ford began life as a solid runabout that was
maintained, driven and paraded for most of its existence. Sometime
in the last decade, the car was located on the South Carolina coast
and purchased by a Burlington, North Carolina resident who wanted a
fun project. And, based on appearances, that enthusiast did a
fantastic job of disassembly and restoration. A custom leather
interior followed a full roster of refinished hard parts, and the
streamlined body received a rich coat of Pontiac Midnight Blue
Metallic that's been infused with subtle pearl. Sadly, before he
could get everything assembled, the enthusiast passed away, and the
car ended up in an estate sale. After a little research, the Ford
was purchased by its current owner to be assembled and sorted
throughout 2017.
A clever descriptor for this slicked off coupe might be
"traditionally unique". In the tradition of old school hot rodding,
this Ford makes excellent use of choice mechanical mods. However,
it wraps those mods in a mostly era-correct appearance. At the
front of the car, a whittled hood centers a polished handle above a
polished bumper, contoured headlights and a streamlined grille. At
the back of that hood, polished wipers clear a split,
stainless-trimmed windscreen while elegant mirrors reflect a tinted
greenhouse. Beneath that glass, a pinstriped profile founds
stainless-trimmed heat extractors in front of matted running
boards, correct door handles and a locking fuel filler. And at the
back of the car, a second polished bumper frames a "V8" trunk
handle, traditional taillights and a Center High Mount Stop
Lamp.
ENGINE
'Keep it simple' is a good philosophy when it comes to performance
and reliability. And the builders of this clean classic did exactly
that by equipping the car with 4.3 liters of thrifty Vortec
6-cylinder. At the top of the fully sorted mill, a custom air tube
bridges the gap between a small K&N filter and a coated GM
intake. That intake pushes oxygen through tough, cast iron heads
that are capped with polished Edelbrock valve covers and a polished
Edelbrock oil cap. At the back of those heads, a factory
distributor sequences spark through 8mm Ultimate Heat Protection
cables, which snake around coated long-tube headers. Opposite that
distributor, billet pulleys spin a chrome alternator next to a
chrome AC compressor. And at the front of those pulleys, a shrouded
flex fan cools a beefy Walker radiator. Aesthetically, the Jet
Black sixer rides in a glossy, body-matched engine bay that's
finished with polished hood hinges and polished brace bars. And
items like a trick dipstick and a quality Wilwood master cylinder
provide a perfect combination of form and function!
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Every good street rod has a solid foundation. Flip this Ford upside
down and you'll find a roster of mechanical improvements that mix
classic looks with modern mobility. Behind the Vortec, a reliable
GM 700R4 4-speed spins power to an 8-inch Ford axle that's finished
with stout, 3.40 gears. A factory chassis utilizes a Mustang II
front-clip and relocated leaf springs to give the car a tastefully
lowered ride height. Modern rack-and-pinion steering is a welcome
addition. Braking is solid, thanks to a familiar combination of
discs and drums. There's an aluminized exhaust system that aligns
throaty Flowmaster mufflers with polished stainless tips.
Everything rolls on classy chrome wires, which spin 205/70R14
Lexani LXM-101s in front of 235/70R15 BF Goodrich Radial T/As. And
everything, from this Ford's custom driveshaft hoop to its beefy
rear sway bar, is clean, restored and ready to pound pavement.
INTERIOR
Pop the doors and you'll find a custom leather interior that's much
nicer than traditional factory fodder. At ground level, piped
carpet centers a tall Lokar shifter between color-keyed floor mats
and integrated Rockford Fosgate kick speakers. At the center of
that rug, a plush leather bench sits snug between a custom package
tray and "V8" branded side panels, which anchor traditional handles
and sculpted armrests in front of power operated windows. In front
of that seat, an ornate dash founds white-face Auto Meter telemetry
beside controls for Vintage Air conditioning. Above that ledge,
modern courtesy lamps lead a custom headliner, which hides the
car's remote-controlled audio system behind tasteful visors. In
front of the driver, a polished and tilting steering column anchors
a retro Sun tach behind a polished and wood-rimmed wheel. And
behind the passengers, a custom-upholstered trunk frames a Custom
Autosound CD changer.
OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION
Miscellaneous build receipts
The street rod scene is huge! And, looking over this Ford, it's not
hard to see why. The car's clean, unaltered lines are enough to
draw any enthusiast, and the reliability of a modern GM powertrain
is more than enough to keep folks smiling. Have you forgotten what
it's like to actually drive a car? To drive a car you actually
enjoy? To drive a car that'll inspire joyous memories for years to
come? Call your friends at RK Motors Charlotte and grab the wheel
of this impressive coupe!
SUMMARY
The beneficiary of a detailed, ground-up restoration that was
completed in 2017
4.3 liter Vortec V6
700R4 4-speed automatic transmission
Modern air conditioning
Custom leather interior / Modern audio
All-steel body / Sikkens Pontiac Midnight Blue Metallic paint
Upgraded suspension (with lowered ride height) / 14 and 15-inch
wire wheels
Rack-and-pinion steering / Front disc and rear drum brakes
Ford 8-inch rear axle / 3.40 gears
Sale includes miscellaneous build receipts
