Vehicle Description
While the post-WWII roots of hot rodding are firmly planted among
young guys who took the lightest, cheapest cars they could find
(old roadsters) and stuffed big engines under the hood to go
faster, today's hot rodder prefers to cruise in comfort. This 1940
Chevrolet Master Deluxe streetrod is a great example of that trend,
combining traditional hot rod tricks with a full-sized rod that has
plenty of stretch-out space. Isn't that the point?
Constructed a few years (and 8,938 miles) ago, this cool two-door
coupe sports a vivid Lite Chrome Yellow paint job that looks great
on the pre-war body. The two-doors were among the most popular body
styles at the time, combining practicality with a hint of
sportiness and a more rakish profile than a four-door sedan.
Chevrolet's designs in 1940 were modern and fresh, with
well-integrated features like headlights built into the front
fenders, and a spacious trunk out back, both of which were only
recent innovations in 1940. This rod has been significantly
modified, including some traditional hot rod tricks such as
fiberglass fenders (the body and running boards are steel), deleted
bumpers and trim, a chromed billet grille, a vented hood, and
custom blue-dot taillights out back. All of the original trim was
removed, giving it a very clean, monochromatic look, but the
running boards, side mirrors, door handles, and trunk hinges all
remain to retain that old-fashioned vibe.
Comfort was clearly a priority in building the interior, which
features a pair of modern leather buckets that are incredibly
plush, all-day comfortable, and in great condition. The door panels
have been upholstered to match, as have the headliner and package
tray behind the seats, while the plush tan carpets on the floors
insulate the cabin from the outside world. The original dashboard
has been painted to match the bodywork and offers a custom brushed
metal insert that houses fancy Stewart Warner gauges, vents for a
future HVAC system, and a Pioneer AM/FM/CD/AUX head unit that pumps
tunes through the upgraded speakers in the kick panels. A cool
leather-wrapped steering wheel comes mounted atop a tilt column
anchors the cabin, and there's an auxiliary tachometer to the left
it that keeps an eye on the revs. The trunk has been upholstered to
match the interior, with tan carpets and custom side panels, and an
aluminum fuel cell was installed out of the way in the back.
Neatly installed in the Chevy's engine bay, the 454 V8 features a
host of upgrades that help this two-door hotrod really hammer down
the street. It's a 1979 big block built by Mike's Machine Shop in
OKC, and those pros bored it .030 over, added a mild cam, and
bolted on an Edelbrock air-gap intake and big Edelbrock 4-barrel
carburetor up top. The engine bay is a thing of beauty, with a
bright yellow firewall and an organized block adorned with chrome
valve covers and a big chrome air cleaner that all sparkle. The
chassis includes a Mustang II independent front suspension, a
rebuilt steering shaft and Borgeson steering joints, and power
front disc brakes, while out back there's a 10-bolt posi-traction
rear end filled with highway-friendly 2.73 gears. The transmission
is a rugged TH400 3-speed automatic with a manual kick-down that is
just the right partner, ensuring long life and reliability for this
cruiser. Other features include Sanderson headers that feed into a
Flowmaster dual exhaust system, and the Rocket Racing polished
wheels wear staggered 195/55/16 front and 235/65/16 blackwall
radials that give it exactly the right stance.
With less thank 9K miles on the clock since this rod was completed,
you know it's bulletproof reliable. If you're a hot rodder who
wants to cruise with his family, you need a sedan and this slick
little two-door is an ideal choice. Call now!
