If you're a regular reader of STREET RODDER you likely know that once each year we showcase what we feel are cars that best represent what's happening in the world of rodding. We call the coveted "one" the STREET RODDER Street Rod of the Year. To be eligible you have to be chosen for a SRM Top Ten (which will get you a pretty slick SRM Top Ten jacket) at one of the six selected Goodguys Rod & Custom Association events over the year. (If you forgot the selected six in 2003, they were: Indy, Columbus, Puyallup, Kansas City, Pleasanton, and Rhinebeck. And if you are curious as to the chosen six for 2004, checkout the listing at the end of this article or in our Happenings column.) As with any selection it may not be perfect, and someone (or better yet, someone's street rod) will probably be left out, but we persist.
The staff of SRM feels the cars on the following pages are outstanding street rods that depict some of the trends we found in the rodding world this past summer. So, sit back, prop up your feet, make sure to put down the remote (that's a tough one), and get comfortable, as the ride through these pages is one not to be missed.
The 2003 Street Rodder Street Rod of the Year (1929 Ford Roadster (race car-style)There's no doubt build styles featuring that Lakes Modified, Sprint Car nose, or Track T look have become popular over the past few years. Knowing this, we believe you will agree that Bruce Leven from Hobart, Washington, hit the mark with his Flathead-powered '29 Ford highboy roadster, which is complete with bellypan, race car nose, and swoopy headrests.
The chassis is a tube frame by J&L Fabrications that sports a Magnum axle, '37 Ford spindles, SO-CAL Speed Shop Buick-style front brakes (drum looking, disc, Wilwood, functioning) and hairpins, a Durant mono-leaf spring with Carrera shocks, custom Pitman arm, and Schroder spring car steering. In back, the suspension is based on a drum brake-equipped Halibrand V-8 quick-change with 3.89 limited-slip gears, four-bar, Carrera coilover (180-pound springs) shocks, and a Panhard bar.
Power is supplied by a 284-inch Ford Flathead built by Tatom Custom Engines of Mt. Vernon, Washington. The Flatty features Navarro aluminum heads and intake along with a Stromberg 97 three-two-carb setup and a Vertex magneto. Mallory supplied the fuel pump, filter, and regulator.
The body is based on a steel Brookville '29 Ford Model A featuring '28 doors (no exterior door handles) with many modifications. The cowl is pie-cut and raised, tapering into the hood and grille. The cowl was also reshaped to resemble a '32 Ford roadster in order for the handmade Brookland windscreens to find a home. J&L Fabrications hammered out the grille and carb surround on the hood from stainless, while the hood itself, the nose, the headrests, and all scoops and blisters were made from aluminum. The hood and sides are '33 Ford in style from Rootlieb while the double opening hood hinge kit comes from Dan Fink Metalworks. The doors have been lengthened 2 1/2 inches and flush mounted with stock hinges and latches. Now that was a trick. The lower body has been reshaped and the rear wheel openings have been modified and rolled into the full aluminum bellypan. The taillights are '42 Ford with a J&L fabbed rear bumper. Byers Custom and Restoration of Auburn, Washington, sprayed PPG basecoat/clearcoat in a blue and white scallop theme over their own bodywork.
At the corners can be found one of two tire and wheel combinations. For the rodding events there are Wheel Vintique wires measuring 5x15 and 7x16 with '34 Ford hubcaps and '40 Ford trim rings. The Coker rubber is sized at 5.00-15 ribbed tread in front and there are 8.90-16 dirt track tires in back. On the street you will see P.S.E. 6x15 with 195/60R15 radials in front and Kidney Beans measuring 8x15 with 275/60R15 radials in back.