Cooked To Perfection

Once a phaeton gets in your blood, there's just no going back. It's easy to see why: these four-door roadsters embody more than a few traits from the most popular body styles ever.

Bob Jacobs, otherwise known as "Hamburger Bob" (because he's spent some 40 years in the hamburger biz), has been actively rodding for most of his 78 years. His first phaeton came along for--get this--$180. Of course he was just a sophomore in high school, but since then Bob's owned four more phaetons, including this prime example.

So exactly why does this '36 looks so good? Well, it could be in part that this car came straight from a Missouri museum in pristine condition (actually, Bob referred to it as "delicious." Appropriate?). Then again, it could be because of another reason: detail-oriented Tom Walsh. Tom's known Bob long enough to nickname him; Bob's known Tom long enough to know he wouldn't let him down.

Since phaetons need very little to look a whole lot, Tom and his crew left things pretty simple: Tom sliced 2 inches from the top, had a few louvers punched in the hood, and leaned the spare forward just a touch to match the body--all appropriate adjustments, to say the least. Thanks to Hayward's Ron Souza, a quick look across the body is enough to make any long-time panel beater drool; the PPG Forest Green looks good enough to grow.

Looking under the car reveals a laundry list of modifications. Starting with the Just A Hobby framerails, there's a Heidts independent frontend up front and a ladder bar setup for the Ford 9-inch out back. Each corner's got Wheel Vintiques' Gennies, Goodyear rubbers, Aldan coilovers and 11-inch Wilwood brakes--components that make Tommy and Bob agree that she goes just as good as she looks.

Of course, the GM Performance 502ci thumping 485 ponies at 5,500 rpm might help a little too. Tom mildly worked the fat rat over before bolting it up to the Schucks Transmissions-built Turbo 400.

With the chassis and body as close to perfect as one could expect, Tom sent the dash, steering column, and a few other interior goodies to LA's Bob Kennedy for one of his magical woodgraining jobs. While the dash was out, Bob sent the original gauges to Riverside's United Speedometer for a complete reface and 12-volt conversion. As everything came together, Jim Vickery wired the drop-top with an Enos panel and loom.

Much to Tom's surprise, Bob had to have air conditioning. Why A/C in an open car? Well, that's a good question--until you roll around town in that central California heat, that is. Besides, Bob enjoys driving his cars and can afford to install whatever creature comforts he likes. Sounds good to us, and it must've to Tom, because he dialed in an under-dash Vintage Air kit with all polished compents.

Speaking of creature comforts, take a look at the custom-built seats in green leather that sport clean-looking stitchery from Santa Clara's Sid Chavers. Chavers also did the floor up right with German square-weave carpet--also in green, mind you.

After only touching on very few points of this beautifully built phaeton, we leave you with an expanded look and a rather lengthy facts and figures page to see what it takes to create a truly classy street rod.