Something Traditional

The current creation from Alloway's Hot Rod Shop in Louisville, Tennessee, is just part of the story. In the following pages you will see the latest in contemporary rodding that has come from the mind of Bobby Alloway depicted through the artistry of Thom Taylor, and out of the fiberglass molds of Rat's Glass. It's the latest from the Alloway/Rat's Glass SpeedStar line of street rods--the SpeedStar Vicky.

Regular readers of STREET RODDER have been treated over the years to the Alloway's Hot Rod Shop line of SpeedStar rods through the roadster and coupe--now they have a Vicky. These rods are based on the design of Henry Ford's 1933 model year but in the world of rodding the idea is also to express one's own vision. The lines of the '33 Ford are just a starting point from which the rodding influences begin. It's true that the factory namesake influences the SpeedStar Vicky. However, it's hard to believe that Henry would have envisioned that wickedly raked grille, a chopped top, the three-piece hood (although he would have smiled at the use of the '33 side louvers), and numerous other subtleties that make the SpeedStar Vicky a cutting-edge street rod. SRM presents two versions of the SpeedStar Vicky. Bobby and Cindy Alloway's is built in the tones, style, and performance reminiscent of a true hot rod. The second is Johnny and Linda Freund's, which depicts contemporary street rodding trends in handling, performance, and style.

Bobby's personal ride embodies what Alloway's Hot Rod Shop is all about--performance. It's visible in the car's appearance, but finds its heritage and breeding from beneath its hood and between the Alloway-built frame that was stretched to incorporate the 119-inch wheelbase.

Painted in DuPont-Alloway's Hot Rod Shop "red" (that would appear to be black to you and me), it sports Ohio-style flames beginning at the grille, across the hood, and over the roof. The color flows from brilliant yellow through reds, oranges, and purples all aptly sprayed by Wade Hughes of Hot Rod Flames. Also from Hot Rod Flames is Joshua Shaw, the artist who lays out these intricate patterns and then applies the finishing pinstripes. It should be noted that Alloway's shop performed all of the body- and paintwork while Dan's Polishing gets the nod for the brightwork.

Another point of interest on the Vicky is the Valley Auto Acc. Mfg. one-off grille that was a present from Valley's Paul Durall. The Ford headlights come by way of Greening Auto. They "spin" their own headlight buckets that accept '33 commercial bezels and lenses. The taillights are '39 Chevys while the dagger-like rear nerf bars are also from Alloway.

But, the wheels are the piece de resistance. To the casual observer they may appear to be a restored and highly-polished set of E-Ts, which proves once again that what you see isn't always what you get. Boyd Coddington Wheels manufactured the limited-availability orbs exclusively for Alloway's Hot Rod Shop. The rolling stock measures 5x15 inches in front with 3 1/2-inch backspacing wrapped with Michelin 145R15 radial rubber. These wheels were built to accommodate the masquerading-finned Buick brake drums and to enhance the steering geometry. In reality, these "functional fakes" are the SO-CAL Speed Shop drum-appearing but disc-functioning brakes based on Wilwood calipers--once again, that old-time hot rod flav' coupled to modern technology.

The chromed jewel of the front suspension: a Super Bell 5-inch dropped tube axle and spindles with Pete & Jake's Hot Rod Parts tube shocks and lower mounts, four-bars, bat wings, and perch bolts. A POSIES leaf spring, together with a Borgeson-Mullins Vega-style steering box and U-joints, and an Alloway Panhard bar finish off the front suspension. Coupling the front and rear brakes are stainless lines, a Ford Racing Performance Parts Mustang master cylinder, and a SpeedStar pedal assembly.

The Alloway rear wheels measure 10x18 inches with 4-inch backspacing and Michelin 275R60/18 radial rubber with the sidewall markings removed (buffed). Again, the SO-CAL disc/drum appearing combo is at work as it anchors the polished Winter's quick-change (3.25 ratio) with Dutchman Motorsports axles. Additional rear suspension items include a Pete & Jake's ladder bar setup with tube shocks, POSIES Model A spring, and an Alloway Panhard bar.

Inside the SpeedStar Vicky you will find the handiwork of several well-known names from the rodding world. The hot rodder's six-pack (speedo, tach, oil pressure, amp, fuel, and water temp) of custom-face Classic Instruments sporting Alloway's Hot Rod Shop logo in apple green are mounted within the 'glass dash and then balanced with matching pinstriping by Joshua. The ididit steering column is topped off with a Lecarra-Alloway wheel while the pedals and shifter are Lokar Performance Products fare. The stitchwork is from Paul Atkins Custom Auto Interiors, the shop that also gets credit for the black leather front buckets and rear bench seat along with the matching headliner and gray wool loop carpeting.

Every rod builder has a signature. In the case of Bobby it is the big-block V-8. Since bigger is better, at least when it comes to cubic inches, his "pen-to-paper" is the big-block Chevrolet. At 502 inches there's no mistaking the symphony of sound when this hot rod rumbles through. Could it be the unmistakable pulse of 12:1 compression? Maybe it's the smell of 114-octane race fuel coming from the Tanks gas tank? Or is it the throaty sound of the exhaust? All play their part in the musical cannonade, but it's the first to second shift at 5,500 rpm through the Boring-prepped TH-350 that sets the tone. Yep, that's it. At 498 hp and 594 lb-ft of torque these numbers are impressive but modest in the world of big-blocks. Yet any rodder standing nearby can feel the good vibrations and sense the sound reverberating through his (or her) body.

The apple green painted iron block features GM Performance Parts throughout, including the polished aluminum heads. Added "juice" comes by way of Keasler Racing out of Maryville, Tennessee, as they build Bobby's personal engines. The exterior of the big-block features MSD ignition, Mooneyes air cleaner and valve covers, a Powermaster alternator, a GM aluminum intake with a Holley 750-cfm four-barrel carb with Lokar throttle assembly and Sanderson Headers with 1 3/4-inch primary tubes. The remainder of the exhaust is based on 2 1/2-inch pipe fashioned by Mike that evacuates the spent gases through Flowmaster mufflers. In the "keeping it cool" department you will find a Steve Long copper radiator, a SPAL electric fan, and rubber hoses with Gates shrink tube ends.

There's plenty more that can be said about this Vicky, but since pictures are worth a 1,000 words, let's leave room for visual "verbiage."