Something Contemporary

What the Bobby Alloway Vicky is to the traditional look, the Johnny Freund Vicky is to the contemporary look in street rodding. The two cars are based on the Rat's Glass SpeedStar Vicky but there are significant differences between the two.

Johnny is no stranger to rods of any nature and as the owner of Hunter's Custom Automotive in Nashville, Tennessee, he has been involved with automotive performance for years. His 50,000 square-foot facility has been in the same location since 1968 and caters to the needs of rodders in the Music City area. He's also no stranger to Alloway's Hot Rod Shop in Louisville, Tennessee. He's the owner of more than one Alloway-built street rod.

But this story is about Johnny's latest--the bright yellow SpeedStar Vicky. SpeedStar street rods are based on their own custom framerails and have varying types of suspension, powertrains, and wheelbases. In this case, the Freund-Vicky has a 116-inch wheelbase (3 inches shorter than the Alloway Vicky), a contemporary independent suspension front and rear, and a powertrain based on an LS1 coupled to a 700-R4. Lots of modern touches here.

The Freund Vicky is sans rollup windows but features modified rear quarter-panels. The Alloway Vicky has rollup windows and is sans any rear quarter-panel modifications. See, the same, only different. The fact is, the upper door sections on the Freund Vicky car resemble the SpeedStar roadster doors since neither have windows. The Freund rear wheelwells within the quarter-panels have been elevated several inches to accommodate the 22-inch rear wheels. This body mod was done to keep the wheel/tire profile in proportion to the Vicky body. Taller wheels/tires require a quarter-panel with a wheel opening that is "pushed" further up the body.

Today's street rods have evolved into machines that are just as at home chillin' at an indoor car show as they are outdoors "smokin'" down the highway. To this end, a fully independent suspension goes a long way. (Editor's Note: Having had the opportunity to drive this car, the handling and ride are very, very smooth! B.B.) In front you will find a Heidt's Hot Rod Shop polished stainless IFS complete with spindles built to SpeedStar chassis specs. It features Aldan coilover shocks, Wilwood disc brakes, and Sweet rack-and-pinion steering.

The rear suspension is based on a novel approach for a Winter's quickie (3.50 ratio) sporting an independent suspension with inboard Wilwood disc brakes and a pair of outboard Aldan coilover shocks. The quick-change backing plate cover features custom machine work that adds yet one more touch to a highly personalized street rod.

The four-corner Wilwood disc brakes are plumbed with stainless steel lines pressurized by a Ford Racing Performance Parts Mustang master cylinder and a SpeedStar pedal assembly. Also at the corners are Billet Specialties polished-billet five-spoke wheels. The fronts measure 7x18 inches with 4 inches of backspacing and are wrapped with BFGoodrich 215R35/18 g-force tires. The rears measure 10x22 inches with 4 inches of backspacing and are also wrapped with g-force tires from BFGoodrich--these monsters size out at 305R45/22.

Power is as modern as it gets in street rodding with a GM Performance Parts LS1 linked to a Borings prepped 700-R4 overdrive tranny with a B&M torque converter and a Lokar Performance Parts shifter. In between the tranny and the IRS you will find a driveshaft by Sonny's.

The LS1 features a Weiand intake, an Alloway EFI, and a K&N air filter all fed from the same 18-gallon gas tank from Tanks. Other engine appointments include a Powermaster alternator, Taylor ignition wires, Sanderson headers with 1 3/4-inch primary tubes and accompanying exhaust by Mike with 2 1/4-inch pipes running back to glasspack mufflers. The master of cool, Steve Long, once again got the nod to weld-up a copper radiator.

The body, hood, and grille are all 'glass from Rat's Glass while the grille insert came by way of Jim Rench. The staff at Alloway's Hot Rod Shop sprayed the DuPont yellow on over their own bodywork. Afterwards, Joshua Shaw was called upon to apply his trade in the form of graphics and pinstriping.

Lighting for coming and going is a combination of King Bee headlights and Alloway taillights. All of the car's wiring was neatly handled at Alloway's shop. The car is loaded with brightwork in the form of chrome and polished stainless and billet from Dan's Polishing.

The interior is the basis for a "tall" tale that you can only find in the south. When was the last time you saw, or for that matter heard of a leather hide being used from an Alabama chicken to upholster a car? Probably not often, if ever. But Alloway and Paul Atkins of Paul Atkins Custom Auto Interiors swear on a barrel of Kentucky sipping whiskey that it's true. Apparently these aren't your ordinary garden-variety chickens that stand about a foot tall and weigh a couple of pounds. No sir, these chickens remind this editor of an Ostrich but the two of them damn near pitched a fit when I told them that they were Ostriches and not chickens. Go figure. So, the Freund Vicky is upholstered in a tan colored Alabama chicken hide. (Hey, I just report, you talk to those two, and if you get anywhere let me know!)

More on the interior...customized Classic Instruments with the Alloway-shop logo on each gauge face were placed in the Carriage Works dash insert and then mounted into the SpeedStar dash. A Sony stereo system is mounted in an overhead console near the Billet Specialties rearview mirror while the ididit steering column is topped with a Billet Specialties wheel. The reclining buckets share a center console outfitted with a Lokar shifter. Yes, the buckets, rear bench, and door panels feature Alabama chicken tan colored hides to compliment the remaining leather that is used to cover the seat, panels, and headliner. The carpeting is tan colored wool. Other Lokar appointments include the throttle and brake pedals.

Aside from some tall tales about the upholstery we believe you can see that this contemporary street rod reflects the latest in cutting edge rodding.

The IRS is based on a Winter's quick-change with inboard Wilwood disc brakes and a machined spur gear cover. Everything is plated or polished.

The rear outboard shocks are Aldan coilovers.

Holding this ride off the ground are BFGoodrich g-force tires mounted to Billet Specialties five-spoke polished-billet wheels. The headlights are King Bees.

The steering wheel is from Billet Specialties and is wrapped with Ostrich (Alabama chicken) hide. It's attached to an ididit steering column. Other interior items include a Lokar shifter and pedals, as well as custom Classic Instruments mounted in a Carriage Works dash insert.

In front are a pair of tan leather covered buckets that feature Ostrich hide inserts all stitched by Paul Atkins of Paul Atkins Custom Auto Interiors.

A modified Heidt's IFS complete with spindles is used in front. The coilovers are Aldan, again from Heidt's, while the disc brake system is Wilwood.

The ididit steering column pokes through the firewall and attaches to the rack-and-pinion steering via Borgeson U-joints and steering shaft. The headers come by way of Sanderson.

The power for this beauty is a GM Performance Parts LS1 topped off with accessories from Hunter's Custom Automotive.