Stunted ChevyTom Shall Cross Middletown, DE1933 Chevy Mercury Series CoupeBack in 1933, Chevrolet recognized the need for a more economical car. The Great Depression along with the tremendously well-received Ford V-8 became the driving forces behind the Mercury Series Chevys. These particular cars were built with slightly smaller bodies, mostly painted parts (instead of the more expensive chrome plating), and a straight-six engine rated at only 60 hp-not exactly a hot rodder's dream. However, jump some 70 or so years later, and these far more rare stunted Chevys have become quite sought after pieces.
Meet Tom Shallcross of Middletown, Delaware-one lucky enthusiast whose search proved quite successful. Being a longtime hot rodder, Tom didn't waste a minute transforming his rare Chevy into the beautiful hot rod you see here. With some help from Larry Rhodes of Rhodes Custom Auto in Odessa, Delaware, the coupe was taken apart right down to the badly rotting wood inner structure. Fifty-plus hours of labor went into replacing the inner wood structure alone. Now, take into consideration the additional hours that went into chopping the top 3 inches, moving the rear wheelwells up 1 inch, and shortening the rear fenders by 3 inches. Mind you, the original body was already 2 1/2 inches narrower, and about 1 1/2 inches shorter, than its larger brother. The body also features a custom aluminum grille by Jim Wrench, one-piece steel hood by Craig Naff, and beautifully applied Sikkens Rhodes Red paint.
Tom next turned his attention to building a solid chassis featuring a Heidt's stainless steel IFS, Aldan coilovers, and a set of Wilwood disc brakes up front. Out back, the Ford 9-inch from Currie Enterprises uses factory Ford drum brakes and Aldan coilovers. Then, Tom also put great time and detail into the well-built BDS 471 GMC blown '69 Chevy small-block and Richmond five-speed trans complete with Hays clutch and McLeod hydraulic throwout bearing. All in all, Tom's hard work paid off with not only a beautifully built hot rod, but a vary rare one at that.
The Jester's coupeDon Jester Salkum, WA1937 Ford coupeDon Jester must have had his head turned abruptly when he saw this all-steel '37 Ford coupe in Reno a few years back, because he just had to have it. So, after more green changed hands than you'd ever want to know, the coupe was Don's. But what exactly did he get for his money? Obviously, the body is really different, which might cause one to ask, "Whose body is this anyway and where did it come from, or is it simply a '36 and '37 spliced together in the middle?"
Well, as the story goes, it's a rare Australian body. As we all know, street rodders make street rods out of cool cars no matter how rare. What Don wanted was a state-of-the-art, contemporary statement, and that's exactly what he got when he took his new pride and joy all the way down to Buster's Street Rods of Glendale, Arizona. Buster's had Don Good build a chassis utilizing a Jag IRS out back, and Heidt's IFS up front. The chassis was then set up to roll on a set of Boyd Coddington 18- and 20-inch wheels. A '76 Ford 302ci small-block machined and assembled by Morrison Machine of Glendale, Arizona, supplies more than enough power to the '74 Jaguar rear end. A brilliant finish of shimmering PPG Tangelo Pearl paint tops it all off, but not before the rare Australian body was completely shaved, a set of hidden hinges installed, and smooth steel running boards bolted into place.
As for the interior, Buster's Street Rods went to work installing a set of Dakota Digital gauges within a Bitchin Products steel dash, Vintage Air A/C, a set of bucket seats, and an ididit steering column with a Billet Specialties half-wrapped leather banjo wheel.