But the story is in the body and how it came to look like a relic rescued from the '50s. Patina is the key, actually faux patina transformed this fresh piece of fiberglass into what appears to many as an original-steel '37 Ford coupe with all of its history in tact. (Patina is the result of corrosive action of various chemicals upon metals when exposed to different kinds of atmosphere, like being buried in soil or immersed in some type of water such as seawater. Then there is faux patina, the appearance of character gained through years of natural processes, but brought about through the use of modern chemicals.)
To begin the vintage process, Todd took steel and laminated it to the hood side and the driver's door, and then gave each panel the rust-repair-in-progress look. He also drilled holes in the fiberglass at strategic points like the windshield and decklid corners to further enhance the pitted and rusty-hole look. He used DuPont Rustolium with red oxide and satin spruce green to give the body its current look.
Other exterior appointments include a pair of '37 Ford headlights and taillights, a swan-neck mirror, and front and rear bumpers from C.W. Moss. The rear bumper is dropped 6 inches (channeled and Z'd frame) from its stock height via a bracket.
The interior follows the barn find theme to a T. The Oze dash is outfitted with extended (deep) bezels that house the Auto Meter tach and speedo while the gauges are the Street Rod Antique Beige-series five-pack mounted in the dash beneath the speedometer. Other interior upgrades include the Vintage Air system and a Custom Autosound head unit coupled with Pioneer speakers to complete the owner-installed stereo system and C.W. Moss oval mirror. Pete Egan of Westminster Upholstery handled the stitchwork, covering the owner-built seating in a vinyl off-white/vanilla color in wide pleats while the carpeting is Mercedes wool in dark gray.
Another head turner (and source of a good chuckle) is the engine compartment. At first glance into the cavernous depths it appears a Flathead complete with Ardun heads rests beneath. After the obligatory gasp, one begins to see all isn't what it appears to be, as the real powerplant is a LS1 complete with Street & Performance headers and a K&N air filter. What causes one to chuckle is the Ardun valve covers adapted to the stock LS1 heads. Following the present-day V-8 is a 4L60E tranny with a Lokar shifter and an Inland Empire Driveline driveshaft. Both the engine and trans are virtually stock.
Aside from all the hidden touches that make this modern street rod look amazingly like a barn find, there can be no denying that it is a head turner and exemplifies what rodding is all about-imagination and personal touch coupled with one's own handiwork.
How long did this project take? Todd built the car at longtime friends Tim and Glenda Nash's home on weekends over the course of five months. That is a surprisingly short period of time in the realm of car building, but then again, it is a rust bucket of a body, or so it would appear!
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 You gotta love the old-time...  You gotta love the old-time speaker grille. |
 During the two-month wait...  During the two-month wait before Todd could get the car from Oze Rod Shop he sat down and penciled what he thought the car should look like-pretty close and very right on! |
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 The Wheel Smith steelies are...  The Wheel Smith steelies are wrapped with Dayton rubber from the Whitewall Candy Store. |
 OK, the events are bogus,...  OK, the events are bogus, but it looks real and who knows, if the car had been there, maybe it would have been basking in the glory of the moment. |
 If it looks like a steel door...  If it looks like a steel door in a state of repair, it is, well sort of. Todd took automotive epoxy and attached a piece of sheetmetal to the driver's door to make it look like it is a steel door in the midst of repair. |