Fond memories often turn into the subliminal building blocks of the future where life's experiences begin to shape a road that someone might possibly travel. For a young Eli English, the groundwork was laid for his future growing up in Epsom, New Hampshire, as he rode in the back of his grandparents' '26 Ford market delivery truck on afternoon cruises though the countryside starting at the age of 5. There were also those fair-weather days he spent crammed in between the two of them as they burned plenty of fuel in their '25 Ford roadster with its hopped-up four-banger wailing as it cut through many a farm road.
Having been bitten by Henry's creations early on, it was evident that Eli would follow a path leading to his first purchase of a '55 Ford F-100 pickup truck before he was even 16. The truck gave him a base to start honing his mechanical skills as he brought the truck back to life, while driving it all the way through high school. It wasn't until he came upon a dramatic black '55 Mercury custom parked on a local street that he was finally star struck by its subtle updates, including a louvered hood, skirts, lowered stance, and mile-deep gloss. Fate has a strange way of influencing young minds, and Eli was definitely in the right place at the right time!
Two days after graduating from high school, he came upon a ratty hulk of a '55 Ford Customline that was resting on the back of a used-car lot in local Pittsfield. Although it was riddled with dents, peeling paint, mismatched tires, and tattered seats, it ran well and would make an excellent opportunity for a youngster to get into the custom world. Having been consumed by the '55 Merc he had recently seen, Eli knew he could bring back the Customline and give it its own unique personality in the process.
This was the start of a 15-year project that led Eli down many paths as he nursed the '55 back to health. Wanting to learn bodywork so as to be able to tend to the '55's tired shell, he went to work for Keith Belgard at Team Collision, who taught him the fine art of bodywork and the painting craft. With many late nights spent ironing out the old Ford, he finally readied it for paint in its original stock form. As the years passed and his influences grew-thanks to the likes of Barris, Winfield, and Dore, to name but a few-the car underwent a metamorphosis that included plenty of attention being paid to it from the bottom up.
Focusing first on the chassis, Eli began with updates that would give the car its signature killer stance. This included relocating the front shock mounts with eyebrowed spring pockets combined with an Air Ride Technologies CoolRide system along with 4-inch dropped spindles by Fatman Fabrication. Out back, he treated the 'rails to de-arched springs and rolling sleeve Air Ride 'bags, while a Ford 8-inch rearend keeps it all together. The neat rolling stock is from a set of Wheel Vintiques Series 09 wheels topped with BFGoodrich Silvertown wide whites.
As his body skills evolved, Eli moved onto working at Jim Lowrey's Hot Rods & Restorations in Tilton, New Hampshire, and it was time for the Ford to get nosed, decked, shaved clean, and given some extra glamour with frenched headlights. He then shaved and smoothed the front and rear bumpers while the hood was pummeled with 156 louvers, and the stock grille was tossed in favor of a custom-fabbed, polished stainless unit. Nothing sounds like a vintage Ford Y-block V-8, so Eli gave new life to the original mill with a full rebuild; this included fresh slugs from Egge Machine complemented by an Edelbrock three-pot intake topped with a trio of Ford ECG-series two-barrels, while a pair of '55 Ford T-bird exhaust manifolds let it sing proudly through its straight 2-inch exhaust, sans mufflers!
Keeping the custom vibe alive, the interior is filled with plenty of rolled 'n' pleated 'Hyde along with just enough goodies to make it sweet. With plenty of miles down on the '55, Eli has finally shifted the focus onto his latest sled-a '52 Cadillac coupe he has already chopped and coated with just enough white gloss and green pearl scallops to make it stoke in its own right. With the custom torch lit and flying high, we can hardly wait to see what rolls out of his garage next!
If attitude is everything,...
If attitude is everything, dig the way Eli's '55 is screwed into the pavement thanks to a combination of Air Ride 'bags, dropped spindles from Fatman, and de-arched springs. The neat rollers are Series 09s from Wheel Vintiques shod with BFG Silvertown wide whites. The front end was nosed, decked, shaved clean, and given some extra glamour with frenched headlights. Front and rear bumpers were smoothed and shaved while 156 louvers were punched into the hood.
Keeping a Ford in a Ford was...
Keeping a Ford in a Ford was key, so Eli freshened up Henry's original thumper thanks to parts from the Ford parts bin, as well as Egge Machine. The engine was topped with a 3x2 Edelbrock manifold, providing plenty of classic power whenever the go-pedal is stomped.
Keeping a Ford in a Ford was...
Keeping a Ford in a Ford was key, so Eli freshened up Henry's original thumper thanks to parts from the Ford parts bin, as well as Egge Machine. The engine was topped with a 3x2 Edelbrock manifold, providing plenty of classic power whenever the go-pedal is stomped.
Loaded with subtle custom...
Loaded with subtle custom touches, the Ford brings just enough to the table with its mild shave, sweet skirts, Conti kit, and fishtails. Yes, officer, those lakes pipes are wide open, 'cuz that's the way Eli likes to run 'em around town!