"All the dash knobs are machined to look like mini-style beehives. The center knob is a push-pull shift cable. The beehive knob can also be found on the oil dipstick, trans dipstick, rearend breather, tire valve stems, and inside door releases. Two $10 Indian blankets were used for seats and door coverings. The windshield was chopped 1 inch to meet the 7-inch minimum required by Pennsylvania. A '28 Ford radiator shell and stainless steel mesh stone guard goes around an AFCO aluminum radiator with a 16-inch electric fan. A pair of 6-gallon aluminum tanks, made by Zipper Motors, is mounted under the car and holds the fuel.
"An amazing thing happened about halfway into this project. The Department of Transportation in Pennsylvania passed Act 228, which states a street rod 1948 and older no longer requires fenders, bumpers, or a hood. Wow-did that make my day, or what? This hot rod is 100 percent legal.
A four-spoke Sprint Car-styled wheel tops off the homemade steering column. Stewart Warner gauges reside in the engine turned stainless insert.
"I presently drive a '37 Ford slantback, which I have driven year-round for the past 14 years, accumulating 62,000 miles. This Lakes Modified won't be any different. Driving them is the best part. It's just fun, fun, fun.
"The only creature comfort in the car is a heater from Southern Air. I fabricated a pair of Lexan side windows to keep cold air out. I have driven the car in 20-degree weather and it's nice and toasty inside.
"I have about $16,000 of real money in the car. It's not a true value because I didn't count time, but I think they call it a labor of love."
It's pretty hard not to appreciate what Stew has accomplished with his cars and his philosophy about driving them, which is fun, fun, fun. We have to give a tip of the hat to Stew for being a lifelong hot rodder and never losing sight of his dream.
Facts & Figures
Stewart Milby
Glenmills, Pennsylvania
1927 Zipper Lakes Modified
| CHASSIS |
| Frame / Manufacturer | steel / Zipper Motors (Grand Junction, CO) |
| Wheelbase | 103" |
| Modifications | 2x3 in mild steel |
| Chassis plumbing | stainless steel |
| Rearend / Ratio | GM 10-bolt / 3.73:1 QC cover from Street & Performance (Mena, AR) |
| Rear suspension | quarter-elliptical |
| Rear brakes | stock GM drum |
| Front suspension | Super Bell (Peculiar, MO) 4" drop I-beam |
| Front brakes | '40 Ford (12" diameter) |
| Master cylinder | dual Wilwood (Camarillo, CA) |
| Steering box | Corvair |
| Spindles | '37 Ford |
| Front shocks | custom made friction by Stew |
| Front wheel make, size | Coker Tire Co. (Chattanooga, TN) steel, 15x5 (backspace 2 3/4") |
| Rear wheel make, size | Coker Tire Co. steel, 15x7 (backspace 4") |
| Hubcaps | Coker Tire Co. '46 Ford & ribbed trim rings |
| Front tire make, size | Coker / Firestone, 560x15 (2 3/4" whitewall) |
| Rear tire make, size | Coker / Firestone, 820x15 (4 1/4" whitewall) |
| Gas tank | twin 6-gal. by Zipper Motors |