Many a rodder has a story about how long it took to build their dream ride. So it should come as no surprise when John Swanson of Huntington Beach, California, gobbled up 12 years to build his A/V-8. This 1929 Ford highboy roadster resting on Deuce 'rails is the beginning--or should we say the end--of this story.
It all began in high school when John wanted to have a hot rod like the ones he saw in those car magazines, rags like Hot Rod, Car Craft, and Rod & Custom. A recurring theme for many a hot rodder--there wasn't enough money or talent to build the car. The ideal hot rod would be a custom roadster with all the just right details that might be found on a real '50s-era Oakland Roadster Show hot rod.
In the meantime he built what he could--a highboy roadster--and enjoyed his formative rodding years until the fateful night. Back in '59, in the midst of his high school years, he and a buddy were minding their own business while sitting at an intersection when a station wagon smacked into them. After the obligatory ambulance ride to the hospital and some healing it was back to rodding, but the roadster was a bit worse for wear. The highboy sat in the backyard as lawn art and it was onto a '33 Ford three-window coupe, followed by a succession of Tri-Fives, Vettes, and Camaros, but never the roadster he always wanted.
The intake is a '35 Alexander...
The intake is a '35 Alexander set up to accept the unusual combination of four Stromberg 97s.
In the back of John's mind the A/V-8 was alive and percolating. According to John, "I bought, sold, traded, and continued to collect parts for several years until I had the basics to begin building this roadster."
There are a handful of very cool hot rod parts on this highboy, with the engine always a point of discussion when rodders gather. The 304-inch '42 Merc Flathead sports Ross slugs resting in a 3 3/8-inch bore coupled with a Velesco 4-inch crank. Tim's Automotive (Santa Ana, CA) handled the machine work, while John himself bolted the Flathead together. Other internal components include a Potvin cam, Total Seal rings, and Isky valves and springs. Ignition comes by way of a pair of '35-40 Alexander dual drive distributors with two modified Joe Hunt magnetos.
Clearly the eye candy on this Flatty is the intake manifold and cylinder head combination. The intake is a rare and very cool-looking '35 Alexander, which accepts four Stromberg 97s with the middle two carbs paired side by side. The aluminum cylinder heads at first glance may look like so many others, but closer examination shows two plugs per cylinder. John machined the cylinder heads to clear the side horns on the Alexander intake.
Getting the Flathead power to the Halibrand (original Culver City model) is a '37 Lincoln Zephyr tranny. The 3.78 ringed quickie is fitted with Ford axles and the original torque tube is pinstriped in a flame design. Stock wishbones and Armstrong lever action shocks are used, along with '40 Ford brakes with 12-inch Buick drums to finish out the rear suspension.
A 304-inch '42 Merc Flathead...
A 304-inch '42 Merc Flathead is the basis for power; assembled by John, the machine work was handled at Tim's Automotive.
On the subject of Halibrand, the roadster is wearing an unusual set of wheels. The fronts came from the Mark Dees collection, which were reported to have come from the Mickey Thompson Pumpkin Seed Bonneville car and another MT front-wheel-drive streamliner. The rear (18x7) Halibrands are also reported to be more B-ville wheels this time coming from an early Art Arfons jet car. (Ed Note: The MT Pumpkin Seed streamliner was built by Bill Burke. It was one of vintage racecars used in the movie The World's Fastest Indian.) Wrapped around the Halibrands are 165x15-inch rubber in front and 8.20x18 Firestone Dirt Track rubber in back.
The homebrewed chassis is based on a pair of stretched Deuce 'rails with a 112-inch wheelbase, Z'ed rear, and Model A front and rear crossmembers; 'rails were narrowed 2 inches at the grille shell. The front suspension is based on a "heavy duty" '32 Mor-Drop with three-inch drop, hairpins, Aldan shocks, '46 Ford spindles, and '40 Ford brakes. Steering begins with a '50 Ford F-100 box, stainless steel tube steering column, and a Bell four-spoke wheel. Brightwork fell to Verne's Chrome Plating (Gardena, CA).
The sheetmetal is a blend of genie Model A, Brookville Roadster, and a stretched homemade hood (louvers), windshield, rolled pan, and belly pan. John handled the bodywork while the DuPont black was applied at Pro Design (Santa Ana, CA). Lighting is a combination of Deitz headlamps and '35 Pontiac taillamps.
Inside the Model A is a '33 Auburn dash and insert with "wing" Stewart Warner gauges, and Jim Bailey handiwork. The burgundy leather is stitched over the homemade bench seat in 1-inch tuck and roll pleats.
Does John have future plans for another hot rod? Yep, he is currently in the process of restoring '50s-era drag car based on a 1932 Ford three-window highboy coupe, complete with Flathead power. As John likes to say, "Hopefully it won't take me another 12 years for this one; I'm not getting any younger." Well, we have confidence in both John's talent and the pressing timeline to pull off another outstanding example of street rodding.
 |  The Halibrand quickie (Culver...  The Halibrand quickie (Culver City) is outfitted with Ford axles and Buick drums, all well detailed; note the belly pan--more homegrown effort. |  Look closely--it's an aluminum...  Look closely--it's an aluminum cylinder head, but count the spark plugs! Eight per side, two plugs per cylinder, while the heads themselves were made by John. |
 Burgundy leather stitched...  Burgundy leather stitched by Jim Bailey in 1-inch tuck and roll pleats over the homemade bench seat. |  John made his own windshield,...  John made his own windshield, which us reminiscent of a Hallock-style. |  The beautifully built gas...  The beautifully built gas tank speaks for itself; gotta love a good sense of humor. |
 John made a stainless tube...  John made a stainless tube that served as the basis of the steering column, which was then topped by a Bell four-spoke wheel. In the background is a '33 Auburn dash outfitted with Stewart Warner "winged" gauges. | | |