Whenever we go to a hot rod show, we come back with a story or two about some humorous remarks we overheard from spectators. Don't you? Whether it's somebody arguing with a car owner about how he built his car, or a self-taught expert impressing his girlfriend with imaginary historical facts, the things people say can be pretty entertaining.
The comment we heard recently at the Goodguys Spring Nationals in Scottsdale, Arizona-where Joe Sahli's 1934 Ford three-window coupe, the one you're looking at right now, was an award winner-wasn't arrogant or ignorant, but it did make us laugh. As Joe's coupe cruised through the show grounds, everyone's eyes on it, one guy a few feet away from us pointed with excitement as he shouted to his buddy, "There's one like the ZZ Top car!"
It's true that the ZZ Top Eliminator '33 Ford, like Joe's '34, is a full-fendered, three-window coupe with a small-block engine. The Eliminator appeared in the early '80s and is a reflection of the style of the early '80s. Joe's '34, which appeared in 2010, is a reflection of the style that began in the '50s and has endured to this day. Something tells us that when Joe's three-window is as old as the Eliminator is now, it will not look dated.
It's no surprise that Joe's interest in cars began in the '50s as well. He was just a kid back then-a kid whose dad was co-owner of a car dealership. Joe worked as a lot boy, detailing Mercedes, Edsels, and Studebakers, gaining a love for cars, and earning some hands-on experience.
He says he's always loved '34 Fords. He owned a cabriolet for a few years, but the car he always wanted was a three-window. And that's what he finally got in 2006 when he bought this one from a friend. The friend had found the car in Nebraska a year earlier, in complete condition except for an engine and drivetrain. Once the coupe got to Phoenix, Joe took it to Hot Rods by Dean on the north side of town, where the serious work began.
Framerails from American Stamping provide the skeleton for the chassis. This is one area where Joe and the crew at Hot Rods by Dean went way beyond traditional styling. In back, there's a fully polished stainless steel Heidts Superide independent rear suspension setup, including 10-1/2-inch Wilwood inboard disc brakes and dual adjustable Aldan coilovers on each side. The independent front suspension is also a Heidts package with Wilwood brakes and Aldan coilovers.
Things are equally impressive underhood, where the firewall has been painted cream to better show off the dressed-up Chevy 350 small-block. This is no "everybody-has-one" 350, but a 383 Extreme Performer from Smeding Performance in Rancho Cordova, California, built off of a blueprinted GM four-bolt block with a stroker crank, hypereutectic pistons, and other high-performance internals, in addition to Edelbrock RPM Performer aluminum heads topped with Mooneyes finned valve covers. With the right setup, these engines can produce make horsepower and torque numbers in the mid-400 range. The induction system on this one came from Larry Fulton at Automotion Rochester Carburetor Service in Great Falls, Montana, who specializes in tri-power Rochester 2GC carburetion. Hooker headers flow into a 2-1/2-inch polished exhaust built at Hot Rods by Dean and a pair of Borla stainless mufflers. The Vintage Air Front Runner serpentine belt system, Joe Hunt ignition, and retro-style beehive oil filter are other cool elements. Alger Stowers at A&S Transmissions in Glendale, Arizona, built the Turbo 700-R4 transmission. The 9-inch rearend in the Superide contains a 3.70:1 differential.
The coupe body is all Ford steel, with the exception of the Rootlieb steel hood. All bodywork, including the 3-inch top chop, was done at Hot Rods by Dean. Kerr West Plating in Phoenix re-chromed the stock front and rear bumpers, with Guide headlights lighting the way. Bell Glass, also in Phoenix, installed all the fresh window glass. Back at Hot Rods by Dean, painter Chris Walker shot the PPG gray-green paint on the body, dash, and frame. The 15- and 16-inch rims from Wheelsmith were painted cream. Radials from Diamond Back Classic Tires measure P195/65R15 and P235/70R16 and, as you noticed, now wear smooth sidewalls.
Joe told us it wasn't easy finding the right color interior material to match the paint, but he did succeed and the two-tone tuck 'n' roll is one of the most attention-getting components of the car. Sid Chavers in Santa Clara, California, used green and cream leather to cover the Glide bench seat, modified for the coupe at Hot Rods by Dean. The design extends onto the door panels and into the trunk, and complements the German square weave carpeting. Dennis Crooks at Quality Restorations in Poway, California, restored the steering wheel to just like new.
Joe wisely (in our opinion) maintained the stock gauges, refurbished with new workings. He also hid the sound system. The Ford and Pioneer speakers are out of sight, the Custom Autosound Secretaudio controller is stashed inside the Arvin heater, and the receiver is located in the glovebox. The vents and controls for the Vintage Air A/C are hidden as well. The car was wired at Hot Rods by Dean using an American Autowire harness.
We got our first look at the '34 coupe at the '10 Grand National Roadster Show, where it earned an award in the Altered Street Coupe Pre-1935 class. These photos were taken between that event and the Goodguys show in Scottsdale, where we overheard the "ZZ Top car" comment. We don't know how many other comments were made about Joe's three-window at either of those shows, but something tells us that there were a lot of them and that all of them were praise.