The pinstriping was applied...
The pinstriping was applied in traditional style by Charlie Decker, aka The One-Armed Bandit.
When it came to powering the coupe, Dick kept his options open. A conversation with fellow rodder Glenn Sinon confirmed he was pulling a solid running engine and trans combination out of his '47 Ford coupe to make way for a fresh crate engine. Dick picked up the used mill and went right to work cleaning and detailing the '70 Chevy 350ci V-8 while also adding a fresh coat of paint, and polished stainless hardware. Breathing through an Edelbrock Performer intake topped with a matching Performer 600-cfm carb, it comes to life through a PerTronix ignition and dumps its spent gases through a set of Patriot block-hugger headers. Linked to a TH350 tranny shifted by a Lokar stick, the combination gives the coupe more than enough go when the gas pedal gets mashed. After stripping the body down to bare steel, Dick was ready to start his mountainous climb from the bottom up since the lower 6 inches of the coupe needed to be cut off and replaced. Working from experience, whatever patch panels weren't available he made, including a driver side doorskin, which he formed on the garage floor using a boat seat cushion and a soft-faced mallet. From there he laid out the chop and sent sparks flying to lower the lid 4 inches in front and 3-1/2 inches out back combined with a 5-degree layback of the A-pillars. Completing the overall look, he sectioned the original grille shell 1-inch while also pie-cutting the hood tops to allow the beltline to flow perfectly. He then media blasted the body in his driveway and followed with final bodywork till the exterior was as straight as glass. Dick began to spray the PPG single-stage black gloss onto many interior parts as well as the bottom of the car and the firewall in his shop. He contacted good friends Glenn and Jeff Sinon of West Suffield, Connecticut, to final prep the body and lay down its mile-deep finish. The pair also created the wicked flame-job, which was given its final accent by Charlie Decker, aka The One-Armed Bandit.
With reassembly time at hand, Dick credits his hot rod buddies for coming over with the promise of coffee and doughnuts (how could they ever refuse!) to mount the body to the rolling chassis. To bring the build to completion, nothing says hot rod better than a rolled and pleated deep red interior. Dick had Ken's Upholstery of Ellington, Connecticut, cover a modified Glide Engineering seat with yards of supple vinyl while Haneline gauges monitor the vitals and a LimeWorks banjo-styled steering wheel sets the course. Dick's perseverance sure paid off when he fired up the car for the first time and laid down plenty of miles without ever looking back. This is one Deuce that'll motor off into the sunset for decades to come. That's just plain bitchin.'
Dick nailed between the 'rails...
Dick nailed between the 'rails a '70 Chevy 350 ci with an Edelbrock Performer intake and 600-cfm carb. A PerTronix ignition lights the fire while a hearty exhaust note exits through a set of Patriot headers expertly matched to a pair of MagnaFlow mufflers.
A detailed (upholstered) trunk...
A detailed (upholstered) trunk adds a great deal to the final fit and finish of any hot rod.