We wish this story had a happy ending, and maybe it's not too late! But as of this writing, one of the most beautiful, well constructed, dynamic street rods to come along is still missing. Missing because someone (or ones) of questionable character has stolen the car.
The Good
Before we give the sordid details, let's touch on the positives. The 3,200lb steel '37 Ford convertible is a rare piece indeed, belonging to Craig and Kathie Sommerfeld of Kelly, Iowa. Once Troy Trepanier of Rad Rides by Troy (Manteno, Illinois) and his staff worked their magic, the two-tone burnt orange and red ride was truly a work of art. The custom-mixed Glasurit copper over a brown-orange paint was applied at RRbT while Bob Thrash airbrushed the simulated wood side graphics. (At the 2005 SEMA show, Chocolate Thunder garnered the Mother's Shine award for Best Paint.)
The sheetmetal has undergone numerous custom touches at the hands of RRbT, such as a chopped, raked, tapered windshield that is flush-mounted to the frame; the running boards are shaped reminiscent of the often-quoted Coke bottle shape; radius and 2-inch stretched wheelwells; the doors are scratch built; the original rumble seat was removed; the headlights and taillights (surface level installation) are Victory Vegas motorcycle components with RRbT custom taillight bezels; the waterfall design dashboard is another handcrafted RRbT item, which is outfitted with a custom speedometer (odometer and clock) featuring Classic Instruments inner workings; a custom tonneau cover is available (not pictured); custom-fabricated hood sides; a custom-fabricated chassis raised 6 inches and narrowed 8 inches in back; the custom core support incorporates intercooler, radiator, and a high-performance cold air intake. The grille inset was built at Don's Hot Rod Shop in Germantown, Ohio.
The interior wraps around a pair of six-way power Lexus buckets stitched by Tracy Weaver of the Recovery Room in Lincoln, Nebraska, in a Carmel-colored suede. Other interior features include A/C by Vintage Air, Classic Instrument gauges, a Billet Specialties steering wheel, and a Rockford Fosgate stereo.
The convertible rests on Billet Specialties G-Bone wheels measuring 18x8 with 5 3/8-inch backspacing in front and 20x10 with 6 inches of backspacing in the rear. Rubber comes by way of BFGoodrich with 225R40/18 in front and 295R45/20 in back. Peeking through the G-Bone windows are power-operated six-piston Baer calipers with 14-inch rotors in front and 15s in back, a proportioning value, and a GM dual-reservoir master cylinder completes the brake package.
The powertrain is based on a Don Hardy-built LS1 equipped with a Magnuson C5 supercharger complete with an intercooler, 90mm throttle body, Bosch 60 lb/hr injectors, GM fuel regulator, and a Barry Grant high-volume fuel pump. A distributor-less standalone EFI-controlled ignition with a MSD Blaster coil and plug wires lights the fire. The computer comes by way of a Big Stuff III model with tuning courtesy of John Meany. The exhaust system is based on RRbT HPC-coated headers and Flowmaster dual mufflers. Engine accessories include K-Tech valve covers, Barry Grant air filter, Billet Specialties accessory drive pulleys, Powermaster alternator, Griffin aluminum radiator, and a Viper electric fan. A Bowler Transmissions 4L80E is matched to the engine with the power, and then transmitted through a BSI chromoly driveshaft back to the Strange rearend outfitted with 3.50 gears, 31-spline axles, and an Eaton Truetrac limited-slip differential. The front suspension is based on a Kugel Komponents IFS with an Air Ride Technologies Ride Pro System, also used in back.
The Bad & Ugly
As mentioned earlier, this story has a difficult ending. It was a Thursday in late April when the good began to unravel. Brian Ferguson, the driver for RRbT, was en route from Illinois to a car show in Quebec City, Montreal, Canada. On Wednesday evening, Brian stopped for the evening at a Comfort Inn in Brockville (approximately 100 miles from Montreal), but the truck, trailer, and convertible were parked in the A&P parking lot for the night.
At 6 a.m., an employee of the hotel saw the truck and trailer in the A&P parking lot. Sometime between 6 and 6:30 a.m. on Thursday it is theorized the rig was stolen. In fact, the hotel employee said by 6:15 a.m., she noticed the rig was no longer visible in the parking lot. The rig was comprised of a white 1999 Ford F-350 four-door crew-cab dually (Illinois license plate 799 68D) and a 32ft gooseneck-enclosed white-with-blue-lettering car trailer (Illinois license plate 722 5TE). Ferguson not only drove the immediate area with a Brockville police officer but hired an airplane and flew east along Highway 401.