Our '10 AMSOIL/STREET RODDER...
Our '10 AMSOIL/STREET RODDER Road Tour car is based on a Shadow Rods XL27 roadster pickup body, bed, and LRHC chassis.
Our hobby attracts participants for a variety of reasons, and while collecting trophies appeals to some the real enjoyment is hitting the open road in something as unique as a street rod and heading to an event to hang out with a bunch of like-minded folks. When STREET RODDER's Road Tour program began, the idea behind it was to reinforce the fact that a well-built car made from today's readily available aftermarket parts could be safe, reliable, and fun to drive. It's a point we've been making since 1996 when Jerry Dixey racked up 27,000 miles in the first Road Tour car.
Each year we've called upon some of the biggest names in the business to pull the Road Tour car together and for 2010 we were lucky enough to have the collaborative efforts of Jon Hall's Shadow Rods (builders of the redesigned Model T, the XL27) and Zane Cullen and his crew of craftsmen at Cotati Speed Shop.
The Shadow Rods frames are...
The Shadow Rods frames are unique in that the side rails are two piece-this makes them much more economical to ship.
The basis for new tour leader is a Shadow Rods XL27. Built in a variety of configurations, all are based on a stretched and deepened '27 T, however, builders can choose from a roadster body with trunk, lakes modified, or roadster pickup. In addition there are fendered and highboy options. Add to this the chassis choices with either a traditional frame or the Low Ride-High Caliber (LRHC) design and Shadow Rods offers the most versatile street rod components available. For 2010 we chose a Shadow Rods XL27 roadster pickup on an LRHC chassis.
The LRHC chassis for our roadster...
The LRHC chassis for our roadster pickup has a high kick-up in the rear that follows the contour of the body, a stout center crossmember, and a front crossmember that will get the truck down where it belongs
To complete the Shadow Rods roller it was shipped to the Cotati Speed Shop where they would finish construction and add a number of features to make our car unique, including a race car-inspired nose and hood by Clay Cook, a top by Rod Tops, upholstery by Time Machines Unlimited, with a Wise Guys seat, and a host of other custom touches.
While we don't have room in the magazine for complete coverage of the Road Tour roadster pickup build (although a book covering its construction from start to finish will be available soon) the following is a glimpse at what it took to get it together (also see the full feature on page 33). We should point out that as this is being written Dixey has rolled up 10,000-plus trouble-free miles on the brilliant blue roadster pickup-but then driving is what the Road Tour is all about.
Fuel is carried in a custom...
Fuel is carried in a custom tank that is included in the Shadow Rods package. It fits behind the body and in front of the bed.
Shadow Rod's bodies are made...
Shadow Rod's bodies are made from 19-gauge galvanealed steel and have a stamped inner structure, stainless steel door hinges, bear-claw door latches, and 11-gauge upper and lower seat supports.
One of this car's most distinctive...
One of this car's most distinctive features is the nose inspired by the '52 America's Most Beatuiful Roadster winner, the Bud Crackbon T. Clay Cook flew to California from Kentucky to build a buck. Back in his shop in Erlanger, KY, Cook used an array of metal-shaping equipment, not to mention his enormous talent, to fabricate the new nose and hood.