SUMMARY

The beneficiary of a detailed, ground-up restoration
350 cubic inch Chevrolet V8
700R4 4-speed automatic transmission
Custom leather interior / Air conditioning / Modern audio
All-steel body / Maroon cloth top
Rumble seat
4-wheel power disc brakes
Rack-and-pinion steering
15-inch wire wheels
10-bolt rear axle

Dial up a Google image search for "1936 Ford" and you'll be greeted by pages of elaborate customs. Indeed, the De Luxe Ford is right up there with Willys and Bel Airs when it comes to hot rodding's greatest cultural icons. And, while we're all about creativity and radical builds, this classy convertible truly feels like a breath of fresh air. Founded on the proven tenets of street rodding, the car was fully revitalized during a detailed, ground-up restoration. With Henry Ford steel, timeless aesthetics and a clean leather interior, its basic specs could describe a relatively stock car. But a few minutes of deeper examination reveals otherwise, as, from trick wheels and 350 cubic inches of Chevrolet V8 to cool air conditioning and a modern automatic transmission, choice modifications start adding up to one impressive ride. If you're an enthusiast who enjoys a near perfect mix of vintage hardware and modern convenience, here's a classic that delivers in every way!

BODYWORK/TRIM

The car's smooth body began life as solid Henry Ford steel that was maintained, driven and paraded for most of its existence. During a gradual, ground-up restoration, that old school metal was stripped, sanded and kept as intentionally original as possible. That classy fuselage stretches rich Maroon 2-stage under Maroon cloth that's finished with a glass backlite. And ultimately, this De Luxe rolls as a fetching classic that walks a fine line between traditional street rod swing and outrageous SoCal flair.

Maintaining that balance tends to be much easier when builders stick to factory bolt-ons. Even 80 years after its creation, this hot rod's restored yet traditional trim serves as excellent detailing. At the front of the car, a polished, "Ford" branded grille backs polished Twolite headlights, King Bee driving lamps and a guarded bumper. At the sides of the car, a pinstriped profile founds elegant mirrors and traditional handles on sculpted doors that float between a stainless-trimmed hood and stainless-trimmed fenders. At the top of the car, a Greyhound V8 hood topper leads a chrome-trimmed windshield, which fronts a power antenna, a polished "V8" fuel filler and an old school rumble seat. And out back, a traditional spare tire carrier shadows polished blue dot Duolamps, a second guarded bumper and polished "V8" exhaust tips.

ENGINE

'Keep it simple' is a good philosophy when it comes to performance and reliability. And the builders of this clean classic did exactly that by equipping the car with a steady, 350 cubic inch Chevrolet small block. At the top of the fully sorted mill, a polished Edelbrock Performer EPS intake stacks a polished B&M air cleaner and coated Edelbrock carburetor between a stylish bowtie spinner and proven Lokar linkage. That intake pushes air and mechanically sourced fossils through tough Vortec heads that are capped with polished valve covers and polished breathers. At the back of those heads, an MSD points distributor sequences spark between a chrome MSD Blaster coil and loomed Accel Ferro-Spiral Core plug wires. Opposite that distributor, polished serpentine components spin a polished alternator next to a coated AC compressor. And in front of those pulleys, quick electric pusher fans cool a beefy aluminum radiator that's topped with a "V8" branded cap. Aesthetically, the Jet Black mill rides in a glossy engine bay that's finished with a massaged firewall and polished hood supports. And items like a polished expansion tank, braided fluid lines, a Holley fuel pump, a polished oil pan and a polished filter canister provide a perfect combination of form and function!

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

Every good street rod has a solid foundation. Flip this Ford upside down and you'll find a roster of mechanical improvements that mix classic looks with modern mobility. Behind the small block, a chrome-trimmed 700R4 4-speed, equipped with a finned cooler, spins power to a chrome-capped 10-bolt axle. That stout drivetrain rides an upgraded chassis that's fitted with tubular control arms and beefy coil-over-shocks. Modern rack-and-pinion steering is a welcome addition. Braking is solid, thanks to a floor-mounted booster, a rail-mounted proportioning valve and four large discs. There's an aluminized exhaust system that connects coated block hugger headers to dual-chamber Flowmaster mufflers. And everything rolls on stainless-trimmed wires, which spin two 185/65R15 BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls and two 235/70R15 BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls around bright yellow paint and ornate "V8" center caps.

INTERIOR

Pop the doors and you'll find a clean leather interior that's much nicer than traditional factory fodder. At ground level, plush carpet floats color-keyed floor mats between custom kick panels, billet foot pedals and a custom console that centers a small Quartz clock in front of a long Lokar shifter. At the center of that rug, deep leather seats, which appear to be modern GM units, sport requisite lap belts. In front of those thrones, a faux wood dash seats modern air conditioning and stylish Classic Instruments telemetry between a trick mirror, a Guide traffic light viewer and modern Pioneer audio. At the corners of that ledge, custom side panels center thin armrests and small door handles between power windows and faux wood toppers. And in front of the driver, a polished, Banjo-style steering wheel spins a faux wood rim around a polished, tilting column.

The street rod scene is huge! And, looking over this Ford, it's not hard to see why. The car's clean, unaltered lines are enough to draw any enthusiast, and the rumble of its stout small block is more than enough to keep folks smiling. Have you forgotten what it's like to actually drive a car? To drive a car you actually enjoy? To drive a car that'll inspire joyous memories for years to come? Call your friends at RK Motors Charlotte and grab the wheel of this impressive drop-top!