Frame Off Built Steel Sedan 351 Windsor V8 A0D 4 Speed Automatic Ford 9" A/C

SUMMARY

Dial up a Google image search for "1937 Ford" and you'll be greeted by pages of elaborate fiberglass 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 sweet sedan truly feels like a breath of fresh air. Founded on the proven tenets of street rodding, the car was fully revitalized during a professional, ground-up restoration that concluded in late 2014. With a mostly steel body, conservative 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 351 cubic inches of Windsor V8 to cool air conditioning and a smooth 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 and solid body began life as a run-of-the-mill sedan that was maintained, driven and paraded for most of its existence. During a ground-up restoration, conducted by Bowtie Specialties of Lexington, South Carolina that old school metal was stripped, sanded and married to fiberglass rear fenders. That freshly reinforced fuselage stretches deep Black Cherry 2-stage between textured running boards and lightly smoked glass that's fronted by a tilting windshield. Those components cage dual-mode headlights, factory heat extractors, LED tail lamps and a silver, stainless-trimmed grille. Elegant mirrors, ornate door handles, a factory fuel filler and electric Newport Engineering wipers ensure excellent functionality. And ribbed alloy bumpers join a polished hood ornament and cool "V8" trunk pull to provide the simple yet unique perfection that characterizes timeless street rodding.

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, 351 cubic inch Windsor. At the top of the fully sorted mill, a lightweight aluminum intake stacks a polished Holley air cleaner on a proven Lokar linkage and coated Holley carburetor. That intake pushes air and mechanically sourced fossils through tough, cast iron heads that are capped with painted valve covers and polished breathers. At the front of those heads, a familiar points distributor sequences spark between an MSD Street Fire coil and loomed MSD Street Fire plug wires, which snake around traditional, cast iron exhaust manifolds. At the base of that distributor, Concept One serpentine components spin a polished Powermaster alternator opposite a small AC compressor. And at the front of those pulleys, quick electric fans cool a beefy Walker radiator. Aesthetically, the Ford Blue small block rides in a glossy engine bay that's finished with a smoothed firewall, polished hood hinges, polished brace bars and custom inner fender louvers. And items like stainless fluid lines, a trick dipstick, a polished expansion tank and quality Ron Francis wiring 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 Windsor, a 1981 Ford AOD 4-speed spins power to a tough, 9-inch axle. That stout drivetrain rides a boxed chassis that's been upgraded with a tubular, Mustang II-style front clip. Modern rack-and-pinion steering is a welcome addition. Braking is solid, thanks to a familiar combination of discs and drums. There's an aluminized exhaust system that snakes through throaty turbo mufflers. And everything rolls on brilliant Rocket Racing blades, which spin machined hoops and coated centers inside 215/50ZR17 General G-Max radials.

INTERIOR

Pop this sedan's lightweight doors and you'll find a clean leather interior that's much nicer than traditional factory fodder. At ground level, gray carpet floats piped and color-keyed floor mats between a polished hand brake, a billet accelerator pedal and three walls of high quality sound deadening. At the center of that rug, 2-tone leather seating, complete with front and rear safety belts, veils full power adjustment for the car's driver and front passenger. Between those thrones, a metal, leather-lined console centers a slick Lokar shifter between big Scosche speakers and a modern Custom Autosound head unit. At the front of that island, a color-keyed dash fronts classy VDO telemetry with a satin, "V8" branded instrument panel. At the corners of that ledge, custom side panels center small courtesy lamps and chrome door handles in front of full power windows. Above those panels, a leather headliner leads a small package tray, which frames two more Scosche speakers. In front of the driver, a "V8" branded steering wheel spins a leather-wrapped rim around a modern, tilting column. And behind the passengers, a surprisingly large trunk founds a polished battery box amid clean carpet and a plush leather frame.

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION

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 a genuine Windsor 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 sedan!