Pro-built, "Kontrolled Kaos", 427 V8, auto, 500hp, A/C, leather, drives great

Fast Fords are nothing new, but some do fast better than others. Big horsepower, big tires, and the suspension to put it down are the cornerstones of the hot rodding hobby, and it's only more recently that beauty and comfort came to mean something as well. So if you're looking for a truly no-compromises hot rod, this 1940 Ford Deluxe coupe deserves a closer look. Expertly crafted to deliver equal parts thrills and comfort, it's what most hot rods aspire to be but very few achieve. Of course, an awesome pedigree certainly helps, starting with a built 427 under the hood, gorgeous paint from a Lamborghini, and a custom crafted leather interior by the legendary Steve Holcomb. This is one rod that does it all.

Starting with an all-steel 1940 Ford that had been used as drag race machine in the 1960s meant that everything had to be done over. It was fast, no question about that, but it didn't have the polish that you'd need to compete in 2016, so it was torn down to the molecular level and rebuilt from there, earning the name "Kontrolled Kaos." The body was expertly smoothed by the pros at Beach's Auto Refinishing, who also reversed the swing of the doors, shaved the door handles, and removed any of the extraneous trim, including the bumpers. Fit and finish are paramount on a build like this, so extra time was taken to ensure that the gaps were even, particularly on the suicide doors. The hood sits flush, the iconic grille tucks in tight to the bodywork, and those lovely teardrop-shaped headlight rings almost look like they're part of the fender they fit so well. Of course, all that work wasn't for nothing, because every square inch of bodywork was smoothed and blocked in preparation for the three-stage Lamborghini Orange paint, which has a lot of metallic and pearl in it to make this car simply glow in the sunlight. The lights in our studio just can't quite capture the brilliance of the finish. And while the car was finished a few years ago and has been driven since then, it remains in near show-winning condition with almost no signs of use, even on the nose. Remarkable!

If you're at all familiar with the hot rodding industry and magazines like "The Rodder's Journal" and "Hot Rod," then you've heard the name Steve Holcomb and Pro Auto Custom Interiors. Cutting-edge designs, beautiful workmanship, and lasting quality are all hallmarks of his work and getting him to even take on your project means you need to bring something very special. The incredible tan leather interior in this 1940 Ford was crafted at a cost of over $20,000, which didn't include the custom dashboard and beautiful white-faced VDO gauges. Power bucket seats are wrapped in ostrich skin and calfskin leather, and the fit is so good that you'd think that Ford was building cars in 1940 with these seats already in place. Custom door and side panels were created to match, and integrate door handles that are chrome-plated works of art that you won't find in your favorite hot rod catalog—they're special. The floors are covered in color-matched cream carpets with custom floor mats for protection, but we only installed them for the photo shoot because they're just too precious to risk getting dirty. The rear seat area is now a fully upholstered package shelf with built-in speaker housings, making this a car that can actually haul all your gear on a road trip. And that road trip will be comfortable thanks to power windows actuated by those crank handles, a tilt column and billet wheel, powerful Vintage Air A/C and heat built into a custom lower dash panel, and entertainment in the form of a Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo system. The trunk opens in the conventional manner, no special buttons required, and it's as beautifully finished as the passenger compartment, complete with two giant wheel tubs for the large-by-huge Mickeys underneath.

That's the comfort and style part of the equation, but this rod delivers on its wicked stance and earns those giant tires honestly. Pull the pointed hood open and you'll find a built 427 cubic inch Chevrolet rat motor that's grunting out more than 500 horsepower. Yeah, it's pretty, thanks to fabricated aluminum valve covers, more incredible orange paint on the block, and a lot of chrome and polished bits, but the way it runs will impress you even more. There's a big Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor up top, along with a high-rise aluminum intake, and with a big cam inside, yes, it's a little grumpy when it's cold. Get it warmed up, however, and all 500 horses show up ready to party, with a thundering lumpy idle that beats out through a set of 3-inch pipes and Flowmaster mufflers exiting just under the running boards. There's a giant radiator up front keeping it cool, ably assisted by electric fans, so it'll happily idle in the sun without going supernova. Note the custom aluminum shroud ahead of the radiator, the custom stainless button-head hardware used throughout, and the ultra-clean installation of the chassis supports through the firewall, all hallmarks of a professional shop in action. Sometimes, when you get the basics right, you don't have to go overboard with the custom stuff.

In the chassis department, this Ford keeps some of its original hardware, but not much. The front of the frame has been fitted with a custom tubular stub section that carries a fully independent suspension with coil-over shocks and rack-and-pinion steering, and it works so well, you won't miss the power assist. Sitting amidships in the center of the original X-frame, there's a built TH400 3-speed automatic transmission that's built for combat and just shrugs off the torque churning through it. A custom driveshaft and heavy-duty U-joints go back to a bulletproof Dana 60 rear end with a limited slip and 4.11 gears inside. Obviously it's been narrowed, and at the same time it was fitted with the hardware that would allow it to nestle neatly in the back-half subframe, which provides plenty of support for the ladder bar suspension. Twin coil-over shocks hold things up here, as well, and despite the race-grade hardware, the thing rides and handles remarkably well and nobody will object to a road trip in this car. There are big vented disc brakes at all four corners, including a functional parking brake, and a 20-gallon fuel cell hangs under the trunk. There are a few minor signs of use underneath, but for a car that runs as well as this one does, it shouldn't be a surprise. The final touch are those beautiful Coys aluminum wheels—just check out the dish on those 12-inch-deep 20s out back! The front tires are 26x8.00R18 and the rears are gigantic 31x18.00R20, all from Mickey Thompson.

This is one of the most impressive rods we've ever represented. Beautifully built by some of the best names in the business, full of innovative ideas, and with about 5000 miles on the build, you know it works like it should. If you want attention, if you crave the big trophy, or if you just dig having a car that does everything well, this incredible Ford does not disappoint. Call today!