We interrupt this blog inactivity to bring you news from the automotive world. Starting with some progress on the Coupe of Wrath, which I am hoping to have finished over the winter.
The heavy lifting is again being executed by Drew Didio, who previously rocked on the Coupe of Justice. The CoW is seen here at the Hopperstad Customs shop in Belvidere IL, where Kerry Hopperstad will be fabricating the clutch & brake pedal assembly (1960's Ansen swing style with 1961 Chevy truck master cylinder). The steel '32 Ford 5 window body -- chopped 3" in 1963 -- is now channeled 2.5" over the stock deuce rails, and the cowl vent which was filled in 1963 has now been put back in place. Taillights are '49 Lincoln. The final stance will raise the ass end up a skoonch over what you see here. The low stance is achieved up front via a CE drilled 4" drop axle with a monoleaf, located with custom hairpins; in back with c-notched rails for the Edsel 9" differential. Steering will be a 40 Ford column into a '73 Chevy Vega box.
Here's a cool little feature... a narrowed 1949 Cadillac dashboard, from the same junkyard Caddy coupe I filleted a few years back. The Caddy door wrap-arounds are maintained and are spliced into the deuce doors. In time that panel will be filled up with Stewart Warner gauges. The seat will be the center passenger bench from an 80's Dodge minivan. Dirt cheap, comfortable, and can be upholstered to look vintage.
Don't laugh, it'll have matching headlights. This was a mock up to compare two headlight treatments: stock 9" 1932 Ford on the passenger side, 7" B-L-C 682 on driver side. The big Fords are a little bug-eyed for my taste, and so the B-L-Cs it is.
Next major task... freshening up the '65 Corvette 327/365 that will supply the oomph. Story coming soon.
Be Cultured
This link is way, way, way overdue. My former Garage Magazine colleagues Dan Stoner and Brian Bounds have established The Foundation for the Culture of the Automobile, along with the amazing new blog AUTOCULTURE which is easily my favorite new internet site. To illustrate what this high minded effort is all about:
Make a visit to Autoculture a daily ritual. Who knows? you just might find an occasional contribution from Yours Truly.
The Man Show
Ol' buddy Gale Banks forwards this entertaining video tete-a-tete with wag Adam Carolla, who is now podcasting and vlogging on matters automotive. More on this historic summit here. And while you're at the Banks site make a note to check out the new Banks IQ system, hit of the 2009 SEMA show.
