Roll Control
September 24, 2022
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THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
SHOW & GO
York, Pennsylvania’s Jesse Houseman is a genuine Ford man. In addition to owning an ’89 convertible 5.0, an ’04 F-150 and, previously, an ’89 LX 5.0, he built the stunning ’88 LX you see here. He did almost all of the work himself, starting with a four-cylinder donor car in poor shape and transforming it into a show car with racecar performance—or is it the other way around?
Curves, Chrome, and Legacy: Fat Attack 2026
The Fat Attack exhibit at GNRS 2026 rolled in with curves, chrome, and attitude, and at the heart of it all was the undeniable legacy of Pete & Jake’s Hot Rod Parts. Pete Chapouris and Jim Jacobs didn’t just make parts — they made a movement, showing the world that 1935–1948 fat-fender cars could be bold, street-ready, and built to impress. With Fat Jack Robinson riding shotgun in the history books, these curvy machines were a mix of drivable street heroes and jaw-dropping showpieces, proving there’s room for both in the fat-fender world.
TWO-HOUR TECH
Improving your new Mustang doesn’t have to be an arduous affair. You’re supposed to enjoy working on your car, RATHER than dreading getting off work because you “have” to wrench on the Ford. With that attitude in mind, we recently spoke with Al Kamhi, of Control Freak suspensions, to get his advice on what enthusiasts could do to further the concept of upgrading a Mustang in just an hour or two. But there’s a catch: the upgrade had to make a real difference in the car’s performance.
Spotlighter
50-YEAR FAMILY JEWEL
A ’57 T-Bird Finds Its Wings After 50 Years
There are lots of cool story threads woven into the history of this ’57 Thunderbird, purchased new 50 years ago by W.T. Romine of Indianapolis. You see, Romine’s young son, Paul, was bitten by the hot-rodding bug and tried to convince his dad to hop up the T-bird. The elder Romine steadfastly rebuffed his son’s attempts to bolt on a McCulloch blower and other aftermarket parts for the respected Y-block Ford.
Author
Bill Holland
Story & Photography
From Top Fuel to the T-Bird: Paul Romine’s Journey in Speed
Paul Romine’s passion for speed started with sprint cars and drag racing, where he became the first driver to break the 5-second barrier in a front-motored Top Fuel car. His career brought him victories and even an IHRA Top Fuel championship. But when his sponsor shifted to NASCAR, Romine decided to pour his energy into personal projects, including his father’s 1957 T-bird.
Honoring a Legacy: The Story Behind the T-Bird Restoration
The car became Paul’s after his father passed away in 1986, and it sat in storage for nearly two decades. In 2005, Romine chose to restore the T-bird as a tribute to his father, W.T. Romine, with a goal of keeping the exterior close to stock while giving it modern performance enhancements.
A Frame-Off Restoration and Custom Chassis Upgrades
Romine entrusted the build to his longtime friend, Mike Spitzer, whose shop, once known for race car chassis, had expanded to full street machine builds. They carefully removed the body, adding a Fat Man front clip with coilovers and power rack-and-pinion steering. The rear was boxed and fitted with a Ford 9-inch rearend, Mark Williams axles, and a triangulated four-bar suspension. To ensure safe and responsive braking, Wilwood disc brakes were installed on all four corners.
A Powerful Heart: The Custom 4.6-Liter Ford Engine
Under the hood is a late-model 4.6-liter DOHC Ford engine—no ordinary motor, but a 350-hp beast built by modular motor expert Sean Hyland. With custom Hyland cams, an intake system upgrade, and a pulley kit, the engine makes 350 hp and 321 lb-ft of torque, over 100 hp more than the T-bird’s original engine. The exhaust was crafted by Spitzer using stainless steel and Flowmaster mufflers, exiting discreetly through the stock bumper outlets.
Transmission and Driveline Modifications for the Modern Road
Power is sent to the wheels through a Tremec six-speed transmission and 11-inch clutch from Ford Performance Parts. On the road, 225-60×15 BFGoodrich tires mounted on classic T-bird wire wheels give the car its vintage appearance while maintaining grip and stability.
Achieving a Balanced Weight Ratio for Improved Handling
Replacing the original, heavy Y-block engine with a lighter alloy modular motor allowed Romine to achieve an almost perfect 52/48 front-to-rear weight balance, making the T-bird agile and responsive on the road.
Innovative Touches and Subtle Exterior Modifications
Spitzer and Romine worked together to add some innovative touches to the T-bird, such as a concealed duct system that routes cool air to the engine through the original hood scoop. Another subtle modification included eliminating the license plate “dip” in the front bumper and closing any visible gaps, enhancing the car’s clean lines.
Flawless Paintwork in Classic Style
The body was stripped to bare metal, prepped, and painted in a vibrant DuPont Hot Hues red, virtually identical to the original factory color. Spitzer’s expert painter, Ed Peck, ensured a flawless finish—no Bondo, just pure craftsmanship.
A Stock-Looking Interior with Modern Flair
The interior has a classic look but features some custom upgrades, like a Hurst shifter for the six-speed transmission and a slightly smaller steering wheel for a modern feel. A small plaque on the dash, originally created by Paul’s mother, reads “Built Specially For W.T. Romine”—a touching reminder of this car’s sentimental journey.
A Rolling Tribute to W.T. Romine
Paul Romine’s T-bird represents more than a powerful street machine; it’s a tribute to his father’s legacy and a blend of past and present, crafted with precision and respect for the original. With its stunning aesthetics and improved handling, this T-bird has become a personal achievement and a fitting homage to the man who inspired it.
