The Loud Pedal

A Wild Ride with a Classic Hot Rod

We scream out of the driveway (or was that me screaming?) and careen across the road sideways, bias-plies searching for grip. First gear loses steam almost instantly, and sometime between gears one and two things don’t mesh. Everything seems to lock up and we slide crossways onto a side road, making an unplanned turn and none too soon of a stop.

My ears are ringing from the lack of mufflers, and my heart is pounding from too much adrenaline. This scene didn’t happen years ago when I was a kid, as you might think, but only recently, as an adult. Just when you think you will never experience those kinds of wild, foolish rides again, guys like Gary Baker II give you a little tap and say, “Let’s just go down the road, you know, see how she goes.”

Ally Night with the Slo Poks

It’s Ally Night, the little get-togethers that the Slo Poks of Vancouver, Washington, have been doing every Friday night for more than 50 years. We are at Nick and Pat Nicholson’s spread, and Gary’s ’34 Ford is one of a bunch of very cutting-edge vehicles. Unscathed, we limp back with a few growls and groans. Geez, what a night! As I take a closer look at this hot rod truck, I soon realize that it is very well done and has quite a few unusual tricks that make it a way-cool piece.

The Unique Build of Gary’s ’34 Ford

First off, the frame is from a ’36 Ford that has been shortened 4-1/2 inches and narrowed 6 inches, with a Model A front crossmember added to the chassis. All kinds of classic parts have been used, such as ’39 Ford spindles and ’40 Ford br­akes on the ’39 Ford front axle and spring. The ’39 gave up the rear thirdmember, and the steering was lifted from an old VW. Mad Max of Vancouver then slid a hot GM 383ci small block between the rails, with rowing by four-speed. The V-8 has been slightly massaged by Scott Peterson, also of Vancouver, with a Holley intake, an Edelbrock carb and Sanderson headers.

A Labor of Love

Old Mad Max then whacked the top of the cab 4-1/2 inches and spread flat black paint all over his very smooth bodywork. For over a year, Gary worked nights and weekends putting this hauler together, with a lot of pride and forethought as to the end result. At this point, the custom dash that Mad Max had rustled up was wired to the Stewart Warner gauges, and the hottie was ready to fire. Jim Anderson, stitcher extraordinaire, was waiting with bated breath to let fly on this timely black and white tuck-’n’-roll interior.

A Timeless Hot Rod

All the pieces came together in a harmonious package that speaks of classic times to those of the present. This is not often accomplished in car builds, where, for various reasons, owners often get going in too many directions and end up with “mixed metaphors”—old-time hot rod on the outside and billet and burlap on the inside. They just don’t dance together.

Take a cue from Gary Baker II; check out his traditional truck and see how it should be done. If you need some of those alloy ribbed bumpers for your sweet ride, contact Gary. He owns the company and would be glad to set you up. Gary Baker II is most definitely in tune with the old times, and in time with the new tunes.