Builds
“It looks like a Chevelle, but what’s up with that grille? Why does this Chevelle have a Pontiac dash in it? Where did you get the special side trim?” These are questions often heard by muscle car enthusiast Nick Hedgecoth, shortly after pulling his ’64 Acadian Beaumont into position at a car show or cruise-in. This mixture of components puzzles many enthusiasts, but it makes for a great-looking car that will always get attention because of its unique styling.
Some of it involves learning, but, for the most part, we’re pretty sure it’s something you’re born with, and you either have it or you don’t, and you can’t “fake it ’til ya make it.” We’re talking about vision—not the 20/20 version, but the ability to squint your eyes and see past the ugly duckling and uncover a swan. Tom Flurry has that even more special blend of vision and the ability to perform the work. Before your eyes is colorful proof that below the somewhat homely skin of a stock ’36 Plymouth there is indeed a swan, and Flurry uncovered most of it in his home shop in Mattituck, New York
The Lexus IS300 is not only stylish in its outside appearance, but because of its acceptance as a true sports sedan by most tuner enthusiasts, it’s a desirable starting base for creating a potent street performer. This RWD Lexus is factory-fitted with the rugged 2JZ-GE 3.0L DOHC inline V-6 engine, as used in Toyota Supra models in past years and updated with VVT-i Variable Valve Timing. It also features double wishbone front and rear suspension systems, as equipped from the Toyota factory. A limited-slip differential option helps put the power to the ground, and the edgy Lexus body produces an impressive 0.29 coefficient of drag. This is definitely a slippery package with both good looks and ample performance.
Some of the most interesting conversations around the office usually center on whether a rod built without shiny paint can be considered a finished rod or something else. There are some trendy names floating around that are often associated with these cars, but we don’t particularly think these names are appropriate or accurate for a proper description. Just because a rod has a satin finish doesn’t mean it is lacking any aspect of a finished rod. Rick Nowak’s ’48 Chevy pickup definitely falls into the latter category. As its owner and builder say, “It’s not a ratty rod; not perfect, just a radical-looking driver.”
“If these four walls could only talk, what great stories they could tell” is an old adage that is certainly apropos from a historical perspective. In the context that we Americans have an ongoing love affair with the automobile, it could also be said that if a classic car could only talk, it could tell some pretty great stories as well!”
Like old hot rods, muscle cars are getting hard to find, so as our hobby grows, different alternatives and varied approaches keep it fresh. We’ve witnessed a change in style of many of the cars being built today. No matter what the future holds, you can bet that a Mopar enthusiast will insist on having a Hemi—or another fine Mopar powerplant under the hood—whether it’s the original-style Hemi or the new, modern Hemi that’s become popular.
We were talking to Devin Meucci when the topic came up about how difficult it is to find a ’69 Dodge Charger in Southern California, because most were gobbled up by the studio when “The Dukes of Hazzard” show was on television. I also mentioned that two of my friends were in charge of the transportation department of the show when the cars were being scrapped out, and described how they made the 383 and 440 engines available to members of my car club. Meucci said he and his brother watched the show religiously, and that’s when their love for Chargers began. Fortunately, in Washington state, Chargers were plentiful, so, in 1990 his brother bought a matching-numbers ’69 RT/SE. Two years later, Meucci purchased his own Charger and drove it in high school during his senior year, and to college after that.
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.
Maksimovich became familiar with the MN12 platform because parting these cars out is how he paid for his schooling at the University of Missouri, Rolla. He says that at one point he had upward of 20 parts cars, stripping them of all their usable parts before sending their twisted hulks to the scrapper. Indeed, his first car was an ’89 Cougar LS that he fitted with a 3.8-liter V-6 from a ’98 Mustang. After time, he began looking for another shell to work on, and he decided his ’89 was structurally too far gone to consider for such a project. His sister, though, had a ’90 Cougar XR7 that recently had spun a bearing.
While cruising down an old Southern Virginia back road some 38 years ago, Ted Hayes, along with a couple of local friends, happened upon a well-worn ’37 Chevy Master Deluxe coupe. Now, mind you, it looked nothing like the gem here. It had original paint, and the interior had seen better days, but it was complete and running. At some time during its life, the Chevy had received a 327 and a four-speed trans, a familiar combination for a vintage car during the 1960s.
