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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: AirSafe Emergency Support Kit ^TM by R.S. Restorations

November 27, 2024

Those who know Ottawa, Kansas Roger Ward are almost certainly aware of his dry wit, his candid demeanor and his unique ability to create understated cars, one after the other. His talent in applying the most understated details to relatively unsung vehicles provides a lesson for us all that the best way to make a strong statement is to say as little as possible and do it your own way.

While his daily duties revolved around reworked body panels and refining those efforts with a paint gun, his lifelong hobby has focused those skills on a series of cars that exudes the same laid-back character which can be enjoyed in this extremely subtle, yet equally eye-?catching, 64 short-wheelbase Chevy pickup. As with so many trucks of this era, previous owners didn’t worry too much about retaining its pristine originality. Dented and rusty, this truck had been through the proverbial ringer, which made this conversion that much more difficult to achieve. Then again, Ward’s particular talents have made a great deal out of lesser vehicles, so this would simply be another test of his talents and another example of the skills he wields.

Vintage Fabrication

For every hot rod shop that has a show on TV, there are countless smaller shops that will never get mainstream TV exposure or clothing lines sold at Wal-Mart. But all across the country, it’s these smaller shops that turn out the majority of the street and super rods that you and I enjoy, and that we see at shows. And even though these little guys may not have big reputations yet, they churn out consistent and excellent work—and, that is precisely how some of these smaller shops will eventually become bigger shops with even more prestige.

SMOKIN’ THE POKER RUN

Boaters who traveled from as far away as Houston to participate in the first Smokin’ the Sound Poker Run were not disappointed. They enjoyed excellent weather, great hospitality at all of the Poker Run stops and they got up close and personal with the best spectator venue on the Offshore Super Series Powerboat Racing Association circuit.

Because there were several who were experiencing their first Poker Run, the basics were outlined in a morning meeting. Participating boats would each receive a card in a sealed envelope at each of the stops on the Poker Run route with the top three hands winning the prize money.

Spotlighter

SUPERBIRD REBIRTH

Replacement Sheetmetal Panels From Year One Recreate a Solid Body for a Complete Restoration

Author

Josh Kaylor

Photography by Bill Woodard

The Introduction of the 1970 Plymouth Superbird

In 1970 Plymouth introduced the Superbird. It was equipped with an aerodynamic nose, a shape that was ahead of its time, and it had a ridiculously high wing that gave it track performance and a unique trademark. Only in 1970 were the Superbirds produced, and a mere 1,920 left the factory. Of those, 23 percent were painted Lemon Twist. The Superbird did very well in NASCAR, as it won its first race at the 1970 Daytona 500, with Pete Hamilton behind the wheel of a Petty Enterprises Plymouth. After it did so well in ’70, NASCAR developed a rule stating that winged cars were limited in engine size, and so Chrysler decided to pull the plug on the program.

The Decline and Resurgence of the Superbird

In 1971, Plymouth introduced the new model year of cars, and the Superbirds just sat on showroom floors, as dealers almost couldn’t give them away due to their high price and unusual styling. With the sudden rage in anything Chrysler and Plymouth from the ’60s and ’70s, people are beginning to pull these spectacular-looking cars out of hiding and spend some serious money to bring them back to life.

Jim Smith’s Lemon Twist Superbird

Jim Smith of Dayton, Tennessee, has owned this Lemon Twist 440 four-barrel car since it was new. Jim was the owner of Smith-Clayton Dodge in the early days and purchased this car for himself. After some years Jim retired but kept the Superbird seen here behind his barn. Eventually, he decided that it was time to bring it back to life.

The Restoration Process Begins

To do so, Jim enlisted the help of Bill Woodard, longtime friend and master bodyman. Bill and Jim determined what they would need for the Superbird and then called Year One, located in Braselton, Georgia, for the beginning of a long list of parts that would be required to bring the car to as-new condition. In about a week, new trunk floors, wheel housings, and rear quarter panels arrived at the shop, and the work began. We plan to follow this car through to completion, so read along as we revive one of America’s most sought-after muscle cars.

1. The driver’s side of the quarter panels was missing the bottom couple of inches, and it looked as if it had been crushed at a NASCAR event.

2. The trunk floor and the floorboards were full of rust holes where water leaked in and sat in the trunk, which deteriorated the sheetmetal.

3. The trunk floor was rough, as you can see in the photos. It was easier to drill out the spot welds and replace the rotted floor with a new one from Year One.

4. The trunk floor was completely removed from the car to accommodate the new pieces. The steel frame has surface rust but is not rusted through anywhere.

5. Installing the new trunk floor will require a few tools and a full weekend. A side grinder, a drill equipped with a hole saw and a small bit also will be needed.

6. The new floorboards come with original-style high-quality stamping, which resembles that of the OEM parts.

7. The side portion of the trunk was gone, so Bill clamped the side portion to a piece of the new floorboard and welded them together.

8. These are nice parts. Year One prides itself on trying to make every piece fit better and look nicer than the originals.

9. Each of the braces has held water, as you can see, which helped the rust grow. The braces are cleaned up to prevent any further damage from occurring.

10. If you are wondering what all these lines are, Plymouth spot welded the floor along these lines every 3 inches.

11. Here you can see Bill as he traces the next piece for the lines.

12. Bill is a perfectionist: A ruler was used to make sure that every 3 inches a hole was drilled for spot welding. This car is being restored back to factory-original condition.