For consignment, a custom Ford Deluxe. Heavily modded and upgraded, refreshed with new materials and designs, and an engine upgrade, (357ci V8), to make it loud and proud and slightly akin to the 1998 Hot Wheels Tail Dragger release. An all-steel car, all buttoned up and shaved a touch for the aero look. A "phat" fat tail draggin Ford if you will.
Exterior
Bathed in the deep end of the pool black paint, we see straight slab steel panels, rounded front quarters, and a small body bump out connecting to a smaller fender skirted rear fender. Rounded is the key word for the design of this car, but let's not forget smooth also. From the front bumper to the rear bumper, we note nothing else but curvaceous curves. These bumpers are hung tight to the body and wrap around the bulbous front fenders like a child hugging their favorite stuffed toy. The tall knobbed front hood floats above the vertical V curved grille, and dual side grilles flanking it. While the original grille openings have been retained, they are now filled with a stainless wire mesh that is also replicated in the small oval front bumper opening. The headlights are frenched into the front fenders and some bullet style turn signals under the lights are next to the grilles and have also received the frenching treatment. On the rear are simple circular flush mount taillights and flank the smoothed round trunk which is very spacious and also restored in a lovely red and black leather. Rounded corner side windows and a rear oval window are noted to be cut onto the body. The top has been slightly chopped and all traces of brightwork have been removed from around the glass, this includes the split windshield which is now a simple swept back V pane of glass. Chrome spotlights at the base of the A-pillars highlight the low and flowing roof life and pair nicely with the thin trim spear that runs along the body belt line from mid hood to the swoop down of the rear quarter panel. 15-inch red painted steel wheels are on all 4 corners along with tri-bar spinner style wheel covers. These are wrapped by 20/70R15's in front, and larger 255/70R15's on back all in wide whitewall format.
Interior
A swing of the large shaved handle suicide hinged doors and we can shake hands with smooth red leather which highlights the black tuck and roll chrome trimmed leather insert. These panels present as nearly new with bright and shiny chrome for the handles and cranks and overstuffed black leather armrests are on to keep you feelin' just right. The sills mimic small running boards and are finished in low pile red carpet. Looking towards the seats, we see low back bucket styling with smooth red overstuffed bolsters and clean tuck and roll pleated black leather inserts. More low pile red carpeting covers the floors neatly and in the center is a glossy black console with padded armrest topper, cup holders, the suspension air ride control module and the 8-ball topped short arm shifter. This console flows up to meet the bottom center of the dash where a JVC AM/FM/CD player resides just below the control panel for the Vintage Air heat and AC knobs. A tilt steering column in black is topped with a smaller version of the factory 2 spoke steering wheel and is fronting a black painted steel dash that has 2 larger centrally located red face Classic Instruments gauges and are surrounded by smaller gauges of the same ilk. These chrome bezel beauties safely reside under the black steel eyebrow of the dash. Moving in front of the passenger we see more black steel highlighted by a silver facing at the top of the dash. A 2 plus 2 bench seat arrangement is in the rear and matches the 2 front buckets just perfectly. A black felted padded headliner is floating above and looking near perfect.
Drivetrain
A lift of the big bulbous hood, and we have engine bling bling blinding us. It's now a stout 350ci V8 bored over to create a consignor stated 357 cubic inches of small block Chevy power. This has beautifully polished aluminum valve coverings, and 3 small polished air cleaner assemblies up top. Red wiring snakes its way to each cylinder, and nice stainless steel braided hoses are all over this engine. The intake manifold is a tri-power style with (3) 2-barrel Holley carburetors topping it, and on back is a TH400 3-speed automatic. A Ford 9-inch rear axle has been put on to handle all the power.
Undercarriage
All very clean and rust free with a solid drilled X frame supporting the car with ease. Floor pans and rockers are excellent as are toe kicks and inner fenders. An independent air bag front end suspension and a 4 link with air bag rear suspension are seen, as are disc brakes all around. A clean and rust free black finished exhaust snakes its way from the headers on the engine to the X frame crossover where it has short exit piping aimed towards the rockers for that open header roar or leave them closed and allow the spent fossils exit out the rear via Magnaflow mufflers.
Drive-Ability
A quick fire up and I was off to the test track where this car performed flawlessly. Plenty of power, seats proved to be comfy and the A/C was much appreciated on our rather hot and humid test drive day. This car corners well and comes to a quick stop. The steering, while non power assisted, steers easily even in tight slow moving spaces. All controls were in working order, and the engine idled with a wonderful gurgle, awaiting the tap of your right toe!
Here we have a custom car, modded with a beautiful looking and powerful 357ci V8 engine, with added bling, eye candy interior and solid steel black exterior in beautiful sculpted round form. Even the glass is round, and all is well with this delightfully done Deluxe from 1941...but it can cut the mustard when needed.
