Can somebody please identify this car for me?

[unclemark123]

I am in love with this, but I don't know what model it is! Please help.
Mark.

[Crafty_]

33/34 Ford.

That body is a long way from stock though Chop, front grille rake, fender line re-cut. maybe a bit of a wedge cut going on too

[unclemark123]

Crafty_ said:

33/34 Ford.

That body is a long way from stock though Chop, front grille rake, fender line re-cut. maybe a bit of a wedge cut going on too

Thanks Crafty. I wonder if you can buy pre-modified bodies like this one? Would you mind explaining the fender line re-cut and the wedge?

Edited by unclemark123 on Sunday 3rd May 14:30

[Crafty_]

The fender has been changed, as the grille has been raked, so they've lopped a bit off the inside - you can see the stock one reaches almost to the bottom of the grille. They've also reprofiled the outside edge of the fenders to be more square both back and front. Rear ones have been widened to accept the wide wheels.
Wedge chop - look at the car side on, now imagine a wedge shape, the bottom of which is at floor level and thick end at the firewall. Now cut the body and pull the firewall back down to meet the floor. This has the effect of leaning the body forwards. On second look I don't think it does have a wedge, bonnet is too straight.

This is a car that Chip Foose built about 12 years ago, its got a pretty heavy wedge chop and is (imho) just perfect. The car won the Don Ridler award upon its debut. There are some build pictures here (bottom left). http://wallesdator.com/Foose%20design/Foose%20desi...



Back to your question, I thought I recognised it, that car is a factory five kit. See http://www.factoryfive.com/galleries/33-hot-rod/33...

their thing is to build a good handling car that just happens to look like a 33-34 Ford. Not a huge fan to be honest, it just looks a bit wrong. There are plenty of '34 bodies out there that look "right". A few years ago there was a place in the US making new steel coupes - downturn meant they stopped production, they might make one for you on order though. Meantime he still does a convertible body http://www.realsteel.com/store/steel-bodies/101-19...

If you want a UK body Rodline have moulds for a chopped one, I think the quality is OK too from memory. It'll be a better looking car than the factory five one (however you finish it/whatever look you go for).

If you are a bit flush you could even just buy an original Ford from the states, it won't be as expensive as you think and will be already done. If you want to build I expect someone can find you an original steel body reasonably easily.

Meantime, a couple of famous 33-34s

The infamous ZZ Top Eliminator Coupe. In the late 80s this thing was as hot as they come. Many see it as the car that started the billet/hi tech scene.


The California Kid, the car Martin Sheen drives in the movie of the same name. The car had been built by Pete Chapouris. At the time Chapouris was regarded as a bit of an odd fish because of the style of the car, it was a little "old fashioned" for the time. He met jake Jacobs who built the car below and the two struck up a friendship and later went in to business as Pete & Jakes Hot Rod Parts. The cars became well known in hot rod circles


Jake Jacob's car with the California Kid

[unclemark123]

Crafty_ said:

The fender has been changed, as the grille has been raked, so they've lopped a bit off the inside - you can see the stock one reaches almost to the bottom of the grille. They've also reprofiled the outside edge of the fenders to be more square both back and front. Rear ones have been widened to accept the wide wheels.
Wedge chop - look at the car side on, now imagine a wedge shape, the bottom of which is at floor level and thick end at the firewall. Now cut the body and pull the firewall back down to meet the floor. This has the effect of leaning the body forwards. On second look I don't think it does have a wedge, bonnet is too straight.

This is a car that Chip Foose built about 12 years ago, its got a pretty heavy wedge chop and is (imho) just perfect. The car won the Don Ridler award upon its debut. There are some build pictures here (bottom left). http://wallesdator.com/Foose%20design/Foose%20desi...



Back to your question, I thought I recognised it, that car is a factory five kit. See http://www.factoryfive.com/galleries/33-hot-rod/33...

their thing is to build a good handling car that just happens to look like a 33-34 Ford. Not a huge fan to be honest, it just looks a bit wrong. There are plenty of '34 bodies out there that look "right". A few years ago there was a place in the US making new steel coupes - downturn meant they stopped production, they might make one for you on order though. Meantime he still does a convertible body http://www.realsteel.com/store/steel-bodies/101-19...

Thanks Crafty.
You obviously know a lot more about american cars than me.
I found the factory Five car, which the picture was from. I see you don't like it, which I can understand, as it is only the silhouette of the car really, but I am rather attracted to the fact that it has modern suspension/handling/brakes. Its the look that does it for me, not the originality. To have one that actually went round corners and stopped is a huge bonus.

If you want a UK body Rodline have moulds for a chopped one, I think the quality is OK too from memory. It'll be a better looking car than the factory five one (however you finish it/whatever look you go for).

If you are a bit flush you could even just buy an original Ford from the states, it won't be as expensive as you think and will be already done. If you want to build I expect someone can find you an original steel body reasonably easily.

Meantime, a couple of famous 33-34s

The infamous ZZ Top Eliminator Coupe. In the late 80s this thing was as hot as they come. Many see it as the car that started the billet/hi tech scene.


The California Kid, the car Martin Sheen drives in the movie of the same name. The car had been built by Pete Chapouris. At the time Chapouris was regarded as a bit of an odd fish because of the style of the car, it was a little "old fashioned" for the time. He met jake Jacobs who built the car below and the two struck up a friendship and later went in to business as Pete & Jakes Hot Rod Parts. The cars became well known in hot rod circles


Jake Jacob's car with the California Kid

[Crafty_]

If you want a good handling car look at Art Morrison chassis, top line stuff and to be honest, not horrendously expensive. Plenty of corvette based setups available too.

The '34 does have a nice shape, kinda keen on later 30s stuff myself

[unsprung]

In addition to the thoughtful and detailed posts above...

You might also like the so-called "high boy" roadsters, which are very like the photo you posted, but which do not include wings (fenders to the Americans here).

It's classical and with extensive US provenance. In their home market (the US), you can buy them like any used car. And you don't need to buy an original one (ie: you can buy one for not a lot of money).

Jay Leno reviews one of these in one of his videos, here.




And if you would like something similar to your photo... but contemporary in construction... you might want to consider a Plymouth Prowler.

[Crafty_]

Yep there are literally hundreds of ways to build any one car, little touches, changes, your own style put in to a car.

This one was built for George Poteet and won a goodguys car of the year award a couple of years ago. Poteet is a bug car guy - race cars, supercars and lots and lots of hot rods, he generally has 3 builds going on at any one time. This one built by Fastlane Rod Shop, more pics on their site. Quite a traditional look but executed very well. 425 nailhead in this one, which was a popular hot rod engine in the 60s.


Poteet's other '34, flats racer style, heavy chop, track nose, lots of lourves


"Whiskey Runner", built for Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top fame, another hot rod guy..


Traditional build, this is very late 50s, still stock height too


60s racer style, pie crust slicks, body channeled over the chassis, open headers..


The legendary Pierson brothers coupe


Alloway built '33 roadster, AMBR (Americas Most Beautiful Roadster) winner 2015.

[tumble dryer]

You lot are nuts!

(love your passion tho')

[Crafty_]

Nothing nuts about what you see here, just a good bit of history and high quality cars

It never gets old to be around hot rods and the people who build and drive them.

[tumble dryer]

Crafty_ said:

Nothing nuts about what you see here, just a good bit of history and high quality cars

It never gets old to be around hot rods and the people who build and drive them.

Just jokin, honest. Respect for your passion; who couldn't appreciate the integrity?

I stumbled across the thread and it got me thinking as to the diversity of a 'Pistonhead'.


Live long and prosper.

[5ohmustang]

When I was a kid In the late 80s early 90s, my friends dad had a kit he began building very similar to the eliminator. Rover v8, 3 piece split rims. The car was never finished. To this day it has not moved from the garage, very sad.