Custom Flair & Hot Rod Appeal
By Brian Brennan – Photography By John Jackson
It’s always a very cool feeling when a hot rod “speaks” to you. It doesn’t take one long after giving this four-wheel beauty the once-over that you immediately identify the custom car touch as well as the true hot rod appeal. Scott and Kim Pearson, along with their son, Scott Jr., found their hearts content one day while perusing on eBay. As is said, “The rest is history.”
The Pearsons are a generational hot rod family, having enjoyed the hobby for over three generations. Couple this heritage along with their membership in the Road Kings of Florida keeps the “juices” flowing for the love of all things hot rods. The Ford Five Window Deuce Coupe you see before you features the work of three noteworthy hot rod shops. Ionia Hot Rod Shop handled the one-off custom chassis, the body and paint was handled by Fallen Angel Kustoms with Butch Miller spraying the 1958 Cadillac Bahama Blue shade while bringing the entire Deuce coupe together was Thomas Ophof of SaltWorks Fabrication.
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We are always about, “What’s under the hood?” In this case the lil’ Deuce coupe with an unmistakable custom flair sports a truly vintage Ford V8 engine 292-inch Y-block. This was Ford’s contribution to the performance market after the Flathead V8 was retired in 1953. In 1954 the Y-block was introduced and kept it place until 1964. Beginning as a 212hp V8 the iron block and heads were redone by Ted Eaton and the V8 now pumps out 330 hp. You will immediately spot the Ford tri-power consisting of three two-barrel Holley carburetors (one primary carb, ECG; and two secondaries, EBU) all bolted onto an Offenhauser intake manifold and using three Bell Top with screen chrome air cleaners. Firing the spark comes by way of a Hunt distributor and exiting these spent gasses are a pair of coated 1956 Ford F100 exhaust manifolds that dump into 2-inch stainless exhaust then passing through the Porter mufflers. Other engine accessories include the Ford water pump and mechanical fan relocated on an elevated mount and from here a Powermaster alternator and Interstate battery is used.
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Matched to the Y-block is a TREMEC 5 speed transmission topped with a 1937 Ford stick and knob that links back to a 1958 Ford rear end that spins a 3.73 gear package. Regarding the rear end it was Ionia Hot Rod Shop that fabricated one of their custom one-off frames and accompanying suspension components. In front a 1956 Ford steering box and column is used along with transverse leaf springs in back along with Ford brakes in front and rear. The front axle is a drilled-and-polished I-beam that works with ’37 Ford spindles with the round back. As for the wheels and tires you cannot miss the wide whitewalls from Firestone/Coker measuring 8.20-15 in back and 5.00-15 American Classics. The wheels are 1936 Ford steelies then fitted with vintage 1957 Lincoln Premiere Sunburst 15-inch hubcaps.
The 1932 five window Ford coupe body does show off a 3-1/2-inch top chop along with bobbed rear fenders. As we mentioned earlier the paint is a 1958 Cadillac Bahama Blue color where the body- and paintwork was handled by Fallen Angel Kustoms. Also, note the use of white Naugahyde on the running board covers as well as the roof insert. And speaking of white, it should be noted that the complete underside of the coupe is painted in gloss white and features plenty of chrome and polished stainless hardware. The hood is primarily stock sheet metal but the coupe does run sans side panels. Note the leather hood straps that have enjoyed a great deal of popularity with early hot rods. The coupe body does feature a rumble seat upholstered in more white Naugahyde.
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Inside there is a great deal of white Naugahyde pleated construction over the 1932 Ford bench seat. Matching pleat stitchwork can also be seen on the doors, kick panels, and headliner. All this nifty sewing along with the carpeting came from the sewing machine of Interiors by Shane. The 1932 Ford coupe dash does feature a custom checkerboard pattern insert that wraps around the five-pack of Stewart Warner gauges. Adjacent to the engine monitoring system is a 1932 Ford steering column with a 1950 Mercury wheel complete with horn ring. All the prerequisite wiring is handled by SaltWorks Fabrication.
Click on this issue’s cover to see the enhanced digital version of Unmistakable Bahama Blue Deuce Coupe.
