By Dale Moreau & Elan Davis – Photography By Dale Moreau
This car was Jim Hepner’s “dream car” in Eugene, Oregon. He built this car for his retirement, but not without the help of his buddies. Jim did most of the chassis and mechanics with the help of his friends. Built for him, his way, by him.
Elan Davis states that Jim died in December of 2024 at 84 years of age. Elan was born in 1978.
“I have always loved traditional cars, hot rods, trucks, customs, anything powered by fuel. When this car rolled into the Eugene AutoRama in 1994, fresh, clean, and gleaming, I was in love! When Jim slid out of this over-the-top Merc and all the ‘old guys’ (Jim and the guys were 45-50) were so excited and giddy to see this new-old-school custom—the only one around at the time—this 16-year-old was right in the middle. Somehow, over that weekend, a gray-haired, laid-back hot rodder from yesterday and this kid hit it off. I told him Sunday night, “Mr. Hepner, one day I would sure love to own this car.” He said, “only one way you will get it, kid.” Over the years, we cruised in many cars together. Since that day, I’ve bought and sold over 9,000 classics, hot rods, and collectible cars during my 25-plus years managing Matthews Memory Lane Motors in Portland, Oregon. My family bought Petersen Auction Group of Oregon from serious hot rodder Dick Schuh nearly 30 years ago. Old cars are all I think about, talk about, dream about. This car has been my ‘dream car’ even after all those other cars. For me, Jim built it for us. It’s a workingman’s work of art. He didn’t build cars for a living; he built us the car he wanted. It’s a driver, and it’s a very good one, too—reliable and straightforward. This car exemplifies simpler times, a time when a guy worked or built his dream one paycheck at a time.”
Jim started with a complete 1977 Ford LTD II chassis, including the frame, suspension, engine, transmission, and rearend. Adding to the chassis upgrade are power disc brakes at the front and air shocks. The 400ci V-8 received a mild cam upgrade with iron heads. This beauty is topped with an Edelbrock manifold and a 500-cfm carburetor. Ignition is from MSD, including the MSD Blaster coil. The stock cast-iron exhaust manifolds exit through mandrel-bent 2-inch pipes and 28-inch Smithy’s glasspacks. The stock Ford transmission is a C6 with a mild shift kit, and the rearend is a 1977 8-inch Ford. This car is a “reacher” that helped with the stock Ford 22-gallon fuel tank. This wicked ride rolls on 15-inch steel wheels with BFGoodrich Silvertown radial whitewalls and Caddy hubcaps.
Buying a well-preserved classic car gives you the advantage of needing fewer repairs. This car is one of those. It was handed over to a good friend, Chuck Mathis of Roseburg, Oregon. He had a blast giving the old Merc a shave and a haircut, as it were. The top is chopped 4 inches and the body channeled 4-1/2 inches. It is nosed and decked, with the door handles shaved and the hood corners rounded. The headlights, 1959 Caddy taillights, and power antenna were frenched, and the bumpers smoothed, with shop-made front turn signals. The crowning glory is the addition of 11, 1953 Chevy grille teeth and 1953 Buick side trim, with lakes pipes putting the icing on the cake. Mathis then fired up his paint gun and sprayed a beautiful House of Kolor Kandy Brandy Wine paintjob.
Inside, you have Dakota Digital instruments added to the stock dashboard, and wiring from Jim using a Painless Performance Produts wiring kit. Pearl white “Naugas” in a classic tuck ’n’ roll pattern cover the seats, the perfect final touch.
The car truly does have all the traditional “bells and whistles,” making it … a dream come true. MR – Check out this story in our digital edition here.
