Vintage Styling With Supercharged Coyote Power
By Fuelish Media – Photography by the Author
Tim Bumgarner’s lifelong passion for cars began in a family where he stood alone in his love for automotive tinkering. Cars were his world, his sanctuary, his canvas for expression. From his humble beginnings in a Minnesota home lacking modern amenities, Tim’s journey with cars was as rugged as the roads he traversed.
His automotive odyssey started with a modest 1937 Ford, a cheap treasure he drove hard and modified, much to his mechanic father’s apprehension. Money was scarce but Tim’s determination was boundless. College dreams deferred his car customizing ambitions, but they never faded. Responsibilities grew as a family man, necessitating practical vehicles over his cherished roadsters or pickups with limited seating. Yet, as the seasons of life turned, so did Tim’s fortunes. With retirement ushering in a newfound freedom, he returned to his beloved pastime with newfound passion.
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Fate smiled upon Tim at the Goodguys Spring Nationals, where a chance encounter with Dean Livermore of Hot Rods by Dean kindled a transformative partnership. Inspired by Livermore’s craftsmanship, Tim entrusted him with building his cherished 1949 Chevy. The results were impressive, and Tim then brought in his vintage 1956 Ford Ranch Wagon that was originally sold at the Herbert and Bloomfield dealership in Long Island, New York, down the street from Livermore’s childhood stomping grounds.
The first order of business for the Ranch Wagon’s metamorphosis was to upgrade the ride quality with a GT Sport Art Morrison chassis to replace the tired old frame of this classic cruiser. Up front is an independent suspension with Wilwood spindles and a modern rack-and-pinion steering unit for ease when turning. A sway bar is used to help minimize body roll while the rear utilizes an uncompromising triangulated four-link system. The car now rides on a set of Strange Engineering coilovers to dial in ride quality, while stopping power is handled by 12.19-inch Wilwood brake kit at all four corners.
Tim is also the kind of guy who likes old vintage motors and doesn’t do any crazy driving or burnouts. However, he does like to get up to highway speeds quickly without hesitation. He also knows a few guys at Roush Performance and owns one of their motors in a 1933 Ford roadster. So, he decided to get their EFI-equipped supercharged 5.0 Coyote engine for this car. Helping the engine breathe is a custom intake tube, and at the other end is a set of 2-1/2-inch custom headers and exhaust with Walker mufflers. Harnessing the 600 hp of the powerplant is a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission with McLeod clutch that utilizes a TAD Drive shafts custom driveshaft to activate a Strange Engineering 9-inch rearend with limited-slip differential and 3.70 gears. To make this car more road trip friendly, the team at Dean’s 26-gallon aluminum custom fuel tank with an Aeromotive fuel pump to feed the engine.
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As far as the body is concerned, Tim wanted to keep it a regular-looking sleeper-type car. He was in luck with this one as it was in great condition with no rust, and only one section of a quarter-panel needed to be fixed from a previous bad repair job. From there, the crew at Dean’s gapped all the panels and blocked the body super smooth. Despite the body being refinished in stock form, Livermore and his team could showcase their metalworking talents under hood with modified original wheel wells, a custom cover for the Ron Davis radiator, and a finely massaged firewall that holds a custom brake and clutch master cylinder.
Though the car was originally painted in a lighter blue and white, Tim and his wife wanted to change it up a bit. After seeing a few cars at the Grand National Roadster Show, Livermore led them in the right direction for the custom-mixed blue and cream PPG paint it was coated in. This car was in such good condition that all the original trim was refinished except for the dealer tag, which had to be recreated. Finishing off the exterior look is a set of 17×8 and 17×9 Smoothie billet wheels from Wheel Smith that have modified vintage Ford hubcaps. Maintaining a squishy ride is a set of 225/55R17 and 225/60R17 Cooper tires that help keep traction with the pavement.
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On the inside, some minor changes were made to improve the original styling of the car. Up front, the dash was modified to delete the stock pad. Then, Rick Love was able to help source a Mother of Pearl panel that now holds the Classic Instruments gauges and matches the Vintage Air climate-control unit. Then, the stock steering column shifter was eliminated and replaced by a floor-mounted Hurst shifter. In the back, an opening panel was made to hide the relocated Optima battery, and the spare tire pocket was modified to fit the enlarged gas tank. Topping it off, Ciadella Interiors reupholstered the stock seats and door panels in blue and white leather.
Three years of dedication culminated in a triumphant debut at the 2024 Grand National Roadster Show where the wagon claimed its rightful place atop its class. Tim’s joy wasn’t just in the accolades but in the simple driving pleasure. With its enhanced chassis and spirited engine, the wagon dances effortlessly down highways, beckoning passengers to join in some adventures across the Midwest.
As Tim embarks on new journeys, he carries with him a passion for cars and a legacy of craftsmanship and camaraderie forged in the fires of his lifelong love affair with the open road. MR
Click on this issue’s cover to see the enhanced digital version of Restomod Ford Ranch Wagon Cruiser.
