By Dale Moreau – Photography By The Author
Steve Frisbie owns and operates Steve’s Auto Restorations (SAR) in Portland, Oregon. His love of cars harkens back to working in the shop with his father. Over the years, many fantastic projects have come his way, including building a car that won the Ridler award at the Detroit Autorama. So, what would a guy in his position want for his ride? It turns out that Steve is into 1933-1934 Fords.
So, what’s a guy to do when he cannot find an original 1933 Ford Cabriolet but owns a business that can do whatever he wants? He builds one from the ground up. Steve had acquired dies to stamp and build all-steel roadster bodies from 1933 to 1934. This cabriolet was built by SAR using components from their 1933-1934 Real Steel Roadster project. The cabriolet was built to showcase and feature the 1933-1934 sheetmetal parts and roadster bodies. Steve has been restoring cars for over 20 years when he entered the hot rod and custom scene. A build series was featured in Rod & Custom to promote and advertise the build and the Real Steel roadster bodies.
Using the stamped sheetmetal parts from the roadster bodies, SAR modified the quarter-panel tops and the cowl, fabricated the A-pillar/windshield frame (3-inch chop), and completely hand-fabbed the doors and doorframes.
The only original Ford things are the dash, hood, and grille. His crew then built the frame to stock specs and slid it under the body. Four-wheel disc brakes, a Chevrolet six-speed transmission, and a stainless exhaust by SAR round out the chassis. On top, an aluminum radiator cools a GM 350ci engine with three two-barrel carbs and plumbing and wiring. The body- and paintwork was done in SAR’s paint booth and then pinstriped by the one and only Mitch Kim of Portland. Designer Chris Ito penned the front and rear nerf bars. Creature comfort inside is supplied by a tuck-and-roll leather interior with Wilton wool carpet by Paul Reichlin and a steering wheel by Roger Adams at the Wheel Shoppe. The custom instruments come from Classic Instruments and are mounted into the original Ford dashboard while the crew handles all the hot rod wiring at SAR.
The culmination from Coker Tire are wide whites (rears are 255/70R15 and fronts are 185/70R15) wrapped around 15-inch chrome wheels. A polished 4-inch drop I-beam axle from Super Bell with a chrome reversed transverse leaf spring and tube shocks are up front. In the rear, a chromed Ford 9-inch rearend with coilover shocks are used.
The car’s look carries the beautiful lines of the original Ford. But with some careful modifications, it crosses the line to a modern custom conversation that is capable of long-distance jaunts wherever the steering wheel takes you.
Check out this story in our digital edition here.
MR
