Street rods are cool, for sure, but some are definitely cooler than others. High quality ‘glass bodies are nice, but REAL STEEL cars like this ‘35 are a cut above, beyond a shadow of a doubt. Add in potent and retro-appealing power, creature comforts everywhere, slick detailing and an awesome overall appearance and you’ve got quite a winner!

Start outside with the very cool, classic ‘05 Harley-Davidson Chopper Blue and Glacier White Pearl combination. The paint is laid over flawless bodywork, and the paint itself is as good as it gets. Many people attempt to spray pearl paint, and nearly all of them fail to do it right – fogging and streaking are so commonplace it’s as if the painter wanted it that way! No such errors are found on this car, though – the paint is even, from dawn till dusk, showing the talent found at Tommy’s Elite Rides in Brooksville, FL. Going backward from the paint you’ll find a real live ‘35 Ford three-window coupe that’s been given the royal treatment. From the chopped top to the smoothed lines to the channeled floors with custom floor-pans to the serious rake this car was done just like they were decades ago. Craftsmanship simply can’t be replaced with parts from a catalog: More than 1600 man hours went into the fabrication and build!

Rolling stock consists of new, chromed steel wheels with original style hub caps. The blue paint from the body finds its way onto the thin slice of wheel between the rim and cap for a subtle look. Check out the 185/65/15 whitewalls from Diamond Back Classics up front – both sides have been shaved so there’s no “ugly” side to them – trick! Front half-fenders keep road debris from harming the car and look great with the rear fenders and the 255/70/15 tires within. Of course, all ornamentation and every piece of superfluous trim was shaved off: The doors open via wireless remote while the trunk and fuel door open from within the cabin. The deck lid was stretched 18 inches for a unique shape. The grille shell was smoothed, fitted with a ‘36 Ford truck grill with nine inches sectioned out of the center, and hung out front on chromed supports between a pair of classic 7” headlights. You can see the custom firewall was built from scratch standing where you are – engine compartments are a lot easier to work on when they’re wide open!

The triple carb setup immediately steals your attention from the 350 cubic-inch crate engine beneath – why wouldn’t it? Three chromed Strombergs sit under the trio of chromed and finned air cleaners, get fed by polished stainless fuel lines and sit atop a chromed intake manifold. Polished brass fittings provide an accent color to the silver-toned parts and blue highlights. Billet valve covers ride next to polished stainless wire covers. Chromed pulleys, a polished stainless steel power steering reservoir and accessory brackets are in place alongside the polished A/C compressor and alternator. Blue spark plug wires, a blue distributor cap, blue carburetor bases and blue paint on the engine block bring it all together!

Drop and check out the TCI chassis with its independent front suspension, aluminum-bodied coil overs all around and a 9” rear out back. Painted in a clean silver the frame is as fresh as it looks. Chromed control arms, spindles and outer tie rods work with a polished steering rack up front to keep the car pointed where you want it. The polished stainless four link out back suspends the big 9” rear and its 3.70 gears. The 350 and the 700R4 transmission sport aluminum finned pans; Lokar stainless braided parking brake cables are tucked up neatly in the frame. Power is sent back through a polished aluminum driveshaft while ceramic coated exhaust pipes send fumes down a parallel path. Power steering and brakes make for easy cruising – this is a complete ‘rod!

Pop open the driver door and slide inside. The interior was done by Unlimited Designs, Dale Vancuren from Dade City, Florida. That comfortable material is state of the street rod art: Ultraleather looks and feels like the real stuff but is much easier to maintain. Creature comforts are everywhere from the chrome tilt column to the headliner-mounted stereo to the power windows to the Vintage Air climate control system. The seats are comfortable and offer a wide range of fore and aft adjustment. Cool LED lights are set around the cabin for a cool glow and a wild custom touch. Lokar pedals, the LeCarra banjo steering wheel and S-W “wings” gauges are all just-right in this classic cockpit – you’ll love it!

This car took Best of Show and Best Interior on Main Street in Daytona, Florida out of 4000 cars in November 2007, plus $1500.00 cash. It also won Best in Class and Street Achievement Award, which is top ten out of 430 cars, at the World of Wheels in Atlanta, Georgia in February 2007. It also took Best of Show at the NSRA (National Street Rod Association) Southeast Nationals and was covered by a 3-page spread in “Streetscene” magazine, May 2008.

We have over $40,000 in receipts for parts, paint & interior. Add to that the nearly huge labor bill and you’re talking an investment of close to $150,0000 – and that doesn’t count the time it took to wait for it! Well done street rods always bring the right dollar, especially if they’re done with steel bodies! With its killer looks, great build quality and steel tub, this ‘35 is a winner everywhere! Want to blow everyone away at the next cruise event? THIS is your car!