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Available Now!
The automotive hobby has quite a number of subcultures... such as the
purists who restore their vehicles to Concours d'Elegance condition
and who consider the slightest deviation from as new condition as utter
blasphemy. It's not that restoring a car or truck to as-new condition
isn't a lot of work... but the manufacturer has already provided
the design standards.
Street rod and custom builders, on the other hand, have carte blanche
to let their dreams run wild. These folks know that once you take a
Sawz-All to the roof pillars, there's no turning back. The result of
such a commitment ultimately becomes a symphony in steel that reflects
the personality, ingenuity, and talents of its creator.
Some featured segments from Street Rod & Custom Collectors...
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Doug Soulia Senior's immaculate 1934 Ford 3-window "Manotti-bodied" coupe, powered by a small-block Chevy 350 and equipped with remote doors, power windows/trunk lid, and a powder-coated frame and polished running gear... this rod has to be seen to be believed. |
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| Proving that
the urge to customize old cars can be transmitted
genetically, Doug Soulia Jr was inspired to follow
his dad's example and resurrect a 1938 Willys that
required a bit of forestry to get home - there were trees
growing through the frame when he bought it! |
| Rocky Stalker proves that Yankee ingenuity is alive and well with his 1948 Ford coupé, a labor of love incorporating, among other slightly unexpected elements, '64 Ford 390 engine, the grille from a '75 LTD, running boards fabricated from pressure-treated 2X6s, and parking light bezels made from tuna cans... we kid you not! |
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| This colorful 1956 Chevy Sedan Delivery started life as a grocery wagon in Modesto, CA, and now is enjoying a well-earned 327-powered retirement in the hands of its equally colorful owner, San Francisco harbor bar pilot Don Hughes --- a truly classic pair. |
| Jon DeFrehn gives
us a tour of the lovely scenery around Lake Coeur d'Alene,
ID in his 1951 Mercury "Lead Sled", powered by a
Ford 351 Windsor engine and incorporating the grille from
a '53 DeSoto, Laker pipes, a digital dash, and spectacular
paint with a subtle "ghost flame"
effect.
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| This lovely 1948 Lincoln Continental spent the years 1954 to 1983 stored in a barn, from which it was rescued by Olin Hoover of Gilbert, SC. Olin left the exterior and interior practically stock, but chose to replace the original V-12 power train with a small-block Chevy 400 mated to a 350 Turbo transmission. |
| The late Charlie Cannon will be sorely missed in the world of street rodding - but his wife Kathy gives us a guided tour of the collection he left behind, including their 1929 Model A, a 1934 Nash Brougham, and a 1948 F1 (is this the proper designation?) pickup. We also get a look at some of the untouched gems inhabiting "Charlie's woods." |
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| Further proof that street-rodding is a family affair, Olin's younger brother Ron Hoover shows us his 1934 Ford 3-window coupé, with its unmodified all-steel body and Nova power train. |
| Ron's passion for the hobby inspired his friend Ronnie Shealy's project, this gorgeous 1938 "Ram" pickup, powered by an all-Dodge power train and still utilizing the original front end. |
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| Our last visit is to Ron's son-in-law Toby Speres's Poly Sapphire Blue 1940 Chevrolet Master DeLuxe coupé, with a Chevy 350 crate motor driving a 350 Turbo transmission. And since his wife didn't come along on our test ride, Toby was able to give us a small demonstration of what this blue gem is capable of on an open stretch of country road... |
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And of course there's more, like a nostalgic trip through
Deal Auto Wrecking in Richmond, CA, plus the personality,
history, and scenery that makes Long Road's offerings unique
among contemporary motoring videos!
Street Rod & Custom Collectors |
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