Exterior
Wonderfully curved ripple free panels with well minded gaps are
attached to this car. Looking much like a red kidney bean, the car
has been nosed and decked, and now has a single 3 toothed
horizontal bar in the middle replacing the bullet styled grille.
All chrome is excellent and shining like a crazy diamond. On the
hood is a large pinstripe flourish with 1949 Ford written on it.
The fenders seamlessly sweep into the body and it shows in the
traditional 3 box design, that was the shape of things to come.
Nice chrome trimmings for all the windows, a large metal sun visor
is permanently attached, and on the sides the spears have been
shaved and now it has some white flames burning the red paint. A
wide scooped hood moves rearward to the split windshield. The
obligatory chromed searchlights are on both sides and small styled
oval mirrors aid with the side views on both sides. On the back
small rear quarter fins are now filled and squinting oval tail
lighting is mounted just below the filler on the fins. Some more
white highlighter flourishes below the tail lighting, and of course
the continental bumper complete with metal spare tire cover
sporting Betty Boop. Add in fender skirts with chrome trimmings and
deep round moon caps on back to clear the fender skirts, as well as
some pointed star caps for the front tires. All tires are wide
whites. This car is very cool you could say...boop-oop-a-doop!
Interior
Utilizing some of the original design aspects, and chroming them
trim curves, power window toggles and door actuator mix nicely with
the black background of the smooth vinyl door panels and seats.
Speaking of which, the wide overstuffed high backs upfront and a
circular dual attached via a center fold down armrest bench on the
rear. These are all very nice, no rips or tears, and sport red
piping for some extra bling. Front buckets have power adjustments.
The dash drips late 40s design with the interplay of chrome
trimmings and back painted curved formed metal. A single new
circular speedo within a metal cut out wide surround and a few
chromed knobs and some vertical ribbed forms trimming various
areas. We could be revisiting some art deco styling, but certainly
geared toward the upcoming rocket age. On top of the speedometer is
a glass fresnel lens to help the driver see a changing traffic
light due to the metal visor possibly obscuring the view, (they
thought of everything!). Fronting the dash is an original steering
wheel in white bakelite. A quartet of aftermarket gauges hangs
below the centrally located radio, now an aftermarket digital
AM/FM/CD player by Sony. Just above that in the factory formed
circle on front of the center dash which used to house the clock is
now a round tachometer. Also noted is a B&M converter lock up
control. Within the flooded black carpeted floors, now protected by
more Betty Boop themed mats is a B&M shifter and plastic molded
center console/change holder/cupholder in black. Above is a nice
tight black vinyl headliner. Dont touch!
Drivetrain
A lift of the hood, and what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a Chevrolet 327ci V8 courtesy a Camaro. This is topped with an
Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor. On the back, a GM 4-speed 200R4
transmission. When viewing this engine, youll have to wear shades
as it is highly polished everywhere and has a red ribbed air
cleaner atop with red wiring, headers, and a shiny like new master
cylinder. Close the hood before I go blind!!
Undercarriage
Not much to complain about underneath, as we see plenty of black
undercoating, a newer fuel tank, Flowmaster exhaust, and a nice and
clean frame now supporting a coil spring independent suspension in
front leaf springs in back. Power disc brakes on front, and power
drums on back provide the woah factor. "Belly dancing is a good
workout, so do it everyday"...B Boop!
Drive-Ability
Id definitely call this car a sleeper, as outside it hints at a
wild side, but a turn of the key confirms it. It idles with a
beautiful burble, and when you press the gas, this car just becomes
bright eyed and bushy tailed! Plenty of power to even chirp the
tires, and it just keeps on going and going. A definite top end
car, I was not able to realize its full potential even on our test
track, it had that much left. Slight lumbering on the curves, easy
steering when moving, and it was nice and tight. Definitely a
screamer with more power than youll probably ever need, and then
some. This car just gets up and goes goes goes. Very
Impressive!