The Ace: '35 Ford Roadster
By Scott Parkhurst
Photos By ST Staff
While waiting to tee off on the 14th hole of a Myrtle Beach, SC, golf course, Gordon Peters was admiring the scenery around him when he saw a conspicuous shape hiding beneath a tarp in an adjacent backyard.
His attention piqued; he strolled boldly toward the tarp and peeked beneath it. What he discovered was a bone-stock '35 Ford Roadster in original condition. It was far from perfect, but far from junk.After completing his round of golf, Gordon decided to take a little detour from his vacation and inquire about the car. He drove directly to the house where the car was stashed, and casually knocked on the door.
The elderly man who answered knew exactly what Gordon was interested in. Apparently, Peters was nowhere near the first person to ask about the '35. Interestingly, his status as a visitor to the area would work to his advantage.
The owner had been considering selling the car, and explained how many local enthusiasts had been bugging him for years about the silent hulk. If he were to sell to a local enthusiast, many other locals would be unhappy.
After much thought, the man decided it'd just be easier to sell the car to someone from out of town. That way, no one in the local area would have to feel slighted.
The logic was interesting, and Peters' home in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington qualified him as a suddenly-prospective buyer. Luckily, Gordon had funds on hand. Once the deal was done, Peters began what would be more than a two-year project. His vision was to maintain the classic style of the '35. Where most rodders are drawn to cars from the '32-'34 timeframe, Gordon knew a well-built '35 Roadster would surely stand apart from the crowd.
Gordon entrusted the building of the car to Neal Lea of Centre, AL. Lea's shop (Rods and Restos) has turned out some fine machinery, known for cool style and dependable roadworthiness, and Peters had another project in the works there already. Gordon's previous '56 Chevy project was immediately back-burnered when the '35 rolled through the doors.
"Neal called me and we talked about the '35 for quite awhile. He was very enthusiastic about the car, and so was I. We decided to focus efforts on this project and hold off on the '56 for now. I'm glad we did, as this car turned out better than I'd hoped."
The flowing profile of the '35 needed no help, save for the correct stance and a mild chop. The body was in fine shape, except for some typical corrosion in the convertible top well and some other minor rust, which could be easily repaired.
The complete rebuild of the Roadster included many upgrades, though few can truly be considered "modern." The dropped Super Bell I-beam front axle is supported by a Posies spring. Brakes are finned drums on all four corners, and support Wheel Vintiques steel wheels (15x7s in front, with 15x8s in the rear) and Coker Classic tires (195/75-15s in front, 235/75-15s out back). The rear suspension consists of a 9-inch Ford housing, sprung by Posies leafs, containing 3.50:1 cogs with Positraction.
The drivetrain is a bit more aggressive, but this is a hot rod after all. A 383-inch small-block Chevy was assembled by Competition Engines of Eagan, MN, and puts out an easy 425 horses. Backed with a '67-era Muncie M-21 four-speed trans, the car lives up to the hot rod billing. One concession to modern goodness is in the incorporation of a hydraulic clutch actuator, engineered by Don Groff (whose Buick rod we featured in our Premiere issue). Having a powerful small-block and a four-speed manual trans guarantees Gordon a good time whenever he chooses.
The paint choice is Washington Blue urethane (sprayed by Neal Lea) while nationally-known interior maestro Paul Atkins (Gadsen, AL) handled the tan leather upholstery, Mercedes wool carpet, and functional convertible top (also in tasteful tan).
The resulting rod is a thing of beauty that pays respect to the original model and traditional hot rods in general. It does so while tending to all the details inside, outside, and underneath. The conservative colors mask the powerful drivetrain hiding within, as this Roadster is certainly capable of pushing ample wind through your hair with the top down and gears banging. We congratulate Gordon for completing this incredibly fine car, but especially for his ability to nail the Ace on that 14th hole-without swinging a club.
Note: SuperMotors has a business affiliation with Street Thunder Magazine, which provides street rod and automotive content to SuperMotors.
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