Photography by Jeff Norwell
ur In The Garage Series begins with Jeff Norwell, a fulltime hot rodder, illustrator (you’ve seen his work and may not have even realized it), and a Canadian who can’t get his fill of hot rods. He lives in Neustadt, Ontario, Canada, and oftentimes can be seen working and enjoying the Jalopy Jam Up Hot Rod and Custom Show in the Frontier Ghost Town above the confines— that’s the U.S. and Canadian border. (For reference, Norwell lives two hours north of Buffalo, New York.) He’s also a member of the Infidel Car Club.
We mention that he’s a fulltime artist and his work you’ve seen in the likes of rodding magazines from years past. (You will also be seeing his work in the future in Modern Rodding, but more on that later.) His talent takes him far from the hot rod crowd, as he has national accounts not only in Canada but here in the States as well. Most of his hometown rodding buddies, and those of us on this side of the “border”, recognize him as one of the rodders behind the scenes of the Jalopy Jam Up.
Aside from being oh-so cool (Jeff, I know you are grimacing now!), Norwell also has a home garage any rodder, north or south of the border, would be proud to show. Not only is the garage very cool, as buildings go, but the memorabilia is eye-grabbing cool, and this doesn’t even begin to do justice to his four hot rod projects resting beneath the roof.
We asked Norwell to give us a “hot lap” around the garage and tell us a little something about the hot rods, so here it goes.
Next up is the lil’ red 1932 Ford pickup (Hot Rod 1961) that has been around for decades. There’s no mistaking it with its brilliant paint (1952 Ford Coral Flame Red), 6-inch top chop and accompanying 6-inch channel (the width of a Deuce frame), wide whites on chrome wheels, and louvered tailgate. Again, Neil Candy handled the build along with Tim Banning (Hemi builder), Kevin A. (paint), Nick Harrison (wiring), and Ken Stewart (custom tube axle). It too is powered by a Hemi sitting in front of the white accent firewall. This Hemi is a 1957 392 (A-1 block) and comes topped with a Weiand intake with a pair of 600-cfm Edelbrock carbs. The Hemi is linked to a Doug Nash 4+1 running the power back to a Currie Ford 9-inch.
Both of the early hot rods are finished running cars (although the coupe is undergoing some paint “maintenance”).
The black and white one with no motor Norwell bought out of Texas.
“It’s actually a funny story, because I never told my wife about the car for about for about seven years. Then where it was being stored the guy spilled the beans. I then had to say that it was hers.”
Norwell goes on to tell us, “… that it isn’t hers but his.”
Guess what, Jeff … it is hers and that’s the rest of that story!
When asked about the second 1957 Ford Norwell spins this bit of info.
“The second 1957 Ford I bought out of Iowa and it’s an original Texas car. I paid around $3,500 and it was running under its own 460 power. I took all that out and have been getting bodywork done because the rear quarters were gone but that’s all brand new. And then I bought a 1966 big-block Ford 428 and to go along with it I found a 406 Tri-power induction complete (manifold and carbs) that had never been on a car. It was direct from a Ford dealer. A friend of mine had it and he sold it to me and then put the motor together. It’s probably good for 425 hp and is matched to a Ford Top Loader four-speed transmission.”
“Do you remember the beautiful Ford factory headers that came on the 1963-1964 Fords? Well, I wanted those for this Ford but everyone said that they wouldn’t fit on the 1957-1959s. Well, I’m here to tell you that you can make them fit and I did.
“I wanted a look that would have occurred in 1962 to 1963. The black and white 1957 is bone-stock sheetmetal with one noticeable modification and that is the early T-bird scoop hood. The scoop fits perfectly and it’s something Ford should have done.
“The suspension is fundamentally stock but I did install heavy-duty suspension mods front and rear. Heavy-duty sway bar in front, coilovers at the corners, along with heavy-duty Eaton front springs, and Eaton six-leaf Police spring in the back.”
“About 90 percent of the car club plaques are from Ontario (and other parts of Canada) that go back to the early ’50s. I collect them because I love the history. I’m more interested in my local history. There were just so many car clubs here in the ’50s and ’60s and still to this day I get freaked out when rodders don’t care or respect the history.”
We also noticed on the second floor it is set up like a museum floor having lots to look at but a few items caught our eye and we asked Norwell to explain. We started with the desk and draftsman table that served as a focal point.
There is so much more to be seen and spoken about but for now you get the idea that Norwell is a hot rodder’s hot rodder. Should you get the chance to go north of the border give him a call, odds are he will invite you in to share some great hot rod history.