’32 Ford Roadster Crowned AMBR
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Wagons Are King Of The Cruise
Sheetmetal Class
Making a Roll Pan
Beneath the “Skin” …
The Beginnings of One
Very Fast ’Cuda
Latest From Art Morrison
Enterprises …

Mopar B-Body IFS Front
Crossmember
Sheetmetal Class
Making a Roll Pan Beneath the “Skin” …
The Beginnings of One Very Fast ’Cuda
Latest From Art Morrison Enterprises …
Mopar B-Body IFS Front Crossmember
Detroit Autorama …
’50 Merc Takes Home Ridler
’50 Merc Takes Home Ridler
June 2023
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Make It Yours. Make It Lokar. Modern Performance. Classic Style. Endless Options.
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Flaming River: One good turn deserves another
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Modern Rodding CONTENTS
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June 2023 table of contents article thumbnails
Departments
Brian Brennan
Industry News
New Products
Those Supporting Our Industry
Brian Brennan
Features
Jack Chisenhall’s ’32 Ford Highboy Roadster
By Brian Brennnan, Photography by Wes Allison, Videography by Ryan Foss
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Chris Carlson’s ’53 Buick Convertible
By Brian Brennnan, Photography by Grant Cox
Mike Stowe’s ’55 Chevy Delray
By Brian Brennan, Photography by Josh Mishler
Chris and Christian Hubble’s ’37 Chevy Pickup
By Brian Brennan, Photography by John Jackson
Dale Deburger’s ’59 Chevy Brookwood Wagon
By Brian Brennan, Photography by John Jackson
Tech
The Art of Shaping Metal
By Ron Covell, Photography by John Hall & Dave Autin
Handling to Match the Horsepower, Thanks to Art Morrison Enterprises
By Ron Ceridono, Photography by Matt Jones
Like its Namesake, This ’71 Barracuda is Built for Speed
By Gerry Burger, Photography by Dale Boesch
Event
The Ridler and So Much More!
By Eric Geisert, Photography by the Author
On the Cover:
There was a time when hot rodders wouldn’t dare get caught riding around in a station wagon. Not so anymore as wagons are way cool. Dale Deburger’s ’59 Chevy Brookwood is about as cool as cool can be. And what might make this ride even better? How about a vintage W-motor residing under the sheetmetal. It’s a vintage 409 that now comes in at 426 inches and offers up dual fours and other vintage-looking parts. Photography by John Jackson
June 2023 Modern Rodding cover
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Modern Rodding ISSN 2692-2371 (print) ISSN 2692-238X (online) Issue 33 is published monthly by In the Garage Media, Inc., 370 E. Orangethorpe Avenue, Placentia, CA 92870-6502. Application to mail at Periodicals prices at Placentia, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Modern Rodding, c/o In the Garage Media, Inc., 1350 E. Chapman Ave #6550, Fullerton, CA 92834-6550 or email ITGM, Inc. at subscription@inthegaragemedia.com. Copyright (c) 2023 IN THE GARAGE MEDIA, INC. Printed in the USA. The Modern Rodding trademark is a registered trademark of In The Garage Media, Inc.
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Modern Rodding STARTING OVER

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If You Don’t Have a Hot Rod You are Missing Out on a Lot

By Brian Brennan Photography by The Author
“If you don’t have a hot rod, you are missing out on a lot.” Those words were uttered during a recent phone conversation I had. Yes, I went old school and picked up a phone rather than IM, text, email, or any other of today’s non-verbalizing forms of communication. I am reminded how rewarding, fulfilling, and exact a human voice can sound on a phone. Especially when compared to non-vocal communication.

My grandkids tell me, “Yo, you are so retro.” But I find human conversation much more rewarding than texting. Besides my carpal tunnel syndrome is acting up so it’s time to put the miniature keyboard aside.

I was speaking with our techie Ron Ceridono who to this day is one of the few who still uses a phone first and everything else second. Of course for Ron, the world, especially the world of hot rodding, pretty much came to an end in and around 1967—if you push him, he will nudge up to 1969. I can tell you he is mellowing. He recently, albeit begrudgingly, admitted there are a few things from today’s modern technology that have enhanced our performance world.

Rodding Around

By Brian Brennan

red gear icon ARP to Present Major Awards at 2023 Triple Crown of Rodding

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ARP

is getting into supporting the hot rod industry in a big way. ARP is known for sponsoring two of the most prestigious awards (AMBR and Slonaker) at the Grand National Roadster Show. Now ARP is sponsoring the ARP West Coast Challenge for a four-show series that includes the GNRS, Portland Roadster Show, Spokane Speed and Custom Show, and the Sacramento Autorama. Now there is more.

ARP is now the presenting sponsor for the Triple Crown of Rodding for the Street Rod of the Year, Street Machine of the Year, and Street Cruiser of the Year. LMC is the presenting sponsoring for the three truck awards, earmarked for trucks built up to 1972, for those manufactured from 1973-87, and 1988-98. And if that isn’t eye-opening enough, how about the latest major company to participate: CPP as the Official Suspension Sponsor. CPP will be handing out awards to the Top 30 and the Elite 10. As the expression goes, “The event is getting its own legs.”

Modern Rodding NEW PRODUCTS

By Brian Brennan

Four New Car Products
1. Upgrade Your Falcon or Comet
Total Control Products now offers a g-Bar Canted-4-Bar Suspension that is designed specifically for the ’60-65 Ford Falcon and Mercury Comet models, providing improved performance and handling when compared to the original leaf spring suspension.

With adjustable suspension geometry and the option to choose between coilover or air-spring shocks, this suspension upgrade offers enhanced control and stability on the road. The triangulated four-link design offers improved traction and handling. The suspension can also be used with either a leaf spring rearend housing or a fabricated Ford 9-inch housing.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
Shop Built title
Building an AMBR-Winning Roadster in Your Workshop is No Easy Task
By Brian BrennanPhotography by Wes AllisonVIDEOGRAPHY by RYAN FOSS
T

here was a time when hot rods and race cars were built in home shops. Many older rodders remember these days as the “glory days” of rodding and racing. There will be doubters but this ’32 Ford highboy roadster, which took home the 2023 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster trophy, is, in a manner of speaking, a home shop–built hot rod.

black '32 Ford highboy roadster

Modern Rodding TECH

InTheGarageMedia.com

1. This is the tail end of a Shadow Rods XL27 body. This body has special reveals for the license and taillights.
Making a Roll Pan typographic title in black
The Art of Shaping Metal
By Ron Covell Photography by Jon Hall & Dave Autin
J

on Hall is the founder of Shadow Rods, a company that makes the XL27 body. This body has the basic shape of a ’27 Ford roadster but has been subtly enlarged to give more interior space and is tailored to fit perfectly on a ’32 Ford frame.

Hall recently finished a personal roadster project that features some unique modifications. It was a very strong contender for the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at how the perfectly proportioned roll pan was made for the rear of the body.

Modern Rodding Feature

InTheGarageMedia.com

By Brian Brennan Photography by Grant Cox
Father & Son Project typography
Father & Son Project typography

Two Pairs of Hands Made This ’53 Buick ’Vert Project More Fun

T

he “backstory,” the story behind almost any hot rod, is the one usually of utmost interest. You know, the story that’s behind the scenes and isn’t often told unless you really sit down and begin talking hot rod stuff. Such is the case for this ’53 Buick Special convertible, 1 of 6,701 that were originally built. Chris Carlson is no stranger to hot rods, owning his own shop, Chris Carlson Hot Rods in Mulvane, Kansas. As we said, it’s the backstory. So, let’s have Chris tell us in his own words what’s up.

“The ’53 Buick Special convertible was two weeks from being completed when it was damaged in our shop fire. After a lengthy fight with the insurance company and the owner, the car became ours. It was a sore subject and not the car I wanted. I had two different clients commit to buy it and then back out. My son, Drew, convinced me to build it. We decided if we were going to build it, then we would build it to our style and debut it at SEMA.”

Modern Rodding EVENT

InTheGarageMedia.com

Show floor filled with cars and attendees
The crowds are always spectacular at the Detroit Autorama, filling the very wide aisles the show is known for.
"Meguiar's 70th Detroit Autorama"
The Ridler and So Much More!
By Eric Geisert Photography by THE AUTHOR
T

radition is sometimes hard to find, even when something has been around for 70 years but, since 1953, the Detroit Autorama has been able to deliver on its boast of being “America’s Greatest Hot Rod Show.” Through seven decades the Detroit show has demonstrated its perfect blend of tradition and contemporary, with a little sideshow mixed in for good measure.

Many facets of today’s Detroit Autorama are firmly entrenched in its long history. Celebrity autograph sessions used to feature TV’s Batman Adam West or well-known sports figures; this year’s show featured TV personality Dave Kindig, actor Henry Winkler, and hip-hop’s Falvor Flav.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
College Curriculum title
You Can Learn a Lot While in College … Like Building a ’55 Chevy Delray
By Brian BrennanPhotography by Josh Mishler
G

etting ready to go off to college is a big deal but having your father help you find and work on a black ’55 Chevy Delray coupe as your daily ride is even more memorable. Such was the case for Mike Stowe of Northern Michigan. Turns out the ’55 Chevy in question was powered by a 265-inch small-block Chevy backed by a Powerglide. Given that Mike’s dad was a car guy, the first order of business was to remove the emblems, lead-in the holes, and then lower the stance. Sounds like a great college course in “What Matters in Life.”

'55 Chevy Delray

Modern Rodding TECH

InTheGarageMedia.com

By RON CERIDONO Photography by MATT JONES
MOPAR MAGIC
Handling to Match the Horsepower, Thanks to Art Morrison Enterprises
W

hile quarter-mile elapsed times were once a hot rodder’s chief factor in assessing a car’s performance, today we expect a more well-rounded approach—we want them to go fast in a straight line, negotiate corners like they are on ’rails, and stop on the proverbial dime. While that sounds like a tall order for vintage Mopar aficionados, Art Morrison Enterprises (AME) now makes all that possible with their new suspension upgrade for ’66-70 Mopar B-body platforms.

1. Aaron Porter of Horsepower Northwest and Tom Smith of Art Morrison Enterprises prepare to do a test-fit of the K-member of the AME Mopar B-body front suspension kit. If the assembly was ordered in bare steel, it is always recommended to perform a test-fit before coating or painting.
By RON CERIDONO Photography by MATT JONES
MOPAR MAGIC
Handling to Match the Horsepower, Thanks to Art Morrison Enterprises
W

hile quarter-mile elapsed times were once a hot rodder’s chief factor in assessing a car’s performance, today we expect a more well-rounded approach—we want them to go fast in a straight line, negotiate corners like they are on ’rails, and stop on the proverbial dime. While that sounds like a tall order for vintage Mopar aficionados, Art Morrison Enterprises (AME) now makes all that possible with their new suspension upgrade for ’66-70 Mopar B-body platforms.

Known for their superior chassis and suspension components, AME’s new bolt-in K-member assembly follows their well-established reputation and comes with rack-and-pinion steering, tubular control arms, Strange Engineering coilover shocks, and C6 Corvette–style knuckle assemblies. According to AME, the tall, forged knuckle assemblies provide several suspension geometry benefits—the lateral roll center migration is minimal, while the negative camber gain is aggressive enough for high-performance driving and autocross. As Matt Jones, president of AME, explains it, “Put simply, this means the car will have excellent grip while corning and feel stable to the driver from the initial turn-in to corner exit.” Jones adds, “AME’s Mopar K-member is a 100 percent bolt-on assembly that can be easily installed by any competent do-it-yourselfer.”
Modern Rodding Feature

InTheGarageMedia.com

By BRIAN BRENNAN Photography by John Jackson
A Personality Unto Its Own typography

Subtle in Appearance and Strong in Performance

P

ickup trucks in today’s world tend to be utilitarian most of the time. However, we have started treating our trucks with more and more attention. So, it shouldn’t come as any surprise about the ’37 Chevy pickup in front of us. And while the ’37 Chevy pickup belonging to Chris and Christin Hubble of Anchorage, Alaska, is “dressed to the nines” the fact is it’s a hot rod with plenty of Bowtie “Heartbeat.”

Modern Rodding TECH

InTheGarageMedia.com

’34 Chrysler Fordor Sedan
One Fast Fish
1. The proportions on this ’Cuda are so proper it belies the fact the car has been widened a full 5 inches from the stock width, with modified doors providing the perfect transition between the wider fenders and quarter-panels.
One Fast Fish
Like its Namesake, This ’71 Barracuda is Built for Speed
By Gerry Burger Photography by Dale Boesch
I

f you live in Nebraska, the name Kuck is synonymous with great cars. Kuck Motorsports houses a private collection of over 100 cars, ranging from vintage racers to classic hot rods, muscle cars, movie cars, and modern-day race cars. The late Gary Kuck was the driving force behind the original collection. Today, as a family, the Kucks, Sue and her son Scott, are both total gearheads, so it should come as no surprise that during a bench racing session talk turned to building a full-tube chassis muscle car, a street legal racer based on a ’71 Plymouth Barracuda.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com

By BRIAN BRENNAN Photography by JOHN JACKSON

Driving in Style

By BRIAN BRENNAN Photography by JOHN JACKSON

This ’59 Chevy Brookwood Wagon Keeps its Vintage Styling and Adds Performance
I

t’s a story we know all too well. As we grow older, we keep those high school memories and we promise ourselves that one day we will have that dream car. For Dale Deburger, of Seymour, Indiana, it was this recurring high school memory of a friend who had a ’59 back in the day that made an impression. The time came and Dale found this ’59 Chevy Brookwood wagon. He liked the look and it was in great shape. Not only that but it was the rare two-door model. With the project in hand Dale and fellow hot rodder Tom Culbertson began the building of a dream.

Parting Shot

InTheGarageMedia.com

1932 Ford Roadster in Red
The McGee ’32 Ford highboy roadster as you will see today at the Ross and Beth Myers Gallery of the Petersen Automotive Museum; truly iconic in its appearance and its legacy to our hobby. (The Myers are family friends of Bruce Meyer and, yes, their names are spelled differently.)
A Piece Of History... Forever
By BRIAN BRENNAN
Photography Courtesy of the Petersen Automotive Museum
S

ome hot rods are more memorable than others. Some become part of rodding history and some go on to become iconic. Such is the case for the former Bob McGee ’32 Ford highboy roadster that gained monstrous fame as the Deuce to become the L.A. Roadsters logo. I’m thinking there aren’t many hot rodders who do not know of the profile of the red ’32 Ford highboy roadster on an oval white background with red and black trim and black lettering (Roadsters Los Angeles).

Modern Rodding logo with dropshadow
Thanks for reading our June 2023 issue!