CPP Presents an IFS System for ’641/2 to ’70 Ford Mustangs
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Timeless Classics ... Celebrating Hot Rodding Evolution
Painting
Fiberglass:

Evolution
& Ease of
Spraying
’Glass
Sniper 2:
Making Good
Even Better
Painting Fiberglass:
Evolution & Ease of Spraying ’Glass
Sniper 2:
Making Good Even Better
Sheetmetal Tips:
Parting Shot: Tommy Foster ’32 Roadster Goes on the Mecum Auctions “Block”
Tommy Foster ’32 Roadster
February 2025
Preview Issue
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the VDOG, PN FR20303
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Cradle Kits availble for Mustang, Nova, Chevelle, Camaro, Chevy, and more typography and imagery
Steering Columns – Available in paintable mill, polished, or black powder coat; includes GM wiring, dress up kit, and canceling cam; floor or column shift available typographic image
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Modern Rodding CONTENTS
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Departments
Brian Brennan
Industry News
New Products
Brian Brennan
Those Supporting Our Industry
Features
David Garvey’s 1961 Corvette
By Brian Brennan, Photography by NotStock Photography
Arnie Chupp’s 1932 Ford Coupe
By Dale Moreau, Photography by the Author
Donny Gath’s 1936 Ford Custom Three-Window Coupe
By Brian Brennan, Photography by Luke Munnell
David Goodwin’s 1955 Chevy Bel Air
By Brian Brennan, Photography by Wes Allison
Derrick Lyon’s 1985 Monte Carlo
By Brian Brennan, Photography by Matt Lankford
Tech
Hot Tips to Fit and Refinish Fiberglass
By John Gilbert, Photography by Chadly Johnson
Part 5: Reshaping the Front Sheetmetal
By Ron Covell
Scott’s Hotrods ’N Customs’ 1951 Merc
By Ron Covell, Photography Shawn Holloway
Holley Hits a Bull’s-Eye With Sniper 2
By Ryan Manson, Photography by Brian Brennan
Installing a Classic Performance Products IFS for 1964-1/2 to 1970 Mustangs
By Ron Ceridono, Photography by Tate Radford
On the Cover:
Arnie Chupp’s effort shines through in his 1932 Ford three-window channeled coupe, complete with a Tri-power induction Olds V-8 and a distinctive vintage-style interior. The “hot rod” look is timeless and will forever be a favorite. (Photo by Dale Moreau)

David Garvey’s 1961 Corvette is powered by a supercharged LT4 engine, resting between a Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis, all brought together through a Paul Atkins interior, making this a perfect example of a restomod treatment of vintage styling. (Photo by NotStock Photography)

Modern Rodding February 2025 cover
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Modern Rodding ISSN 2692-2371 (print) ISSN 2692-238X (online) Issue 53 is published monthly by In the Garage Media, Inc., 370 E. Orangethorpe Avenue, Placentia, CA 92870-6502. Periodicals postage paid at Placentia, CA and additional mailing offices. 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) 2025 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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Starting Over
bbrennan@inthegaragemedia.com
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by Brian Brennan
What Does the Future Hold for Hot Rodding
T

he American hot rod has long symbolized freedom, individuality, and raw power, embodying the rebellious spirit of automotive enthusiasts. Originating in the pre–World War II era, hot rods have become a cultural phenomenon that captivates generations and solidifies their place in automotive history. They frequently appear in TV shows, advertisements, and music, often setting the stage for celebrations.

Over the years, an entire industry has emerged around hot rodding, ranging from coffee cruises to trade shows like SEMA, promoting both the hobby and trade. However, significant economic downturns have impacted this vibrant culture. The recession in 2001, brought on by the dot-com bubble’s collapse and the events of September 11, led to a slow recovery that forever altered the automotive media landscape. Many car magazines faced cutbacks, reshaping how enthusiasts consumed automotive content.

The financial crisis of 2007-2008 further entrenched these changes, with the housing market’s collapse leading to widespread instability. The hot rod community felt this impact deeply, with numerous automotive magazines closing their doors. This highlighted the vulnerability of the hobby and industry, which, despite its resilience, took nearly a decade to reestablish.

Rodding Around
BY BRIAN BRENNAN
Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop’s Bobby Alloway Receives Industry Recognition Award
2024 sema bobby alloway hria industry recognition award
The Industry Recognition Award from HRIA honors individuals whose contributions to HRIA and the hot rod industry are exceptional. This year’s recipient exemplifies these qualities through an impressive career in car building, marked by an extensive collection of prestigious accolades. He has earned numerous titles, including Builder of the Year at prominent shows like the Grand National Roadster Show and Detroit Autorama, along with awards such as America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, Goodguys Street Machine of the Year, Goodguys Street Rod of the Year, the Ridler Award, Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame, and the Detroit Autorama Circle of Champions. With decades of hands-on experience, he continues to craft distinctive hot rods amid an industry increasingly focused on digital designs. He emphasizes simplicity in design while delivering powerful engine performance, earning admiration from fans and peers alike.

Interestingly, despite his accolades, he hasn’t won the Triple Crown of Rodding, an event he played a pivotal role in creating. His goal for the event was to provide young hot rodders with a supportive platform free from industry politics. Renowned for his generosity, he mentors aspiring builders and nurtures friendships across the industry. It is with great pride that HRIA presents the 2024 Person of the Year Award to Bobby Alloway, acknowledging his significant impact and ongoing commitment to the hot rod community.

New Products
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scotts hotrods lt valve covers; speedtech extreme chassis irs; summit hel braided stainless steel line hose kits
1. LT Valve & Coil Covers
Scott’s Hotrods ’N Customs has introduced its new LT Valve ’n Coil Covers designed to enhance the appearance of LT engines while addressing the unsightly stock coils. Crafted from solid 6061 billet aluminum, these two-piece, precision CNC-machined covers ensure top-quality fit and finish, making your vehicle stand out. They are specifically engineered to accommodate stock GM coils, effectively concealing all wiring and featuring ports for plug wire exits. Available options include a raw cut billet, polished, or black anodized finish, allowing personalization to suit your style. For an additional charge, Scott’s offers custom machining to include your vehicle’s name or company logo. Furthermore, Scott’s can create tailored valve covers to meet your specific needs if you’re building a custom car or truck with a different engine. Whether it’s a unique design or a standard application, Scott’s is committed to delivering high-quality custom solutions.
Modern Rodding Feature
InTheGarageMedia.com
Modern Classic
The 1961 Corvette Reimagined for Performance Enthusiasts
By Brian BrennanPhotography by NotStock Photography
T

he 1961 Chevrolet Corvette is a defining model in the Corvette lineage, emblematic of American muscle and an outstanding example of automotive engineering for its era. Adding to the allure of this C1 is the modern integration of aftermarket components, such as a Chevrolet Performance supercharged LT4 and a Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis, which enhance the classic car’s dynamics and driveability. David Garvey of Tennessee had this in mind when he contacted Paul Atkins of Paul Atkins Hot Rods and Interiors.

David’s 1961 Corvette retains the pivotal evolution in Corvette aesthetics. The front end features refined styling, with a prominent chrome grille that highlights the elongated, sweeping shape of the body. Dual headlights were integrated into the fenders, adding to their aggressive stance. The rear end was characterized by round taillights set into a pronounced tail section, reminiscent of the C2 Sting Ray to come. These gave the car a distinct visual signature along with the lower rocker panel trim. All required body- and paintwork was handled at Paul Atkins Hot Rods and Interiors in an R&M yellow and white cove; the painted cove (its last year) is a holdover from earlier Corvettes.

1961 Corvette yellow convertible side profile chrome wheels scenic background
Modern Rodding Tech
InTheGarageMedia.com
Sharper Image
1. For the first steps, fiberglass is faster and easier to work with than steel, but it takes a trained hand to make the bodylines look right.
Sharper Image
Hot Tips to Fit and Refinish Fiberglass
By John GilbertPhotography by Chadly Johnson
A

t the dawn of hot rodding, there was only one way for a rodder to source a body to build a hot rod from to find a genuine, factory-made, real steel body. The majority of early hot rods, not counting the oddball marques, were built using genuine Ford bodies. However, as the years passed and many old Fords found their demise battered beyond recognition racing on a circle track, the herd thinned out. Thinned out to the point that a “genie” body by itself began commanding top dollar.

Hot rodders have always been an imaginative bunch and found inspiration from the Chevrolet Corvette, popping out fiberglass replica bodies ranging from T-buckets to Deuce roadsters to fill the void. The demand for fiberglass bodies proved strong enough to justify the expense of evolving and tooling up to stamp out and reproduce steel bodies. That said, there’s still a place in the market for fiberglass vintage Ford bodies and a plethora of ’glass bodies, ranging from 1956 Ford F-100 cabs to a wide spread of Corvette generations available. The vehicle featured in our story is a 1963 split-window Corvette, but the steps to repairing, bodywork, and repainting any laminated fiberglass body are the same.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
1932 Ford Coupe hot rod chopped roof glossy black paint wide whitewall tires vintage stance
The Artist Within
The Artist Within
Arnie Chupp’s 1932 Ford Coupe is a Perfect Example
By Dale MoreauPhotography by THE AUTHOR
W

hen you turn into Arnie Chupp’s driveway in Oregon, which is more of a country road, you are instantly surrounded by gardens and trees. Further on, there are small ponds and a bridge over a creek that would make the Gardens of Versailles jealous. Arnie carries on that artistry in many mediums, from painting to sculpture. His 1932 Ford chopped-and-channeled coupe, Oldsmobile-powered, is just another of his artistic endeavors.

Modern Rodding Tech
InTheGarageMedia.com
Close-up of the 1959 Chevy Impala's custom grille and quad headlights, showcasing its iconic design
1. Once finished and going down the road, it’s hard to tell where the factory ends and BBT Fabrications begins its magic.
BBT Fabrications Builds a 1959 Chevy Impala
Part 5: Reshaping the Front Sheetmetal
By Ron Covell
T

his is the last of our articles on building the BBT Fabrications 1959 Impala, which was featured in (and on the cover of) the Sept. ’24 issue. This time, we’ll focus on the extensive work done on the car’s front end.

Like most cars on the road for 65 years, there was some rust damage poorly repaired in the past and a host of nicks and dings. Every square inch of the sheetmetal was gone over carefully, and any defects were either replaced with new metal or straightened to perfection.

The hood’s fit was compromised on all sides, so the BBT crew decided the best way to make it perfect was to cut off all the damaged edges and replace them with angles formed from new 18-gauge sheetmetal. This is a labor-intensive process, but it will ensure the gaps are laser-straight and that the hood edges are full-thickness metal for enhanced durability.

Modern Rodding Feature
InTheGarageMedia.com
Phoenix Rising typography
This 1936 Ford Was Once an “Ugly Duckling” But is Now a Beautiful Custom
By Brian brennan Photography by Luke Munnell
I

n the world of hot rodding, every build has a story, but few transformations can match the journey of the 1936 Ford that rolled into Hollywood Hot Rods—a true automotive phoenix rising from the ashes of an “ugly duckling.” When Troy Ladd laid eyes on the donor car, it was buried under a thick coat of black primer, adorned with outdated 17-inch billet wheels that seemed more fitting for a crime scene than a classic hot rod. Skulls, spikes, and other tacky embellishments screamed for attention. At the same time, the interior displayed a seemingly random selection of faux ostrich and alligator vinyl, punctuated by a dashboard that looked more like a toy than a work of art. The dashboard was an outrageously flat piece of red plexiglass housing an “improper” collection of gauges—definitely not what you’d expect from a classic build. Powered by a Dodge engine (a 318, as Ladd remembers), this was one beast of a car with many miles to go before it could earn the title of “custom.”

Modern Rodding Tech
InTheGarageMedia.com
illustration of a custom-built 1950 Mercury convertible with flame details
1. The Eric Brockmeyer artwork gives us a clue into the future of what this amazing Merc custom will look like.
Frenching Headlights
Scott’s Hotrods ’N Customs’ 1951 Merc
By Ron Covell
Photography by Shawn Holloway
Artwork by Eric Brockmeyer
F

rom 1949-1951, the Mercury was the premier car to be customized in the post–World War II era. Scott’s Hotrods ’N Customs, in Knoxville, Tennessee, has embarked on a project to build a state-of-the-art 1951 Merc convertible in the traditional style. These cars are very difficult to find these days, and after stripping their customer’s car down to bare metal, they uncovered a lot of sub-standard work. Fortunately, the customer had the will and the means to make everything top notch, so the crew at Scott’s cut away the defective work and ensured the project’s foundation was in shipshape before embarking on the modifications.

Eric Brockmeyer was called in to make renderings to guide the construction. The car they started with was originally a four-door sedan, and when the previous builder turned it to a convertible, the front doors were left stock length, which was badly out of proportion for a two-door body style. Since much of the four- to two-door conversion had to be redone, they decided to make the doors even longer than the OEM convertible doors would have been. They extend back to the point where the roof fabric meets the quarter-panel, giving the car a very sleek look and making it much easier to enter and exit the rear seats.

Modern Rodding Feature
InTheGarageMedia.com
Classic Steel With a Pro Touring Heart typography
The 1955 Chevy Bel Air Build is One of Performance
By Brian brennan Photography by Chadly Johnson
B

eneath the shimmering blue and champagne hue lies a project that’s more than just a car; it’s a labor of love, sweat, and an unyielding passion for automotive excellence. Meet David Goodwin’s 1955 Chevy Bel Air, a shining example of Pro Touring ingenuity combined with classic American muscle.

At the heart of this automotive masterpiece is David Goodwin of Vancouver, Washington, whose first brush with horsepower began long before the iconic 1955 made its way into his garage. David recalls his college days, balancing studies and a part-time job at a sawmill while cruising in his ordered Chevelle 396.

Modern Rodding Tech
InTheGarageMedia.com
Mechanic tuning a Holley Sniper EFI system on a classic Chevrolet small-block engine during installation
1. Ryan Manson of Clampdown Competition handled our Holley Sniper 2 EFI installation. While the installation was straightforward, success lies in the details. This is especially true when converting from Sniper 1 to Sniper 2; don’t skip any steps, and don’t make any assumptions.
Next-Gen EFI
Holley Hits a Bull’s-Eye With Sniper 2
By Ryan Manson Photography by Brian Brennan
T

echnology advances in leaps and bounds these days. With a new smartphone coming out every week, it seems that features so advanced in modern vehicles were unheard of only a few short years ago. So, it should come as no surprise when a company like Holley announces a new system that modernizes what’s been available for over a decade—and that system is the Holley Sniper 2 EFI. Designed as an upgraded replacement for the original Sniper system, the Sniper 2 features upgrades in many of its electronic components with built-in features and factory settings based on 10-plus years of developmental data from the original Sniper system.

While the Sniper 2 EFI system features many built-in upgrades, it really shines in the ecosystem of the Sniper family of components. Simple plug-and-play functionalities allow the Sniper 2 to directly connect, communicate, and control a variety of fuel and ignition components, even outputting information that can be displayed on a digital dash.
Modern Rodding Feature
InTheGarageMedia.com
One Hell(cat) of a Punch
Derrick Lyon’s 1985 Monte Carlo Blends Bowtie and Mopar
By Brian BrennanPhotography by Matt Lankford
W

e get why Derrick Lyon of Washington wanted to remove the anemic small-block that his 1985 Monte Carlo was delivered with—any self-respecting hot rodder would. This was a time when horsepower wasn’t a popular word. However, Derrick figured out how to have his choice in hot rods from both an aesthetic and performance standpoint.

1985 Chevy Monte Carlo black coupe side profile chrome wheels red pinstripes classic muscle car design
Modern Rodding Tech
InTheGarageMedia.com
1965 Ford Mustang Fastback body undergoing restoration, mounted on jack stands with wheels removed for chassis work
1. This 1965 Mustang’s transformation from mundane driver to corner carver began with putting it on jackstands and leveling it front to back and side to side.
New Legs for an Old Pony
Installing a Classic Performance Products IFS for 1964-1/2 to 1970 Mustangs
By Ron CeridonoPhotography by Tate Radford
O

f all the modifications that can be made to any early Mustang, one of the most significant is installing an improved independent front suspension system from Classic Performance Products (CPP). This kit truly resolves two issues simultaneously: It not only improves ride and handling characteristics, it also allows the removal of the spring towers that intrude into the engine compartment and make engine swaps so tricky.

Ford’s Mustang, along with the Plymouth Barracuda, was introduced in 1964, creating the genre that would become known as “ponycars;” basically these were compact cars with “sporty” design elements. Mustangs were introduced on April 17, 1964, well before the usual introduction date for new models. As a result, the very early Mustangs are often referred to as 1964-1/2 models. However, Ford identified all the first year’s production as being ’65s. At the outset, Ford had modest sales goals for the Mustang, expecting to sell around 100,000 for the year—that goal was achieved in the first three months. After 18 months of production, more than a million Mustangs were sold, making it Ford’s best-selling new model since the Model A.

Parting Shot
InTheGarageMedia.com
The Tommy Foster Roadster
Mecum Auctions Presents an Iconic 1932 Ford Roadster
BY Brian Brennan Photography Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
I

f you follow auctions, as I do, much history passes before us. A prime example is the iconic Tommy Foster 1932 Ford roadster, featured on January 7-19, 2025, at Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Florida. This channeled roadster comes from the Richard V. Munz Collection.

The event brochure, authored by Chelsey Hinsenkamp and Ken Gross, provides insight into the significant achievements of this unique roadster. Few vehicles inspire as much admiration in American hot rodding as Tommy Foster’s creation. Starting in 1949, Foster meticulously crafted his masterpiece over 15 months, achieving legendary status in the process.

This roadster’s journey was remarkable. It won First Place trophies at prestigious venues, including the 1952 and 1953 International Motor Show in New York, the Mid-America Motor Show in Cincinnati, and Speedorama in St. Paul. Its prowess continued to shine at the 1952 Motor World Fair in Miami while securing a close Second at the 1952 Motorcade of America in Chicago. By 1953, the roadster debuted at the inaugural Detroit Autorama and was crowned the Most Outstanding Car.

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Thanks for reading our February 2025 preview issue!