Frame Off Built Rats Glass/TCI Roadster Steve Mills Racing 468 V8 TH350 Atkins

SUMMARY

* 468 cubic inch Chevrolet V8
* GM Turbo-Hydramatic 350 3-speed automatic transmission / 2,500 RPM stall converter
* Paul Atkins custom leather interior
* Stretched Rat's Glass body / DuPont Chrome Yellow paint
* Billet Specialties Rebel wheels
* Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes
* Sony audio
* Flaming River steering linkage
* Currie 9-inch rear axle
* TCI chassis / Custom suspension

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What happens when you take a stretched Rat's Glass body, bolt it to a TCI chassis, drop in a massive Chevrolet V8 and pile on a list of mind blowing parts for good measure? You get one incredible street rod that instantly becomes the center of attention wherever it goes! Featuring a traditionally clean appearance, a Paul Atkins custom interior and a level of detail that requires multiple looks to fully comprehend, this Chrome Yellow roadster is a compilation of top-notch components from some of the biggest names in the business. And what's better: it's a fully sorted, professionally finished cruiser that was built, above all else, to be driven and enjoyed. If you're the kind of enthusiast who wants an impressive classic that you can hop in, turn the key and go cruising with, your chariot has arrived!

BODYWORK/TRIM

With most street rods, there's usually a single piece that catches your eye long before anything else. And that's often a demerit to the overall presentation of the car. In an effort to set their creation apart, builders sometimes add overwrought elements that become more of a distraction than a selling point; especially as the project ages. Not so with this roadster… EVERY piece of its puzzle fits right and tight, on the way to upholding a great vision of what hot rodding is supposed to be. Step back and admire the shape of the car's Rat's Glass body. Stretched 1.5 inches, and completed by custom guru Jack Sheppard, it's the kind of profile that would turn heads in primer. So, what better way to ensure sore neck muscles than adding a slick layer of DuPont Chrome Yellow and several coats of clear? If you're a hardcore gearhead that likes to rise above the crowd, this awesome Ford is one classic that's guaranteed to pop eyes and drop jaws anywhere you choose to go.

Of course, dramatic paint and bodywork doesn't necessarily make up for terrible detailing. But, naturally, this well-executed custom strikes an excellent balance between unique and utilitarian. At the front of the car, a polished grille aligns between modern, tri-bar headlights. Behind that grille, a 3-piece steel hood flows to a classy Duvall windshield that's filled with tastefully smoked glass. At the sides of that hood, a characteristically clean and simple profile presents shaved doors, hidden hinges and uninterrupted form. And at the back of that profile, a shaved decklid rides above a folding tag, chrome exhaust pipes and traditional tail lamps. It's hard to beat the appeal of a well-done Ford roadster. And this Ford, with its virtually timeless aesthetics, essentially defines its class.

ENGINE

Cosmetics aside, this hot rod continues the theme of high performance neck snapper. Lift its steel hood and you'll find 468 cubic inches of Chevrolet V8 that was professionally assembled by Steve Mills Racing of Colorado Springs, Colorado. At the top of that Chrome Yellow monster, a coated Holley 770 mixes wind supplied by a polished air filter with fuel that's piped through a small Summit pressure gauge, polished stainless fluid lines and a tightly braided hose. That air/fuel mixture floods an Edelbrock tunnel ram intake on the way to Edelbrock Performer heads, which hang polished valve covers over coated Sanderson headers. At the back of those headers, a proven MSD distributor sequences spark through thick Taylor Thundervolt wires. At the front of those wires, polished pulleys spin a polished alternator above a coated Edelbrock water pump. In front of that pump, a fresh Walker radiator circulates coolant around a custom shroud and giant SPAL puller fan. And all the little things, like polished breathers, a coated fuel pump, a cool bowtie radiator cap and a Moon Equipment temperature gauge, are top-notch in literally every way.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

Under this roadster's well-planned and professionally executed powerplant you'll find a whole catalogue of custom performance parts that mix excellent driving dynamics with great visual effect. For starters, a Chrome Yellow TCI chassis cradles a GM Turbo-Hydramatic 350 3-speed, which spins through a polished driveshaft via 2,500 RPMs of stall converter. At the front of that gearbox, a chromed Bell axle hangs a Flaming River steering linkage and modern Aldan coil-overs behind drilled rotors, stainless fluid lines and polished Wilwood calipers. At the back of that gearbox, a chromed 4-bar hangs a polished Currie 9-inch between two more Aldan coil-overs, two more drilled rotors and two more polished Wilwood calipers. The engine's killer soundtrack roars through chromed, large-diameter tail pipes to chromed turbo mufflers. Torque splits the asphalt thanks to polished Billet Specialties Rebels, which spin 15-inch BF Goodrich radials in front of 17-inch BF Goodrich radials. And high quality detailing, like a finned transmission cooler, a color-keyed master cylinder and a deep-sump oil pan, marries top-notch form with excellent function.

INTERIOR

Behind this street rod's electronically actuated doors you'll find a stunning leather interior that was installed by well-known customizer Paul Atkins. There's a deep, contoured seat, which is firm, provides good support and looks fantastic. At the sides of that seat, layered door panels are devoid of everything but small lock knobs. Below that seat, plush Mercedes carpet anchors thick floor mats between a familiar Lokar shifter and billet foot pedals. In front of that seat, a custom dash features smooth Auto Avionics telemetry. In front of the driver, a polished, Boyds-branded steering wheel, which matches the car's cool Billet Specialties wheels, laps a tilting Ididit column. And behind the passengers, the car's fully upholstered trunk hides remote-controlled Sony audio equipment.

Since many enthusiasts are beginning to build 'traditional' hot rods, fully streetable customs that feature this level of modern detailing are becoming less and less prevalent. And that growing exclusivity is only amplified by a roster of high quality aesthetics that are sure to get you noticed no matter where you go. After all, is there anything better than a 2-person crowd-gatherer that barks through a big V8 and stares through mirror-like paint? I think not. Come in and pick up your turn-key hot rod today!