Magazine Featured Alloway Speedstar LS1 V8 700R4

There was a time when hot-rodding meant pulling the fenders off your Model A roadster and stuffing a Flathead V8 between the frame rails. These days, it's a competitive multi-million dollar industry. It takes vision and a team of skilled craftsmen to even consider building a nationally competitive street rod. Take this '33 SpeedStar Vicky for example. If it looks familiar, it's past as a SEMA cover car or Street Rodder Magazine feature is probably responsible. To build a car of this caliber took the combined forces of two industry legends – Bobby Alloway and Paul Atkins. The result is a jaw dropping street rod that will hold its own at any show in the country. If you're in the market for a world class street rod, this car is the end of your search.

On most vehicles, there is a single piece that catches your eye before anything else. On this Vicky, every piece screams for your attention. The best thing to do is just step back and admire the shape of the Rat's Glass SpeedStar Vicky body. We've featured a handful of these Alloway-designed cars before, including two coupes and two roadsters but the extended Vicky roofline adds a unique element to this car. What further separates this car from the others is the fact that it was actually built at Alloway's Hot Rod Shop in Tennessee – the shop responsible for building America's Most Beautiful Roadster in 2003 as well as a few strong Ridler contenders. If you had any concerns about build quality, go ahead and leave those behind.

With a shape that would turn heads in primer, what better to do than spray it with the brightest color available? Dupont's Fly Yellow was chosen for the job and performs its task remarkably well. Sprayed by the crew at Alloway's Rod Shop, you can rest assured absolutely no corners were cut. Flawless is a difficult word to use when it comes to cars but finding an imperfection in this paint would be one hell of a challenge. Once the yellow paint dried, Joshua Shaw was called in to add some finishing touches including a green and purple triple pinstripe and tasteful custom graphics above the grille and under the rear window. If this car doesn't stand out in the crowd, you're probably in Alloway's parking lot.

On modern street rods like this one, the lack of trim is a point of pride. That ideal is carried throughout this build. Up front, a sweeping custom grille by Jim Rench of Rench's Hot Rod Stuff sits between a pair of King Bee headlights. Out back, Alloway taillights hide out underneath the lip of the body. Naturally, all wiring has been masterfully tucked away. If we're talking about key points of this rod's exterior, we should probably go ahead and discuss those wheels. They're Billet Specialties five spokes measuring 18” x 7” up front and 22” x 10” in the rear. Backspacing is four inches all the way around. The front tires are 215/35-R18 BF Goodrich's while the rears are monstrous 305/45-R22 tires of the same brand. If you're wondering, the rear quarter panels did require some modification to make the rear wheel setup work.

Tilt the hood towards the passenger side and you'll be greeted by a purely modern powerplant. At the core is GM's venerable LS1. In stock form, these engines are good for approximately 310hp but, of course, this one has a few modifications. To start with, there's a polished Weiand intake, Alloway EFI and K&N air filter. Other noteworthy features include a custom copper radiator by Steve Long, a Powermaster alternator and Taylor ignition wires. The setup breathes through Sanderson headers that exhale through 2 ¼ inch pipes with glass pack mufflers. What the component list won't tell you is how impossibly clean this bay is. All wiring, right down to the electric fan is completely hidden from sight. The coil packs, one the LS1's ugliest features are tucked away under custom covers, leaving the shape of the intake as the only clue to exactly what engine you're looking at. Best of all, it's a modern EFI engine that starts immediately, idles well and can be driven anywhere without fear.

Backing that LS1 is a Borings-prepped 700R4 automatic transmission with a B&M torque converter and a Lokar Performance Parts shifter that make driving this rod simple. A custom driveshaft by Sonny's connects the transmission the Winter's quick-change rear end residing in a fully polished independent rear suspension. Up front, you'll find a fully independent stainless Heidt's front complete with Aldan coilovers, and a Sweet rack and pinion steering setup. Braking is handled by a Wilwood four-wheel disc setup with a Ford Racing master cylinder. If it isn't painted, it's polished. Absolutely every square inch of this undercarriage is ready for show.

With the list of components so far, you can probably guess that the interior is something to behold. You're absolutely correct. Interior master Paul Atkins covered the entire cabin in a mix of rich tan leather and Ostrich (or Alabama chicken if you've read the Street Rodder feature on this car). The reclining front buckets are extremely supportive and look great sitting atop the tan wool carpet. Steering controls are provided by an Ididit tilt column with a Billet Specialties steering wheel wrapped in Ostrich. Instrumentation comes courtesy of modified Classic Industries gauges placed in a Carriage Works insert that looks right at home in the SpeedStar dash. A Sony head unit is mounted in the headliner, well within reach of the driver. The pedals and shifter are both Lokar pieces. There are few luxury cars on the market with this level of interior build quality, much less street rods.

This is a truly world class car built by some of the best in the business. Cars like this usually leave our showroom in a hurry so, if you're in the market for a full show car that is an absolute blast to drive and own, don't miss out on this '33 Vicky.