1933 Ford Hot Rod Roadster
Want a textbook example of how to successfully combine the styling and components of a traditional hot rod with modern technology and performance? This real-deal “Henry Steel” ’33 Ford roadster originally came to Dale Renner as a beat-up, worn out jalopy racer. Twelve years later it left his shop as a slippery, track-nosed, flathead-powered, quick-change-equipped example of how to build a high-end hot rod.
Renner started from the ground up. He built the chassis from 2-inch-square steel tubing, hand-forming it to gracefully follow the roadster’s lower body line. He also stretched it, adding two inches to the wheelbase. A fan of the “dry lakes” look, Renner rolled the lower edge of the frame rails using quarter sections of heavy, 8-inch tubing to mimic a full bellypan. Up front, a Magnum 4-inch dropped axle hangs from Eaton reversed-eye springs and is located by a pair of split ’37 Ford wishbones. Steering is Vega and front brakes are disc -- Wilwood calipers and Granada rotors -- artfully concealed by Buick-style finned aluminum drums and modified ’40 Ford backing plates. All the components are plated or polished and highly detailed.
At the rear, there’s an original Halibrand quick change center section fitted with ’36 Ford axle bells. It conceals a modern, Chrysler posi-traction differential, built by the QC specialists at the Hot Rod Works in Nampa, Idaho. It’s hung from one of Eaton’s arched, Model A-style rear springs and located by a pair of split ’36 wishbones. Brakes are ’40 Ford. Again, all the components are highly detailed and either painted, plated, or polished.
The engine is a 1953 Ford flathead that’s been stroked with a 4 inch Mercury crank. Fully rebuilt using internals from Motor City Flathead, the flattie features finned aluminum Offenhauser heads with early 59AB-style center water hose necks. Carburetor guru Jere Jobe built a trio of Stromberg 97’s for the motor, which have been bolted to an Offy intake that’s detailed to match the heads. Spent gases exit through a pair of Fenton cast iron headers and out a custom-fabricated, four-pipe exhaust system. A hidden, auxiliary three-fan radiator is tucked up under the rear pan to ensure the motor runs cool, even in summer traffic.
The transmission is a modern-day four-speed Ford toploader. It’s been converted to top shift using the forks and plate from a late model Jeep; a traditionalist’s trick that puts the shifter in the same position as it would be if the car had a ’39 gearbox.
Considering its humble beginnings, the bodywork on this roadster is miraculous. A veteran circle tracker, it was truly a jalopy. The doors were welded shut and literally every panel was scarred from its wheel-to-wheel racing days. Jenner freed the doors and replaced all the jambs with pieces from a donor sedan. Three inches were removed from the length of the body, just behind the doors. This compensated visually for the extra length in the wheelbase and hood, and kept the car from appearing “stretched.” The hood, lower hood panels, rear panel, roll pan, and handsome track nose and grille were all hand-fabricated. The fit, finish and gaps are perfect.
The headlights are Dietz. They incorporate miniature, custom-made turn signals underneath the buckets and are highly effective without compromising the traditional look of the car. Taillights are the time-honored ’39 teardrops, but fitted with modern LEDs for safety. The wheels are 16 inch OEM Ford-style, with custom made centers that have been designed to accept ’33 Ford hubcaps. Tires are freeway-friendly radials: 185/60R16 in front, 275/70R16 out back.
The body was painted in multiple coats of Dupont Black, then scalloped with a red that was chosen from a set of Rolls Royce paint chips. The scallops are set off by a fine, orange pin stripe.
The interior is simple and well-crafted. The black vinyl interior and red carpets were stitched by The Recovery Room, one of the country’s leading hot rod upholstery shops. The widened Brookville dash is filled with Classic Instruments. The clean, simple steering column is topped by a cut-down ’40 Deluxe wheel. The windshield frame was hand fabricated to fit the roadster’s cowl.
The car was completed in time to enter the 2008 Grand National Roadster Show. The event, held each January in Pomona, CA, showcases the best roadsters from around the country. Among the many entries, this ’33 was chosen and displayed on the main floor as a finalist for the coveted America’s Most Beautiful Roadster trophy.
Upon it’s arrival at our facility, the team at Canepa Design built and installed `a custom top for the roadster. It was then meticulously detailed, both mechanically and cosmetically, to ensure it meets the expectations of collectors who drive their cars.
