O'Brien, like Bon Jovi, has a love of hot rods and rock music that dates back to childhood. "My first car was a '55 Buick I purchased for $30," he recalls. "You could fit a lot of people and farm animals in that car, but it didn't have much of a cool factor, so I got a '56 Chevy with a 283, two four-barrels, and a four-speed. Whoever put it together never quite got the angle between the transmission, driveshaft, and rearend correct. I would throw Second gear and it would throw the driveshaft right out of the car. I had a trunk full of U-joints!"
The hot '56 was followed by a '57 Chevy and a '63 Impala SS convertible with the coveted 409, in which he'd give many a "death ride" to Bon Jovi bassist Hugh McDonald, whom he's known since 1955.
"My first street rod was a '30 Model A highboy that was all steel with a solid-cam 327, three two-barrel carbs, and a Muncie four-speed," O'Brien continues. "Over the years I've also owned a '56 Roadmaster convertible, a few '57s, three or four '56s, and one '55. However, the coupe was a gift from Jon and I love it to death. It's my favorite car."
The whole band is into cool cars. In fact, during the recording of the album Crush, they watched American Graffiti over and over, as many as 6-8 times a day! "We watched that movie all day," O'Brien says, "and on the last day of recording we flew in Paul LeMat just for good luck. We had big success with the single 'It's My Life' and I suspect the Milner mojo had something to do with it."
It's fitting that O'Brien's Deuce has some Milner coupe styling influences, the result of a complete makeover after O'Brien received it. "When I got the car, it had lots of billet and a small-block crate engine. I knew I was going to change the engine and I was considering a flathead, a 409, a Hemi, and the nailhead. They all had plusses and minuses. I love the look of the nailhead and they are torque monsters. I found a '63 401 and I got it for $275, complete. We took it apart and it was in great shape, so Blitz Automotive bored it .060 inch over and polished the crank. Russ Miller, known as a hot rod guru in southeastern Pennsylvania, assembled the short-block using forged pistons, but with a stock crank and rods. Poston Engineering supplied the lifters and the cam, which has .478/.486-inch lift and 268/272-degree duration."
The stock Buick heads were also freshened and topped with an Offy intake with a trio of Rochester two-throat jugs. The Joe Hunt magneto is actually an HEI-type distributor in disguise. Once the spark is fired, the spent gasses exit through Sanderson headers and a custom exhaust by Jenning's in Oxford, Pennsylvania. The nailhead is backed by a Lokar-shifted Turbo 400 transmission sending power to a Ford 9-inch rear.
O'Brien went with vintage-style burgundy paint that was sprayed and flamed by Ramic Rod Works. The fine lines come courtesy of Kobbie, who has done pinstriping for most of the band members. Kobbie also put his touch on the counter in Obie's kitchen, which is an outstanding replica of a '50s diner.
Also helping with the project was O'Brien's son Bill who handled general ball busting and offered sound advice. All kidding aside, the younger O'Brien is an accomplished tech and pitched in quite a bit. Future plans call for a cabin rehab and possibly some head porting for more power.
Like most enthusiasts, Bon Jovi and O'Brien could bench race all day, yet their shop talk always comes full circle to the subject of friendship. "Jon is the most loyal and generous friend that I could ever have," O'Brien says. Likewise, Jon most certainly appreciates the efforts of his friend O'Brien. Together, they're just a couple of lucky guys who made the most of the American dream and are celebrating with some very cool American iron.