The standard hot rodding definitions don't make a whole lot of sense anymore, do they? We just got through a summer show season in which we saw a bunch of "traditional" hot rods built out of fiberglass, many "contemporary" cars that looked way out of date, and rows of street rods that will never see the street.
Now, as if to go out of his way to blur the lines even more, Ken Fenical of Posies Rods and Customs builds a '29 Ford pickup, nicknamed "ThunderRoad," that is obviously inspired by the current return to traditional rods but that is technically sophisticated, presumably high-budget, and remarkably distinct.
"I couldn't understand," he explained, "why perfectly intelligent people were giving so much attention to a rat rod coming through the gate at a car show. So I began trying to see what they saw, and I realized that they were observing a real hot rod, but one that was unfinished. So I decided that I would actually build one finished, and I was going to do it with up-to-date technology. The only thing original on my car is the body. Every thing else is 2004."
In a hobby where so many traditional guys are boasting that everything on their ride is from the '40s or '50s, Posies has flipped the whole thing on its head by building a traditional-looking rod from all new parts.
Actually, the raw material for his pickup is a '29 Model A body found at the Hershey flea market in 2000. That original steel has been reworked extensively during the 19-week buildup, starting with a 5 3/4 -inch chop and more custom components and technical tricks. Underneath, a handbuilt tube chassis is loaded with front and rear suspension components from the Posies catalog, hopped up with a little creative engineering.
Despite the mountains of amazing details all over this rod, Posies commitment to keeping everything 2004 doesn't mean it has to be exotic. For example, the distinctive burgundy paint is a Ford Taurus color (2004, of course). Posies chose it for the simple reason that it is a mass-produced, two-stage paint that can be found anywhere and repaired cheap.
The pickup isn't that simple on the inside, however. One of the most noticeable components, the handbuilt aluminum dash, has all the character of a piece of furniture from the art deco era. The other is the injected Roush 402 Ford motor. You could call it a modern interpretation of an old time hot rod mill, but this race-ready engine makes the sort of power that would leave a '50s hot rodder standing there with his mouth hanging open.
Ken got a lot of help with this project and wants to especially acknowledge Tim Lephart for 5 months worth of Sundays working on the pickup. He also credits Rich Lewis from Posies for all the work he put into the project.
If it's all about getting attention, we wondered if ThunderRoad was getting the response Posies wanted.
"I'm getting most of the attention from guys who build cars, and from rat rod owners who appreciate the fact that there's horsepower in it. I got a good response leaving the fairgrounds in Columbus. The only way out to the street was through some water somebody had poured out. My daughter pointed out to me that they put it there so I'd do a burnout. Needless to say, we launched it and about a block away I got a standing ovation. I'm not sure if the public should read that, but it was fun.
So is it traditional, is it contemporary, or what? We're not sure, but maybe the fact that it's fun is all that really matters.