Ron & Karen Wiggins
Bloomington, IL
'29 Ford roadster pickup
CHASSIS
Starting with 6-inch wide 10-gauge steel, Ron built a custom frame to fit the body. The 106-inch wheelbase chassis uses a modified Super Bell axle, Carrera coilovers, and split wishbones up front, and an owner-designed triangulated four-link with Pro Shock coilovers supporting the Halibrand quick-change rearend. Wilwood discs are found on all four corners, and all plumbing is hidden inside the rails. A homemade column directs the Flaming River steering box.
WHEELS & TIRES
The Boyd Coddington K-O wheels are sized at 18x10- and 16x7-inches and use pin-drive knockoffs. They're wrapped in 255/55R18 and 205/55R16 Michelins.
DRIVETRAIN
The rare '71 Boss 351C mill was pieced together on eBay and built by Danny Hubbs. It sports Ross pistons, a Comp cam, and Edelbrock carbs on an owner-built low-rise intake. Ron built the air cleaner from an old Almquist top and some exhaust tubing. The World Class T5 five-speed uses an AMC tailhousing to mount the modified shifter in front of the seat.
BODY
Remains of a four-door Murray body provided the upper cowl and beltline; Ron fabricated the rest using 20-gauge sheetmetal and 10-gauge steel for the doorjambs and other structural elements. The custom hood consists of nine pieces, with the upper grille shell integrated into the top; the lower grille shell is curved and uses an aluminum screen door material as an insert. Ron cut the Ezra Machine bed sides into three pieces to center the reveal over the tire, then built a custom lower pan and crafted molded taillight housings using exhaust megaphones and '50 Pontiac taillights. The bumper is built from a narrowed '49 Chevy license guard and portions of a '54 Plymouth grille and '53 Buick bumper guards. There's a custom aluminum top wearing blue Hartz cloth to match the bed cover. Both contrast nicely with the "enhanced" PPG fleet yellow paint, sprayed by Ron with help from friend Dave Mounce.
INTERIORRon built the console and dash from scratch before handing things over to Kent Biedenharn and Lonnie King at Twin City Upholstery in Bloomington. Navy blue Ultraleather covers the custom seat, side panels, and console, and is contrasted by white material on the headliner. Other features include a Sony stereo with Boston Acoustic and JL Audio speakers; a Budnik wheel; and Faria flat-glass gauges in a custom cluster machined by JB Microfinish in Pontiac, Illinois.