This story of man and machine was almost over before it even began. It all started a few years ago when Jack Parker went on a long trip across a few different Midwestern states to check out a couple potential project cars. Both vehicles turned out to be far less appealing than Jack had hoped, but along the way he decided he would not give up that easily.
On the trip back home to Muskegon, Michigan, Jack picked up a local newspaper and found a listing that interested him. One quick phone call later and bad news followed: The car had been sold. Jack asked the woman if perhaps she knew of any other local cars for sale and surprisingly she did. It just so happened that her husband also had a '41 Ford coupe that was still for sale. Jack was very interested until the husband got on the phone and almost talked Jack out of the car before he even went to look at it. Upon his arrival, Jack was pleasantly surprised to find the car to be much nicer than described and the '41 was quickly loaded and followed Jack back home on his trailer.
Jack cruised it around for a few months before deciding the Flathead and front axle just weren't what he wanted. Jack's answer to a more modern ride was the addition of an early '70s Nova front clip. Jack, along with some help from his friend, Chuck Gould, mated the clip to the original chassis with some custom 'rails. The clip job immediately upgraded the front brakes to discs and steering to a power box, which in turn made it all easier to install the Chevy 454ci big-block mated to a 700-R4 transmission. The donor Nova also gave up a rearend to complete the '41's drivetrain.
Jack and Chuck got really busy on the body and by the time they were done, they had modified every panel from the nose to the tail. The transformation from old relic to cool cruiser was made complete with fresh leather and wool threads. Once Jack got back behind the wheel, one of his trips was not so enjoyable when a deer decided to do some custom work of its own and wiped out the entire frontend in one leap. This only gave Jack the excuse to refine his '41 even more while he nursed the Ford back to health. The recovery was obviously a full one as Jack's '41 did everything you would want a well-rounded custom/hot rod to do on the Ego-Rama. Mostly business and lots of fun-that's a good description of Jack Parker's '41.
Jack ParkerMuskegon, Michigan1941 Ford Coupe
DrivetrainJack went through a 396ci big-block a couple of times before he decided to go the crate engine route. Since he dropped the GM Performance 454 H.O. under the hood, he hasn't looked back. The mighty mill is backed by a Lokar-shifted 700-R4 transmission that transmits power to a Nova rearend.
ChassisDonor cars can come in handy, and in Jack's case, one forlorn '74 Nova went a long way in the transformation of his '41 Ford. The complete Nova subframe, which brought along front discs and power steering, was mated to the original '41 chassis with some well-planned owner-designed and installed braces to strengthen everything up. To get the tires just where Jack wanted them under the front fenders, the control arms were narrowed 1 1/2 inches to make it all work. A pair of Chassis Engineering parallel leaf springs locates the Nova 10-bolt rear, which has been upgraded with modified Cadillac Seville discs to add to the coupe's stopping power.
Wheels & TiresA set of baldy capped 14x6 and 15x8 chromies are wrapped in 185/75R14 and 255/60R15 Cooper Cobra rubber.
Body & PaintUnderneath it's a hot rod, but on top it's pure custom. The hood received a shave, fill and peak, and 108 louvers punched in its top. In the middle the most noticeable work came with a 3 1/2-inch lowering of the lid accompanied by shaving of the door handles and the removal of the running boards with custom-built rockers taking their place. In the rear, the decklid received a shave and '50 Ford taillights tunneled into the rear fenders. The highly reworked tin was given the noble treatment with many coats of Twilight Royal Purple sprayed by Hoagie Hendrickson. Finishing touches include shortened hood trim and '40 Ford bumpers tucked neatly up to the body.
Interior Roger Kohler (Pomona, CA) wrapped a pair of Dodge Conquest bucket seats and the rest of the interior in leather and wool. A LeCarra steering wheel, a set of VDO gauges, a Vintage Air system, and a host of Kenwood components are within Jack's control as he prowls the open highway. It must be a comfortable seat as Jack has traveled tens of thousands of miles from his driver's position.