Marty and Pat Wells
Yorba Linda, California
1951 Ford Sedan
Chassis
Marty decided to start over with a clean slate, which in this case meant a '77 Buick Regal chassis slipped under his shoebox. It turned out that the Regal's wheelbase was too short and the track was too wide for the Ford. The remedy was lengthening the chassis 2 inches and narrowing the suspension 2 inches on both ends. Firestone airbags and Monroe shocks are mounted on all four corners.
Driveline
A reliable Chevy 350ci small-block was freshened up at D&B Machine in Whittier, California. The four-bolt main block was topped with reworked heads and an Edelbrock Performer intake and carburetor. An HEI ignition provides the spark and 36-inch glasspacks route the spent gasses. A 700-R4 rebuilt by Jerry's Transmissions in Norwalk, California, sends the power to a narrowed Buick rearend.
Wheels & Tires
Bullet-equipped '57 Cadillac caps dress up a set of chrome 15x6 steel wheels that mount a set of 205/75R15 wide white radials from The Candy Store.
Body & Paint
When Marty first came across his '51 Ford sedan someone had already chopped the top off the shoebox, so Marty had Joseph Garcia replace it with a donor roof mounted 5 inches lower than stock and add a '41 Chevy rear window opening. The balance of the custom bodywork was done by Marty himself, who began by extending the rear quarter-panels and fitting a narrowed '56 Chevy bumper. Up front a reworked '57 Chevy bumper is complemented by a pair of '55 Oldsmobile headlight rings fitted to the extended fenders. After Marty completed his custom bodywork, he pulled out his spray gun and laid on the multiple coats of custom-mixed DuPont Pearl Green paint topped with PPG clear.
Interior
Custom metalwork continues inside with a handformed dash that sweeps back into the custom console. Flanking each side of the custom console is a pair of Honda Prelude bucket seats covered in tuck 'n' gathered tan leather by Frank Solis in Montebello, California. A '61 Chevy steering wheel tops a Buick tilt steering column and vitals are viewed on a hidden digital panel that drops below the dash. Creature comfort components from Vintage Air and Kenwood have also been hidden from view inside the passenger compartment.