To match the black brilliance of the exterior, Tracy Weaver from The Recovery Room stitched up the pleated black vinyl that covers the fabricated seat and frames the widened Brookville '32 dash that's been fitted with Classic Instruments and hangs a '40 Ford-style steering wheel. The balance of the interior was decidedly kept very simple with no unnecessary creature comforts because Dale feels the sound of the roaring Flathead and the lack of a top are all the tunes and climate control he needs. Track nose or lake nose? The answer may never be known, but Dale Renner's "nose job" was definitely a huge success.
Dale RennerNorfolk, Nebraska1933 Ford Roadster
ChassisKnowing that he wanted the chassis to flow with the body lines of his '33 Ford, Dale crafted his own 'rails from 2x2 steel tubing to match the lower body line. Stretched an additional 2 inches to a 114-inch wheelbase, the sweeping chassis was also rolled along the bottom edge to create the look of a full bellypan. Mounted under the nose is a chromed Magnum 4-inch drop I-beam axle fitted with Chassis Engineering spindles and steering arms that connect directly to a rebuilt Vega steering box. Owner ingenuity put together a set of front brakes with a set of discs hidden behind a pair of '40 Ford backing plates to match original units on the rear. A '36 Ford rearend fitted with a Halibrand centersection has been upgraded as well with a Chrysler posi unit fitted by the Hot Rod Works.
DrivetrainInspired by roaring track roadsters of the past, Dale could only be happy with a Ford Flathead pulling the way in his '33. John's Automotive Machine in Norfolk, Nebraska, handled rebuilding chores using a full supply of pieces from Motor City Flathead. With the internals taken care of, an Offenhauser intake and heads dress up the exterior of the Flattie, along with a trio of rebuilt Stromberg 97 carbs and a pair of Fenton cast-iron headers. Mated to the '53 engine is a Ford Top Loader transmission that has been converted to appear as an early Ford trans with a combination of Jeep and '36 Ford shifter components. An auxiliary radiator was tucked up under the tail, along with a trio of electric fans, to keep the Flathead cool.
Wheels & TiresAs unique as the car is, the wheels are even more unique. Starting with a set of 16-inch (4 1/2- and 6-inch-wide) Ford repro steelies from Wheel Vintique, Denny had a set of centers formed and welded into the wheels so a set of '33 Ford caps could be mounted. With plans to really drive the roadster, Dale opted for a set of Firestone radials in 185/60R16 and 275/70R16 sizes.
Body & PaintIt's nearly impossible to believe that the body was once the remains of a badly battered jalopy racer when looking at the '33 roadster today in all its perfection. Dale put a good portion of the 12 years he spent building his hot rod into the massaging of the body and the building of the graceful track nose (actually the second one built for the car). Besides ironing out the lumps and bumps, Dale also shortened the body 3 inches behind the doors and extended the panel below the decklid another 3 1/2 inches. After filling the cowl vent and building a one-off windshield frame, Denny sprayed the smooth all-steel body with DuPont black paint and then laid out a set of scallops and filled them in with a coating of Rolls Royce red paint. Headlamps are a pair of Dietz units fitted with a pair of customized aftermarket motorcycle turn signals mounted in custom housings, and on the opposite end a pair of LED lit '39 Ford-style taillamps keep other motorists informed.
InteriorThe interior is reminiscent of his early Sprint Cars containing only what is absolutely necessary for the cars end purpose-in this case, cruising the open highway. Tracy Weaver at the Recover Room in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, stitched up the simple and attractive black vinyl interior. A Brookville '32 Ford dash was fitted with a set of gauges from Classic Instruments.