Rod & Custom Feature Car
Geir Natvig
Verdal, Norway
1936 Ford Coupe
Chassis
The stock frame had lots of rust (the rear was nearly rusted off), so Geir repaired it, boxed it for strength, and Z'd the rear 3 inches. The front suspension consists of a split wishbone locating a Chassis engineering dropped axle with '46 Ford spindles modified to use Aston Martin Girling disc brakes. An '80 Chevy Malibu donated its 10-bolt rear with 2.45:1 gears and limited slip and is supported with a four-link and airbags for a smooth ride and tail-dragging stance. The chassis was plumbed in stainless steel and copper.
Drivetrain
The same '80 Malibu gave up its 305ci small-block and Turbo 350 trans. An edelbrock X-1 with six 97s and edmunds air cleaners replaced the stock intake. Old-style edelbrock valve covers flank the intake, while late-'50s ram-horn exhaust manifolds send the burnt gases through a custom two-into-one exhaust using two mufflers in line. A walker copper radiator keeps it cool (something not always hard to do in norway during the winter).
Wheels & Tires
A '40 deSoto gave up its 15x5-1/2 wheels, which are wrapped in Firestone deluxe Champion 6.70 rubber, front and back. Cadillac Sombrero hubcaps finish them off for the perfect look.
Exterior
It's hard to believe Geir started with that beat humpback body and ended up with this beautiful coupe. As the top was being formed from old and new sheetmetal, it was set about 3 inches lower than stock, and the rear was widened about 10 inches. The rear window was lowered 1-1/2 inches. The shape of the trunk is Geir's own design, which he rolled out of square tubing. Once it fit the profile he wanted, he welded the framework from the top to the rear of the car. He then rolled new panels on his english wheel. The rear of the body is nearly 3 inches longer than on an original coupe (discovered after the body was finished). Most of it was done by eye, since the only measurement Geir had was the width at the top of the rear fenders. The rear of the coupe was also channeled 2 inches, as the floor was missing anyway, and a new driveshaft tunnel was built 2 inches higher. The barely salvageable (don't know many who would had tried) sedan fenders were reworked to flow with the coupe body, and handmade fender skirts were added to the rear. The hood was shortened to work with the repro grille, which has been tilted back a bit. Geir took his own paint gun in hand and laid down the Spies Hecker RAL weinrot paint, and he is going to pinstripe it in the spring. The bumpers are '37 Ford, and the front is mounted closer to the body thanks to custom stainless brackets. The headlights are from a '35 Ford, and the taillights are '39 Ford. With the exception of the grille, most of the chrome and stainless trim is from Sacramento Vintage Ford.
Interior
The dash and gauges originally came in a '47 Ford but look right at home in the coupe. A '39 banjo wheel tops the '47 Ford pickup steering column, which includes a homemade shifter using some parts from a '59 Mercedes. The bench seat started life in the '80 Malibu but has been shortened and remolded to fit (it stills folds forward to access storage behind). Geir stitched it all up himself in black and white vinyl. The old heater was actually in the sedan when Geir got it and has been cleaned up and retrofitted with a new motor out of a Mazda.