Rod & Custom Feature Car
Owner contact info: ggamet@verizon.net
Gerry & Gail Gamet
Murrieta, California
1953 Ford Crestline Convertible
Chassis
No Limit Engineering in San Bernardino, California, took the original frame and updated it with a Mustang II-style IFS with QA1 coilovers and Baer disc brakes. At the rear they added a 3.73:1-geared Ford 9-inch with Baer discs hanging from Posies' Super Slide leaf springs.
Drivetrain
It may look mildly stock on the outside but raise the hood and you'll find a '99 Ford 4.6L GT engine looking back. Campbell Ford Performance went through the engine and AOD trans and rebuilt them back to stock specs. The engine cover came off an '02 Explorer and was painted to match its surroundings with silver/gray stripes added for a little extra punch. A custom Mattson brass radiator keeps it running cool.
Wheels & Tires
Thunderbird 15x5 wires have been accented with tri-bar spinners with custom Ford crest emblems and are wrapped in Coker 2 1/2-inch whitewall 215/75R15 radials.
Body & Paint
Gerry was dreaming about a '53 Ford for years, so when it came time to clean up the body he kept it simple and turned it over to Lundy Adkins at Quality Restorations & Street Rods with instructions to highlight Ford's design. The hood, decklid, and doors were nosed, decked, and shaved. The bumpers were smoothed and rechromed along with the stock grille and other trim. The halogen headlights and LED taillights were frenched. Once the body was ready Lundy covered it in PPG Porsche Guards Red.
Interior
The interior carries on the mostly-stock-but-modified theme. The original dash still retains the stock gauges (refurbished by Classic Instruments) but has been enhanced with So-Cal Speed Shop knobs, Vintage Air vents, and an enlarged glovebox door (used two doors and it hides the Panasonic stereo head unit and Vintage Air controls). The stock seats were rebuilt with new springs and foam and covered in new vinyl by Armando's Custom Upholstery in San Jacinto, California. A Flaming River tilt column was installed and topped with the original steering wheel which was restored and painted to match the seats.