Bill Britsch
Oceanside, California
1934 Ford Pickup
That's me, Bill Britsch, at age 16 in 1956, proudly standing with my '34 Ford pickup. A year earlier, one could probably find me driving the back roads in my first car, a Model A Ford coupe, too young for a driver's license. This '34 had a previous history and went 122 mph in the flying mile on the California dry lakes. The previous owner said it had a few modifications, a lightened frame, and full-race Flathead. The 59AB Flattie was stroked and bored, balanced, ported and relieved, and had a Racer Brown cam with adjustable lifters (that gave it the unmistakable Flathead rumpity-rump sound), Weiand aluminum heads at 10.5 compression, and three Stromberg 97s on the intake. The motor had a Harmon and Collins ignition and was backed by a Schiefer light flywheel and Auburn clutch. The '39 transmission had been packed with Zephyr gears, but when I bought the '34, those gears had been replaced with stock. After scattering set after set, I went back to the stronger Zephyr gears. Life suddenly became much easier.
My best time in the quarter-mile was 98 mph, which was fairly respectable back then. I'm still a hot rodder today, hopelessly stuck in the Fifties. And I still have a fast car: a 4-speed '59 El Camino, but I'm much more conservative now!
Note the spinner hubcaps, which were only available on top-of-the-line Buick Roadmasters in 1955.
Dave Linn
Chesapeake, Virginia
1931 Ford Model A Roadster
For his first hot rod project, this Deuce-grilled, full-fendered A roadster, Dave said he decided to go the Pro Street route, starting with a scratch-built frame with a Heidts frontend, and a narrowed Ford 9-inch rear with a four-bar and coilovers, and disc brakes at all wheels. The Jon Barrett/Hot Rod/Engine 350 small-block features Edelbrock aluminum heads and Air Gap intake manifold, backed up with a B&M Turbo 350 automatic with a 3,000-stall converter. Dave tackled the upholstery, using a seat from TEA's Design, a Billet Specialties column and wheel, and Dakota Digital gauges. He stuffed the rear fenders with meaty 15x31x16.5 Hoosiers wrapped around a pair of 15x12 Weld Racing Rodlites-we'd love to see him light 'em up, wouldn't you?! Dave gives a shout out to Mike Balf and Bobby Darden, who helped him complete the car.
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