In keeping with our tradition of turning out some very unique street rods, RETRO POWER does it again with this 1933 Chevy "Phantom Delivery". What originally started out as a bone stock 4-door sedan, pulled from Midwestern barn, has transformed into hot rod with a personality all its own.
The sedan seemed fairly solid upon initial inspection, but further disassembly proved otherwise. The rear doors were welded into place and the body beads were meticulously re-created with new metal fillers and custom lead-work by the RETRO POWER crew. The sedan's top was chopped 2-3/4 inches at the front windshield posts and 2-1/2 inches at the rear window posts. The roof was also extended an additioanl 2-inches just above the passenger doors to achieve proper proportions. Custom formed panels were welded in place of the original rear passenger door windows and quarter windows. The body was then channeled over the frame rails 6-inches at the cowl and 1-inch at the tail panel. Lower side skirts were fabricated to create a seamless look between the rocker panels and frame rails. A new firewall was fabricated with custom beadwork and the lower cowl side panels were re-formed with an exaggereated arch to further define the body proportions. The stock grille shell was also channeled over the front crossmember to keep the car's profile in perspective. Since the original rear tailpanel was completely rusted away, it was "bobbed" by almost 5-inches with new bead work that completes the transition between the wheel wells. Speaking of wheel wells, those were also custom fabricated to enhance the custom fabricated tailpan that was formed to showcase the transverse rear leaf suspension. All of the sedan's original wood was replace with a custom fabricated steel inner structure and the front doors then hung"suicide" style.
The sedan rides on its original frame rails which were fully boxed and internally trussed. An assortment of Pete & Jakes suspension components rounds the package. Those parts include a SuperBell dropped tube axle, Viper hairpins and Posie's transverse leaf spring. Steering is handled by a Vega cross-steer system and front brakes are provided by GM metric calipers and discs. The frame rails are further supported by a Pete & Jakes fully tubular H-member. The rear suspension consists of a Ford 9-inch with drum brakes controlled by Pete & Jakes ladder bars and shocks with a Posie's transverse rear leaf spring. Rolling stock consists of Team III Fueler wheels and BFG T/A Radials.
Power is provided by a 420HP 383 stroker built by Smeding Performance and transferred through a fully built TH350 transmission and 2500 stall converter. The exhaust system was custom fabricated by RETRO POWER using a set of dirt track modified headers and auger style muffer inserts. An "oil bath" air cleaner assembly from a 1938 Chevy was converted to a dry paper element. The engine is cooled by an aluminum radiator custom built by Brice Thomas.
The interior was designed and installed by RETRO POWER and consists of black tweed accented with 3-D embossments and olive drab stitching. The interior design was created to mimic the effect of the American Flag blowing in the wind and is accented by a large star on each of the front doors. A split back bench seat incorporates genuine 1st Armored Division patches. The top insert is also custom built, covered with black canvas, and is supported by mahogany wood bows that accent the steering wheel. Instrumentation is provided by a custom designed set of gauges that mimic the styling cues of the sedan's original gauges, right down to the pointer. These gauges were built by New Vintage USA for this project with the RETRO POWER logo laser etched onto the backside of the glass lenses.
Other unique touches include .45 Auto shells incorporated into the rear tail light bezels as well as a genuine 30MM shell for the shifter handle, to include a replacement bullet machined from solid stock. The gas cap was custom crafted by using the horn button from 1953 Chevy and an aluminum ring from J&B Microfinish, who also machined the custom designed "Bomber" inspired dash bezel.
The finishing touch on this sedan is its custom paint, a base coat of PPG's "Canteen Green" applied in-house by RETRO POWER. Space City Airbrush then followed with a pair of incredible airbrushed "PinUp Girls" for the front doors. To further highlight the overall design, strategically placed "rivets" were also airbrushed onto various body panels.
Named "Ironsides" this sedan was built to reflect the pride we have not just in our work, but in our Service Men and Women who protect and provide the freedom for us to do so. Thank You!
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Look for Old Ironsides and our pinup model at the Texas Hoedown in New Caney, TX, March 3rd and at the 11th Lonestar Rod & Kustom Roundup in Austin, TX, April 13-15.
