(Posted January 16, 2013) Louisville, KY is famous for many things: baseball bats, bourbon, horse racing, and hot rods. Hot rods? If the Father and Son team of Kevin and Shaun Lafferty, operators of Ridge Park Speed, have their way Louisville will soon be recognized as a haven of high powered, precision-crafted hot rods.
The Ridge Park Terror ’30 Model A coupe is the shop’s house car and is an excellent representation of the type of work that rolls out of Ridge Park Speed.
This ride looks like it is going 100 mph standing still by virtue of a 6” chop, 3” channel and an aggressive stance. The body is vintage Henry Ford steel and the grill shell is a reproduction Brookville piece that was shortened 3” to better match the proportions of the body.
The chassis was fabricated in house at Ridge Park Speed and features tapered front horns and lightening holes throughout. The front axle is a custom 1936 Ford piece that has been both narrowed and dropped giving this coupe an evil profile when you see it head-on. Outback a narrowed 9” Ford differential (housing narrowed and axles re-splined in house) has been modified to resemble a quick change diff. The tubular three link wishbone keeps everything in square and the adjustable, rock-arm actuated coil over shocks help to smooth the ride. A full spool and low-gear ensure smoke is rolling off both rear tires when you decide to stand on the loud pedal.
Speaking of loud – the engine is a 355 cubic inch small headed Chevy that the Lafferty’s assembled using parts from Comp cams and Eagle racing. This engine was built to rumble and sounds every bit the part through the custom lakes style headers. Valve covers are 1970’s era Mr. Gasket clear acrylic. A two speed Powerglide transmission built by Jim Decker Racing Transmissions transfers power to the rear tires.
The wheels are ’36 vintage Chevy artillery painted by Pony Tail Joe of Louisville, KY. Joe’s work is also featured on the firewall and on the Studebaker dash that has been cut down to size to fit inside the confines on a Model A.
One of the most unique features of this car is what you don’t see. Underneath the cowl lies a Sweet Mfg rack and pinion unit attached to custom engineered rocker arms. Extending out each side of the car is a steering rod that turns each front wheel. Yes, this coupe has dual-cowl steering!
Other unique features include the Mr. Horsepower woodpecker logo that has been bead rolled into the sheet metal door panels and a one-of-a-kind miniature micrometer that Kevin made from scratch – a tribute to the forty plus years he has spent as a master machinist.
The Ridge Park Terror symbolizes everything that the Lafferty’s and their shop, Ridge Park Speed stand for. Everywhere you look you find something that has been hand-built, something that is unique, and something that is “them”.
To see build pictures of the latest work rolling out of Ridge Park Speed please visit them on FaceBook. You can also follow them on Twitter @RidgeParkSpeed.
To view more work and the latest projects by Ridge Park Speed visit them on FaceBook or follow them on Twitter
