By Fred Fish
It all started about 54 about years ago. I was 5 and collecting anything to do with cars, whether it was pictures or models, they became a big part of my life. My parents taught me the value of work and before I was old enough to get a drivers license I had my first car. I grew up in what I thought was the perfect time as cars in the late 60’s and early 70’s were awesome. Muscle car engines producing a horsepower per cubic inch were commonplace and great for someone who loved hot cars but not so great if you didn’t care for traffic citations. I had three different muscle cars and eventually became very fond of anything that was MOPAR.
The years brought about a marriage and a family that became priorities so the car stuff took a backseat for a while. Then a divorce brought about the release of spousal pressure but financially I was strapped. Years later I met an understanding woman who became my second wife plus a positive force toward me getting back into the car scene. I got started again in the late 80’s with another MOPAR muscle car. It felt great but in my heart I always knew that I would love to have a streetrod. I sold that car and began looking for a rod. The criteria were that it had to be a MOPAR, in the 30’s and have a non Chevy drive train, preferably a MOPAR. What I found was close to perfect. It was an all steel 1936 Dodge Business coupe that started its life in Arizona. It was built by a 70 year old man who just takes these rust free cars and builds awesome streetrods. The car was built with a full frame off rotisserie and implanted with a 455 Buick engine and a beefed Turbo 400 tranny. It had a Mustang front clip and an Oldsmobile 10 bolt rear end with 3:23 gears. When the car was done and put up for sale a gentleman from Illinois purchased it. He had the car for 13 years when health issues put it on the market. He had added 11” disc brakes to the front, a Nitrous system and rewired the car with one of today’s modern systems. I bought the car site unseen and was amazed at the cars quality when it was delivered via a transport company.
I ran the car for 3 years then decided it was time to personalize the car as mine. Believing that you should keep the drive train the same as the manufacturer my first order of business was the motor. I opted for a “B” block 383 MOPAR. Then I heard about 440 Source and ordered a 383/496 stoker kit. This kit along with a set of MOPAR “452” casting aluminum heads with 440 Source roller rockers, a Comp Cam, lifters and roller timing chain, a Barry Grant Six Shooter, Mallory Unilite ignition, Sanderson headers, and flowmaster 50’s took care of the motor department. My friend Gary at Nolin Racing Engines handled the machine work and assembly of the motor. The transmission is a beefed and worked 727 with a 2500 stall torque converter. This combination was just what the doctor ordered!
Before the driveline was installed the car received another frame of resto starting with all new suspension, brakes, and new tires mounted on Billet Specialties wheels. Body mods include a fabricated one piece hood top mated to a Dan Fink latch system, a stainless steel firewall, Hagan flush teardrop taillights, a recessed gas filler door and a retractable license plate. The car is covered with multiple award winning PPG Vibrance line “Oh So Sexy” red paint job. The finishing touches incorporate a custom interior utilizing a Billet Specialties steering wheel, Haneline 3-n-1 gauges and a mix of stainless steel, wood burl, white marine grade vinyl, charcoal carpet and paint.
While the car was nice before and ran good with the 455, it was nothing like the combination that I have now, a MOPAR in a MOPAR! This transformation took over a year and I have been asked how it feels to have the car finished. My reply is, “are they ever really finished?” There are plans to remove the bumpers and install some custom nerf bars that I have designed but not made yet. Being into Graphic Design, I designed all the current changes on paper before the tear down. Those designs also included an artist rendition of the car with graphics on it but I’m unsure if it will receive the design or not.
After four years of cruising and doing shows I have only seen a couple ’36 Dodge coupes, thus making me feel even better about my own ride because there isn’t an abundance of them out there. In ending, a retractable license plate helps in those “Get out of Dodge moments!”
