Model T Rat Fink Rod Brings New Meaning to Rat Rod
By noderel:
Mark Young’s whole family goes ga-ga over Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s Rat Fink character. The kids love the toothy green rodent, the family collects Rat Fink T-shirts and floor mats and Mark—a member of Stephensville Street Rods in North Central Wisconsin—even has a stylized version of the famous varmint on the custom-made radiator insert on his T-bucket-style hot rod.
Mark’s all-steel Model T started life as a 1927 Ford roadster pickup truck. Its hot rod life began around 1978 when Jeff “Evil” Evilsizor bought it from Jeff “Bodean” Schroeder and drove it to high school. Then, it was stored in his body shop. Evil was a big fan of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and eventually moved to Sebring, Fla., where he could spend more time riding his bikes.
“Evil drove it as it was ‘til about 1986,” says Mark. “Then it was partly restored. Around 2001, he parked it at my place and three years ago he put it up for sale. I wanted to buy it and my wife said to go ahead and get it.”
The deal to purchase the car was completed late in 2011. Then, Mark Young’s son Mike began transforming the car into the hot rod it is today. Ben Rotter of Rotter Fabrication in Bonduel, Wis., did the steering at his shop. Robin Wilson of Wilson’s Upholstery in Shioctin, Wis., stitched the seats and trim. Tom Schneidiwendt squirted the paint.
In addition to all the hours Mike Young lavished on the T bucket, family members Mindy, Miranda, Penny, Martin Young and Michael Martin Young rolled up their sleeves to get the project done. Vernon Garvey and Greg Berowski of Extreme Enterprises were also involved in the build. A 350-cid Chevy V-8 powers the pickup today and drives through a two-speed automatic transmission.