Words & Photos: Tommy Parry
It’s a comprehensive, custom one-off build with gobs of power and torque to boot. She’s pretty, and she’s only getting prettier with time. Kevin builds throttle bodies for a living, and with the facilities his shop, Carter Customs, offers, he’s made something that will turn heads wherever it goes.
The build started fifteen years ago with a $250, plastic-bodied ‘23 Model T, on which Kevin tweaked everything he could. Kevin made or modified the frame rails, the gas tank (made to fit around the Franklin quick-change driveshaft), top, windshield, exhaust manifolds, windshield frame and just about everything else.
Kevin’s motor is a balanced, 454 big block Chevy with forged internals, 8:1 compression, ported, oval-bore heads and solid motor mounts. The throttle body is a 1300 cfm, billet four-barrel, and to keep the motor lubricated, Kevin uses Burns dry-sump setup. Keeping the engine in one piece is a Megasquirt MS2 system. With good parts making a strong foundation, Kevin can throw as much boost at the motor as he likes.
Instantly grabbing the eye are the four T3 turbochargers shining away prettily. Currently, they’re not running any wastegates! He intends to plumb the intercooler for water soon, get some proper wastegates and tune the engine. With the turbos he’s currently running, Kevin estimates the engine is capable of making 1,200 horsepower. Not bad for a car weighing a mere 1,800 pounds – half of which is accounted for by the engine!
It’s easy on the eyes, too – namely, thanks to that pretty Carson top. The body uses Model A headlamps with halogen bulbs and tail lights, and highbeams from a ‘33 Plymouth. The Raider wheels measure 6” wide up front and 11.5” in the rear. Kevin chose Goodyear drag slicks to wrap the rears, but with that amount of power, it’s not like could use anything but serious tires.
With that power-to-weight ratio, the Model T had to be safe. A subtle cage with crossbars graces the interior, and powerful Wilwood 4-Pistons brakes adorn all 4 corners. Kevin also made most of the frame, through which the brake lines run, and employed a mid-plate for a little more rigidity.
The rear end is a four-link and uses quarter-elliptical springs coming out of the frame rails, and the ride height is adjusted with a tweak of one screw on the frame. However, the car needs to be kept somewhat high for rear squat and to keep that work-of-art exhaust system from scraping.
In the future, he plans for a “screaming candy green” paint job and plenty of white leather on the inside. Gorgeous and terrifying: the ultimate combination. We wait with bated breath!
