Many custom cars are built as a means for re-creating the past. Others conger up a past that never existed, and create a fresh new reality for the present."My choice of a '49 Ford was mainly by happenstance, but then became a nostalgic trip to the past," says Seth Wagner, the owner of this Chicago-area business coupe. "That past was 1952, when I was just 13 and my sister's boyfriend had a '49 Ford coupe. His was smoothed and, as we said in those days, 'souped up.' I loved it, and never forgot the rides we took with the 'big guys' in a 'souped up' '49 Ford.
"In July 1998," Seth continues, "I was out for a ride on my custom motorcycle and spied an original black coupe in a parking lot. The car had a 'For Sale' sign on it, and after crawling all over it, under it, and in it, I called a knowledgeable friend who happens to be a licensed appraiser. We decided the car was in excellent shape and worth the effort of making an offer."
Coming up with a plan was one thing; executing it was another. "We had to do a lot of things to the steel components to get them to meet the challenges dictated by Gary's design," Seth says. "Kerry Hopperstad chewed 2 1/2 inches out of the top, tilted the B-pillars just enough to give it some class, and left us with the capability to use the original glass in the back and sides."
Frenching the headlights and taillights, filling the hood, building a custom grille, and recessing the license housing are all relatively standard Shoebox mods. What really sets this Ford apart is the custom trim gracing its slab-sided flanks."The side trim was an airbrushed concept in the renderings," Seth says, "but our heads-together stubbornness insisted on something more trick and difficult. Most people ask, 'What is that trim off of?' It is not off of anything. It is solid aluminum, CAD-designed and CNC-machined, welded, polished, and painted. Studs threaded into the trim are used to affix it to the body; no small feat, as every dip and rise in the body had to be filled accordingly." Hopperstad helped engineer and build the trim, while the crew at Nardi's Rod and Custom fine-tuned it after applying the car's custom-mixed Sikkens orange and champagne metallic paint
Cradling the potent drivetrain is a modified frame with a Mustang II-style IFS, Air Ride Technologies air springs, an Addco sway bar, and 13.5-inch Wilwood brakes. Out back, the current air spring/leaf spring combo will soon be replaced with a four-link setup, although the narrowed 9-inch rearend, 4.10:1 gears, and Wilwood discs should stay put. Rolling stock consists of 17- and 18-inch Billet Specialties Stiletto wheels and BFGoodrich rubber.
A Hopperstad-modified dash filled with Auto Meter dials keeps Seth informed in the cabin, while Cougar bucket seats wrapped in brown and beige leather keep him comfortable. Steve and Marilyn Rolfs, of Durant, Iowa, get credit for the fine upholstery design and craftsmanship. Their handiwork is complemented by amenities such as an ididit tilt column, Billet Specialties wheel, Alpine tunes, and Vintage Air climate controls.
Ken Barnhart and his crew at Ken's Street Rod Repair ably handled much of the Ford's mechanical work and final assembly, finishing it up in time to hit the Goodguys 2005 Heartland Nationals in Des Moines, and the PPG Nationals in Columbus, where we bestowed it with a Custom Rodder Top Ten award."The car has been a long time coming," Seth says, "but it was a journey well worth the effort, and a lot of friends were made along the way. I am sure I have missed a lot of names, but all the people that contributed to this work of art and function will be fondly remembered and greatly appreciated. Thanks to you all for making my dream car come true!"