Page 16 - NM Spring_2021
P. 16
TED AND THE COUPE 1981
COUPE 1980 1981
Through old connections, in 1980 those over the more popular tied into the boxed and modified
I located a very nice 116”, T bucket 3 window. stock frame rails with countless
altered. It was set up for a big other components modified and
block Chevy, but for me, nothing Things were coming into focus. fabricated for the build. We wanted
less than a hemi would work. Eddie Quay said he could easily find the car to look like a traditional hot
Enter friend, Ed Quay who owned a buyer for the altered. Locating rod – on steroids. We even made
a well renowned chassis shop in a 1934, 5W coupe body proved custom aluminum hood side panels
Pottstown, PA and had built Bill more challenging. I reasoned a complete with stock hardware.
Jenkins’ early pro cars. I talked to steel bodied car with a blown fuel Those were sent out to Rootlieb in
Ed about setting up the altered for engine would be less safe than California to punch the louvers. We
an early Chrysler hemi. Along the one of fiberglass. At that time, knew they would tear the panels
way, I had made friends with Paul there was no company producing in the process but, Quay welded
“Goldy” Gold who then owned a a glass 5W coupe. I had spoken them up and reshaped as needed
speed shop near my home north of with Jim Downs (Manufacturing) in and attached to the body with Dzus
Philly. Goldy had a blown fuel 392 Michigan and he offered to make fasteners. They remain works of
early Chrysler hemi (from the old a 5W glass body by modifying the metal art!
K&G Speed Enterprises “Frantic 3W body he was offering. Jim also
Fueler”) sitting idle in his shop that said he had a pair of 1934 frame The car was taking shape and
he offered to power the car. rails he could supply. Interested in I’d characterize it as an ancient
the project and true to his word, Jim funny car type set up with a hot rod
Ed Quay felt folks really liked to personally delivered the beautiful, body all current safety hardware.
see cars with full bodies and doors. perfectly chopped top body and Since the body was mounted to
This proved to be very prophetic! frame rails and I quickly took them the frame, how to start the engine
He suggested several options – a ‘33 to Quay’s to start the construction. posed a problem. We devised a
Willys (too many of them around), The concept was to have a center lightweight fiberglass hood that was
a ‘40 Willys (not my favorite) or steer car, solid mounted Dana rear, hinged in the left front quadrant. It
a ‘32 Ford (too boxy). And then stock type front suspension with provided just enough room to plug
he mentioned, “we have only one a custom dropped steel I-beam in a Childs & Albert 24 volt aircraft
choice then, a 1934 Ford”. I really axle. Quay was a stickler for starter to the nose of the 8-71
liked that style and decided that’s safety and created a funny car type Littlefield supercharger.
how we’d go. It had to be a 5 cage inside a full perimeter cage.
window coupe though as I favored 4130 chrome moly tubing was With help from friends, we got
some nitro and prepared to fire the
16 Nitro Madness Magazine SPRING 2021
