I'm 27, and I built my first street rod when I was 25. I am now finishing my second build and starting my 3rd.
First car I built was a '39 Chevy Master Deluxe. The pictures show the '39 when I started it, and what it looked like when I finished. This car now belongs to a guy in Washington D.C., and he's enjoying the car very much.
I have been working on a '40 Coupe that has been chopped 4.5 inches, door handles shaved, 15" Torque Thrust II wheels, '39 Ford taillights frenched, suicide doors, Air Ride suspension. The rear fenders are 2" wider that stock, and they've been molded in. I am building a custom sound system for the car now, and I'll be ready to cruise by April. I am going to paint it flat red, and it is getting a black tweed interior with black ostrich inserts.
I have always been into cars, but I really have a passion for street rods so much that I've started my own business. Although, it is only part time right now it's still a lot of fun, and hopefully my passion will help bring new life to old vehicles for people to enjoy.
1) Full Name, Age, City/ State, Occupation and/or school..
Brian Late, 27, Bella Vista, AR, Logistics Analyst/part time builder
2) Details about your car... how long you have had it, what work you have done on it... when is will be completed if it is not yet done. The more details you can give about the car and your work on it... the better..
When I got the car in May '06 the engine was just a long block with carb and manifold, the car had already received suicide doors, 4-1/2" chop, widened, and molded rear fenders. I first finished the engine, and got it running, then installed, and aligned the doors and front clip. I covered the dash in tweed, and installed VDO gauges. I have a Flaming River steering column, and a Billet Banjo wheel. The doors have been shaved, and I'm running an AutoLoc 8 channel remote. One thing that I didn't like on my '39 was the way the windshield and rear window sit in the pinchweld. I rounded the front, and rear pinchweld over then mounted the glass from the inside of the car. This gives the glass a cleaner look. I could not decide what taillights to go with at first, but after long thought I went with '39 Ford taillights, and I frenched them into the rear. The front has Air Ride, and a Mustang II front suspension. In the rear I have a Chassis Engineering leaf spring setup, and I'm about to finish the rear Air Ride suspension. I had to build a tunnel for the drive shaft to allow the car to drop within inches of the ground. I am doing the interior myself; I'm doing black tweed with black ostrich inserts. I am also building a competition quality sound system.
3) What was the hardest part of getting your car done.... the easiest ...
The most fun. I enjoy building the cars as much as driving them. Coming up with ways to put my own spin on things is the most fun.
4) What shows do you like to attend?
I attend NSRA Oklahoma City, NSRA Springfield, and NSRA Louisville.
5) What do you feel is most important for the future of rodding?
I was brought into street rodding by my Father-in-Law. Honestly, I think the future of hot rodding relies on the street rodders now. I want to show all my friends now how fun it is to go to cruises, and hangout at events.