Deja Vudoo – Gary and Connie Popolizio’s 1935 Ford Pickup
What do you call a custom pickup that reflects on the past and incorporates a bold, modern Ford “Voodoo” engine and a smooth, contemporary finish? If you’re Gary and Connie Popolizio, you christen your ’35 Ford “Deja Vudoo!”
The couple say they wanted a vehicle that would provide a “tribute to our country’s history and connect that past to the present.” Their search led them to a “farm-raised, garage-kept” pickup in northern New Jersey that was little more than a fragile shell. Fortunately, the team at Revolution Rod & Custom in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, was able to dramatically transform the humble starting point into this shining showpiece.
A new custom frame from Rothspeed provided a firm and fresh foundation that incorporates independent front and rear suspensions, billet control arms and spindles, C7 Corvette hubs, JRi triple-adjustable coil-overs, a 9-inch rearend with a Strange center section and Eaton Truetrac, plus Wilwood 14-inch disc brakes. Handling is further enhanced with massive 20×12- and 19×7-inch one-off wheels from EVOD wrapped in 325/35/20 and 215/40/19 rubber.
Fitting the big Ford modular 5.2-liter “Voodoo” engine into the truck’s compact engine bay took a bit of magic, but it was worth it to gain the 526 horsepower and 429 lb. ft. of torque. Custom CNC-machined valve covers from Rothspeed enhance the engine’s appearance, as do the matte bronze finishes and Borla eight-stack fuel injection. A Bowler-prepped Tremec T-56 six-speed backs the big mill, while Ultimate headers and Borla mufflers were used in the custom stainless exhaust system.
The Revolution Rod & Custom team altered nearly every inch of sheet metal, starting with a 1.5-inch chopped top, reshaped doors, and custom carbon fiber fenders that are 2.5-inches wider than stock, with custom running boards to match. Alumicraft fabricated a ’33-style grille insert to fit into the modified shell, while the bed was treated to filled stake pockets, custom tailgate hinges, and curly maple bed wood divided by carbon fiber strips. The body is bathed in custom-mixed BASF Glasurit “Deja Vudoo Green,” which is complemented by satin bronze wheels, engine parts, and other accents.
Inside, the custom dash was fitted with a center-mounted Art Deco-style Classic Instruments gauge cluster and a one-off steering wheel machined by Rothspeed. Gillin Custom Design gets credit for the shapely seat covered in custom-stitched South American leather with basket-weave accents. Rothspeed pedals and a Restomod Air climate control system are some of the finishing touches.
Completed earlier this year, “Deja Vudoo” accomplishes all the Popolizios set out to do, blending vintage style, modern performance, and subtle custom accents. As they put it, the truck “reflects the past, but with a new lease on life!”
Photos by Todd Ryden
