Goodguys 2021 Vintage Air Custom Rod of the Year!
Congratulations to Jason Graham for winning the Goodguys 2021 Vintage Air Custom Rod of the Year title with your 1963 Ford Galaxie! We’ll see you and your vehicle in Scottsdale, Arizona November 19-21, 2021 at the 24th Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals presented by Barrett-Jackson!
When you think of a Jason Graham-built hot rod, the picture of a low-slung, wickedly chopped, channeled and fenderless coupe or sedan probably comes to mind. He’s worked hard to develop this recognizable style, but he also wanted to show what his shop could accomplish with a full-size ‘60s custom build. The result earned him a finalist position for 2021 Vintage Air Custom Rod of the Year in Nashville.
The 1963 Galaxie body had been passed on by other shops and deemed too rough to build, which only fueled Jason’s desire to build it as a personal project. He worked with designer Eric Brockmeyer to help put his vision to paper and got busy.
With a beat, rusty starting point, Jason opted for a complete Roadster Shop Revo chassis as a solid foundation. The front track width was widened 2.5-inches so the Coyote engine and 6R80E drivetrain could sit lower in the frame. A Flaming River steering rack and column is mated to a DCE electronic power assist steering to keep things clean under the hood. Hydraulics are of course still in place to activate the Baer six- and four-piston calipers clamping big-inch disc brakes. A set of one-off 19×9.5- and 20×12-inch wheels are wrapped in 265/35/19 and 345/30/20 Federal rubber.
With the chassis and driveline mapped out, Jason got busy on the Galaxie’s rough sheet metal. The hood was slightly raised in the center to gain a smidgen more height for the supercharger and was also shaved of all trim. The rockers were boxed and lowered 3/4-inch to match the profile of the chassis from front to rear. Both bumpers were shaved and modified, with the front receiving an air intake and the rear being reworked for flush-fitting exhaust tips before receiving a nickel finish. A rear belly pan was added along with custom side and beltline moldings plus an impressive one-piece billet grille by One Ten Machining. The BASF Glasurit Inferno Red, applied by Madison Alexander, looks out of this world on the custom Galaxie.
Inside, a pair of comfy bucket seats welcome passengers up front with a custom console and completely leather wrapped dash. Jason’s team designed most of the interior with John Miller stepping up to fine tune and finish off everything in Sequioa leather. Instrumentation comes from Dakota Digital, Vintage Air keeps the temperature comfortable, and the wiring is courtesy of Ron Francis.
Sure, it’s got fenders and a stock-height roof, but make no mistake – this 1963 Galaxie is definitely a Jason Graham hot rod!
Photos by John Jackson & Damon Lee
