Shadow Rods and Jon Hall Follow Up with a Sleek ’33 Ford Cabriolet
A year after taking home the Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year title with his ’27 T roadster built by Greening Auto Company, Jon Hall was back in Columbus with another serious street rod contender – this sleek and low ’33 Ford Cabriolet. It’s a project that dates back to another Goodguys event almost 15 years ago.
The event was the West Coast Nationals, and Hall was checking out the steel roadster-style cabriolet bodies offered by American Speed Company. Hall, who owns Shadow Rods – the company the builds plus-size steel ’27 T bodies and stamped ’32 Ford frame rails – saw an opportunity with the steel ’33 Ford Cabriolet bodies. “We need to do a chassis for these, so they sit low, look good, and handle,” he said. After years on the backburner, that project finally came to fruition with this car.
The new chassis incorporates Shadow Rods wishbones both front and rear, with a Pete & Jakes dropped and drilled front axle, Winters quick-change rearend, Ridetech shocks, a Borgeson steering box, and Kinmont brakes from Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop, along with JHRS 16- and 18-inch wheels fitted with Coker 5.50-16 and 7.00-18 tires.
Motor City Flathead is now a division of Shadow Rods, too, so the project naturally received a 327c.i. Flathead V8 based on one of the company’s new aluminum blocks, with aluminum heads, MSD ignition, and a custom intake with Kinsler electronic fuel injection. There are plenty of custom-built components – from the accessory drive system to the one-off stainless headers and exhaust – and it’s all backed up by a Bowler-built 4L60 transmission.
The all-new Ford Cabriolet American Speed sheet metal received its share of modifications at Shadow Rods, too. The trunk lid was shortened, the firewall and cowl were modified, and hand-made hood sides were built with curved louvers. A custom stamped rear panel incorporates ’39 Ford taillights, with ’34 Ford commercial headlights flanking the grille. Lenny’s Auto in Ubly, Michigan gets credit for the bodywork and beautiful custom black PPG finish.
The custom metalwork extends to the one-off dash, which is fitted with a custom center-mounted Dakota Digital instrument cluster, along with Vintage Air vented through custom 3D-printed ductwork. HOF Designs is responsible for the clean gray leather upholstery over custom seats and side panels, as well as the German square-weave carpet on the floor. A ’40 Ford wheel and Ididit column help finish things off.
The ’33 Ford Cabriolet is everything you could want in a modern street rod – sleek, clean, and timeless. At age 84, Hall says the only thing he’d do differently is complete the build much faster, so he’d have more time to drive and enjoy it!
Photos: John Jackson, Damon Lee
