Snazzberry – Richard Patchen’s 1939 Ford
Richard Patchen calls his beautiful ’39 Ford “Snazzberry” after the rich PPG paint covering the body. The smooth coupe is the culmination of extensive and elegant work done by Armando’s Custom Upholstery and Restoration to achieve the vision Richard was after.
The rebuild started with a boxed original Ford frame incorporating a Fatman independent front suspension with QA1 coil-over shocks. Leaf springs support the 8.8-inch Ford rearend, while a quartet of Wilwood disc brakes can be found behind the chrome Foose 18×8- and 20×10-inch wheels. Power comes from a ’65 Corvette 327c.i. small block that’s well dressed, detailed, and backed by a Lokar-shifted TH350 transmission.
You’ve probably already noticed the ’40 Ford headlights fitted to the ’39 fenders, and the custom aluminum grille from Holohan’s Hot Rods. Rounded corners, modified running boards, an extended tail panel, and other mods help to smooth the steel body under the aforementioned PPG paint. Armando’s is well known for its interiors and knocked it out of the park here with beautiful caramel-colored leather over bucket seats and custom panels. Dakota Digital gauges, an Ididit column, custom wheel, and Vintage Air finish things off.
The classic lines of ’40 Fords are inherently elegant, and Richard’s Snazzberry Pearl beauty takes it to a new level, one that not only earned a Goodguys 2022 Meguiar’s Street Rod d’Elegance Top Five, but also First in Class at this year’s Grand National Roadster Show.
Photos by John Jackson
