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Stan built this '40 Oldsmobile for his wife Ginny. After years of Stan
working on other projects, Ginny decided she wanted a rod of her own...
Scroll down to see photos of the car.
To read the story of this project, click here.
To give the convertible a chopped look without actually chopping it,
Stan reworked the metal bows and handmade a replacement wood bow for the
rear. The results dropped the roofline by nearly two inches. To power the
top, Stan created a pneumatic system combining the original air cylinders,
which used to be vacuum-powered, with an air pump and storage tank. Now
they have the luxury of putting the top up or down without running the
engine.
The original plan was to use a Chevy 350 crate motor to power the ’40,
but friend Sam Murray, an Olds racing gearhead, convinced Stan and Ginny
that it should be Olds-powered. He helped them locate an Olds 455 c.i., and was instrumental in
assembling and fine-tuning the engine to run like a top. Reed’s Automotive in Whitman, Massachusetts,
machined the block. The block was bored .030 over, heads were ported, polished and cc’d with an
Edelbrock cam and lifters and Milodon springs and rockers. An Edelbrock
Performer manifold and Quadrajet carb are topped by a custom air cleaner
Stan made from three headlight buckets.
Ginny’s only requirement was three-point seat belts, so they sourced
2000 Cadillac DTS seats with integrated shoulder harnesses. Fred Carello
handled the upholstery in neutral shale leather with tan wool carpeting.
Stan created a custom dash with a carbon fiber accent to house the VDO
gauges, Sony stereo, a variety of switches, knobs and the glovebox. There are
plenty of creature comforts completing the package, including seat heaters,
power windows and an Airtique air conditioning system.
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