Nothing like kicking off 2017 with a Cruise that covers seven cities along the southern coastline from Ocean Spring to Bay St. Louis. It’s Highway 90 and miles of great highway cruisin’ for one and all hot rods.
It’s time to break in the new year, that would be 2017, with the latest version of the Painless Performance Products Street Rodder Top 100 program. What better place to begin then the Cruisin’ the Coast event that has now celebrated its 20th year.
The Mississippi Coast Coliseum is the location of the swap meet while Ocean Springs had its downtown area loaded with hot rods with parking supplied by the Edgewater Mall and the Bay St. Louis downtown area as well. Events were held in downtown Biloxi for the block party, the car corral was also in Biloxi, and the kick-off parade was in Long Beach.
It was from these many wide and varied areas that the Painless Performance Products Top 100 cars were selected.
1932 Ford Roadster | Dick Bales | Easley, SC
The utter simplicity of a Deuce Hiboy makes them very attractive. Of course so does the custom mixed yellow pearl paint with a rich brown leather interior. Under the hood an LS2 Chevrolet hooks to the 460LE trans. Look closely, this car has windows, Vintage Air, Classic Instruments and Billet Specialties wheel, it makes for one very tidy package.
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air | Ron & Terri Allen | Scottsbluff, NE
This 1955 Chevrolet convertible is the perfect vehicle for Cruisin’ the Coast. Externally things are factory fresh with PPG Orange & Tan paint, while the interior has all the modern amenities along with yards of brown leather and things like Vintage Air, Classic Instruments and an ididit, Inc. steering column. An LS1 spins the Billet Specialties wheels while Heidts and Wilwood combine for suspension and brakes.
1961 Chevrolet Impala | Don & Marilyn Peterson | Buda, TX
This bubble top looks great covered in PPG custom mixed Aqua paint. The lines are so clean the car remains stock on the outside with a Holley-fed ZZ4 under the hood. Fresh rolled and pleated leather covers the seats while Vintage Air beats the heat. AutoMeter monitors the motor and it all rolls on classic American five spokes.
1932 Ford Tudor | Robert Cox | Ft. Smith, AR
The subtle two-inch top chop, louvered hood and mile-deep PPG black paint drew us in for a closer look. Under the hood we found a 350 small block fed by an early TPI unit. Inside Mooneyes gauges fill the dash and Vintage Air keeps things cool. TCI front suspension carries Wilwood disc brakes and Billet Specialties wheels keep the traditional theme alive.
1955 Mercury Montclair | Bill Tennant | Colleyville, TX
Mild customs are among our favorites and this ’55 Merc is a fine example. Nosed and decked and mildly lowered the Merc rolls on American five spokes. Inside red and white upholstery matches the Classic Instrument gauges, while a Lokar shifter handles the modern AOD transmission. Under the hood an equally modern power plant comes in the form of a 4.6 liter Ford crate motor.
1961 Ford Starliner | Jack Benge | Topeka, KS
When it comes to bubble tops it is hard to beat the 1961 offerings. This bright red Ford is a perfect example of letting the fine factory lines shine through. A lowered stance comes from Ridetech while power comes from a new Coyote 5.0 Ford motor. Inside miles of red leather cover the seats and console while Dakota Digital gauges monitor the modern motor. Custom made front and rear grilles combine with ’59 Caddy taillights to add a custom touch to this Starliner.
1949 Mercury | Jim & Sue Kraus | Bouke, LA
Brilliant green pearl will get us every time. This low-slung custom rolls on Mustang II suspension and airbags, while the Colorado Custom wheels do a great job of looking like hubcaps. Under the hood a classic 350/350 combo is found and the motor is full-dress in finned aluminum and tri-power. Inside Southern Air is cool and the dash is filled with VDO gauges. Oh, one last surprise, this is a fiberglass body.
1931 Ford Pickup | Arthur Rodriquez | Seguin, TX
Vintage haulers make great hot rods and we offer this Kaki Model-A as graphic proof. The red insert and steel wheels look great with the half-painted early hubcaps. Under the hood you’ll find half a small block Chevy engine, yes, the early Chevy four-banger powers the truck. Pete & Jakes shocks and suspension are found up front with Buick drum brakes, while inside the truck simple black vinyl and Stewart-Warner gauges complete the package.
1937 Ford Pickup | Mark Cuzzola | Slidell, LA
Mixing sheet metal on early Ford trucks makes for a cool hauler. This ’37 truck uses the earlier ’35-36 grille and lowered headlights for a great hot rod look. Under the hood a Quick Fuel fed 383 stroker motor connects to the 4L60E tranny, while Wilwood brakes slow things down. Inside tan leather seats reside behind the ’40 Ford dash and Vintage Air makes for one cool cab.
1932 Ford 5W-Coupe | Bobby Madden | Olive Branch, MS
Timeless and tasteful, two things that never go out of style. This George Poteet owned coupe relies on an assemblage of hot rod parts from the real magnesium wheels to the chopped top and conservative tan PPG paint. Pete & Jakes suspension up front, buggy spring and P & J shocks out back continue the theme. Under the hood a 350 Chevy connects to the 350 tranny. Inside traditional rolls and pleats are found along with Vintage Air, Classic Instruments and a Bell wheel. This is just a cool hot rod.
The post 2017 Cruisin’ the Coast Painless Performance & Street Rodder Top 100 appeared first on Hot Rod Network.