A Shoebox Ford Taken To New Levels

The 1949-1951 ‘Shoebox’ Ford is one of the quintessential American classic cars. Much like the ’32 Model A or the ’57 Chevy, it’s an icon. People have been hot rodding and customizing Shoebox Fords for over 60 years now, and you might think every trick in the book would have been done by this point.

Not so. At this year’s SEMA Show, one of the downright coolest and most impressive builds is Bruce Leven’s ’51 Ford Coupe.

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Built by Wicked Fabrication and Byers Custom, it’s a stunning mix of classic and modern, with incredible attention to detail throughout.

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Built with a vintage racing theme, the body has been sectioned by five inches up front and two and a half inches in the rear, and it sits on a custom Art Morrison chassis with independent suspension and a quick-change rear end.

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There’s no modern crate engine or crazy turbo setups under the hood either. Instead, you’ll find an immaculately-detailed 368 cubic inch V8 out of a ’56 Lincoln mated to a 5-speed T5 transmission.

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It’s easily one of the most well-presented engine bays at SEMA this year. Analog beauty at its very best.

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The completely reworked interior of the Ford is every bit as impressive as the engine bay. Handled by Stitches Custom Auto Upholstery in Poulsbo, WA – there are unique two-tone bucket seats, a custom center console and a wooden Nardi steering wheel to set it all off.

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The attention to detail also extends to the trunk area which features a spare magnesium wheel and Goodyear tire to match the rest on the car. And the leather straps are another really cool touch.

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If you told somebody in 1951 that gearheads would still be customizing Shoebox Fords in the year 2016, I wonder what kind of reaction you’d get? I’m guessing they would dig this thing as much we do.

Hats off to everyone behind this project for reinventing one of the most iconic American cars of all time.

Mike Garrett
Instagram: japanifornia
mike@speedhunters.com

SEMA 2016 on Speedhunters

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1

I was hoping for a closer look of the shifter setup. Awesome car overall. Definitely better than my shoebox that I had years ago.

2

Nicest Ford coupe I have seen in a long time,
My oh My that yellow chunk of beef in the last pic looks yummy!!!

3

I NEED MORE SEMA

4

I NEED MORE SEMA COVERAGE

5

Safi88 pretty sure it's Roadster Shop's http://roadstershop.com/galleries/inferno-camaro/

6

The heavy section without a chop looks... strange.

7

Freaking sweet! Beyond impressive!

8

I want to know how that shifter works. Looks like they took inspiration from Spyker and somehow made it work with a regular old T5

9

GwynnBallantyne Safi88 I was going to say Camaro but wasn't sure.
that build thread is unreal!! definitely my coffee break reading material on monday

10

@safi88 you can spend days on one of their engineer's instagram or build threads too.  Dude's building stuff at this level in his spare time for fun. Pushrod suspension Toyota V8 Datsun truck: http://community.ratsun.net/topic/70329-the-engineered-1uz-v8-datsun-620-build/

11

Can't see a single thing I'd want to change on that. It's perfect.

12

I cant believe that some one able to earn $8736 







in 2 weeks on the computer ...........




more details             http://tinyurl.com/youtube-have-jobs

13
JBfromSiliconValley

I think Ive found the builder for my future 68 coronet r/t....after I win the lottery.
Understated attention to detail

14

NicholasDixon No, finally someone shows what good proportions are. This is like the classic Italian coupes of the 60's.
Absolutely stunning.

15

TylerHorne When you put a T5 in older Ford's the shifter is in an awkward position.  You have to reach reallllly far forward to shift.  What they've done is use a linkage to move it back to a more comfortable spot.  Mostly done in older Mustangs.

16

Firstly it thought it was a Karmann Ghia

17

my Aunty Isabella got an awesome six month old BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe Sedan only from 
part-time off a computer... Look At This>>>>>>>>>>>http://cashpro3.com/

18

Literal perfection.  Wouldn't change a thing.  Serious hats off to the builder.

19

yes

20

I am surprised that anybody can profit $5308 


in a few weeks on the ..................




more details             http://tinyurl.com/youtube-have-jobs

21

I'm amazed that a student can earn $9412 


in four weeks on the ..............






details             http://tinyurl.com/youtube-have-jobs

22

MickW TylerHorne I've seen a similar conversion for Crown Vic manual swaps. Usually just a shift lever that looks like it came off of a Peterbilt, but the Spyker looks pretty rad in this build. Love it!

23

like Mary responded I am surprised that anybody can profit $2524 in a few weeks on the

24

The interior was done by Stitches Custom Auto Upholstery out of Poulsbo, Wa. These guys did an amazing job. I think they deserve to have been mentioned in the article as well. Thank you

25

My Uncle Adam recently got a nearly new yellow Hyundai Veracruz SUV by ................






more details             https://qr.net/3GtZDe

26

The through-body exhaust is awesome.

27

I'm stunned that any body can get paid $8640..............



details             http://tinyurl.com/youtube-have-jobs

28

NicholasDixon Many of the early custom shoebox Fords were sectioned without chopping. The straight body lines just lend themselves towards such modification. Here's an old photo snagged from the HAMB:

[img]http://www.jalopyjournal.com/wp-content/themes/jalopy/thumb.php?src=http://www.jalopyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/shoeCVR.jpg&h=282&w=569&zc=1&q=80/img]

29

This car won the GT award, so it should appear in Gran Turismo 7. Can't wait to get behind the wheel, haha!

30

I cant believe that some one able to earn $8736 






in 2 weeks on the computer ..................





http://tinyurl.com/youtube-have-jobs

31

This thing looks awesome!

32

get paid $98 bucks every hour for work at home on my laptop.
 I never thought I'd be able to do it but my good friend is earning 18k /monthly by doiing this job and she showed mee how.(Copy And Open This)❥━━★━❥ᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵhttp://www.daily.jobs14.ℂℴℳᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵ

33

like Gary replied I am dazzled that a mother can get paid $4160 in a few weeks ...............



details             https://qr.net/3GtZDe

34

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