This custom 1937 Ford Streetrod Coupe is the epitome of modern hot rod building, combining old-school design with cutting-edge engineering for a truly unique street presence. Known for his meticulous attention to detail, Mike Bates, the owner of Color Craft in Hobart, Indiana, took inspiration from the stance movement, which prizes lowering cars to extreme levels. His '37 Ford takes this concept to new heights-or rather, new lows-by incorporating a custom-built chassis and air suspension that allows the 5-window coupe to sit almost flat on the ground.
At the heart of this custom build is the striking Oze Rod Shop fiberglass body, which maintains the recognizable grille and headlight placement of the original 1937 Ford, while its heavily chopped top and sweeping lines bring a modern, aggressive profile. Bates enhanced the design with '06 Mini Cooper headlights, seamlessly integrated into the fenders for a sleek, uninterrupted look. The body was then treated to layers of Sikkens Blue Pearl paint, resulting in a mirror-like blue finish that emphasizes the coupe's low, wide stance.
The foundation of this street rod is a fully custom Fat Man Fabrications chassis, equipped with boxed rails and tubular crossmembers for superior strength. The chassis has been meticulously color-matched to the body, creating a unified aesthetic. A 350 cubic inch Chevy small block, painted silver for contrast, powers the coupe, with computer-controlled fuel injection ensuring both performance and reliability. Sanderson headers and a free-flowing exhaust system enhance its performance, while a 4L60E transmission from National Trans provides smooth, effortless shifting through a Lokar shifter.
Key to this Ford's killer stance is the Air Ride Technologies air suspension system, which allows adjustment of the ride height at will, dropping the coupe to a ""fairgrounds"" stance at shows or raising it for cruising. Up front, 2-inch dropped spindles and tubular control arms lower the nose even further, while the rear setup features airbags and tubular trailing arms mounted to a Ford 9-inch rearend with a 3.70 differential. Massive Billet Specialties wheels-17x7 in the front and 20x10 in the rear-wrapped in low-profile tires tuck tightly under the fenders, giving the car an aggressive forward rake.
Inside, the custom craftsmanship continues with a fully tailored interior by Brian Bohde's Custom Interiors. Glide Engineering seats wrapped in tan leather and ostrich skin provide a stylish, comfortable environment. The custom dash, outfitted with Dakota Digital gauges, and a flowing center console housing controls for the air suspension and Vintage Air system add both form and function. A Billet Specialties steering wheel ties the interior design together, while the hidden audio system in the trunk, complete with LCD monitor, and DVD player, adds a high-tech touch.
With its award-winning show history, including accolades from Goodguys events, this radical '37 Ford Coupe is as much a performer as it is a showstopper. This build is a perfect blend of old-school hot rod culture and modern custom innovations, guaranteed to turn heads and spark conversation wherever it goes. Call us today to make it yours!
Highlights:
Custom Built '37 Ford 5 Window OZE Coupe
Magazine featured
Chevrolet LT1 350ci small block V8 engine
Electronic Fuel Injection
4L60E automatic transmission with overdrive
Lokar shifter
Chassis built by Fatman Fabrication
Boxed rails and tubular cross members
Rack and pinion steering
Sikkens Blue Pearl paint
Ford 9 inch rear end 3.70 gears
Air Ride suspension
Vintage Air air conditioning
Four wheel Wilwood disc brakes
17 inch front, 20 inch rear Billet Specialties wheels
Custom leather interior
Dakota Digital gauges
Billet Specialties steering wheel
Trunk mounted LCD monitor and DVD player
Titled as a 1937 Ford Coupe in Maryland
