1938 Speedster
A mixture of ’30’s Ford sheet metal and french styling are the basis for this gem, Norman’s ’38 Ford Speedster. This two seat convertible is not only a work of art on the surface, but true to all of Norman’s custom designs it is an absolute sports car beneath. Construction of this began with the purchase of a solid MGB donor car. All was trimmed away except for the inner cowl and firewall structure, door pillars, a partial floor and windshield frame. The inner door structures were also salvaged from the MGB, but were reskinned and hung on suicide hinges with bearclaw latches. Once the base body structure was squared and braced it was placed on a frame jig. A 2×4 tube frame was built and welded to the body, creating a very rigid structure. Heidt’s Superide 4 wheel independent suspension systems were also installed. Braking is handled by Wilwood 4-piston 4-wheel power disc brakes. Motivation is handled with a GM Performance 350/330hp crate engine and a performance rebuilt 2004R overdrive automatic transmisison. All of this rolls on 16″ steel wheels and Coker Radial wide whitewall tires. Once the platform was complete attention turned to body styling and design. Staying true to the theme of a ’30’s French coachbuilt Ford, Norman chose a ’38 Ford Deluxe hood and center grill, ’34 Ford front fenders and ’36 Ford sedan rear fenders. Once location for these components was confirmed Norman’s crew began the task of crafting all of the in between. Hood sides, cowl sides, door skins, quarter panels, running boards and all necessary inner structures and braces were hand formed. The hood from the MGB was repurposed as the deck lid. Brass was hand formed for side and deck trim as well as the grill bars, then triple chrome plated to perfection. Bumpers were built with aero tubing, also chrome plated to perfection. The interior is wrapped in hand stitched leather, and there are custom inlaid wood garnish mouldings and dashboard. And as with all of Norman’s cars, this one is 100% functional, with the list of quality systems manufacturers reading like a broken record: Vintage Air, American Autowire, SPW, Flaming River, Lokar, etc.
For more information on this car feel free to contact Jake Queen, Queen’s Automotive Inc at 610-966-4310 and he will be happy to discuss it with you.
Below is a list of specifications:
- Custom built tubular chassis
- Heidt’s Superide II tubular independent front suspension
- Power rack and pinion steering
- Heidt’s Superide IRS tubular rear suspension
- Wilwood 4-wheel power disc brakes
- Wheel Vintiques steel wheels wrapped in Coker Classic radial wide whitewalls
- GM Performance 350/330hp crate engine
- Performance rebuilt 2004R overdrive automatic transmisison
- Polished stainless steel exhaust system
- MGB Roaster inner cowl, floor section, door jambs and windshield
- Completely hand fabricated steel quarter panels, door skins, cowl sides, hood sides
- Decklid repurposed from original MGB hood
- 1938 Ford Deluxe hood, stretched and lengthened
- 1934 Ford steel front fenders
- 1936 Ford sedan rear fenders
- Hand formed brass grill bars, side and deck lid trim, triple chrome plated to perfection
- Front and rear bumpers hand fabricated of chromoly aero tubing
- Removable hardtop with headliner
- Hand stitched leather interior
- 3 Point seat belts
- Custom inlaid wood dash and door garnish mouldings
- Flaming River tilt steering cloumn
- Wood rimmed Lecarra steering wheel
- American Autowire complete vehicle wiring system
- Vintage Air Heat/AC/Defrost system
- Power door locks
- SPW wiper system, w/ intermittent
