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Another completely hand-fabricated marvel spawned from the pen of designer Chris Ito is this 1933 Dodge Pickup. Nearly every inch of this classic has been hand formed in-house including the cab, bed, fenders and chassis. The only original vintage sheet metal that was used was the grille shell and the metal surrounding the windshield. The decision was made to hand form all panels from scratch because no original or reproduction body panels available provided an adequate starting point. The enormous task of fabricating all of the major body panels is nearing completion, and the numerous construction details are being attended. Before you ask, yes it has a Hemi, a fuel-injected and super-charged 392 Hemi. (Click image for build photos) |
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Supercharged aluminum Ardun motor backed by a six-speed Tremec TKO. |
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An SAR Real Steel 1933/34 Roadster Body built for a local hot rodder. This Roadster sits on a Pete & Jake’s chassis and utilizes LS1/4L65E power. A Duvall windshield, SAR aluminum top, and 20" wheels in the back help this Roadster stand out in any crowd. Combined with SAR’s unbeatable fit, finish, body, and paint work, plus many other custom touches, this new-age Roadster is sure to be a show stopper! |
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Consider this project a reliable cruiser with a hint of custom. A RamJet small-block and Heidt’s Mustang II suspension keep things simple and functional underneath, but some serious work is taking place on the outside. Headlights and taillights are being replaced with Lincoln units, and so are the door handles and steering wheel. Plans also call for a mild chop and subtly reshaped grille. Think simple and clean. (Click image for build photos) |
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This already nice bowtie will be receiving a complete chassis & drivetrain transplant. An Art Morrison chassis will replace the original. |
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This Model A has been in the family since the seventies, and the owner has decided it is finally time to get it finished. The chassis already consists of a stout 327, Jag independent rear, and boxed frame, but the body left much to be desired. The cab has already received new sheetmetal, wood, and firewall, but there is much more to come. A new bed and fenders are in the works, and will soon be followed by yet to be decided custom paint. (Click image for build photos) |
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The owner of the NewMad has decided it is time for another rod, but this time he is aiming to keep the build simple. The initial plans center around a resto-rod concept with just a hint of custom mixed in for good measure. The body will remain relatively stock with the exception of a 2-inch chop and a few custom trim pieces. Under hood a 392ci Hemi will be fed by an EFI system cleverly disguised as a quartet of Stromberg’s. The chassis and the rest of the drive train is kept simple and reliable with the industry standard Mustang II front suspension, 700R4 transmission, 9 inch rear end, and parallel leaf springs. Other amenities will include A/C, power windows, and a full custom interior. (Click image for build photos) |
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From the craftsmen at S.A.R. comes a truly unique 1933/34 Real Steel Ford Roadster Pickup. This one of a kind Roadster is sure to acquire plenty of attention. Fit with a 700 horse Big Block Chevrolet, Edelbrock Aluminum Heads, Dual Quads, Richmond 6-Speed, Pete & Jake’s Chassis, 9” Rearend, 3.50 Posi, Superbell Axle, 31 Spline Alloy Shafts, Coilovers, and One Piece Billet Wheels. |
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This F100 Custom Cab big window began its transformation under the pen of S.A.R.’s own Dave Brost. His vision called for a radical redesign that would leave no panel uncut. After the cab was sectioned, chopped, and pancaked, the height from rocker to roof had been lowered a total of 6 inches. A select few of the numerous body modifications include sectioning and lengthening the hood, tucking the bed close to the cab, leaning the tailgate forward, narrowing the wheel openings, and tucking both bumpers close to the body. The custom frame was constructed in-house to accommodate 5½ inches of ground clearance with no airbags. A Kenne Bell supercharged 4.6 liter Ford mod motor and AOD tranny reside between the fenders. The term “custom” could not be applied more appropriately. (Click image for build photos) |
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100% hand-built aluminum lift-off top for 33/34 Ford Roadsters sporting a Duvall style windshield. |
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This beloved big-block ’73 El Camino arrived in desperate need of a makeover. In addition to new quarter panels, a fresh paint job, and refurbished engine compartment, the Elky is also being treated to reworked flush-mounted bumpers. |
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The design of this 1964 GTO combines a street rod influence with classic muscle-car appeal. The stock lines were revised in order to create an elegant and understated performance appearance. The front sheet-metal was skillfully modified to accept a custom grille with hide-away headlights, a severely transformed bumper, and hand-formed lower valance. The rear received similar attention with a custom bumper and hand-formed valance, but also received taillights grafted from a ’65 Buick Skylark. To ensure the Goat would be more than just another pretty face a Ram Jet 502 was placed under hood with a 6-speed gearbox backing it up. The chassis was then boxed and updated with tubular suspension components in order to harness all those ponies. (Click image for additional photos) |
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This unique project began over a decade ago, and was the first street rod ever built here at S.A.R. Although the car had very few miles and was still in excellent condition when it recently arrived at the shop, the owner has been inspired to trade in his fiberglass body for a new steel one. We all know a simple body swap and paint job would be the easy route, but where is the fun in that? The car was originally built as an elegant and traditional red roadster, but S.A.R’s David Brost has conceived and illustrated an entirely original build theme for the car’s second time around. The new design draws heavily from European sports cars of the 1930’s and 40’s, but is also influenced by the early days of the dry lakes and California road racing. Although many of the original chassis components will be retained in the rebuild, the new rendition of this roadster will be virtually indistinguishable as the first street rod to ever roll out of these doors. (Click image for build photos) |
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The ’57 is finally done! Several late nights and the usual last minute thrash allowed for a hometown debut at the Portland Roadster Show. Loading the truck into the trailer for the first time provided a much needed sigh of relief, but unloading meant the careful work of displaying the truck was just beginning. (Click image for more pics) |
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This mild street rod was built as an elegant example of how not to break the bank. The cost of construction was kept to a minimum by using reproduction parts where possible instead of hunting for rare and expensive originals. All new sheet metal parts were used in the construction of the roadster including the Real Steel body which was assembled in-house. The new frame was also constructed under the S.A.R roof, and supports a reliable ZZ4 driving through a 4L60 transmission. Coil-over shocks support an IFS and Ford 9 inch to ensure stable and comfortable top-down cruising. (Click image for additional photos) |
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SAR is proud to be involved in this historic project, "The 550!" SAR has been assigned the task of skinning this streamliner’s last eighteen feet of the 40 foot vehicle. Powered by two Keith Black Hemi’s, the target speed is 550 mph. Testing will hopefully begin this fall at Bonneville Salt Flats. The record attempt will take place at Lake Gairdner Salt Flats in Australia in 2008. This is the only track long enough for setting this type of record (it takes over 30 miles to coast to a stop from 550 mph if safety systems were to fail). |
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This convertible has a long and well documented history as a custom that began in the early 1950‘s. Originally built by Neil Emory and Clay Jensen of Valley Custom for Ralph Jilek, the car was a popular and influential custom that graced the cover of Hop Up magazine. The body was chopped, channeled, and sectioned, as well as receiving fully radiused wheel wells and a sectioned hood. A low, white leatherette Carson padded top complimented the white tuck and roll interior and nicely contrasted the black lacquer paint. This piece of history is being treated to a complete restoration and will compete in the new early custom car class at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours. SAR has been enlisted to perform all body and paint work in preparation for the elite competition of the Concours. (Click image for additional photos) |
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There is no mistaking the nostalgia theme here, but this original, all steel body benefits from a few modern upgrades. The car was designed and constructed as a period correct late ‘50’s hotrod. In an effort to achieve the perfect proportions the top was chopped 2¼ inches in front, 2 inches in back, the hood stretched 2 inches, and the rear fenders bobbed 3 inches. In case the chopped original body, perfect stance, and flawless black paint don’t inspire, under the hood lies a S.c.o.t. super-charged flathead feeding through twin 97 Strombergs. A new frame with tubular cross-members hides down below and supports Wilwood disc brakes disguised by faux Buick finned drums. An upgrade of particular interest is the modification of the original generator that now houses a new alternator. The conversion improves charging capabilities while maintaining the period appearance, and was documented in the January ‘05 issue of American Rodder. (Click image for additonal photos) |
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The Brookville roadster body for this project arrived in pieces, just like every other Brookville body shipped to Steve’s, and was assembled in our own jig to ensure proper assembly and panel fit. The nice little roadster is a perfect example of a well built rod without the need for exotic flair. The roadster consists mainly of off-the-shelf parts such as the body, frame, suspension, and crate motor, but separates itself from the crowd with touches like the special blend candy paint and custom leather interior. (Click image for additional photos) |
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An exciting project currently underway is the construction of a 33/34 Roadster pick-up body. Although plans for such a body have been tossed around the SAR shop for some time, until now the project has lacked sponsorship and simmered idly on the back-burner. Thanks to Brian and Dan Smith of Custom Classic Trucks magazine the project is in full swing, and the duo plan to document the build of the one-off pick-up in their magazine. Although panels such as the cab corners and rear panel are hand-formed pieces on this build, everything from the B-pillar forward is Real Steel. Jigs are already being constructed to duplicate the build, but plans to lower production costs by stamping the required panels are hinged upon the interest generated by the project. If you are interested in a similar project, let us know! (Click image for build photos) |
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An old race truck needed some new sparkle, so its owner sent over the truck to receive a fresh paint job. The slick black paint is accentuated by custom flames by local talent Aaron Dreyer. (Click image for additional photos) |
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This Roadster d’ Elegance winner began life as an original Karl Deutsch custom coachbuilt 1937 Ford. SAR’s own David Brost penned an elegant redesign with special care to preserve the uniqueness of the rare Ford. Extensive sheet-metal fabrication was required in the build, and very little of the original body remains. The curvaceous new body lines are accentuated by the hand-formed brass trim and grille. The chassis was also designed and built in-house and features independent front and rear suspension and a 514 Ford SVO engine. (Click image for additional photos) |
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This Custom Rod of the Year winning ’55 Chevy was designed by Chris Ito and required 24,000 man-hours to build. Almost every panel on the channeled and lengthened custom was hand-fabricated in-house. All trim pieces were also hand-crafted in-house from brass, and the glass was all specially cut. The incredible machine rides on a custom built chassis that uses 2000 Corvette suspension front and rear, and is motovated by a 496 cubic inch, all aluminum Arias fuel-injected big-block engine topped by a set of Brodix aluminum oval port heads producing 475 horsepower and 500 ft. lbs. of torque. As recepient of hundreds of awards and accolades, the NewMad has proved to be one of America’s best and well-known custom cars. (Click image for additional photos) |
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Designed by Chip Foose, the RealMad was constructed in only 195 days. Despite the extremely short build time the crew at SAR was able to construct a body that retains only ten square feet of the original sheet-metal. The custom built tubular chassis utilizes Corvette suspension components and a ZR1 engine to maximize driving enjoyment. All aspects of the build were performed in-house with the exception of the chrome plating, the glass fabrication, and the interior, which was stitched by Jim Griffin. (Click image for additional photos) |
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