70 Year old Prodigy Project Complete / Pictures
 

Here is a cool mild Pro Touring car we just finished. Not real extreme, just real functional car that does everything without breaking the bank. No frame off crazy show car by any means, just a killer driver.

This car is like a YOYO that keeps coming back for more and more work, through a few different owners over the last year and a half. About 1 1/2 years ago the car came in as retro 70s car complete with big and little Cragers. For customer one we did a Vintage Air. Then he sold the car to owner 2 and it got painted, then our new owner / customer Russ was referred to us by the previous owners for any work he may need done. Russ went for some nice improvements on this thing, and now we have done about everything.

We had a lot of fun doing this last phase of the project. Russ is a 70 year old double retired Vietnam Vet that was shot down amongst other things in the war, and then did 25 year stint as a engineer. One of these guys that worked for nearly 50 years, and only had 2 jobs his entire life, the military and the second job. Just a real cool ole dude and man O man, some great stories. Only real problem we had was sometimes the entire damn shop would stop to listen to war stories, but I did not get upset. It was nice to respect him listening to how things were. And let me tell you, he is spry as a 20 year old. It was fun for Michael because Russ wanted to participate in the build, and he worked with Michael as his helper. Michael really enjoyed it. Russ knows enough to be dangerous (as he puts it) and was super impressed with Michael's knowledge at such a young age. I think Michael was a little disappointed when the project left!

Anyway, this go around we put in a dynoed 383 CI / 497 HP, 512 TQ motor in it, a TH400 and converter. All Hotchkis has to offer including TVS kit, Hotchkis Shocks, Frame connectors. We did a Prodigy Customs Total Car Brake Package with 12.2"F, 12.2"R Wilwood's, using the Wilwood manual 7/8" master, and the brand new blue calipers which debut on Lisa's Project EmptyNest at SEMA. The blue calipers look fricken killer with the Oriental Blue stripes. Really a nice accent.

We also did one of March new Style Trac serpentine set ups which are just a screamin deal. It fit excellent and Russ actually install it himself, dangerous as he is! We also used one of Magnaflow's 3" systems with X Pipe, and the car really has the Gentleman's Hot Rod sound, but the world sounds like it is coming to a end when mash the loud peddle. Looking under the car the Stainless system looks killer along with one of our Moser 33 spline, Tru Trac, 3,73 ratio rears.

Russ added a Covans dash, and a few other interior goodies, to make for a really nice rounded package.

Were loaning Russ a pair of our Cheater Slicks, and taking it to the dragstrip soon looking for 11.99 or better times. I will get some pictures and report.

I can only hope at 70 I can take my Hot Rod to the dragstrip! He is already talking about putting nitrous on it!

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Looks clean and simple Frank,actually really fresh compared to cars wich has all the latest stuff on just for the looks.

And does those blue strips match good with licence plate :cool: I am sure it wasnt just a coincidence ;)

absolutely stunning, looks like it rolled right off the showroom floor :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Great looking car and a even better story ... very cool!

wow
 

thats kick ass

70 and still gettin on it....
great story and car frank..tell him that the young bucks are jealous!!
next to him we are all young bucks....

:patriot:
radrambler

Frank,

Nice car!! and Russ sounds like a cool guy.

Hoosier QTPs - 11.7 @ 116mph , keep us posted on his times.

Rich

Very cool car and story! We'll be lucky to live that long and still be able to build cars and hit the track.

Great Story Frank!
But what I like possibly even more is the car...it's a perfect example of a well rounded car and proves that you don't have to have a HUGE roll of cash to build a perfectly respectable and usable car!

I think too many of us get caught up with trying to have the latest and greatest and watch the build years click by....when we should be out enjoying/driving our cars! The funny thing is that this is a great street car that would put a smile on any of our faces...we all could learn a lot here!

Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing!!

WOW I to hope to be runnin at 70. I remember when I was in high school, some friends and I pulled up to a early 70 road runner, with a old guy driving. The light turns red ,and we both are off. He beat us down the road, and I remember being suprised by an older man still hot rodding. I plan to do that someday, as I am the older man now.