Projects A thank you. And an introduction to The Butterscotch Coupe (w/build pics)

This post is long overdue! After picking at this thing for almost nine years, The Butterscotch Coupe is almost done!

First, and most importantly, I wanted to express my thanks to everyone on the H.A.M.B that contributes so much to this site. Even though mine is a slightly non-traditional build, I’ve spent countless days here researching and watching other build threads. The sheer amount of knowledge and skill on this site is like nowhere else I’ve seen. Again, thank you!

I bought this rough shell of a body in 2011 knowing I could build it a dozen different ways. I really dig traditional stuff... but... I was an ‘80s teenager and what really blew my skirt up was the big motor, big tire coupes like that of Cole Cutler and Guy Ruchonnet, as well as Boyce Asquith’s ‘32 roadster. I was 16 in 1986 and got a ride in Bill Wyso’s honest 9-second ‘41 Willys. It had just been featured in the July ‘86 issue of Hot Rod. To say that dual plug, blown 426 Hemi left an impression is an understatement!

Let me know if anyone’s interested in the backstory and build pics of my coupe. I know its a little outside of the H.A.M.B mold but I’d be honored to add to the archives.

 

I like it. Period. Not a color I would have picked but you have shown me that I'd be wrong, it looks great!!

 

Nice !

 

That coupe has it all! Great job!

 

It's yours and you can be very proud of it. She looks beautiful.

 

Nice car! If you run into burning buildings thanks a lot, takes a special person to do that. Bob

 

I appreciate that. Thanks.

 

Yah your color crayon got just a little outside our lines here but it's Bad Ass and I like it. Now go find a 16 year old and take Him (or Her) for a Ride so the infection is passed on to another generation.

 

Dang !! I like butterscotch pudding, so I guess I like this as well. Very

 

Nice!

 

Killer.

 

Righteous!

 

Wow!!!!! Good job

 

She's a beaut Clark!

 

I dig it....A LOT! Now, as said earlier, go take a kid for a ride!

 

Outstanding,all in the details.

 

Bad ass.

 

That’s just perfect!!!!!!!!!

 

Well, i like butterscotch anything......LOVE the "details" !
Thank you for doing what you do.....
mike

 

What's not to like about gold flake!

 

Quality will always be traditional.

 

Those rear "fenders" dont trip my crank. But overall I really dig the car. that finned aluminum 3rd brake light is tits, did you make it or buy it?

 

I came across a guy who was casting these at home and sold a few on eBay. I can’t even find him now. I made the tiny blue dot lens myself to match the tail lights. Everything glows purple now!

 

That’s the plan! Thanks.

 

Not my thing style-wise, but I love the colour, very

 

THANK YOU SIR!! Firefighter and/or EMT, tough gig.
The car came out great. How much is that chop?
Is that an A frame?
The rear sub rail area was very well done, looks factory. I don't know about anyone else but I would like to see a build thread. Thanks for posting

 

I Love it Jim ! You should be very proud of what you have built, it is stunning.
Please share more pictures and stories when you can.

 

I appreciate the positive responses. Everything you see here was done by me in my home shop. The only thing I’ll be subbing out is the interior. I’m okay at it but it needs an expert’s touch.

A little background on the car... I bought the body from Bernie Kaczkowski, who undoubtably some guys on here know. He’s a long-time member of Capital Area Rods in upstate NY and still drives his pretty radical ‘30 sedan. He bought this coupe for $10. in 1961. He was 16 at the time. The car had already lived a rough life and had been pretty well picked clean. He had to put a rear ended under it just to push it home.

He spent the ‘60s on the street and track and says he blew up more motors than he cares to remember. And he warned me that the mods and bodywork that he had done were everything you’d expect from a 16 year old working in his driveway with almost no power tools.

Somewhere towards the end of the sixties he quit racing the car and in the seventies, he started showing it as the “Polack’s Playmate”. Here’s how it sat in 1970:



By 1982, Bernie was looking to include his two daughters on his car show trips. So, in the fall of that year he took the entire chassis and drivetrain from the coupe and plopped a sedan body on it. This became the “KIDSGO2” (and later, the “KIDSGONE”) car he still has today.

And so, the coupe body sat on cinder blocks for almost 30 years.

 

Man, I love that color! It really pops and says hot rod. Reminds me of a 1960s show car.