Due to their relative scarcity and brawny styling, panel deliveries seem to pick up a fair share of attention at vintage custom truck shows. The ratio of show pickups to panels must be 10:1. When we run across one that's exceptionally well done, we take notice.
A year ago, we spotted Ron Segal's '40 Ford panel delivery at the Goodguys West Coast Nationals in Pleasanton, California. Despite the fact that his hauler won the Cool Commercial prize, it wasn't quite finished. We recently scheduled a shoot for another of Ron's vehicles and found out he was in the process of selling his freshly completed Ford.
We decided to take a gander at that delivery the next day, while picking up another Segal hot rod hauler to be photo'd at the Primedia studio. Needless to say, we were smitten. You can see where this is going. We raced the sunset and snapped an abundance of photographs while we enjoyed what photographers refer to as magic light. Magic light-that time of twilight in morn or night where deeply saturated colors and the horizon meld into what CCT's Editor describes as "visual ecstasy"-the best for creating appealing images. In concert with the setting sun, the desert landscape aided our effort in capturing one of Ford's finely styled trucks.
It started at RC Classics, in Palm Desert, California, where several craftsmen collaborated to create the '40. RC's owner, R.C. Lindly, boxed the original frame its entire length, before adding a '78 Camaro front clip and a 4.11:1-geared '78 Camaro differential. Augmented by drilled, polished stainless disc-brake rotor covers and fed through stainless steel brake lines, the Camaro's disc brakes were utilized, front and rear. R.C. fabricated a 12-gallon stainless steel fuel tank, which he located between the rear framerails behind the rearend and plumbed with stainless fuel lines.
Wayne's Engineering in Riverside built a 383ci Chevy stroker engine for installation in the completed chassis. Ported heads, an Edelbrock four-barrel carb and Edelbrock Performer aluminum intake manifold, and a Pete Jackson gear drive made the powerplant plenty stout. Backed by a Hayden trans-cooler- enhanced TH350, the trans was also optimized with a B&M shift improvement kit and a 2,000-stall converter.
Ghost flames and the House...
Ghost flames and the House of Kolors Tangerine paint came from the most talented hands of Stan Howton, owner of Howton's Signs & Lines in Beaumont, California.
You'd never guess the custom-trimmed...
You'd never guess the custom-trimmed bucket seats originally came from an Acura. Fittingly, American Auto Upholstery upholstered the cab.
Ace upholsterer Eddie Ledesma...
Ace upholsterer Eddie Ledesma trimmed the original '40 Ford bench seat, which was installed facing rearward. Of course originally, it was the front seat.
Classic Instruments black-faced...
Classic Instruments black-faced cluster gauges well appoint the '40s dash. R.C. Lindly wired the truck with a Painless Performance Products wiring harness. He also installed the Pioneer CD/stereo system, which includes 2 6x4-inch door speakers and 2 6x10-inch rear side-panel speakers.
In constructing the chassis,...
In constructing the chassis, RC Classics utilized 2-inch drop spindles, to achieve the desert-sagebrush-hugging street rod stance.