How Does A Hot Rodder Build A 1939 Chevy Custom?
The key to success for a pro-built hot rod is the relationship between a hot rod builder and a hot rod owner. Both have a vision for the car. When their visions are in synch, the project will be a success; if they aren’t in synch, somebody’s going to be disappointed.
One owner and one builder who seem to have their visions in synch are Larry Tucker from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and Jason Graham from Portland, Tennessee.
Two of Larry’s previous cars—a 1931 Ford coupe and a 1934 Ford pickup—were collaborative efforts between Larry and Jason Graham Hot Rods (JGHR). Both cars were extremely successful at attracting attention from enthusiasts, show judges, and magazine photographers. Both were also successful at promoting Graham’s trademark style: confidently chopped and channeled early Fords with in-your-face engines and sky-scraping stacks, and tons of traditional hot rod personality extended to tasteful extremes. That sounds about right.
This time, Larry and Graham took a different approach, teaming up on a fat-fendered car with custom flavor. On top of that, it’s a Chevy.
Part of Larry’s motivation for making the change from another traditional rod was just to have something different—and part of it was that his wife, Anna, wanted a bigger car for more comfortable cruising.
Larry found the 1939 Chevy coupe where all project cars are found these days: on craigslist. It was very rough, but very cheap. He called Graham to tell him about it, and the builder’s response was, “Bring it on!” After so much great success working together, Larry’s only instructions to Jason were, “Do your thing and call me when it’s ready.”
Before any body mods could be made, the coupe had to be stripped to bare metal and all rust repaired. The lower sheetmetal and floors were too far gone and had to be replaced—with modifications made to fit the chassis and drivetrain. The 1939 Chevy coupe body is just begging to be chopped and Graham sawed 5 inches from the front and 6 from the back, and removed the quarter windows to create a three-window.
