The idea is insanely clever: build a cool hot rod using donor parts from one of the most popular high-performance cars of the past 30 years. Give it all the traditional hot rod looks with modern performance and reliability, and with what is arguably the world’s biggest aftermarket parts supply, make it infinitely upgradeable with bolt-on gear. That’s the idea behind Factory 5’s 1933 Ford roadster, which builds on Mustang 5.0 components and a lot of custom-fabricated hardware to create a very usable roadster that’ll go cross-country without a second thought.

This particular Factory 5 roadster is called the “Hulkster,” and it comes by its name honestly. Part of a display that included a 9-foot tall Hulk statue from one of the motion pictures, it was a smash hit at shows around the country. It was built by the experts at Boitnott’s Custom in Fairfield, Ohio and their impeccable workmanship is visible everywhere you look. There’s no question that it’s a 1933 Ford roadster, but the fiberglass body has been stretched, contoured, smoothed, and reproportioned to improve comfort and handling without losing that vintage hot rod look. The guys at Boitnott’s did an incredible job on the build, finishing the fiberglass to show levels before starting on the multiple layers of paint, obviously designed to resemble the Incredible Hulk growing out of his clothes. The outer layer of “clothing” is a beautiful dark blue/purple metallic that simply glows in the sun thanks to lots of pearl thrown into the mix. There are actually subtle ghost flames up front, as if to imply that if it hadn’t started shedding that outer layer, you’d see a wonderfully slick dark blue rod with a very cool paint job.

The airbrushed graphics simulating the shedding paint are absolutely spectacular and the illusion is extremely convincing. I can’t imagine how many layers of paint and custom airbrush work were required to achieve the effect, but it absolutely looks three-dimensional and incredibly intricate. Hand-applied pinstripes outline the layers and it was all buried under a few layers of clear so it could be color sanded and buffed to a show-quality finish. Panel gaps are exacting, the doors open and close easily, and the gloss is unbelievable. Have you ever won a “Best Paint” trophy at a car show? This car will do it for you.

The interior is no less stunning and despite the low-slung roadster look, it’s plenty spacious for even people over six feet tall. Custom bucket seats have an old-school look, like the wrap-around chairs from a Cobra (this is Factory 5, after all), and they’ve been wrapped in glove-soft blue leather with black highlights that recall vintage GT40 and Ferrari upholstery. A custom center console was fabbed up and tucked in between the seats and plush carpets were expertly trimmed to fit neatly in the Ford’s footwells. Features include a tilt steering column with a custom billet wheel wrapped in matching blue leather, a brushed stainless instrument panel with Auto Meter gauges, and a killer Alpine stereo system with a touch screen and a set of big amps and subwoofers in the trunk (more on that in a moment). All the secondary controls such as headlights, interior lights (green LEDs), and the master electrical cut-off switch are all stashed under the dash so there’s nothing to clutter the ultra-clean look. Simpson harnesses were installed to keep everyone safe, and you’ll be glad to have them once you experience the slingshot-like acceleration this car delivers. The trunk is fully upholstered to match, with custom panels to hide the gas tank and suspension and designed to showcase the custom Kicker amplifier installation. More green LEDs and a “Hulkster” emblem make this a car that begs to go to car shows.

The Hulkster strays a bit from the Factory 5 formula under the hood. Because it was built by a Mopar fanatic, instead of the usual Ford 5.0 you’ll find a built 340 cubic inch Chrysler V8 living under the forward-tilting hood. Built to be both reliable and potent, it’s got an upgraded cam, ported heads, and three brand new Demon carbs up top that do a pretty good impression of an original Six Pack setup. The block is painted bright green to go with the Hulkster theme, and anything that wasn’t painted got chromed or polished to make a show-quality engine bay. Finned Mopar Performance valve covers got a shot of matching blue/purple paint and there’s a serpentine drive for the accessories to ensure reliability at high speeds. The usual hot rod stuff like a big aluminum radiator with transmission cooler, electric fan, and a set of ceramic-coated long-tube headers went in as well, making the Hulkster as easy to drive as a late-model Miata. While you’re looking around in there, you’ll also note Factory 5’s ultra-trick inboard suspension system, which offers coil-over shocks actuated by pushrods, which not only improves handling but keeps the front suspension clean uncluttered. The engine starts easily without being cranky, even when it’s cold, and the cackle through the custom stainless dual exhaust is quite appropriate for the musclebound roadster.

Underneath, you’ll find Factory 5’s custom tubular steel frame, specifically designed for this car and incorporating decades of engineering improvements over an original ’33 Ford ladder setup. Heavily reinforced and triangulated, it makes a rigid platform for the Hulkster, so you don’t have to worry about hustling through the twisties or future issues with chassis flex and fiberglass bodywork. The front suspension uses tubular A-arms and Mustang spindles, as well as rack-and-pinion steering, while the rear end is a very clever 3-link set up with a Panhard rod which both rides better and offers improved handling over the intended Mustang 4-link setup. The transmission is a built 727 TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic with a high-stall torque converter and a shift kit, so if you’re not careful the Hulkster will bark the tires on both shifts, and a custom driveshaft feeds a bulletproof Mustang 8.8-inch rear end with 3.55 gears inside, a great compromise between acceleration and cruising (a car this light doesn’t need a lot of gear to get rolling). Massive Cobra-spec disc brakes with cross-drilled rotors and powdercoated calipers live at all four corners and look great through the spokes of the custom 17- and 20-inch Torque Thrust wheels. The big-n-little tire combination is a modern twist on an old favorite, with 245/40/17 front and giant 295/30/20 rear performance radials.

Expertly built and showing just test-and-tune miles, this is a show-stopping hot rod that’s fully sorted and ready to rock. And unlike so many creaky old-school builds, this one rides and handles like a modern sports car with the suspension and braking to deliver the kind of performance that the outrageous look suggests. The Hulkster is a show-stopper, and it drives even better than it looks.