OK, this one is for all you guys who claim to only want a genuine steel ’34 Ford. Beautifully built with a traditional chopped look, this 1934 Ford tudor sedan not only looks killer but is a surprisingly practical rod that’s ideal for the guy with a family. The hardware is bulletproof simple, with a 377 cubic inch small block, automatic transmission, cold A/C, disc brakes, power steering, and a great stereo to make it comfortable on long hauls. Not many rods do so many things as well as this awesome black Ford.

The body is indeed Henry Ford steel with ‘glass fenders, and someone who knew exactly what they were doing took care of the bodywork. First there’s the 4.5-inch chopped top, which give this car a sleek, compact look that’s so well done you’d almost think that they built them this way in 1934. The A-pillars were raked back a bit to make it look right, but the way the side windows fit, the way the doors are center in their openings, and even the way the rear window retains the original ovoid shape all indicate that there was a real professional at work here. Most of the details were shaved, including the door handles, but the doors still swing suicide-style, and that means keeping those industrial-strength hinges in place—don’t want a sagging door that won’t fit, do you? The three-piece hood is also steel and there’s a custom rear pan in back that includes a frenched license plate frame and a pair of LED taillights that sit flush and vanish until you hit the brakes. You’ll also note a flush-mounted gas filler door, a set of chrome King-Bee style headlights, and a beautiful original grille shell that’s been beautifully re-chromed. No bumpers, which would just spoil the look, but it does have side mirrors and two windshield wipers, making it a rod you can drive anywhere, anytime.

You might expect a stodgy interior inside the semi-formal sedan bodywork, but instead you get a driver’s compartment better suited to a Corvette than a ’34 Ford. High-back buckets wearing two-tone leather give it a very sporting look and they’re as comfortable as they look. The door panels were custom-made to match, as was the back seat, which remains comfortable for two passengers and comes complete with a fold-down armrest. The original ’34 Ford dashboard is still in place, with the original gauge panel replaced with a billet piece full of handsome white-faced gauges, while a tachometer takes the clock’s place in the passenger-side glove box lid. The leather-wrapped wheel is a custom billet piece from American Racing and it sits on a polished tilt column that makes the driving position in this low-slung Ford feel surprisingly contemporary. A fabricated lower panel houses the A/C vents and there’s a cool mini console overhead for the Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo, windshield wiper, and power window switches. And talk about a practical rod, there’s even a bit of storage behind the back seat!

The engine is a 377 cubic inch Chevy V8, which uses a 400 block and a 350 crank to create an engine with big torque that loves to rev. With that stout bottom end, it’s plenty strong enough for duty in the lightweight Ford and the packaging is easy because it is, after all, a small block Chevy. It’s topped by an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and polished aluminum intake manifold, which feed a pair of lightweight Edelbrock aluminum cylinder heads that were treated to a light port and polish before being bolted on. A modest cam gives it a bit of a hot rod sound but doesn’t make it cranky, and the HEI ignition system lights it up so quickly that it feels fuel injected. Polished accessories, trick finned Edelbrock valve covers, and an open-element air cleaner make it look sharp enough that you’ll want the hood open every chance you get and thanks to a big radiator and electric fan, it never gets fussy. We’ve found that it always starts, idles nicely, and there’s big power on tap at almost any speed, although this is more of a cruiser than a racer. Custom Sanderson long-tube headers certainly help with the robust torque curve and there’s a custom dual exhaust system with four glasspack-style mufflers and those cool rectangular outlets under the running boards.

The chassis is stock Ford that’s been heavily reinforced with boxed side rails and extra crossmembers for the new hardware. Up front there’s a Mustang II style suspension with power rack-and-pinion steering and power disc brakes, this vintage Ford feels very modern. The TH350 3-speed automatic transmission snaps through the gears easily and drives a GM 10-bolt rear end that hands on traditional leaf springs. Towering 3.08 gears make this car a fantastic highway cruiser that tracks straight, rides well, and just works like you’d expect it to. There’s a huge fuel tank out back, giving this cool Ford bladder-bursting range and the shiny Weld wheels wear staggered 195/70/14 front and 28x12.50-15 rear tires.

Clean, well-sorted, and beautifully built, this is a Ford that was built to drive to shows, not live on a trailer. With a steel body, it has an awesome pedigree, and all the creature comforts come standard. If a highly modified hot rod could be considered practical, this is it. Who says you have to give up style for comfort? Call today!