1 Painless Way to a Roadster Pickup

At SEMA, it’s easy to find a great car, they’re in almost every booth!  But like the 70 Chevelle with a Duramax diesel motor, it’s a the different and sometimes unique builds that really get my attention.  That’s what I found in this “Painless” Roadster Pickup.

This style of roadster pickup, also called a “Truckster” was penned by well known hot rod artist Thom Taylor back in August of 2007 for Rod and Custom Magazine. The concept  is simple, but you’re gonna get to know a sawzall and grinder real, REAL well to get it done. You take 50-70’s pickup, then chop up the cab and the bed until proportions of a hot rod. Easy for Thom to say!

I saw a Thom Taylor sketch in the pickup bed of this truck, so I’m sure he had a hand in the proportions, color and stance that make this truck one of my favorites from SEMA.

So what is it? It started as a 1978 Ford Pickup. Recognize it?  From there, the cab was narrowed 16 inches, then the top and A-pillars were chopped off and the remaining cab shortened 8 inches. The reassembled jigsaw puzzle and newly created “roadster” body was then channeled over the frame. The rest of the body includes a 1938 Dodge grille and believe it or not an MGB windshield with 4 inches cut off each side.

Up front you’ll find a mix of wholly (or is it Holy?) traditional 1952 Merc flathead topped by a pair of Stromberg 97 Carb-like fuel injection bodies complete with, of course, Painless Performance Products wiring. Clean, simple and brand new! The owner and Executive VP of Painless, Dennis Overholser, told me they barely had time to tune it before SEMA.

The tough stance is courtesy of 18 and 20 inch Dayton wire wheels. Straying from the traditional on the wheels like they did is a nice compliment to the fuel injection and adds to the, “What is that?” stares at the show. I guess those folks don’t read Rod and Custom?

On the inside, you immediately notice the perfectly weathered dark brown leather that’s straight from the actual “King Ranch” in Texas. Everyone’s heard of King Ranch from the Ford pickup option package, but this is more than just a name.  So now will rodders be on the look out for patina’d paint and leather? Interior is custom work by Eddie’s Rod Shop. The gauge is a one-off from Classic Instruments that features the name from 2007: “Truckster”

Finally, the shift knob is an old friend from Mad Magazine, Alfred E. Newman. Hand made by Bob Boudreaux, I believe it’s one of a kind.  Bob also gets credit for the PPG “Hot Wheels Orange” paint. (Click on any picture to see it full size)

SEMA brings out just about everyone in the car world, and if you’re Chairman of SEMA’s Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) then you probably know most people, like Dennis Overholser of Painless. Follow closely because another Dennis,  Dennis Gage from the show “My Classic Car” dropped by and I snapped a picture of the Dennis pair test fitting the Truckster.

So there you have it, 1 Painless way to make your own roadster pickup. Will we see more?

Special thanks to Optima Batteries for the trip to SEMA.

Scopin’ Out Ken Scobies 1934 Ford

It was an early morning wandering around the quaint streets of Stevensville, Montana. The last thing I expected to see was a slammin’ 1934 Ford Hot Rod Pickup. If it wasn’t for my own pre-morning-coffee-haze I would’ve gone into the Full Moon Saloon and inquired who the owner was. Lucky for me (and you) that I ran into this pretty truck along with its owner Ken Scobie, once more that evening at the Stevensville Summer Picnic & Car Show.

With 2 trophies under its belt in a mere 4 weeks since being completed, this truck is worth giving a peek. Its been built from the frame up by Ken Scobie, a San Diego native that migrated on up to Montana 35 years ago while still working as mechanic. He’s since retired, and at the age of 69 says “For a poor kid growing up in the days of cool rods it has always been a dream of mine to build a rod in the old school style.”

Build a rod he did! “Finding this beauty was the real treat. She was in Helena, Montana behind a house out in the weeds. After two solid years of negotiating, she was all mine.” Taking into account where it came from, it’s surprising that the body had very minimal damage, no cancer, and no bullet holes – which partly accounts for why Ken decided to leave the body in its original state. Besides…I think he likes it that way – regardless of the fact that about every other person commenting on it at the show in Stevensville asked “So when ya painting it?”

Every bit of the work other than some minimal machining to the engine was done by Ken’s own hands. Ken informed me that every piece o’ this baby is a Ford part with the exception of a couple rounded headlights. It’s obvious that this is a guy who knows what he wants…even if he did have to wait awhile to get it. Ken says “I had to wait 75 years but it’s a helluva ride and the chicks dig it!”

All this work took Ken a couple years to finish – and now that he’s drivin’ the 34 around he’ll be startin’ work next on a 36 Ford 5-window coupe arriving from Oklahoma(keep your eyes open for updates on this!) And even way up there in Montana, I’m sure Ken is helped along by his comrades in The Shifters Car Club based out of Lolo, Montana (not to be confused with the So.Cal Shifters.) Ken says The Shifters formed just 3 years ago with 5 guys and has currently grown to over 100 members (girl members included!) So if you ever find yourself up in Montana, give Ken a call and maybe he’ll bring his spunky 34′ over to the Full Moon Saloon and share a beer…if ya can’t make it all the way up there, leave a comment and let him know what ya think!

The Details….

• Owner/Builder: Ken Scobie of Stevensville, Montana
• Car: 1934 Ford Pickup
• Paint/Body: original
• Engine: Ford 268 Flathead – Polished, ported, relieved by owner
• Carb: Dual 97s
• Transmission: 1963 Ford 4-speed side shift converted via Jeep C7 to a top-load floor shift
• Brakes: Disc in front with Chevy Vega cross steer and 3/16^th stainless steel lines
• Rear End: Ford 9″ with 3.56 ratio attached via 1936 radius rods and a transverse spring
• Front Axle: Chromed 4″ dropped Bell I beam with Pete and Jake hairpins as well as front and back panhard bars
• Exhaust: hand built with Scotty mufflers
• Fuel: Electric pump with 3/8″ polished fuel line
• Interior: In progress
• Contact Info: kscobie34ford@yahoo.com