Ghost of Corral's Past
When it comes to hot rod customization, many aficionados would take one look at a one-ton water truck that was completely toasted, chuckle and move on. Of course, not everyone was the all-seeing eye of hot-rod possibility quite like this beauty’s restorer, Bob Lopez.
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod
Out of the Mud, Toward the White Sands
Lopez, a retired firefighter, found the apple of his eye from a closed-up horse corral in South Lake Tahoe, Utah. At the time, a horse itself would have provided more power than what was available. The ’36 Ford was all but scrap metal, thanks to a caved-in roof, a hood that had seemingly been jumped on, and a grille that was smashed to pieces. Like any good fireman, Lopez forged ahead with the challenge all the same —with success as his only option.
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod
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Wild Horses
Lopez kept the stock one-tone rails from the truck’s forward cab, opting instead to fabricate a shortened rear section while adding new rear cross members. It was then out with the water tank and original commercial hardware and in with a Magnum 5-inch drop axle with Speedway’s hairpin radius rods, tube shocks, Lincoln-style Bendix brakes, and Vega cross-steer. Before long, the figurative fire was just beginning on this hot-rod.
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod
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Old Horse, New Tricks
When it came to reignite the flame in this ’36 truck’s powertrain, Lopez chose to go with a 1956 DeSoto Firedome Hemi topped with a single Edelbrock four-barrel and homemade lakes headers and backed by a Wilcap-adapted S-10 five-speed. Safe to assume the added zip is a lot more than the old brute had during its days watering down horse tracks.
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod
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New Meaning to Horsepower
When all was said and done, Lopez’s new surfboard-toting hot rod was ultimately channeled 5 inches, with its stock grille (you read that right —stock grille) sectioned 4 inches and reshaped with a Ford Model 40 manner. Lastly, the roof was made removable from the windshield header back—ideal for roadster weather.
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod
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Take the Top Off
This old horse buggy turned hybrid surf rod was finished in a satin burnt copper with contrasting orange and outfitted with Firestone bias blackwalls from Coker Tire. The interior features a Tahitian print-covered, scratch built split bench seat and pinup-airbrushed door panels and wood panel–looking carpet.
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod
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Expressway to the Skull
The truck also features a fire helmet–adorned skull shift knob that’s in honor of Lopez’ time as a firefighter, however, the skull might not be apt, as this hot-rod has been brought back from the dead —and remains proof you can teach an old horse new tricks.
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod
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