Out on the road, this thing must be a handful. The twin-turbo big block 454 running a roller cam builds 7 psi of boost, and the maker agreed output sits around 1000 or more. Once rolling, the car builds speed at a frightening rate and does not hook up until roughly 40 mph. The maker calls driving at that boost level super scary, and for something described as just for bopping around town, that is a lot of muscle.
The way it comes together mixes eras nicely. A rat rod body with an exposed V8 wears flame decals in red and yellow along the sides and doors. The engine runs conical air filters, an air scoop mounted on the intake, polished exhaust headers along with polished intercooler piping, and valve covers with raised embossed lettering. Out back, the rear axle comes from an HD Chevy truck. Inside there are auxiliary gauges and a custom steering wheel. My favorite touch is the yellow duck in a brown cowboy hat sitting on top of the scoop.
On the stopping side, rear drum brakes stay alongside front discs. The maker says the front discs alone can bring the lightweight car to a halt without trouble, and rates the drums as a great low-maintenance option. The barn find dirt is staying on the body as well, a look that works for this kind of machine in my view.
A couple of things stay open. The agreed output of about 1000 or more has never been near a dyno. And with the rain flaps on the main exhaust pointing straight up, the maker ended up smelling of exhaust fumes everywhere and close to suffocating while driving. Whether that has been sorted since is unclear to me.