29 DAYS UNTIL SCOTTSDALE: CODDINGTON CARS
The “Alumatub” is one of more than 140 vehicles from the Ron Pratte Collection crossing the block at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction in January.
Named the “Alumatub,” this handcrafted Boyd Coddington creation was built on the very popular “American Hot Rod” TV Series on the Discovery Channel.
This one-of-a-kind Hot Rod dons a hand-formed all-aluminum body by the famed Marcel DeLay shop and rests on a specially constructed Coddington aluminum frame and chassis. It’s powered by an aluminum 350cid Chevy with Barry Grant demon three deuce carburetion and a Powerglide transmission with Mooneyes electronic shifter.
The ’29 Ford “Alumatub” Hot Rod (Lot #2516) will cross the auction block in Scottsdale on Saturday, Jan. 17.
Ron Pratte’s prestigious collection of automobilia will kick off the 44th Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction beginning Saturday, Jan. 10 at 9 a.m. and running through Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. Pratte’s vehicles first cross the block at 4 p.m. on Tuesday with lot numbers 2000 through 2109 and will continue with lot numbers 2500 through 2530 on Saturday, Jan. 17.
1954 Chevrolet Corvette Coddington Custom
This 1954 Chevrolet Corvette (Lot #2014) has Boyd Coddington’s handprints all over it. The project began with a hand-built Art Morrison chassis that features a complete C5 Corvette front suspension. Out back is a dynamite-proof Ford nine-inch rear axle suspended by a popular 4-link setup with an adjustable coilover shock arrangement.
This first-generation Corvette will host the dimensions of a modern V8. The 400 horse LS2 small block Chevy sports a custom and finned aluminum early-style fuel injection plenum to disguise the LS2 front feed induction. A battle-proven yet streetable Richmond 5-speed is used to create a power-delivery system that can take this car to another world of performance.
The interior has been upgraded to match the rest of the car with two-tone brown leather seats and a woven wool carpet. The changes are in typical Boyd style, honoring originality even though they are always significant in nature. Custom gauges in the original location are now housed in a one-of-a-kind machined aluminum bezel.
The ’54 Chevrolet Corvette Coddington Custom (Lot #2014) will cross the auction block in Scottsdale on Tuesday, Jan. 13.
1932 Ford Custom Roadster
This 1932 Ford Custom Roadster (Lot #2011) is one of the most famous Deuce roadsters in today’s Hot Rodding as it was built by Boyd Coddington on Discovery Channel’s “American Hot Rod.”
This classic custom is powered by a 350cid Chevy with a Turbo 350 transmission and a Winters quick-change rear end. It is equipped with Mooneyes valve covers, Offenhauser intake, ceramic-coated ramhorn exaust manifolds, Moon tank, chrome and billet front suspension parts, SoCal Buick type front brake drums and engine-turned finish on the firewall.
The interior was done by Gabe Lopez and pinstriping by Dennis Rickleffs. It has Boyd Coddington wheels with vintage Firestone dirt track tires and Stewart Warner “wings” gauges with column-mount tachometer. This is truly a piece of Hot Rod history, and most importantly, it is a Rod Bods steel body.
The ’32 Ford Custom Roadster (Lot #2011) will cross the auction block in Scottsdale on Tuesday, Jan. 13.
1927 Ford Model T Rat Rod
This Boyd Coddington-built ’27 Ford Model T (Lot #2059) is as sanitary as any of the late Hot Rod hero’s other creations. Rolling on a custom boxed frame with dropped transverse leaf springs on both ends, Boyd eschewed high zoot billet goodies on this one and chose a dropped and drilled front beam axle and smooth-housing Ford 9” live axle out back.
Old-school hydraulic drum brakes locate stock Ford 15” and 16” steel rims sporting Firestone radials and 40” Ford Deluxe hub caps and trim rings. A small block Chevy engine resides under the side-hinged steel hood. The basic, but comfortable, black interior accommodates a floor-mounted automatic shift level and ’40 Ford Deluxe wheel. Best of all, with the mechanical odometer showing a mere 2,386 miles, this Rat Rod is virtually new.
The ’27 Ford Model T Coupe Rat Rod (Lot #2059) will cross the auction block in Scottsdale on Tuesday, Jan. 13.