Hot Rod Classic
Todd and Tracy Webber’s 1937 Ford Five-Window Coupe
Story and Photography by Charlie Self

     Smith Mountain Lake resident Todd Webber said his interest in cars began “... at conception. By age two, I was pointing out all the Chevrolets on the road.”
     Throughout the years, Todd’s curiosity continued to grow to “early ’50s and ’60s rods and customs, to muscle cars, to gasser drag cars. I also enjoy all types of cars and the people who enjoy and preserve them.”
     Todd first saw his car – a 1937 Ford Five-Window Coupe – while with some buddies at the Salem Civic Center when he was 15 years old.
     “I saw this coupe, with its metal flake paint and blown small block Chevy, chrome everywhere, with diamond tufted crushed velvet upholstery,” he said.” At first, I thought it was
a California pro car.”
     Todd later learned Bob Pope built the car locally.
     “I went completely nuts over this car,” said Todd, and he and Bob became fast friends. Eventually, Bob let Todd drive the ’37, a singular honor.
     The blue coupe changed hands several times over the years, spending a lot of time in storage. (Todd says it was covered for a full decade.) When Todd married his wife Tracy – another car buff – he bemoaned the fact that he had two chances to buy the car but neither time had the money.
     One morning in 2001, Tracy rousted Todd from bed and said it was time to go get the coupe. That became an adventure that included a bidding war with another hopeful buyer. The Webbers won, but after the deal was made, the blue coupe had to be placed on a rollback truck for the drive home. Getting the hot rod to the rollback involved moving some of the collector’s restored ’40 Ford coupes, a nervewracking process because of their value.
     Finally, Todd and Tracy had their ride.
     For those of us past a certain age, the rumble of the pipes as Todd idles the car brings back those youthful days in a sudden surge. The metal flake lacquer paint job speeds that transition into the past. In fact, Todd said, “The paint job is about 30 years old.” The ghost flames on the front fenders are a touch that don’t always show up well in photos, except on days that are cloudy or overcast.
     The car uses a 350C Chevrolet four-bolt V8 engine with a GMC blower (supercharger to most people). Chrome in the form of Moon valve covers and the coil cover dress up the engine. Bringing back really old memories are the Mallory dual point distributor and Hedman headers. Stewart-Warner gauges dominate the dash, while the stopping power comes from 11-inch front disc brakes and drum brakes at the rear.
     Little touches abound: The stereo is in the glove box, out of view. Almost no body work had to be done; the body was left nearly stock, except for removing the hood wings on the engine compartment. “It was blocked [block sanded] and painted. That was it for the body. The flames were added later,” Todd said.
     The restoration is 30 years old; a close inspection of the paint finds the same kind of crazing you see in fine old china. The paint still protects the car well, and there is no visible rust. Up close and personal, the coupe looks simply fantastic.

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