CHIPPY '37

RODNEY MCTAGGART’S STREET ROD ROADSTER TOOK SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS TO CONSTRUCT...

This orange roadster is the latest addition to the Maitland Street Rodders fleet and belongs to Rodney McTaggart. It’s remarkably similar to another ’37 roadster in the club, a yellow version that belongs to Rodney’s father, Noel and was the inspiration for this project. Noel’s roadster was built over a 23 year period from 1982 to 2005 and with his dad’s experience and help, Rodney put his ’37 together a lot quicker. This build took seven and a half years to complete after Rodney purchased the roadster in rough condition for $10,000.00 back in 2011. Noel has been hot-rodding old cars since he was a teenager and along with his yellow roadster, has also built a ’37 Ford coupe (now sold) and a ’37 Ford pickup. It goes without saying that his experience with and knowledge of ’37 Fords has been invaluable for Rodney, who also owns a ’37 coupe project. We featured Noel’s roadster in ASR 177 while photos of Rodney’s coupe appeared in a Hunter Valley Garage Crawl article we published back in ASR issue 209.

Just like Rodney’s coupe project and Noel’s roadster, this ’37 features small block Ford running gear, a Holden front end, a tilt front, widened rear guards and rear guards and running boards that have been extended in order to better accommodate the tilt front latches and give the car a lower profile. This one has also been top chopped 80mm and is fitted with Mini bear claw door latches, a recessed firewall and a custom roof with side curtains and porthole style windows that is nearly identical to the lid on Noel’s roadster.