Happy Valley

Many British rodders cite the film American Graffiti as what got them into rodding, but for others television is to blame

- DB

Phil Webb is a relatively recent recruit into the world of hot rods and customs. Previously, he got his kicks from the likes of Mk2 Escorts and Fiestas and, whilst there’s nothing wrong with that, they’re not exactly CC fodder. Things changed though after Phil got into a new pastime – watching TV. “I started to watch all the programmes,” he explains, “You know, all those American shows featuring hot rod builders. That was it, I had to have an American motor, and I quite fancied a pick-up.”

Surfing the ’net turned up a part-started project for sale in Memphis, Tennessee – a ’56 Ford F100 with a later rear axle and a Mustang II front clip loosely fitted – loosely being the operative word. “The cab was in primer and it came with a flat packed repro pick-up bed,” Phil enthuses, adding, “It ticked all the boxes really.

I knew it needed work but that didn’t bother me so I bought it on the strength of pictures alone. That was in May 2014 and I collected it from Southampton a few weeks later. It was a bit of a botch job, but pretty much as I expected.”