CHIPPY '37

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

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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.