We hope the Alloway-built '56 Ford we showed you last month blew your minds as much as it did ours. The arrow-straight body, big-inch motor, and interesting mix of old and new technologies really set a high standard for builders in the future. Our own Eric Geisert had a chance to pop off a few shots as this car came together, so we wanted to share those with you, too. The little details Bobby attended to may help in your own project, and seeing how a top-notch pro like Alloway did it should help both novices and experienced rodders alike. Look, enjoy, and appreciate the work that turned a nice bone-stock '56 Ford into a cover-worthy hot rod.
A peek inside the Ford prior to final assembly shows the work that had been done so far. Note how the original floor panels have been integrated with the new firewall and how the engine setback affected the original shape of the firewall. Also note how Alloway chose to round the edges and surfaces of the new firewall insert to better replicate a factory style. Other cars we've seen built use sharp corners and straight edges and look more primitive than this well-refined example of how to do it right. | 
As we peek back toward the rear seat area, look at the widened wheelwells and the custom fuel tank. Again, the rounded surfaces look less modified and yet they contain huge rubber under the car. Tubs are part of hot rodding forever now; we owe Pro Street for that. But, mini-tubs, done tastefully like this, can provide additional clearance without invading the interior space. | 
A look into the trunk space shows the rest of the work out back, including the new trunk floor, the remounted (but still stock-appearing) trunk springs, and another look at the wheelwells. There's still plenty of room for luggage, too! |
With the decklid closed, all the interior work is hidden, but more can be seen. The smooth look is maintained by an absence of chrome trim, and all of the factory sheetmetal seams have been filled. The curved license plate frame does hold a curved license plate. The almost-flush bumper fitment was achieved through using tubular mounts designed like hitch receivers. The bumpers were slid in, until Bobby liked the look, then permanently mounted. | 
The Ford Racing 514ci crate motor puts out 600 hp--plenty for a street machine. It fits nice and snug, thanks to the custom firewall and front wheelwells. The front wheelwells, like the rears, were custom-made to fit around the proposed wheel-and-tire package. It was obviously very important for the custom work to retain a factory look. Again, we've seen other front wheelwells made from sharply angled sheetmetal, and while they might do the job, they don't look nearly as smooth as these rounded units. Note the slick steering shaft snaking its way to the rack-and-pinion unit--much easier to work with than a fat stocker and a steering box. Alloway's street rod-building experience shows all over this car. | 
Here's a better look at the bumper mounts we mentioned earlier. The square-tube mounts allow the bumper to be slid right up to the body, if desired. Tucking the bumpers can make for a much smoother final appearance, and this is one the best ways we've seen to accomplish it. |
A final peek before paint shows why all the work was necessary to fit the big wheels and tires under the car. The mild rake looks right on a '60s-style '56 Ford, but the high-tech details make this a street machine for today. The "mock-up" wheels were replaced with American Racing five-spokes in 17x9-inch with 4-inch backspacing and Nitto 215/70-17s in the front, while the rears checked in with 20x10-inch hoops (also with 4-inch backspacing) covered by Nitto Extreme Force 305/55-20 tires. Those rear tires were originally designed for SUVs, an example of not limiting your choices to car stuff. Some of the tires in the truck market, especially the SUV stuff, are designed for ride quality in heavy vehicles. Thankfully, going to 20s doesn't mean you have to sacrifice a nice ride. | 
The Alloway-designed chassis was built by the legendary Art Morrison, so it's plenty strong. This is the actual drawing sent by Alloway to Morrison, and the chassis came back to Bobby meeting all the necessary requirements. Morrison's extensive experience makes chassis fabrication for street machines relatively simple--no cages, no certification requirements from sanctioning bodies, and no need for extensive cross bracing. Hopefully, we'll see more Morrison-built chassis on the streets in the future! | |