In the spring of 2014, Tony and Lesley located a completely stock car in southern Connecticut via Craigslist. All that remained were the Rocket Racing wheels wrapped with Firestone tires as the perfect combo, so the frame could head back home for the next phase. A steering box from the wagon was also perfect because of its deep pitman shaft that dropped the drag link down to help with the steering geometry.
The front suspension uses Speedway Motors leaf springs while the rear has custom ladder bars utilizing fabricated floaters to compliment the rear 1959 Ford wagon leaf springs. A narrowed 9” Ford posi rear-end completes the driveline. The transmission had a shift kit, 2400 TCI stall converter, and a Hurst Quarter-Stick upgrade. They put the engine strapped to a GM Turbo 400 transmission on the new crossmember. 540 cam helping round out the appeal of the Caddy motor – torque! The heavily modified frame went up to Wilson & Steely Kustom Coachworks (W&S) to get sandblasted, with Tony’s help, so he could paint it while still within the shop. The motor was upgraded with a Cad Company/Edelbrock ported dual plane high-rise and an 850 Holley with a custom air cleaner to give the quad look, and polished PML valve covers. So, when it came time to drop a 1968 Caddy motor running a 10.5:1 compression within the T-bird, it was a no brainer. Tony’s expertise came from working at a Cadillac dealership in the ‘70s so overhauling the motor was a piece of cake. Lesley gave a helping hand quite often.įor the previous build, they had sought out a shop that would create Tony’s vision of a Cadillac 472 motor as the heart instead of the typical Chevy 350 as many wanted to do. Then he began an elaborate lighter crossmember that would also help hold the extended rectangular tube frame during construction and allow the motor to sit further back.
In fall of 2013, Tony located a frame and removed the front end in order to prepare the car to accept a straight axle kit. Wanting something unique, they decided on a 1955 Ford Thunderbird to be modified as a ‘60s era gasser. With his last project roadster a wrap, Tony decided that one more project before retirement was necessary, one which his wife Lesley would enjoy and take on the road alongside the new hot rod. Tony saw several muscle cars and was often installing aftermarket high performance parts to give them an edge over the guy with his “factory” horses. Tony Gentile started wrenching in Gloucester, Massachusetts, at 12 years of age, at his dad’s service station, working full time tearing down motors, cleaning parts, and assembling.
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