Jon Haigwood

I ran across this while doing some research on the Kookie T. Thought I would post up some pictures and information for those that may be interested . This is one of the first (if not the first) to use a 32 frame with a Model A body. From Car Kulture Deluxe "The Elvis Car has an equally colorful past. Built by John Athan, the A-V8 earned its nickname after appearing in the 1957 Elvis Presley movie Loving You. Athan happened to live near an outfit – Pacific Auto Rental – that supplied cars as props for Hollywood movies, which led to the Elvis movie gig. Following its appearance in The King’s movie, the roadster served as a prop in a couple other big-screen features, and later a gas station documentary. Athan was rather nonchalant about his car’s notoriety, too, years ago telling me: “I didn’t know who Elvis Presley was [at the time].” Athan said that, following brief instructions on how to drive the roadster, Presley did all right behind the wheel. “He could get around in that car,” cited Athan. The car itself is a thing of A-V8 wonder, sporting its 59AB engine in front of a ’39 Ford transmission that leads to a ’39 Mercury rear-end packed with 3.54:1 gears, all hung within the classic ’32 Ford frame rails. This was all cutting-edge technology when the car was completed in 1940. And shortly after the car rolled onto the street, Athan pointed it to El Mirage for the Road Rebels’ dry lake meet where the car posted a top speed of 108.5 MPH. And if you’re wondering about the Elvis Car’s odd-shaped windshield, here’s the skinny: The glass originated as the rear window for a 1939 Chrysler. Athan liked its contour, so he popped the glass out of the sedan’s molding and then fabricated a frame of his own. Pure hot rod funk. Speaking of funk, in later years the car sat idle in Athan’s garage where rodents, spiders, dust, and even rain wreaked havoc on its black lacquer paint and leather upholstery. Finally, in 1997, Athan commissioned his friend Tom Leonardo to restore the car. Leonardo, who happens to now own the Leham A-V8, took the car to bare metal before giving it the look you see today. The car later was part of the Smithsonian Museum’s “America on the Move” exhibit in Washington, D.C., before residing at the Petersen Automotive Museum for nearly two years prior to reporting back to the Smithsonian again, where it remains for the time being following John Athan’s passing last summer."

Some info on the Lightning Bug (Kookies T) from Rod Authority Lightning Bug Specs: 20-inches removed from the rear frame Rear rails supported with Z configuration Front frame extended five-inches Steering column mounted near vertically Body channeled six-inches over the frame 1952 Cadillac V-8 with a GMC 3-71 supercharger Black paint Red rolled and pleated upholstery by Tony Nancy False rails covering the patched frame "Originally painted a sinister black, the car began to make it into magazines and on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine in 1955. Norm added Dodge Royal blue paint and a flame paint job to the rod, highlighted by pinstriping by Dean Jeffries, which adding to the bad boy look. Next he swapped out the GMC 3-71 blower with a four deuce manifold with four Stromberg 97s bolted to the top of the powerful Cadillac overhead valve engine. Shortly after, he added more rake to the body and tilted the windshield back. In this configuration the car appeared in Car Craft and Life magazines. Norm’s Lightning bug became a star when it was chosen to be the vehicle driven by the Ed Byrnes character Gerald “Kookie” Kookson in 77 Sunset Strip. The car was referred to as the Kookie Kar after that. Grabowski rented the car out to several movie and TV shows after that. Norm sold the hot rod in 1959 to show-car enthusiast Jim Skonzakis and unfortunately the original car has gone through several owners and has been repainted and hacked beyond recognition. Franco “Von Franco” Costanza built two highly accurate clones of the car. The Kookie Kar clone, now owned by John LaBelle, is a living tribute to one of hot rodding’s most iconic cars."

Some of it is the trend of an era , like the Mo-Cad in the magazine. The Goat maybe better if they were slicks (or maybe not). THe Cad-0-Vette I haven't figured out what era it represents. Maybe the Jetson era ?? Of the three I dislike the Mo-Cad the least

Also on youtube

Just noticed that the exhaust pipe was setup two different ways . One version it went straight up and in another it went up and back along the bed.

The Ivo T looks like every other T Bucket out there. The Lightning Bug with it's odd proportions draws attention. When I build I try and not make it look like all the rest. Still think it's the "Ginchiest"

I believe Tommy Ivo's T was also built using a Touring body

The one in the Parts pax looks to be an Edelbrock

Then there is the Horne manifold Possibly whats on the Kookie T

You may be right about it being "Inspired By". Norm did lengthen the frame in front of the cowl 5 inches. It's original name was "The Lightning Bug"

Looks nice, It looks like the headers have one to many pipes.

I have been gathering the parts to build it. Starting off with the Monogram T Street Rod w/Trailer for body that will need some modification to look like the shortened touring body.. The bed is a model A bed , the Revell parts pack Caddy engine will be used. I still need to find the right frame that will need to be modified also. I have the Big & Little Skinnies Wide Whitewalls with Steel wheels and Baby Moon hubcaps from R&M. The exhaust pipes may be a challenge. I will have to do some tube bending. I also will be building two versions of Tweedy Pie. The original Bob Johnston version with the flathead and a later Roth version.

As I remember, back in the y they would "glass in" the headlights. As in move the headlights to the grille and glass in the headlight covers. I know of one 64 that had the headlights glassed in, fenders flared, 427 hood scoop and a gold flake paint job. (which I need to duplicate for a friend). Trying to find pics of the headlights

Good stuff , thanks for posting. I saved this video for future reference

Looks great. I love Roth and Rat Fink. I have a signed RF T shirt somewhere around here.

The 48 back end looks very close other than the tail lights and bumper. The bumper in the 41 kit will work but the tail lights are different.

Read the first post first, the second post second, No need for a search'.. Both were interesting in their own special way

I plan on using this kit for the starting point of my "Kookie T" build even comes with a skull shift knob.

I bought these, Can order in different colors, already has threaded mounting hole. Comes in 4mm and 5mm. I got the 4mm. They are almost big for scale but they will work ok for what I need. Shipping was fairly fast to Oregon https://www.ebay.com/itm/5pcs-16g-14g-4mm-5mm-Threaded-U-V-Dice-Replacement-Specify-Color-Size/281249398282?_trksid=p2485497.m4902.l9144

Found them on ebay under dice piercing https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2060353.m570.l1311.R1.TR1.TRC0.A0.H1.Xpiercing+dice.TRS0&_nkw=dice+piercing&_sacat=0

Thanks to info gained here. I got my "dice shift knobs" for my Tweedy Pie projects.

Yes , I can make that work , Thanks

I have a future project and find myself in need of a 4-2bbl manifold for a 331 Caddy mill. Already checked out R&M. Thought maybe someone might have cast one. Thanks

Common courtesy goes a long way.

Even with third party venders , $145 for a Dragula kit is over the top. I wonder how many they sell ?