"Mystery Machine"
The V8 Custom Guitars 1952 Chevy Shop Car

This car has been through a few different versions and has inspired some of our Hot Rod Guitar models.  It has also been quite an adventure and learning experience.  Special thanks go to friends Andy and Wes for helping me getting the project started in 2000 and teaching me how to build a custom car, and my dad and friends for helping out.  Since then, we've had the privilege of working with some of the best shops in Quebec to bring it to the next level.  Please take a moment to look at their contacts, and if you need professional work done at an honest price give them a call and tell them we sent you!  -Spanky

• Dan Gruer Garage (Complete hot rod shop) - Contact: Dan Gruer 450-825-2084 Ongoing general repairs, mods, and upgrades to body, suspension, etc.
• Atelier Marcil (Engine Building) - Contact: Sebastien Brassard 450-670-2623
• Transmission Concorde - Contact: Pierre 450-444-3606
• Joron ART (Differential) - Contact: Michel 514-522-7775
• Autorod Finition (Upholstery) - Contact: Rejean 438-823-5145
• Radiateur Lapalme (Radiator) - Contact: Alain 450-677-6151
• Electrical
• Entrepot Du Silencieux GL (Exhaust) - Contact: Daniel 450-651-2232
• Ross Intense Performance (High Performance Tuning and Parts) Contact: Randall or James 450-671-8888
• Pinstriping & Graphics by Sid Bess (Pinstriping originally by Guillaume Ozoux and recreated by Sid) Contact: Sid 516-849-6533

Photo by Liz Leggett

This is what our ’52 Chevy looked like when we bought it original back in 2000 from the second owner in fifty years. We had other plans for it though, as you can see from the pre-Photoshop mock up…

Photo by Liz Leggett

Photo by Dave Paquet

Photo by Dave Paquet

Photo by Liz Leggett

Photo by Liz Leggett

BODY
-on going mods and repairs by DAN GRUER GARAGE
-hand made floor and trunk panels
-top chop 7” in back laid down and 4” in front
-eliminated B pillar to make hard top
-sectioned trunk to make fastback
-nosed, decked and shaved
-peaked hood
-custom rear bumper, frenched
-stretched rear fender with custom made lenses
-custom rocker panels with molded and frenched lake pipes with custom mechanical operation
-frenched headlights 6" with polished stainless buckets
-custom recessed firewall
-custom front bumper and bullets frenched in customized fenders
-one piece Oldsmobile windshield and custom side glass
-Appleton spotlights from Gene Winfield's collection
-gold pinstriping by SID BESS

FRAME AND SUSPENSION
-custom boxed frame with ‘78 Camaro front clip with power brakes and steering
-’78 Camaro 10 bolt differential with 3:73 posi by ART JORON
-air bags on all 4 corners

DRIVETRAIN
-350 Camaro block by ATELIER MARCIL
-305 ported performance heads to boost compression with vintage Edelbrock finned aluminum covers
-bigger valves with 3 angle valve job
-lumpy Comp cam
-HEI distributor with coil
-high flow aluminum water pump
-polished aluminum high rise dual plane intake manifold
-Edelbrock 600 cfm carb
-custom drum theme air cleaner
-Flowmaster headers
-2.5” stainless exhaust
-aluminum radiator
- 390hp; 400ft/lbs torque
-700r4 with B&M Transpack  by CONCORDE TRANSMISSION

INTERIOR
-charcoal grey and red metal flake tuck and roll modified bench seats by AUTOROD FINITION (formerly leopard print blanket seat covers)
-bare steel headliner ribs and garnish moldings
-original ’52 steering wheel, candy apple red
-custom steering column
-stretched shifter with vintage bullet mic
-custom e-brake Model T handle
-tach custom fitted in dash clock mount
-custom bare steel center console with gauges
-brake booster/master cylinder mounted inside dash and retrofitted with custom brackets for horizontal operation