1956 Volante

This is the only photo Christina has from the time of the completion of the project. "When he finished the car he and my mother drove from Brooklyn NY to Florida to celebrate the accomplishment. I was told there were many times they had to take shelter under overpasses to avoid rainstorms. Must have been a hoot! This is the only photo from that time which was taken in Florida before they started the journey home." Photo courtesy of Christina Volante.

In August of 1957, shortly after the completion of his project, the Volante took Eleventh place in the America's 75 Top Customs entries of Rod Builder & Customizer magazine, which included customized cars from across the nation. "Few people have ever seen the sleek, sport car lines, buried in the boxlike body of a '41 Hudson sedan," the story stated, adding that Enzo had the imagination to rework his Hudson into a prize winner. It was Enzo's own photo from the trip to Florida that appeared in the magazine.

A photo of Christina and her sister with the old family custom in 2004. Photo courtesy of Christina Volante.

The Volante as it sat late in 2020. Photo courtesy of Christina Volante.

Early in 2021 the car had been totally rewired, the lights had been fixed, and the engine was running. According to Christina, what was missing was a good sandblasting and a paint job. Photo courtesy of Christina Volante.

Photo courtesy of Christina Volante.

Photo courtesy of Christina Volante.

Photo courtesy of Christina Volante.

Photo courtesy of Christina Volante.

The inside door panels rescued from storage. Photo courtesy of Christina Volante.

The Official New York Division Supporter Shirt - Click here to order yours today.

The 1956 Volante is a sports custom built by Mr. Enzo Volante of Brooklyn, New York City, New York.

Hudson drivetrain

Mr. Volante was a race car driver hobbyist, and he built the car between the years 1949 and 1956. "The frame and engine are that of a 1941 Hudson Super Six," Christina Volante told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2020 about her dad's old custom. "Some of the parts, such as the engine and transmission, are original to the 1941 but many of the mechanical and alternate design parts were adapted and redesigned from many other cars of that era and past years."

Roadster body

The body style was designed and modified from the original Super Six. Enzo removed the roof and extended the trunk area to give the car a roadster design. The hood profile was lowered, and the grill modified to fit his new design. "The doors are opened by the electrical switches you see at the top of the dashboard. The doors are designed to remain in place if the car is in operation." Inside, the interior panels were hand-embroidered by Mr. Volante himself.

Florida

Once the build was completed, Enzo and his wife drove from Brooklyn NY to Florida to celebrate the accomplishment. Christina was told there were many times they had to take shelter under overpasses to avoid rainstorms.

America's 75 Top Customs of 1957

In August of 1957, shortly after the completion of his project, the Volante took Eleventh place in the America's 75 Top Customs entries of Rod Builder & Customizer magazine, which included customized cars from across the nation. "Few people have ever seen the sleek, sport car lines, buried in the boxlike body of a '41 Hudson sedan," the story stated, adding that Enzo had the imagination to rework his Hudson into a prize winner.

Survivor

The car remained garaged between the years 1960 and 1986. The first light restoration began in 1986 and it was driven to a few shows until 2006. "From 2006 until present the car remained garaged again," according to Christina, who in 2020 could info that a complete restoration was in progress, and should be completed by years end.

Magazine Features and Appearances

• Rod Builder & Customizer August 1957