David Rolin

A photo of Dave with his Renault in France. Photo courtesy of David Rolin.

David Rolin's 1957 Ford was restyled by Dick Bertolucci of Bertolucci Body & Fender Shop and Harris' Body Shop between 1956 and 1958. Later on the same year, the car, named "Tormentor" received pinstriping and evenutally a scallop paint job by Dick Katayanagi of Katayanagi Custom Paint.

An International house truck that Dave built in the mid 1970s. Photo courtesy of David Rolin.

A 1969 VW art car that Dave built in the 1990s. Photo courtesy of David Rolin.

David "Dave" Rolin of Sacramento, California. Dave's first hot rod was a 1936 Ford 5-Window coupe that he built in Fresno, California, while he was in high school. Dave's '36 featured a 3/4 race flathead motor. Dave's second "hot rod" was a Renault quatre Chevaux with a V8-60 motor that he built while he was living in France with his military family. The engine in Dave's Renault featured a reverse grind cam and headers. After the Renault followed a 1948 Ford coupe with a warmed over flathead engine, and a 1950 Ford business coupe with a stock Buick Nailhead V8 engine. After Dave had hot rodded these four cars, he found out that he wanted a custom car, so he bought a brand new 1957 Ford late in 1956 that he had Harris' Body Shop restyle for him. Dave was 18 years old at the time. The Ford became known as the Tormentor.

Unfortunately Dave lost his custom to the bank after a couple of years. The bank went on and sold it to a used car lot. After the bank had repossessed it, it had had an engine fire, and the hood had been repainted in a terrible shade of purple enamel. The all white interior had been trashed, and the front end had been raised back to stock. The last Dave heard was that the car had been purchased by an Air Force sergeant around 1959, and that he had taken it to Texas. Dave had no more hot rods or custom after the Tormentor.

David Rolin's Cars

David Rolin's 1936 Ford 5-Window Coupe
David Rolin's Renault Quatre Chevaux
David Rolin's 1948 Ford Coupe
David Rolin's 1950 Ford Business Coupe
David Rolin's 1957 Ford - The Tormentor