Larry Wood's 1936 Ford 5-Window Coupe

1936 Ford 5-Window Coupe owned and built by Larry Wood of Haddam, Connecticut. Later known as "Mr. Hot Wheels," the Ford was Wood's first hot rod and a project that would encapsulate his early fascination with automotive design and craftsmanship. The Coupe became not just a vehicle but a canvas for Wood's growing expertise and passion for hot rodding. Photo courtesy of Larry Wood.

A construction photo of the coupe taken circa 1960. Born in Connecticut, Wood's initial exposure to cars was limited. However, a single Hot Rod Magazine flipped a switch in him, propelling him into the world of hot rodding and automotive customization. This iteration ran chromed and reversed wheels with whitewall slicks and tires. Photo courtesy of Larry Wood.

Photo courtesy of Larry Wood.

Larry's Coupe was street-driven, but he took it to Connecticut Dragway occasionally, showcasing its capabilities and craftsmanship. Photo courtesy of Larry Wood.

Photo courtesy of Larry Wood.

After completing high school, Wood gained further experience working with aircraft sheet metal at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. This period honed his skills in metalwork, contributing to his automotive projects. His membership in the Carbs of Hartford hot rod club provided a communal space to work on and share his passion for cars, further enriching his experience and knowledge in custom car building. He painted the coupe yellow before he went to California in 1961. Photo courtesy of Larry Wood.

Larry's 1930 Ford Model A Roadster. This was his Art Center car in California, and he bought it with the money he got for the Coupe after selling it around 1963. The Model A was a Coupe when he got it, but he swapped the body for a Roadster body that he had Dean Jeffries paint. Photo courtesy of Larry Wood.

After selling the coupe, Larry heard from a friend that it was crashed in the next town. Photo courtesy of Larry Wood.

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1936 Ford 5-Window Coupe owned and built by Larry Wood of Haddam, Connecticut. Later known as "Mr. Hot Wheels," the Ford was Wood's first hot rod and a project that would encapsulate his early fascination with automotive design and craftsmanship.

Teenage Years and the Turning Point

Born in Connecticut, Wood's initial exposure to cars was limited. However, a single Hot Rod Magazine flipped a switch in him, propelling him into the world of hot rodding and automotive customization. The catalyst for this change was a Hot Rod Magazine his father brought home. "He was a coach, and one of his guys was reading a magazine during football or something. He brought home this Hot Rod Magazine and put it on the kitchen table, just threw it down there. I picked that up, and it was like the switch went off. It was like holy mackerel, look at what they're doing in California with these hot rods and customs. That got me going," Larry told Brad King in an interview he did for the Stories N' Steel YouTube Channel. This newfound fascination led Larry to start working on cars himself, experimenting in a shed behind his house.

Building His First Hot Rod

The journey of Wood's first hot rod, from an engine-less chassis to a custom-built car, is a story of dedication and self-taught skill. Wood's initial acquisition in 1958 was a finned Ford Flathead engine head, which sparked his interest in building and customizing his own vehicle. "That was the greatest thing I ever saw, you know. I probably paid five dollars for it, but it was aluminum, it had fins on it, and it said Edelbrock or something like that. This was really cool." With a newfound passion, Larry's collection of parts grew. He meticulously studied Hot Rod Magazine, absorbing knowledge on assembling lifters and engine components. His workshop was a humble shed behind his house, a cramped space with a dirt floor where winter's chill seeped through the cracks. There, with his engine laid out on the ground, Larry embarked on a hands-on education in automotive mechanics, an endeavor marked by trial and error, devoid of sophisticated tools or knowledge about torque.

The Wild Ride

In time, his efforts culminated in a semi-complete engine. Yet, it lay there in the shed, a static symbol of potential. Driven by an urge to breathe life into his creation, Larry ventured to a junkyard, where he unearthed a crucial piece of his puzzle: a 1936 Ford chassis that was equipped with a transmission. "We put the Flathead engine in it," Larry told King, "I remember the first time we ever drove it. My buddy Charlie was standing next to me, and I was sitting on a box piece. I was sitting on the box on this chassis, and Charlie had a string going to the carburetors. I had the clutch and everything and said, okay, give it some gas, give it some gas. So I let out the clutch, and of course, Charlie fell back and pulled full throttle! Man, that thing took off! That Flathead ran, man. We went across the street sideways, all the way up there, up my neighbor's yard and everything before the battery luckily fell out and shorted out and stopped the car." This initial escapade, though chaotic, was a defining moment for Larry. It was more than just a wild ride; it was the realization of a dream, the first step in a journey that would carve his path in the world of hot rods. His venture into the neighbor's yard, leaving a trail of upturned grass in his wake, was not just a youthful misadventure but a symbol of his relentless pursuit of his passion, a trait that would come to define his career and legacy.

Drag Racing

Over the next four years, the Flathead-powered chassis was turned into a yellow Hemi-powered 1936 Ford 5-Window Coupe. "I did all the work myself with just Hot Rod Magazine for reference," he told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in February of 2024. Larry recalled there weren't many hot rods in Connecticut back then. His was street-driven, and he even took it to Connecticut Dragway occasionally, showcasing its capabilities and Wood's craftsmanship.

The Carbs of Hartford

After completing high school, Wood gained further experience working with aircraft sheet metal at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. This period honed his skills in metalwork, contributing to his automotive projects. His membership in the Carbs of Hartford hot rod club provided a communal space to work on and share his passion for cars, further enriching his experience and knowledge in custom car building.

A New Path Unfolds

Despite the excitement of drag racing and the camaraderie of the Carbs of Hartford, Wood began feeling restless. His day job on the midnight shift allowed him to party and live a carefree life, but the monotony of the work left him unfulfilled. A turning point came when he saw a middle-aged colleague performing the same tedious tasks he did. At that moment, Larry realized he wanted more from life; he wanted a career that aligned with his passion for cars and creativity.

Larry's love for automotive design had been a constant since high school, where he spent hours sketching cars like Rancheros and '56 Chevys. Inspired by these drawings and the colorful world of 1950s automobiles, he decided to take a bold step toward a new future. When he saw an ad in Motor Trend Magazine for the Art Center, a school specializing in car design and drawing, he knew he had found his path. With the help of his mother, an art teacher, he crafted a unique portfolio shaped like an artist's palette, showcasing his creativity and ambition.

Before Larry went to California in 1961, he gave the coupe a yellow paint job. His acceptance into the Art Center marked a significant turning point. Moving from Connecticut to California, Larry was initially overwhelmed by the vastness of Los Angeles. Yet, his passion for automotive design drove him forward. He sold his 1936 Ford Coupe around 1963. With the proceeds, Larry bought a 1930 Ford Model A Coupe, which he converted into a Roadster with a body painted by famed customizer Dean Jeffries. This car became his project during his time at the Art Center, representing his transition from hot rod builder to a budding car designer. After selling the coupe, Larry heard from a friend that it was crashed in the next town. The roll bar that Larry had installed likely saved the new driver. While Larry would go on to achieve fame within the toy car industry and broader automotive community, his 1936 Ford 5-Window Coupe stands as a testament to his early days of car customization and hot rodding.