Mike Young's 1933 Ford 5-Window Coupe

Mike's coupe landed the cover of Rodder's Journal 72.

The Rodder's Journal story on Mike's coupe featured photography by Steve Coonan and Geoff Miles. It was written by Curt Iseli.

A photo of Lee Pratt with the coupe. In 2001 Young convinced Lee Pratt that he needed to have a late 1950s early 1960s inspired hot rod built. He hauled the car that he recently purchased from local Austin, Texas gearhead Billy “Roach” Cockrell to Lee’s shop in Southern California. After inspecting the car, Lee told Mike that it was one of the cleanest bodies he had seen in a long, long time. "There was one spot of rust the size of a dime on the rocker panel, and it still had the factory undercoating inside the quarters." Photo courtesy of Mike Young.

Inspired by George Hale's 1933 Ford that was featured in Hot Rod Magazine August 1950, Pratt assembled the front end from a combination of factory and aftermarket parts, including a four-inch dropped Super Bell I-beam axle and Posies leaf spring paired with original split 1933 Ford wishbones. 1956 Ford F-100 drum brakes with backing plates. Armstrong lever-action shocks from a MG – all chromed, except the painted shock bodies, complete the front suspension. Photo courtesy of The Rodder's Journal.

Photo courtesy of The Rodder's Journal.

"The stance and the way the wishbones are mounted to the bottom of the frame running parallel with the exhaust, that all came from the Hale car," Pratt told The Rodder's Journal when they did a story on the car. Chromed 16-inch steel wheels with big-and-little Firestone black walls tires wrapped up the rolling chassis. Mike installed Firestone 500-16 Blackwall Tires up front, and Firestone 750-16 Blackwall Tires in the rear. Photo courtesy of Mike Young.

The top was chopped a relatively mildly 3 1⁄4 inches front and rear. According to Pratt, 5 windows, with the shorter doors and quarter windows, 3 1⁄4 inches is just the right amount. It's the same amount that was taken out of Hale's '33. All body work was done by Lee Pratt, who also dressed it up with 1948 Chevrolet taillights. Photo courtesy of Mike Young.

California hot rodder Tom Branch built the 1953 Cadillac 331-inch motor for Young. He bored it .040 over and installed an Isky camshaft and new hydraulic lifters. On the pushed-back firewall behind the Roto-Faze ignition, a Fenton fuel block fed a pair of Stromberg Big 97s sitting on a polished Offenhauser intake manifold. Lee modified 4bbl air cleaners from Spotlite Kustom dual-quad air cleaners. He also Fabricated the headers from a Doane Spencer “how-to” article in Rod & Custom August and Septermber Issue 1954. With a gold-painted engine block, chrome plating covered everything from the headers, the script rocker covers, generator, oil fill, and even the acorn bolts attaching the heads, creating a spectacular-looking engine that embodied a late 1950s vibe. The chrome-plating was performed by American BrightWorks. Photo courtesy of The Rodder's Journal.

Based on the 1953 Buick Titan Red that adorned so many rods and customs paint color of the time Lee and Mike decided to take the paint color to another level by blending House of Color Candy Brandywine and Gold Pearl over the top of the Titan Red. Lee named the color "Titan Glow". Accomplished rod and custom painter Richard Glymph sprayed the body. Photo courtesy of The Rodder's Journal.

The inside cabin received a 1940s Ford theme with a mix of pre-and post-WWII components, including an original 1940 Ford dash with classic 1940 Ford instrument gauges, accented by the same year emergency brake handle, and pedals. Photo courtesy of The Rodder's Journal.

A 1950 Ford Crestliner steering wheel was mounted on a 1940 Ford truck column with a custom column drop. A Hurst shift mechanism actuated a Camaro five-speed. In true late-1950s style, there's a nice balance of paint and chrome inside. Photo courtesy of The Rodder's Journal.

The period-appropriate combination of maroon and white leather tuck-n-roll upholstery on the modified Glide seat was all done by Texas stitcher extraordinaire, Vernon McKean. Photo courtesy of The Rodder's Journal.

Shoebox Ford window and door handles were chosen for their elegant deco details. Photo courtesy of The Rodder's Journal.

For Sale: Early in 2022 Mike decided to sell some of the cars in his collection in order to get down to a few he could drive regularly. He is asking US $149,000.00 for the coupe. Please get in touch with Mike at myoungx@me.com for more info, photos and details. Photo courtesy of Mike Young.

Kustomrama Marketplace - Traditional Hot Rods for Sale

1933 Ford 5-Window Coupe owned by Mike Young of Austin, Texas. In 2001 Young convinced Lee Pratt that he needed to have a late 1950s early 1960s inspired hot rod built. He hauled the car that he recently purchased from local Austin, Texas gearhead Billy “Roach” Cockrell to Lee’s shop in Southern California. After inspecting the car, Lee told Mike that it was one of the cleanest bodies he had seen in a long, long time. "There was one spot of rust the size of a dime on the rocker panel, and it still had the factory undercoating inside the quarters."

Chassis by Limeworks

Steve Dennish at Limeworks built the foundation using a set of American Stamping rails that he partially boxed and notched front and rear. A Pete & Jake's center crossmember and ladder bars were installed, locating a Currie 9-inch rearend supported by a custom rear crossmember and 1940 Ford leaf spring. Motor and transmission mounts along with a Modal A front crossmember completed the new chassis. Inspired by George Hale's 1933 Ford that was featured in Hot Rod Magazine August 1950, Pratt assembled the front end from a combination of factory and aftermarket parts, including a four-inch dropped Super Bell I-beam axle and Posies leaf spring paired with original split 1933 Ford wishbones. 1956 Ford F-100 drum brakes with backing plates. Armstrong lever-action shocks from a MG – all chromed, except the painted shock bodies, complete the front suspension. "The stance and the way the wishbones are mounted to the bottom of the frame running parallel with the exhaust, that all came from the Hale car," Pratt told The Rodder's Journal when they did a story on the car. Chromed 16-inch steel wheels with big-and-little Firestone black walls tires wrapped up the rolling chassis. Mike installed Firestone 500-16 Blackwall Tires up front, and Firestone 750-16 Blackwall Tires in the rear.

Chopped by Pratt

The top was chopped a relatively mildly 3 1⁄4 inches front and rear. According to Pratt, 5 windows, with the shorter doors and quarter windows, 3 1⁄4 inches is just the right amount. It's the same amount that was taken out of Hale's '33. All body work was done by Lee Pratt, who also dressed it up with 1948 Chevrolet taillights.

Cadillac Power by Tom Branch

California hot rodder Tom Branch built the 1953 Cadillac 331-inch motor for Young. He bored it .040 over and installed an Isky camshaft and new hydraulic lifters. On the pushed-back firewall behind the Roto-Faze ignition, a Fenton fuel block fed a pair of Stromberg Big 97s sitting on a polished Offenhauser intake manifold. Lee modified 4bbl air cleaners from Spotlite Kustom dual-quad air cleaners. He also Fabricated the headers from a Doane Spencer “how-to” article in Rod & Custom August and Septermber Issue 1954. With a gold-painted engine block, chrome plating covered everything from the headers, the script rocker covers, generator, oil fill, and even the acorn bolts attaching the heads, creating a spectacular-looking engine that embodied a late 1950s vibe. The chrome-plating was performed by American BrightWorks. Pratt was responsible for the cloth-covered custom wiring.

Titan Glow

Based on the 1953 Buick Titan Red that adorned so many rods and customs paint color of the time Lee and Mike decided to take the paint color to another level by blending House of Color Candy Brandywine and Gold Pearl over the top of the Titan Red. Lee named the color "Titan Glow". Accomplished rod and custom painter Richard Glymph sprayed the body.

Custom Upholstery by Vernon McKean

The inside cabin received a 1940s Ford theme with a mix of pre-and post-WWII components, including an original 1940 Ford dash with classic 1940 Ford instrument gauges, accented by the same year emergency brake handle, and pedals. A 1950 Ford Crestliner steering wheel was mounted on a 1940 Ford truck column with a custom column drop. A Hurst shift mechanism actuated a Camaro five-speed. In true late-1950s style, there's a nice balance of paint and chrome inside. The period-appropriate combination of maroon and white leather tuck-n-roll upholstery on the modified Glide seat was all done by Texas stitcher extraordinaire, Vernon McKean. Shoebox Ford window and door handles were chosen for their elegant deco details, while the garnish moldings were chromed. The build was completed in 2016, right before it was photographed for The Rodder's Journal 72.

For Sale

Early in 2022 Mike decided to sell some of the cars in his collection in order to get down to a few he could drive regularly. He is asking US $149,000.00 for the coupe. Please get in touch with Mike at myoungx@me.com for more info, photos and details.

Magazine Features and Appearances

Rodder's Journal 72