Ken Leonard’s Ford Roadster Heaven

Photos and Story by Joe Secka

Whenever the discussion rolls around to naming favorite, nostalgic hot rods, the early Ford roadsters are almost a certainty to be mentioned. Well, Ken Leonard, a General Contractor from Canfield, Ohio, has a pair of them. However, they are not really a pair as they are about as different as night and day. When Ken was in high school, he and his dad built a purple metalflake dune buggy. But, other than a few hobby cars, that was the limit of him being involved in the car scene for the next forty years. Work and family obligations kept Ken busy until the untimely death of his younger brother caused him to take another look at life and some of the things he wanted to do.

Jim Hoffman, a long-time friend of Ken’s told him about a co-worker having a stalled project sitting in his garage. It was a new build that was in the roller stage of the process. This “stalled project” turned out to be an Indy style track roadster. Ken decided this was just right for him and pulled the trigger on the purchase.

KEN LEONARD’S FORD ROADSTER HEAVEN

Photos & Story by Joe Secka

The double tube chassis was about 90% complete. The frame had been built by Dino Campolito and was already fitted with numerous one-off hand-made pieces. The front suspension is independent and the rear is a four-bar setup. Rack and pinion steering and four wheel disc brakes make this one roadworthy. Wheelsmith rims are mounted to Firestone 8.50x15 grooved dirt track tires on the rear and Firestone 5.00x15 rubber up front.

The 26-T roadster body is fiberglass but did not have operating doors or deck lid. Ken, a carpenter, decided his experience and skills in hanging doors would come in handy cutting these items into the fiberglass. He contacted Rocky Hinge Co. and persuaded them to fabricate two pair of custom hinges. Ken says he closed his eyes and cut the doors in. It seems things worked out for the best! The operating deck lid now allows access to the gas tank. Frame rail covers were fabricated from sheet metal with a rolled lower edge to give the appearance of a belly pan.

The track nose came with a Speedway Motors cast aluminum grille that Ken deemed to look terribly awkward. He decided to fabricate one out of stainless steel. On the fourth attempt Ken finally achieved a fit and finish that met with his approval. The other three “rejects” are hanging on his shop wall as a reminder of his efforts. PPG waterborne

KEN LEONARD’S FORD ROADSTER HEAVEN

Photos & Story by Joe Secka

color was applied to the chassis and body panels by Greenwood Collision Center. Pinstripes were applied by Guy Shively of Guy’s Graphics and Custom Chrome Plating added the shiny reflections where needed. Cyclone TNT stitched the interior up using brown Ralph Lauren leather. Power is supplied by a Chevy 350 crate motor rated at 300 HP. An Edelbrock manifold with a pair of Rochester two-barrels are on the intake side while custom lakes-style pipes with internal baffles complete the exhaust side. A Chevy 200 4R trans by Gearstar and an S10 positraction rear make the roadster a reliable driver. When all of the pieces and parts he had originally purchased were finally in his garage, Ken thought to himself, “This is not going to be one of those projects that take five years!” He was correct. It took eight years! Ken received valuable help from Jim Hoffman, Dino Campolito, Marc Briel, Norm Anderson and Jim Kollat on this project. Ken told me completing the roadster were both rewarding and memorable experiences.

Even before the track roadster was complete, Ken began thinking about another, more traditional build. This one had to better conform to the style that hot rodders were building in the early 50s. How’s that for being confident while still completing your first build? Ken found an original 1932 Ford frame. He shipped it off to Thunder Road Rod & Custom in Mansfield. Zach and Pat loaded it onto their frame jig and returned a straight and square foundation for the build. Ken shipped a ’32 Ford front axle to Greg Haynes of Anson Axles in California to

be dropped. The axle was then sent to Richard and Dennis Lacy at Early V8 Garage to rework the ’32 spindles. Ken bought their hydraulic system and E-brake kits and installed ’40 Ford drums.

The rear suspension is a Henry Ford original hanging onto a reverse eye buggy spring. The front wheels are stock 16” Ford wires while the rears are 18” Ford units widened by Wheel Works of New Jersey. Excelsior Stahl Sport radials connect the chassis to the road. An internally stock ’46 Ford V8 with a pair of Stromberg 97s mounted to a Navarro 2x2 manifold manages to put out, as Ken described, a “tired 85 HP.” Grace Co. air cleaners and Red’s Headers tie up the ends of the power plant. A ’39 trans rebuilt with Lincoln Zephyr gears by Tom Miller looks back at vintage rear gears from a ’32 Ford to continue the authenticity of this build. This package fit neatly into the rolling chassis. A ’40 Ford steering wheel connects to a rebuilt F1 Ford steering gear to help this roadster navigate the turns.

Ken broke from authentic vintage with the addition of a modern radiator and a reproduction 1932 Ford roadster pickup body from Brookville Roadster Co. The radiator shell is a 1932 Commercial Truck unit. Ken modified a 1930 hood to fit and added the leather tie-down straps. A 1927 Chevy donated the gas tank which is in the pickup bed sitting on an original Wormy Chestnut bed. For the interior, Ken built the seat frame and it was covered in brown Naugahyde stitched by Mary.

Photos & Story by Joe Secka

Photos & Story by Joe Secka

KEN LEONARD’S FORD ROADSTER HEAVEN

Photos & Story by Joe Secka

The best part is that Ken was able to complete this, his second build, in two years! Jim Kollat, Dennis and Richard Lacy were a tremendous help to Ken on this project. The current plan is to drive the RPU for a year or two, then disassemble the body for paint and detailing. Ken and Diane, his wife, drive both of these a few times per month and can often be seen attending the local cruise scene. The 1930 Ford roadster pickup breathes vintage hot rod with its high, unpainted, squared off body and flathead engine while the 1926 Ford track roadster, with a sleek Indy-style nose, sits down low hugging the road using Chevy V8 power! They’re definitely not twins! How about that! Pretty kool, don’t ya think? That’s all I’ve got - Joe

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