Can a hot rod make a good vehicle for your business?

PHIL WHEAR’S ’34 FORD SEDAN DELIVERY IS THE NICEST WORK TRUCK WE’VE SEEN. And, he says, it’s getting better all the time.

He bought its glassfibre repro shell from Saturn Industries back in 1990, when it showed up with the doors hung and not much else. Now, Phil is a pretty busy chap, running his own business down in Redruth, Cornwall, so he contacted Dave Finch to do the rest of the build.

Dave is known for both the speed and the quality of his building projects. But even he took seven months to complete this one.

At the time, Dave had a 351 Cleveland, complete with a Galler proof forged steed crank, sitting in his garage looking for a good home. As you do. It was soon mated to a C6 auto and dropped on to a Chris Boyle chassis. An Iskenderian cam gives the deep-breathing Cleveland mill a little boost in power and a 750 Holley caps an Offenhauser intake rnanifold.

The dependable Ford C6 automatic transmission has been left stock, both for the driver’s comfort and to ensure a long life for the car. The rear suspension is from an S-Type Jag, while the front suspension and crossmember were designed and built by Dale Rearden using spindles and vented discs from a Capri and steering put together from the best bits from an Escort and a Dolomite.

The suspension is not radical in design, being a wishbone/ coil-over type, but it’s well made and brute enough for a vehicle that works for its living.

And that comes down to the reason Phil decided on the Sedan Delivery. He needed a work vehicle to haul storm windows, double glazing and conservatories, but wanted something a bit more exciting than a stock Bedford pick-up.

A major part of the fun factor comes from the unique character of the Sedan Delivery. ‘People remember the car, and that’s what you want,’ says Phil – and he makes sure it’s seen by having it on the road five or six days a week. Signwriting was done by Keith Massey, and a set of 15in Sharp wire wheels completes the period look.

So, does a rod make a good business car? Phil thinks so. ‘I’m very, very pleased with the car. It’s practical and reliable. I get the VAT back, and expenses and the build through the business, and it’s now an asset of the company.’ At least as important a factor is the resale value – he has no plans to sell the car since ‘it won’t wear out if I take care of it,’ but he’s certain that in ten years it should worth about what he paid for it.

A ten-year-old Bedford pickup might also have some value left after ten years. But a few rounds at your local would take care of it.

London, 4 April: Oxford beat Cambridge by just over a length to win the 138th Boat Race; it’s described as one of the greatest in the history of the event.

Aintree, 4 April: 14/1 shot Party Politics, ridden by Welsh jockey Carl Llewellyn, wins the Grand National at his first attempt.

London, 12 April: An early goal by Brian McClair sees Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the League Cup Final at Wembley. The Forest team include future United stars Roy Keane and Teddy Sheringham.