Grand M A S T E R

Scarlet Phantom

1937 Ford Phantom Coupe

Owner: Caryn Burch

Builder: Alan Johnson

By Raffi Minasian

Caryn Burch's Scarlet Phantom is a unique and totally new all steel, handmade Wild Rod. An original design by Chip Foose, Scarlet Phantom was built by Alan Johnson of Johnson's Hot Rod Shop http://www.johnsonshotrodshop.com. While such a car was never built by the factory, Caryn's Phantom is the result of blending a 1937 five window Ford with a 1937 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe. Visionary owners, masterful builders and skilled craftsmen combine sketches from Chip Foose and Chris Ito with thousands of creative hours to bring to life a truly "one-off" creation.

The 1937 Ford five window coupe body has extensive modifications. Alan Johnson grafted a 1937 Lincoln Zephyr roof skin on the Ford, added a Zephyr split rear window with the peak stretched through the rear. The rear quarter windows were deleted with new steel. Handmade steel running boards, rear wheel tubs and a smooth one-piece floor pan were all fabricated for this project. The "A" pillars were laid back 3.5" with the window openings raked, reshaped and then added to the new 4' longer sedan doors.

The engine is a Jasper Racing balanced and blueprinted 502 cu. in. big block Chevy with polished aluminum heads and handmade valve covers. The transmission is a 700 R4 with a 2500 stall torque converter. Currie built the 9' rear end with a 3:50 limited slip setup and Currie 35 spline axles.

Chip Foose designed the one-off 18 and 20 inch wheels built by Budnik Wheels. The Chassis started out with a set of Curb Side frame rails with custom fabricated steel tube X members. The wheelbase was stretched 3/4" and the rear rails were pinched 2" on each side. A Flaming River rack and pinion setup handles the steering while chrome tubular control arms with Fatman cross members control the front suspension. The rear suspension is a chrome tubular 4-link setup.

Paul Adkins trimmed the custom made seats and interior with tan leather. Custom face "Scarlet Phantom" gauges made by Classic Instruments are housed in a handmade steel instrument panel. A handmade aluminum grill hides the air conditioning and audio controls for the ten speaker system, including 5.5" carbon fiber midrange speakers, an Alpine CD player and dual 400 watt power amps.

Caryn's beautiful '37 Phantom won the "Street Rod d'Elegance Award 2004" and a Boyd's Pro's Pick at the Goodguys Del Mar Nationals in Southern California. This world class '37 also won the "Best Hot Rod" award and was the "Hot Rod Sweepstakes Winner" at the 2004 Grand National Roadster Show.

Caryn got into street rods to have fun and drive but she never imagined she would end up with the show winner that her Phantom has become! Caryn enjoys attending shows and driving her Scarlet Phantom . Look for her at the local poker runs in Parner Texas!

Hey, check out the Scarlet Phantom web site! To view click the logo below.

1937 Ford Phantom Three Window Coupe

Click here to view images

Design, Fabrication & Assembly:

Chip Foose, Chris Ito, Alan Johnson of Johnson's Hot Rod Shop

Body:

Manufacture...................................................FoMoCo

Design...........................................................Chip Foose and Chris Ito.

Style.............................................................1937 Ford Phantom Coupe

Modifications..................................................Johnson's Hot Rod Shop

Handmade Grille/Side Vents............................Johnson's Hot Rod Shop

Paint Type / Color...........................................PPG Custom Mixed Dark Red

Painter...........................................................Johnson's Hot Rod Shop

Body Side Molding, Valve Cover & Air Cleaner Trim:

Custom Fabricated Brass/Chrome...................Johnson's Hot Rod Shop

Interior:

Custom Fabricated Steel.................................Johnson's Hot Rod Shop

Handmade Instrument Panel and Console.........Johnson's Hot Rod Shop

Smooth One Piece Floor Pan...........................Johnson's Hot Rod Shop

Custom "Scarlet Phantom" Gauges..................Classic Instruments

Leather Upholstery...........................................Paul Adkins

Chassis:

Frame Rails...................................................Curbside

Steering.........................................................Flaming River/Rack & Pinion

Front Suspension............................................Fatman/Chrome Control Arms

Front Brakes...................................................Baer Four Piston/13.5" Rotors

Front Wheels..................................................Chip Foose/One Off Budnik 18"x7"

Front Tires......................................................B F Goodrich 225/45/18

Rear Suspension.............................................Chrome Tubular 4-Link

Rear Brakes...................................................Baer Four Piston/14" Rotors

Rear Tires.......................................................B F Goodrich 295/40/20

Rear Wheels...................................................Chip Foose/One Off Budnik 20x10

Wheel Base....................................................3/4" Stretched & Rear Rails Pinched 2" Per Side

Differential.......................................................Currie Polished Aluminum Center Section/3:50:1

Engine & Transmission:

Manufacturer...................................................Jasper Racing Balanced and Blueprinted 502

Dyno Tested...................................................650 HP/600 ft. lbs.

Heads ...........................................................Polished Aluminum/Handmade Valve Covers

Carburetors.....................................................Dual 4bbl Edelbrock/Handmade Air Cleaner

Headers.........................................................Custom 2.5 Primary Tubes into 3" collectors

Exhaust.........................................................Custom 3" Stainless

Transmission..................................................Phoenix Transmission 700 R4/2500 Stall