It’s not your run-of-the-mill Chevy powerplant. Kuttner added Vortex heads, and MDS firepower... As with everything else on this rod, the look under the hood is clean and well apportioned.  This coupe was a Boyd Coddington Pro’s  Pick at Goodguys Del Mar in 2007.

 It’s been said that behind every cool car there’s a great story to be told. This month’s OverDrive Feature Rod is no different. At face value it’s a well-crafted contemporary deuce three-window coupe owned by Carlsbad, California resident, Jack Kuttner. The deep black paint is mirror-like. The burgundy colored leather is tasteful and the gray center, five- spoke wheels make just the right statement. Jack’s choices in building this car were well conceived. It’s an impressive hot rod that turns heads every time it hits the pavement. But what makes this car different really isn’t the car…it was the challenges getting the car built. You might feel as if you can relate to the some of the frustrations anyone encounters when building a hot rod, but you couldn’t be farther from the truth. Kuttner’s challenges were more personal.  
         Jack decided in the spring of 2001 that he wanted to build a high-end Deuce coupe. He had sold his previous ride, a cherry ’35 Ford, and was ready for a new project. The build was well underway when, in the fall of that year, Jack was stricken by a stroke. For most guys this is the end of story. It’s the end of wrenching on hot rods. The end of tooling around town …it’s the end of life, as most know it. What makes this story unique was, this wasn’t the end of anything for Jack.
         The rehab took about a year and a half. As he puts it, he got back into the build at that point and learned to do everything with just the use of one hand. You read it right… this awesome rod was built by a guy with very limited upper mobility. As a typical stroke victim, Kuttner, was partially paralyzed on his left side. Like most guys, the typical parts of the project that he farmed out were the paint, interior and wiring. Some of his friends helped from time to time, but most of the bragging rights go to Jack.

The after effects of the stroke are still with him, but he’s a man with a plan…after he sells this black beauty, he’s building a ’34 Ford coupe lakes racer…a fenderless, radically chopped, flies like a bat-outa-hell racer that he wants to break speed records with…and you know it’s gonna happen. 
        About The Car:  Jack started with a Rat’s Glass chopped Deuce fiberglass body.  Next came a Classic Street Rod Manufacturing frame with a four bar and coil overs at the rear...a four inch dropped front axle with hairpins handle the front end duties. Add a small block  350 Chevy crate motor with Vortex heads and MDS ignition, along with ceramic coated headers. The finned valve covers with matching air cleaner give it just the right amount style. The next stage of the drivtrain is the smooth crusing 700R4 transmission that’s connected to a Ford nine inch rear end with 3:70 gears. Pasi’s Place in North County San Diego sprayed the stunning black  PPG triple black paint. Benny Gonsales stitched interior which was built around a Wiseguys seat and Sony sound system. The real kicker is the choice of semi-vintage looking wheels...the Troque Thrust “M” gray center five spokes mounted on Dunlop Sport 9000 rubber with knock-offs. As mentioned above, anyone wishing to park this cool rod in their garage can set up an appointment with Jack Kuttner by calling: (760) 438-6632. You won’t believe the asking price.

The rich burgundy leather is the perfect complement to the black gloss dash and leather wrapped racing styled steering wheel. A column mounted shifter connected to the 700R4 tranny provides plenty of legroom. For driver convenience, there’s power steering, windows and brakes.

Like so many others, this fenderless coupe sports a rear mounted gas tank which allows for more room in the trunk. Not one for trendy try-to-out-do the other guys’ tricks, Kuttner stuck with early Ford taillights, a chrome spreader bar and chromed down turned exhaust pipes.