In the street rod circuit, there are two types of cars that can be built, one made of the original vintage sheet metal or one that can be built from the ground up using all new parts and components. This 1934 Ford Coupe, owned by Rodney and Diane Reprogle of Sevierville, Tennessee, falls in the category of “new”. By use of Innovative Street Machines "Street Beasts" replica kit, the Reprogle’s ordered up one of the sharpest street rods you will see crusin’ on East Tennessee roads!

Notice we said “crusin’ the roads”, for that is exactly what this rod was built for, crusin’… not sitting in a garage 24-7. So, it stands to reason that the car had to be built as a functional vehicle, but still retain its nostalgic appearance. With cash in hand and dreams of future days crusin’ with their auto club, Smoky Mountain Cruisers, Rodney and Diane enlisted Stephen Lawing, owner of Specialty Autoworks, Inc. in Knoxville, Tennessee, to build “The Wild Rose”.

The process starts with fitting a 1934 Ford Coupe fiberglass body to a welded and prepared chassis. Once the body has been mounted to the chassis, Specialty Autoworks begins fitting and fabricating all the parts that make this street rod into what you see pictured.

In keeping with the nostalgic American pastime, no street rod would be complete without a set of suicide doors, three inch chopped top, chrome pipes, turbo mufflers, classic pinstriping, traditional head lamps, and tail lamps. Rodney and Diane decided that the Budnik Famosa wheels, wrapped in Goodyear rubber, would keep in touch with the past through contemporary styling. To keep the heads turning and the eyeballs staring, The Reprogle’s decided to have the body painted DuPont Lokar Rose, hence the name “The Wild Rose”.

A street rod is one thing, but a lowered street rod is another! The Reprogle's wanted no stone unturned and opted to go the classic route by lowering the installed Mustang suspension two inches up front to get the “street rod rake”. To smooth out bumps on the East Tennessee highways, a set of chrome Carrera shocks were installed. Finishing off the chassis is a chrome rear differential and a Ford 8.8 rear end.

On the inside, this street rod represents all the comforts of a contemporary automobile, such as air conditioning, cruise control, power steering, power brakes, power windows, a CD sound system, and a tilt steering column. The interior is covered in elegant Ivory leather and tweed. A custom wood steering wheel and a custom wood dash top off the interior elegance, while billet armrests and pedals remind you this car is all about haulin’ tail down the highway!

Speaking of haulin’ tail, the Reprogle’s “Wild Rose” is powered with a Chevy 350ci 4-bolt-main engine and receives its fuel and air through a Holley 600-cfm 4-barrel carburetor. Keeping the ponies in line is a 700R-4 overdrive 4-speed automatic transmission.

The finishing touch to “The Wild Rose” cruiser is a custom license plate which reads: “34 4 US”. Judging by the list of awards that this car has won, including several best of show awards, there is no doubt “The Wild Rose” is very popular at auto shows and is very loved by its owners.