If you’re into smooth big iron, definitely dig Lee’s ’35 Plymouth—a seriously kool hot rod! When introduced, the 1935 Plymouth stood out with its sleek, aerodynamic body lines, echoing the style of Chrysler’s Airstream. Under the hood, an upgraded inline 6-cylinder engine delivered 82 horsepower—matching the Ford Flathead V8 of the era, but with less complexity and lower cost. And here’s a factoid: long before the late ‘50s popularized the “X” frame, this Plymouth featured what was called “Unit Frame and Body Construction,” with the frame bolted both vertically and horizontally for added strength. It even came factoryequipped with artillery-style wheels straight from Chrysler!
Now, let’s talk about the heart of the beast. Lee swapped in a thumping 454 Big Block Bowtie, punched out to 462ci, delivering a mild yet healthy 400hp to the rear wheels. It breathes through a Holley 750 carb topped with a 14” K&N filter, and runs smoothly on pump gas—ready for easy cruising anytime. Block hugger headers feed into a custom-fabricated 2-1/2” stainless steel exhaust, all built by Lee himself. He also crafted all the drive brackets and pulleys in his home shop—nice work! You won’t see much wiring under the hood either, thanks to Lee’s clean and concealed setup. Cooling is handled by a Griffin aluminum radiator with a 16” electric fan, and the firewall is smoothed and filled to maintain that aero look.
Backing up the big block is a 700R4 transmission with a shift kit, medium stall converter, and a Lokar shifter, all feeding into a Ford 9” rear with 3.50 gears—perfect for freeway flying. The chassis is boxed and lowered up front using dropped spindles and a late-model Mustang rack and pinion for modern steering. Brakes include 11” discs up front and 11” drums in the rear, stopped by a 1-1/8” Mopar master cylinder with a 7” power booster. Rubber meets the road via 195/65R15s on American Torque Thrusts in the front, and 225/75R15s in the rear. Lee also hand-fabricated the rear 4-link suspension with coilovers for a solid and smooth ride.
Inside, it’s all comfort and class. The interior features a mix of tweed and Naugahyde on stock seats. Hidden power window switches are tucked in the seat, and overhead VDO gauges add a fresh, out-ofthe- box touch. The headliner and door panels are custom-crafted by none other than Carl Casper. Plenty of sound-deadening keeps things quiet, while bronze-tinted glass and polished trim finish the look.
The body is a work of art. Chopped 3-1/2” for the perfect stance, it features a forward-opening three-piece hood, smooth running boards, and a filled roof to keep that slick, aero look. It’s finished in GM Frost Beige, sprayed with DuPont Centari paint. Lee shaved the door handles, removed excess trim, and added dropped ’28 Model A headlights and frenched ’43 Chevy taillights
for that custom touch.
Lee first found this ’35 Plymouth in Upper Michigan in 1974 for just $200. It sat for 10 years until he and a friend chopped the top, and Lee spent the next decade bringing his vision to life. He went through a few ideas— resto rod, street rod—but ultimately landed on smooth and aero as the rule of the road.
What makes this ride especially kool is that it’s not a Ford or a Chevy—it’s a Plymouth, and it’s been built to the highest standard by a true hands-on craftsman. You can still catch Lee cruisin’ the streets of Havasu, leaned back in his seat, grinning ear to ear, enjoying every moment in one of his ultimate builds.
If you’re into smooth big iron, definitely dig Lee’s ’35 Plymouth—a seriously kool hot rod! When introduced, the 1935 Plymouth stood out with its sleek, aerodynamic body lines, echoing the style of Chrysler’s Airstream. Under the hood, an upgraded inline 6-cylinder engine delivered 82 horsepower—matching the Ford Flathead V8 of the era, but with less complexity and lower cost. And here’s a factoid: long before the late ‘50s popularized the “X” frame, this Plymouth featured what was called “Unit Frame and Body Construction,” with the frame bolted both vertically and horizontally for added strength. It even came factoryequipped with artillery-style wheels straight from Chrysler!
Now, let’s talk about the heart of the beast. Lee swapped in a thumping 454 Big Block Bowtie, punched out to 462ci, delivering a mild yet healthy 400hp to the rear wheels. It breathes through a Holley 750 carb topped with a 14” K&N filter, and runs smoothly on pump gas—ready for easy cruising anytime. Block hugger headers feed into a custom-fabricated 2-1/2” stainless steel exhaust, all built by Lee himself. He also crafted all the drive brackets and pulleys in his home shop—nice work! You won’t see much wiring under the hood either, thanks to Lee’s clean and concealed setup. Cooling is handled by a Griffin aluminum radiator with a 16” electric fan, and the firewall is smoothed and filled to maintain that aero look.
Backing up the big block is a 700R4 transmission with a shift kit, medium stall converter, and a Lokar shifter, all feeding into a Ford 9” rear with 3.50 gears—perfect for freeway flying. The chassis is boxed and lowered up front using dropped spindles and a late-model Mustang rack and pinion for modern steering. Brakes include 11” discs up front and 11” drums in the rear, stopped by a 1-1/8” Mopar master cylinder with a 7” power booster. Rubber meets the road via 195/65R15s on American Torque Thrusts in the front, and 225/75R15s in the rear. Lee also hand-fabricated the rear 4-link suspension with coilovers for a solid and smooth ride.
Inside, it’s all comfort and class. The interior features a mix of tweed and Naugahyde on stock seats. Hidden power window switches are tucked in the seat, and overhead VDO gauges add a fresh, out-ofthe- box touch. The headliner and door panels are custom-crafted by none other than Carl Casper. Plenty of sound-deadening keeps things quiet, while bronze-tinted glass and polished trim finish the look.
The body is a work of art. Chopped 3-1/2” for the perfect stance, it features a forward-opening three-piece hood, smooth running boards, and a filled roof to keep that slick, aero look. It’s finished in GM Frost Beige, sprayed with DuPont Centari paint. Lee shaved the door handles, removed excess trim, and added dropped ’28 Model A headlights and frenched ’43 Chevy taillights
for that custom touch.
Lee first found this ’35 Plymouth in Upper Michigan in 1974 for just $200. It sat for 10 years until he and a friend chopped the top, and Lee spent the next decade bringing his vision to life. He went through a few ideas— resto rod, street rod—but ultimately landed on smooth and aero as the rule of the road.
What makes this ride especially kool is that it’s not a Ford or a Chevy—it’s a Plymouth, and it’s been built to the highest standard by a true hands-on craftsman. You can still catch Lee cruisin’ the streets of Havasu, leaned back in his seat, grinning ear to ear, enjoying every moment in one of his ultimate builds.
