Have you ever had a vision of a car that wouldn’t go away until you finally built it. Well that journey happened to me about 12 years ago and I couldn’t get this out of my head. It started when I was at the L.A. Roadster Show and scored one of the last few sets of Kong Heads for a flathead Ford For the decade that followed I chased parts and ideas here on the HAMB and everywhere I could for this build. In fact, I bought the car as a roller here on the HAMB as well. I called my friend Will Posey owner of Big Oak Garage to help me turn the vision into reality. We just unveiled the car at Big Oak Saturday morning. I seriously can’t stop smiling. Big thank you to Will and his crew at Big Oak as well as to Built by Ricky for the one-off teak wood top and custom interior is a work of art. [ Next week, the Kong Coupe will be driven from Big Oak Garage in Hokes Bluff Alabama to Goodguys Nashville at the Superspeedway.
Great Hot Rod. I watched the unveiling live on ScottieDTV. Can you make it to the Southeastern Hot Rod Show in Dalton, GA June 13&14? It's only 75 miles straight line from Big Oak Garage. Southeastern Hot Rod Show by All American 6 posted May 11, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Goodguys rules require that to compete for Hot Rod of the Year, you gotta drive it to the show. So, I guess we’re gonna roll or paddle our way into the Nashville Speedway. <grin>
Don’t get me wrong, we hope not to get wet, but this reminded me that I drove a 1937 Buick Indy Race Car east coast to west coast twice on the Great Race in 2000 & 2001. We ran through every kind of weather you can imagine from torrential downpours, snow and even saw a tornado. All memories aren’t good ones. lol
Thank you very much! I don’t but you can go to Pinkees Rod Shop website and they sell the complete rollers and probably have pictures you’re looking for.
Have a great trip...one with good memories You have a beautiful ride to do it in. Congratulations! Throw some posts on how your trip and show goes...inquiring minds like to know Larry
I don’t know how many of the Kong heads are still around. I think when Kong Jackson passed, he had some stock of raw castings that made their way to a few swap meets. I’ve seen only a handful of cars online that had a set of Kong heads, but this is the first set I’ve actually seen running on a car. They are definitely beefier and appear to have improved water flow vs other factory or aftermarket heads. I guess I’ll find out this summer if it runs cooler than traditional heads. Has anyone on here had experience with or seen them on a running Hot Rod or Vintage Race Car?
I remember back in 2016, Paul (wex65 on here) drove his Gentleman's Coupe (that had a similar 'open' roof insert as your car) all the way from Virginia to the LSRU in Austin, and I think he managed to stay almost dry there and all the way back.
There’s something so raw and right at the same time about driving an old car across the country even in a closed car that challenge when accepted. You know before you start that there’s going to be unexpected events along the way. The memories last a lifetime and that’s why build em, right?
I found it. See below. Looks like #543 and was original 1929, 1930,1931. The page I found said PPG but I think Big Oak Garage #basfrefinish
Thanks Ryan. Bought in 2012 along with Kong ignition at LA Roadster Show to put in my P38 Belly Tank I was going to build. They were just too cool to cover up and got me thinking about what I could put them in and show them off.
The Jalopy Journal
