Metallica front man James Hetfield’s ’37 Lincoln Zephyr: Goodguys 2012 Mother’s West Coast Custom of the Year.
The friendship of Metallica’s James Hetfield and custom artisan Rick Dore has been fruitful to say the least. The duo has produced a string of top-flight customs lately, culminating with their latest effort: ’37 Lincoln Zephyr VooDoo Priest. The sleek, low-slung tail dragger took home the Goodguys 2012 Mother’s West Coast Custom of the Year award at the Goodguys 30th All American Get-Together in Pleasanton last weekend. Earlier this year the car took home the 2012 H.A. Bagdasarian Award - World's Most Beautiful Custom - at the Sacramento Autorama.
In thinking up the car, Hetfield confided to Dore his vision was a “traditional custom that played on existing factory styling. Everything about a stock ’37 Zephyr screams coolness,” said Hetfield. They pulled it off and created a traditional yet elegant custom coupe with a sinister flare – something akin to a hard driving power chord! Artisan Rick Dore, above, left, with Goodguys' Marc Meadors.
Keith Dean, son of the late Dick Dean, is responsible for lowering the lid on the Priest. He also gets credit for the “Coke bottled” rockers/running boards, molded ’38 Zephyr rear quarters and other subtleties like leaning the doors slightly forward, adding custom taillights and laying back the stock headlights. The flawless paintwork (custom-mixed colors: Candy Apple Red over Raspberry) was done by Darryl Hollenbeck, Vintage Color Studio, Concord, CA. Sherm’s Plating gets the credit for all the shiny chrome, including the handmade lower body trim (brass stock).
The Priest rides on a modified stock chassis with a Mustang II front end, Ridetech air bags and a nine-inch Ford rear. The original Flathead V-12 remains intact rebuilt and revitalized by H&H Flatheads. It’s a polished and plated work of art with chromed Stromberg 97 carbs hooked up to a C4 automatic. The car rolls on 16-inch Wheel Vintiques artillery- style chrome wheels with hand-lettered Zephyr caps, wrapped in Firestone 600-16 bias wide whites from Coker Tire.
Inside the cabin is an amazing art deco interior of black mohair, vanilla white and candy red accents commissioned by Craig Hopkins. The ’41 Lincoln steering wheel looks completely at home, resting atop a ’40 Ford column. Tony Gomes at Tri City Glass (Bay Area, NorCal) handled all the flat glass installation.
The victory in Pleasanton marks the second time in three years Hetfield and Dore have teamed up to win the Goodguys/Mother’s West Coast Custom of the Year award. Their ’36 Auburn boat tail roadster - Slow Burn - took home the same honors in 2010. You can see the VooDoo Priest this fall in the Champion’s Arena (featuring all 2012 Terrific 12 award winners) at the Goodguys 15th Southwest Nationals, November 16-18, Scottsdale, AZ.
For more information about Goodguys events, please visit, www.good-guys.com
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