Text of Feature Article in the April 2011 issue of Kit Car Builder Magazine
Contemporary Classic Cars, Inc.
Website: www.contemporayclassiccars.info
316-305-3517
Front page insert: “A Luxo Rod For The Biggest Babyboomers”
Title: “A Gentlemen’s Ride”
“Ravenhawk is a Street Rod for the Guy Who Appreciates Luxury Appointments”
Story and photos by Jim Youngs
NOTE: SOME SPECIFICATIONS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN. CHECK WEBSITE FOR LATEST SPECS.
So, what would think a guy who retired after 41 years of building private airplanes would want to do with his new-found spare time? Well, if you’re Jerry Harrison, an electrical engineer with a master’s degree in business, a four-decade veteran of Beech Aircraft, you start a company called Contemporary Classic Cars to produce a very special “wide-body luxury street rod” called Ravenhawk.
As the story goes (as most stories like this go) Jerry wanted to build a rod for himself, but without all the grease and rust that plagued most of his hot rod building history. He chose a Rat’s Glass SpeedStar kit (’33 Ford roadster), but learned very quickly that it wasn’t going to meet his “grown-up” needs. After all, a guy gets used to lots of creature comforts, luxury amenities and plenty of elbow room as we age, so why can’t we also have those things in our vehicular toys, he reasoned.
Along with the body that was scrapped, Jerry purchased a recommended Street Rod Warehouse rolling chassis that he eventually modified to fit his vision of a wide-body rod. The chassis featured a Kugel push-rod IFS with adjustable coilovers and a Kugel IRS with adjustable coilovers and a Ford nine-inch center section, fit with 4.11:1 gears, with Corvette style half shafts. The frame was widened 14” maintaining the rear track and the front track was widened 4 inches. In addition the wheelbase was lengthened to 122”, and a perimeter frame added along with a backbone tunnel. A steel floor was also welded in from the trunk to the steel firewall and the gas tank mounted under the floor of the trunk. Oh yeah, the chassis has “Wilwood 11” vented power disc brakes on all four corners (inboard rears) and wears American Torq Thrust wheels: 17” wrapped with Yokohoma 215/45 rubber up front and 20-inchers with 295/40 tires in the rear.
With the assistance of a hired hand and a couple of contractors, Jerry tackled the buck project for the body. He wanted a convertible top so he bought a new complete windshield, windshield frame and top of a well-known American sports car that would determine the needed dimensions for the body—height of the cowl, top of the trunk area, grille height and such. In addition he utilized a lot of new production car components to speed up the process. The 15 body panels were designed so that they would be built individually and bolt onto the frame. There are a lot of options also for the body, including attached front fenders, that give the car a completely different appearance. In fact, if you look closely at the photos you’ll notice that the left and right sides of the company demonstrator differ to illustrate some of what’s possible in configuring the rod.
To say that this car is loaded with luxury amenities is somewhat an understatement. Just to mention a few items that we were particularly taken with: six-way adjustable leather, heated bucket seats with electric lumbar support and three point retracting shoulder harnesses, Mercedes carpeting, all leather upholstery pieces, center console/arm rest/glove box with light, hard tonneau cover, manual convertible top that hides away under the tonneau (a power top is in the works), power windows with express down, power heated outside rear view mirrors, automatic on/off headlights, killer stereo, five courtesy lights throughout the car, lighted vanity mirrors in the sun visors, Cadillac LED third brake light, front and rear cameras with sonic object alarms, heated glass rear window, heat, A/C, solenoid remote operated door latches (cleverly hidden in the window trim strip); solenoid operated tonneau cover, gas door and console lid; perimeter security warning system, push-button start with electric fuel pump emergency shut off, five-speed intermittent wipers, cruise control, 12V power outlet. And those are the kind of accessories available in every car. This demonstrator additionally includes GPS in the list of options. If you get the idea that just about anything is possible, you’re not far off!
Just about any engine configuration is possible in the Ravenhawk. For his demonstrator, which he’s put over 23,500 miles on in two years since completion, he chose a new Corvette LS6 from Street & Performance. It’s a 405 hp aluminum engine outfitted with 2.5” stainless steel exhaust pipes feeding into a Magnaflow muffler. The engine is backed by a new GM T56 six-speed transmission and 11” stock clutch. The Ravenhawk is no lightweight, weighing in at about 4,100 pounds, but it’s no a slouch when it comes to performance. Jerry has tested the beast for 0-60 mph times, achieved in 6.5 seconds. He’s yet to get the car on the dragstrip, but reports that long distance cruising is comfortable and quiet. With the six-speed trans having overdrive 5th and 6th gears, he has regularly recorded 25 mpg on the highway.
Okay, so what does this kind of distinction and luxury cost! Well, a nicely outfitted turnkey LuxuryStreet Rod (LSR) will set you back about $99,950, a Standard Street Rod (SSR) high Boy runs $54,750, a Roadster Street Rod (RSR) Tunnkey Minus is $32,750, and a High Boy Roadster (HBR) kit is priced at $17,750. By the way, you can start with a Phase #1 body and frame kit for $8,500.
Now, that may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s certainly not out of line with the kind of high-end custom rods coming out of some of the more prominent rod shops today. And it’s a good bet that most of them don’t have a windshield that can be replaced at Safeco, a trunk large enough for a couple sets of golf clubs and suit cases (even with the top down), and body panels that can be replaced if damaged, like this rod can!
ADDITIONAL NOTE: For photos of the latest Ravenhawk with 33 Ford front fenders; carbon fiber engine intake cover, dash and console; engine compartment covers, full width rear bumper and painted RED, click on: www.contemporaryclassiccars.info/BocaRatonRed.aspx