[Flathead Fever]

The Mitchell Pickup was the first hot rod ever road tested in a magazine. Wally Parks did the testing in Hot Rod Magazine. He was happy with the self-energizing brakes on the rear and the Early Fords in front, except that they were sensitive and slid with too much pressure because of the light weight of the car. A '40-'48 car is going to stop differently. I'm building a '34 pickup with Lincoln brakes front and rear. On my '32 roadster highboy project I like the radiational look of the Early Ford backing plates on the front so I might run Lincolns just on the rear. I have a '32 2-window that somebody started building. Early Halibrand in the rear with F-100 self-energizing brakes, on converted 9-inch axles and Early Ford Brakes up front with Buick drums.


It's been years since I started the Mitchell Pickup up. I think it was the last Pasadena Reliability Run. It sees daylight about every ten-years. It should have that barn-find patina by now.