ACP department heading FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
Big-Block Manifesto
Bob & Stella Martin’s Rad 1939 Chevy DeLuxe Gasser
BY Scotty LachenauerImages by THE AUTHOR
T

he late 1930s produced some of the greatest automotive designs that have stood the test of time. One in particular grabbed the attention of a young Bob Martin and wouldn’t let him look away. “I always loved the Willys hot rods that I read about in Hot Rod and Car Craft magazines growing up and figured one day I would have one of my own,” Bob states.

Bob was a young gun hot rodder from the start, so staying out of the car hobby was not an option. “I grew up surrounded by the hot rod scene. My dad raced a lightweight 1963 Ford Galaxie when I was a kid, and my mom worked for the NHRA. Needless to say, my life revolved around cars and racing,” Bob continues.

1939 Chevrolet Gasser 409 engine gold High Roller drag car
At the age of 16 Bob scored his first car: a used and slightly abused 1961 Corvette. It was a car that had seen plenty of time at the track and was now retired from its day job. “It was a former quarter-miler. I bought the Corvette on the cheap and then built it up into a daily driver. Yeah, I admit, it was a pretty cool car for a high school kid.”

Flash-forward 44 years and Bob is now on the prowl for that ever-elusive Willys hot rod, the same car that filled his hot rod dreams as a kid. “At that time, I already owned three classic rides but still wanted a built up 1939-1941 Willys to call my own,” Bob mentions. “Every example I liked was out of my price range.” Bob did however love the gasser-style rides that came up in his online searches. In the winter of 2023, he was searching the Web when this particular 1939 popped up on his computer screen. Intrigued at what he saw, the gasser seemed to check all his boxes of what he was looking for in his next hot rod.

1939 Chevrolet Gasser interior gold steering wheel custom black and white seats
1939 Chevy Gasser rear seat view roll cage gold accents
1939 Chevrolet Gasser dashboard Stewart Warner RPM and fuel gauges
The build was done right, starting with a 1939 Master DeLuxe for the straight-axle conversion. To get the stance he wanted, the builders boxed the frame, and then used a 1950s Chevy truck axle along with stock leaf springs, Monroe shocks, and 4-inch blocks to get the nose up in the air. Out back, the original leaf springs are joined by a Panhard bar and a set of Monroe shocks. A set of 5½-foot-long ladder bars help give this Chevy some traction and a Ford 9-inch rear stuffed with 4.10 gears gets the power to the pavement.

The body was in amazing condition. It was apparent that the rear wheelwells had been radiused to help give it the look of an old racer. The rest of the body looks stock except for the custom-made bumper out back. The bodywork is flawless, and the lines are clean. Finally, the hot rod was basted in a serving of PPG Metallic Gold paint for that old-school look.

1939 Chevrolet Gasser side view tall front stance drag modifications
1939 Chevy Gasser rear view drag tires coupe design
The period-perfect look was brought to the interior, where a set of Dodge van seats have been recovered in white and black vinyl with gold piping. The same design was continued on the door panels for continuity. A Moon steering wheel twists a reversed Corvair steering box, and a Hurst shifter gets this ride through the gears. Stewart-Warner gauges keep an eye on the vitals and a custom rollbar adds additional safety to this raucous roller.

This Chevy “409” barn burner actually starts out with a 348 block, which has been punched and stroked out to 434 ci. A 4-inch stroker Eagle crank, stock rods, and Ross pistons make up the mill’s rotating assembly. An Isky cam gets the valves jumpin’ and spark is provided by a Mallory distributor. The cylinders are topped with a set of original 409 heads that have been warmed over. To give this Bowtie the fuel it craves, an Offenhauser crossram intake has been fitted with a pair of Holley 600-cfm carbs with velocity stacks for more than ample fuel delivery. Custom fenderwell headers, 2½-inch exhaust, and Flowmaster mufflers get rid of the spent gases in a hurry. Credit for this Chevy’s powerplant build goes to the Coleman Brothers out of Linthicum, Maryland.

1939 Chevy Gasser dual carburetors Offenhauser intake 409 engine
1939 Chevrolet Gasser custom exhaust headers high-performance engine
1939 Chevy Gasser front suspension and oil pan undercarriage view
A BorgWarner T-10 four-speed drives a Ford 9-inch out back, stuffed with 4.10 gears and spinning Moser 31-spline axles. ET vintage 15×10 wheels out back are shod with Hurst pie crust slicks for that gasser look we all love. Up front, 15-inch Rocket Racing wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich blackwalls help keep this gasser pointed in the right direction. Brakes are drum all around pushed by an early GM dual bowl master.
After checking out all the Chevy’s vitals, Bob was ready to pull the trigger, but decided he should check it out in person first. “My wife, Stella, and I had purchased a new trailer, but it wasn’t going to be delivered for a couple months. She agreed if the car was still available, we could go look at it, Bob confirms. “Turns out it was, so our maiden voyage with the new trailer and the dogs in tow was 1,000 miles round trip.” Once he saw it in person Bob couldn’t hold back, and a deal was made. Luckily the couple was ready and able to bring their prize home with them on the spot.

Since then, Bob has made a few upgrades to his new ride. “After bringing the Chevy back to New Jersey, it’s gotten a bigger gas tank, a new speedometer, and a gas gauge,” Bob says. “After driving it now for almost two years, Bob has had some interesting experiences with the hopped-up Chevy. “I had never driven a gasser before, so my first time out was interesting, to say the least. I went over my first bump and the front wheel started shaking. I had thought the front end was going to fall off. I immediately realized it didn’t have a stabilizer for the steering bar,” Bob continues. “The car is not for the faint of heart and while it goes straight, turning is a whole other story. I’ve done hundred-mile trips with it to various events and the car runs like a champ. I think she’ll be staying in the collection for a long time. The car is a blast to drive and gets attention for sure. Our collection is complete … for now.”

1939 Chevrolet Gasser front aggressive stance exposed engine
1939 Chevrolet Gasser polished front wheels Coleman Bros Speed Shop
1939 Chevrolet Gasser undercarriage chassis frame suspension view
TECH
Owner: Bob & Stella Martin, Liberty, New Jersey
Vehicle: 1939 Chevy Master DeLuxe
Engine

Type: Big-block Chevy
Displacement: 434 ci
Bore: 4.155
Stroke: 4.000
Cylinder Heads: OEM heads ported
Rotating Assembly: Eagle stroker crank, stock rods, Ross pistons
Camshaft: Isky
Induction: Offenhauser 2×4 intake with a pair of Holley 600-cfm carbs
Exhaust: Custom headers, 2½ pipe, Flowmaster mufflers
Assembly: Coleman Brothers
Valve Covers: Offenhauser
Output (at crank): 475 hp

Drivetrain

Transmission: BorgWarner Super T-10
Rear Axle: Ford 9-inch rear, Moser 31-spline axles, and 4:10 gears

Chassis

Front Suspension: Early 1950s Chevy truck axle with 4-inch blocks and stock spindles

Rear Suspension: 1939 Chevy leaf springs with a Panhard bar and 65-inch ladder bars
Brakes: GM dual bowl master with drum brakes front and rear
Wheels & Tires

Wheels: Rocket Racing Team Gasser ET 15×4.5 front, ET 15×10 vintage slots rear
Tires: Coker BFGoodrich 6.70-15 front, Hurst pie crust slicks 31×10.50R15 rear

Interior

Upholstery: Vinyl
Installation: Connors Upholstery Workz (Pasadena, MD)
Seats: Front Dodge van
Steering: Moon wheel
Shifter: Hurst
Dash: Custom
Instrumentation: Stewart-Warner
Entertainment: Loud exhaust
Rollbar: Custom

Exterior

Bodywork and Paint: Chris Barrett (Pasadena, MD)
Paint: PPG Metallic Gold
Front Bumper: None
Rear Bumper: Custom tube
Graphics: Southpaw Graphics (Hanover, MD)

Back to issue