A multiple award-winning 1927 Ford Model T street-rod roadster named Chocolate Rose, originally built to compete in the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster pageant at the 2014 Grand National Roadster Show, will be one of the highlights of Russo and Steele’s 15th annual auction in Monterey next month.
The all-steel Ford was created in the “Lakes Modified” tradition, memorializing the dry-lakes speed trials of the 1950s in California, and is powered by a performance-tuned 1951 Ford 276 cid flathead V8 featuring Scat steel crankshaft, H-beam rods, Ross pistons, Navarro heads, Isky camshaft, Offenhauser intake manifold and dual Stromberg carburetors.
The name is derived from its terra cotta paint hue of chocolate rose, naturally, and the low-slung rod was one of the finalists in last year’s Most Beautiful Roadster contest. Few off-the-shelf parts were used in the build, with most of the components fabricated by hand, including a uniquely stylized exhaust system that can be admired only with a floor mirror or on a lift.
The Model T body has been lengthened by about four inches and includes a custom-fabricated firewall and rear body section, smoothed cowl, flush windshield, hidden hinges on doors, custom gas tank, and hand-formed dash. The frame and suspension were also hand crafted.
Chocolate Rose has won many prestigious awards in national competitions and has appeared in around 10 publications, including being featured in the March 2015 edition of Street Rodder magazine.
The 15th annual Russo and Steele auction takes place August 13-15 at Fisherman’s Wharf in downtown Monterey. For more information, see the auction website.
