Prowlers Car Club - Dan Biggs

Dan Biggs — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dan Biggs - 1923 Ford Model-T Roadster Prowler of the Year 2004

I have been into cars since my first job, taking care of a car collection for the owner of San Diego's Mickey Finn night club beginning in 1964. While still in high school, I would care for the cars which included a hot rod Model-T (beer delivery) stake truck, a 1926 Seagrave Hook and Ladder Fire engine (used to haul sailors to and from the night club). They would hang onto the side ladders while we drove them to the club - trying to miss the street lights and traffic signals. I drove the back end most of the time and have been up close and personal with many traffic lights.

One memorable opportunity was driving a 1928 Packard Sport Touring Sedan (with a modern high performance engine) from San Diego to Reno Nevada. Once there, I was allowed entrance to the then famous Harrah's Auto Collection - where I cleaned the car up and then drove it into the front Salon area of the Golden Nugget Casino, where Fred Finn and his Band would soon be playing.

That was then ... this is now! What can you say about a Model-T Hot Rod? It is the great, classic hot rod - not a lot of class - but a bucket of fun to drive. Mine is Corvette Yellow with black cloth interior. It has lots of brass which can be a real pain to keep looking good.

I run a Small Block Chevy with with a 4-71 blower. It also has lots of performance improvements from Crane, B & M, Weiand, Holley, Morosso and others.

The motor is often mistaken for a big block because of some over-sized valve covers from Larson Engineering (found them at a Swap Meet and had to have them).

Drive train consists of a B&M prepared TH400 transmission with a beefy torque converter from B & M and a Jaguar XKE independent rear-end with 3.54 gears. It works very well. In fact the car is a real great driver even at highway speeds, because of its long wheel-base (114 inches)..