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Traveling from show to show all across North America we get to see a wide variety of awesome hot rods, but few send us running across a crowded venue quite like Mike Livia’s 1936 Ford pickup did.
At the end of the 2015 GoodGuys Columbus show we spotted Mike heading towards the trailer parking lot and managed to catch up him just before he loaded his beautiful black and copper ride. Mike may have had a long trip back to his home town of Aurora, Ontario, in Canada ahead of him, but being rightfully proud of his build, he obliged our request to take a few photos of his truck for this very feature.
As we took our photos Mike filled us in on a few of the build details. During this conversation, we were shocked to learn that this truck is actually his first custom with four wheels.
Mike got into the world of customization via motorcycles, most recently building a Big Bear chopper alongside his brother-in-law. Together they ended up building two; one for each of them, but once he went to a Goodguys show in 2011 and saw a number of early Fords, he fell in love with the sleek lines and captivating curves of early model Blue Ovals.
Determined to build a traditionally styled hot rod, Mike searched for over a year before finding the perfect Ford cab and bed on eBay. Not too rough to save, but at the same time not too clean to feel any remorse cutting up, Mike wasted no time getting started on the project of his dreams.
The first thing he got sorted out when the cab landed was the roofline. Mike wanted a profile that wouldn’t immediately scream “I’ve been chopped,” but still be a significant departure from stock all the same. For this job he tasked local expert Dave Remianz.
From the get go Mike knew he and his friend, Tony Grasso, would be doing the truck’s final assembly, but along the way Mike never hesitated to leave some jobs in the capable hands of those with a little more first-hand building experience than himself.
Bought not built, or built not bought, be damned there’s simply no shame in getting some help from time to time, and the roof is just one area of many that received a seasoned expert’s touch.
In total Dave took three inches out of the roof’s profile, but only took one-inch out of the rear window, avoiding the postage slot look a lot of these cabs end up with when chopped. While his Ford may look like a piece of art, at the end of the day it is still an automobile meant to and, begging to, be driven, which meant a usable rear window was high on the priority list.
The freshly modified cab needed a home and that was provided by Lucky 7 Enterprises in Milton, Ontario. The Z’d chassis under Mike’s truck is actually the last one to come out of Lucky 7 just before the Canadian dollar embarked on what seems like a permanent journey south. Before this shift in dollar value forced Lucky 7 Enterprises to close its doors they provided the 4-inch drop axle that helps contribute to the trucks killer overall stance.
Because a traditional hot rod needs a traditional powerplant, the only motor Mike ever considered for the truck was the tried and true Ford flathead. Of course, like every other component on this truck, this flathead is much improved from it’s factory ‘52 condition. Beatty & Woods of Mississauga, Ontario built the motor which is comprised of oversized .125-inch Icon forged aluminium pistons, an Isky JR400 cam shaft, and a 4-inch stroke Mercury crankshaft.
Behind the freshly pumped up flathead mill sits a Tremac T5 transmission rebuilt by Technic transmission. The gearbox is mounted via a custom adapter plate and bell housing made by John Walkton. Mike explains that, while today, there are off the shelf kits that allow these two units of different eras to mate, when he started there was no such out of a catalog option.
As one would expect when developing a one-off piece, it took a few removals and re-installations to get the motor, hydraulic throwout bearing, and transmission to all work in unison. But now, the combination shifts as smooth as butter and has no issues delivering power to the 373 Posi-track equipped Ford 9-inch rearend out back.
Moving to the front once more, we see it is era correct, and aesthetically beautiful. Offenhauser heads and intake manifold are capped off by Stromberg 97 carbs. Eye-catching items on their own, these vintage go-fast components have been accented by copper-plated intakes.
Copper-plating can also be found on several other accent pieces throughout the vehicle including the headlights, taillights, exhaust tips, drop axle, and door handles.
If this truck had used chrome or polished parts throughout instead of copper it would still be a stand out, but Mike’s use of this finish really sets it apart from virtually everything else at shows, and anything else on the road.
In Mike’s own words, chrome and high polish are quite common and he simply wanted to do something a little different with his truck to give it his personal touch.
In addition to being extremely unique, the copper finish is also what helped push the final product of this build above and beyond what Mike initially envisioned.
When the cab arrived and the tools were first pulled from the shelf Mike planned to build more of a driver, but as the build went on it became clear it was turning into something more, and as soon as the copper pieces came back from plating he knew he had to continue taking the build to the next level.
The cab, which at this point was a mix of factory paint, primer, and bare metal, was painted PPG Mercedes Benz black by Radical Rods, Rides & Restoration, in Barrie, Ontario. The company also ensured that this truck had absolutely impeccable panel gaps throughout.
Go ahead and look close, this truck could put many brand-new cars to shame when it comes to fit and finish. After everything was hung precisely, the bed was painted to match, then fit with a very classy African mahogany wood bed floor with inset with polished copper strips.
The interior was the last piece to be completed, with the truck actually being shown once without it in place at Motorama in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Motorama was a special show for Mike because not only was it was the trucks first big reveal, it was where it took home its first award; a Canadian builders top 10 ranking.
After the truck’s overwhelmingly positive debut, Mike worked with Eagle Canvas to design and craft the truck’s interior. Eagle knocked it out of the park trimming the seats in complementing shades of rich brown leather. The upper doors and door pockets were also upholstered in leather, with copper accents that make an appearance inside the truck as plating on the lower doors, accents on the shift lever, and wire around the spokes on the steering wheel.
For rolling stock, Mike chose classic wire wheels that have been completely restored and refinished by Carcone’s Auto Recycling and wheel refinishing. The knock-offs on the wheels are, of course, copper once more and wrapped in appropriately sized rubber for that traditional look, although white walls were forgone to keep things a little more sinister.
The wheels sit in front of drum brakes, once again keeping things properly traditional.
Christening the truck ‘Copperhead’ only seemed fitting but the name doesn’t come from the love of the venomous snake. It is instead a play on the trucks use of copper accents and the flathead motor between the frame rails.
Drawing a crowd both young and old wherever it goes, the Copperhead has had an exceptional first year on the show circuit.
As we stated in the intro, Mike was able to bring the truck back to the Goodguys Columbus show that pointed him down the road of traditional hot rods in the first place, and from there he ended up with ‘Bitchin’ Ride’ hardware to show for his efforts. In 2016, he plans to compete for the early model Classic Truck of the Year award in the Goodguys series.
The truck was also invited to attend the prestigious Concourse D’Elegance in Cobble Beach, Ontario, Canada, where it took home best traditional hot rod. Mike is currently involved in the online Vintage Insurance Championship series where he hopes to get enough votes via its website to take top honors.
The truck has also graced one magazine cover, and Mike is looking forward to showing this truck at the 2016 Detroit Autorama, in late February.
Don’t let all this talk of awards fool you into thinking Mike is ‘one of those’ ruthless check-writing trophy hunters with his nose in the air. Anyone who has met him – us included – can attest to him as one of the most humble guys you’d ever meet. While his truck is on the floor at the Autorama, you will be able to find him down in the basement shaking hands and swapping stories with those who live and breathe down-to-earth traditional hot rods.
After all, that’s where he is going to find inspiration for his next project, which will either be a patina’d truck on air, a Brookerville body roadster, or just maybe the all original and running ‘32 Ford he’s got stashed away.
Whatever Mike decides to build next there’s no question in our minds that it will be a looker, too!
