Hey all you Mopar fans, check out what Cool Hand Customs is up to. They’re building a bitchin’ 1940 Dodge Truck aka ’40/440, with a 1970s-style Challenger suspension and a 440 big block all made possible by E3 spark plugs. We brought you a teaser render of what’s coming and we’ll follow the build of this monster Mopar over the next three months as Amy and EJ Fitzgerald of Cool Hand Customs get this thing ready for a SEMA 2018 rollout.

EJ and Amy Fitzgerald and Von Hot Rod with their previous build, a 1955 Dodge Restomod Truck. ‘Natch.

If you don’t know Cool Hand Customs, you should. Located in Middleton, Wisconsin, Cool Hand Customs is owned by Amy and EJ Fitzgerald. Inspired by the 1967 film-Cool Hand Luke-and the character played by Paul Newman, who demonstrated a will to succeed and overcome no matter what the odds, Cool Hand Customs specializes in developing fabrication, custom paint and frame-up builds, especially pre-1980 restomods.

Here’s the details of their latest build, ’40-440 Dodge Truck.

Spark plug gurus E3, manufacturer of DiamondFIRE spark plugs and performance products, is a sponsor of the truck which will be the centerpiece attraction at its booth for the 2018 SEMA Show, booth (#71000) and will be entered into SEMA’s Battle of the Builders competition.

This well worn 1940 Dodge truck will get Cool Hand Custom’s, big-block makeover.

The highly modified Dodge truck built by Cool Hand Customs, will feature three of E3’s high-performance ignition products: an E3 Billet Distributor, Race Spark Plugs and Race Wires. The truck will run a 440ci big block and a 1970s style, torsion-bar Dodge Challenger suspension.

The truck’s paint scheme will be a satin white with green and black accents. The frame will be painted silver and the short block coated in E3’s distinctive green logo color. The ’40 440 truck will make its first public appearance at SEMA 2018.

E3 Vice President of Motorsports, Rob Fisher, says, “The concept for the truck began to take shape when Amy acquired the truck a few years ago and a friend said he had an RV with a 440 Big Block that could be hers as long as she took the RV too. That’s how the ’40 440 project was born.”

Amy says, “The suspension plan came from EJ’s desire to do something new and different. The torsion-bar suspension was something used in the 1970’s on Mopars. It naturally “fit” with the 440 motor and the Dodge truck body.” Then, EJ spoke with Bill Foley at QA1 and they had the perfect parts to make it work.

In-house CHC custom frame will provide a modern foundation for 40-440. Dig QA1’s complete Mopar K-member torsion-bar suspension package and transmission cross-member.

We only build one shop vehicle per year with the help of many sponsors,” Amy continued. “We are so excited that E3 came on board early for this project and has been one of our most enthusiastic supporters. We build three to five vehicles a year for customers, as well as our one yearly “showbuild for the shop. Fitting the SEMA build in is always challenging, but so worth it to get the opportunity to work with so many outstanding manufacturers and have the honor to display our hard work at SEMA.”

Fisher added, “We’re very excited to have this truck in our booth this year. Every year, a Cool Hand Customs build gets closer to the final ten in the Battle of the Builders. I have a feeling this will be their lucky year.”

Stay tuned to Rod Authority and Rod Authority Facebook for compete coverage of the build!