Top 15 Hot Rods From The Movies: #2 The California Kid Ford Coupe

Photos from imcdb forum

The California Kid made for TV movie is an early acting role in the long career of Martin Sheen. Playing the hero that fights a good cop gone bad and wins, Sheen is not the real star in this flick. A three-window ’34 Ford Coupe shines as the real lead in this story.

Film producer Howie Horowitz was looking for a hot rod for a TV movie when he ran across this 1934 customized Ford three-window coupe built by Pete Chapouris. Horowitz, known for his production work on the Batman TV series, saw Chapouris’ custom car work on the cover of Custom Rod in 1973. He contacted the young builder and the car became a star.

As a member of the Vintage Tin Hot Rod club, Chapouris began working on this chopped ’34 Coupe that he finished in black and white flames in the traditional style of Hot Rodding. The car was shot for the cover of the November issue of Rod and Custom magazine that also featured a yellow coupe built by “Jake” Jacobs.

Chapouris and Jacobs met and decided to start a hot rod repair business together. About the same time, Horowitz saw the cover of the pair of hot rods and found the builders. A deal was reached and the car, which became known as the California Kid, was featured in the movie. The car brought a spotlight to Pete and Jake’s Hot Rod Parts and the business grew. This growth coincided with a growth of the hobby as Hot Rods began to hit the mainstream.

Chapouris went on to become a hot rod legend, building many significant cars and owning one of the most renowned Hot Rod shops in the industry, the famous So-Cal Speed Shop. His list of accolades includes working as the Vice President of Marketing at SEMA, forming the Street Rod Marketing Alliance, one of the SEMA councils, election into the SRMA Hall of Fame, forming The Pete Chapouris Group which eventually became the So-Cal Speed Shop. He was selected as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the high performance industry and was inducted into the Hot Rod Magazine Hall of Fame in 1997.

As for the 1934 three-window Ford coupe, Chapouris had done the original car in the classic style complete with early Halibrand wheels. A 302ci Ford V8 was dropped into the engine bay with an FMX transmission and a quick change rearend. Manuel Reyes was responsible for the iconic flame job on the exterior.

Dummy sidepipes were added for the movie, along with a C-channel rear bumper. The Halibrand wheels were replaced with red steel wheels, beauty rings and Ford Hubcaps. The “California Kid” lettering on the side of the car was also added specifically for the movie.

The California Kid car was part of the deal involving the sale of Pete and Jake’s Hot Rod Shop in 1986. Jerry Slover now owns the car, and the business, residing in Missouri. The car has been changed over the years with the quick-change rearend removed and a Ford 9-inch in its place. Many of the other chassis parts have been replaced over the years and the 90,000 miles that it has cruised. 

About the author

Bobby Kimbrough

Bobby grew up in the heart of Illinois, becoming an avid dirt track race fan which has developed into a life long passion. Taking a break from the Midwest dirt tracks to fight evil doers in the world, he completed a full 21 year career in the Marine Corps.
Read My Articles

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