The Jack Calori 1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe: A Custom Legend

The Jack Calori 1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe

The Jack Calori 1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe is widely regarded as one of the most famous restyled ’36 Fords in hot rod history. First featured on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine in November 1949, this sleek, low-slung coupe captured the essence of post-war custom car culture, turning heads with its innovative design and stunning simplicity. With its signature tail-dragger stance, de-chromed look, and full skirts, the Calori coupe became a symbol of how a well-crafted custom car could not only win races but also win hearts.

A Car Built for Attention

Jack Calori, a member of both the Dolphins and Lancers hot rod clubs of Long Beach, was no stranger to fast cars and competitive racing. Known for his jet-black ’29 Model A-V8, Calori had already established a reputation at dry lake races. But his transition to custom cars marked a new chapter in his automotive journey. Calori purchased the one-owner 1936 Ford coupe in 1947 to use as a tow car for his roadster. However, with the encouragement of skilled metalworker Herb Reneau, Calori decided to turn the coupe into something far more stylish—a show-stopping custom.

Reneau took on the project, reshaping the Ford with a masterful touch. The top was chopped three inches, creating a sleek silhouette that gave the car its now-iconic low profile. Calori’s coupe was lowered with a dropped front axle and a kicked-up rear frame, giving it that distinctive stance just four inches off the ground.

Innovative Design Elements

One of the car’s standout features was its extended alligator-style hood, stretched by three inches and paired with matching solid side panels. The most distinctive touch was the vertical ’39 LaSalle grille, which gave the car a unique and aggressive look. To match the sleek front end, Reneau replaced the stock ’36 Ford headlights with faired-in units from a 1940 Chevrolet. The result was a car that looked like it was in motion even when standing still.

At the rear, more custom work continued. The trunk handle was shaved for a cleaner look, and the rear license plate was inset. A pair of 1947 Hudson taillights replaced the original Ford units, and Buick teardrop fender skirts completed the streamlined rear profile. In true custom car fashion, the coupe’s finishing touch was several coats of hand-rubbed black nitrocellulose lacquer, which made the car shimmer under the California sun.

Inside the Custom Coupe

The interior of the coupe was just as carefully considered as the exterior. The original mohair was replaced with dark red leatherette, accented with ivory piping for a luxurious feel. The dash was reworked to house six Stewart-Warner convex-lens gauges, and chrome details were added throughout. Reneau even designed a custom tray that could be pulled out from beneath the passenger side dash—perfect for the drive-in restaurants that were popular at the time, where custom car owners showed off their rides.

From Custom Car to Custom Rod

As a former dry-lakes racer, Calori was not content to let his coupe simply be a show car. He equipped it with a potent 267 cubic-inch Mercury V8, tuned by the legendary Clay Smith. The engine was modified with a Clay Smith cam, Eddie Meyer finned heads, a Weiand dual intake, and a Lincoln-Zephyr dual-point distributor. The engine’s performance modifications reflected Calori’s love for speed, but there was one drawback: the narrow LaSalle grille left little room for a fan, causing persistent overheating issues despite various attempted solutions.

A Storied History

In the early 1950s, Calori sold his coupe to make room for a brand-new 1950 Mercury, and the car’s journey across the U.S. began. It passed through several owners, eventually finding its way to Roger Domini in Spokane, WA, and later to noted collector Don Orosco. Orosco, understanding the car’s historical significance, had it restored to its 1949 glory by Roy Brizio Street Rods in South San Francisco. Brizio and his team worked meticulously to preserve the original features, contacting Calori himself, who was still alive at the time, for guidance on the restoration.

The restoration was a resounding success. Brizio’s team solved the coupe’s long-standing overheating issues with a removable electric fan for car shows and kept the single Appleton S-552 spotlight, resisting the temptation to add a second one. With the restoration complete, the Calori coupe returned to the spotlight, winning the Historic Early Custom Cars 1935–1948 Class at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and taking home the prestigious Dean Batchelor Award for the most significant hot rod present.

A Custom Car Legend

The Jack Calori coupe has become one of the most celebrated custom cars in hot rod history. With its striking appearance, innovative design elements, and legendary past, the car represents a golden era of post-war custom car building. The $407,000 sale price it achieved at auction, setting a record for a 1936 Ford, reflects the car’s lasting impact on custom car culture.

Now owned by Scott Gillen, who is known for his discerning eye for design, the Calori coupe remains an inspiration for customizers and hot rod enthusiasts alike. Beautifully restored to its original 1949 form, it continues to turn heads, just as it did when it first graced the cover of Hot Rod Magazine over 70 years ago. Today, the Jack Calori 1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe stands as a timeless reminder of the artistry and passion that define the world of custom cars.