OPEN ROAD RAGTOP - '63 Chevy II Ragtop - Paul Simpson

This rare Chevy II droptop is a killer street m 88

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machine that can hurt feelings at the track, too! www.rpmmag.com

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A

ny Chevy II is rare, but a ’63 convertible is definitely unique.

Original is not what New York’s Paul Simpson was after, though, not even close. Simpson wants to drive the car, but also have the available power to do pretty much whatever he wants when it comes to a callout.

“The fact is, I built this car with the hydraulic roller cam, 3.50 rear gears and to run on pump gas for a reason,” says Simpson, “because I love to drive it!

A few days a week it’s on the streets, then it’s completely capable of driving to the track and running 7-second/180mph ¼-mile hits.”

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Eye-burning custom bright red paint work was completed by Modena Collision.

The black convertible roof contrasts with the bright red paint, and the entire car pops from the graffiti backdrop during our photoshoot. www.rpmmag.com

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After losing a 1964 Nova in a garage fire, Simpson located this ’63 rolling chassis in Maryland and immediately snapped it up. While most would be happy to re restore the 1963 Nova with a 500-horse or so engine to drive, Simpson went in another direction, more to the tune of 1,800 horsepower.

After all, it would only be fitting since he is the owner of House Of Power, where he completed all the fabrication work on the car.

Two years after starting work on the Nova it was jaw dropping gorgeous outside with a 427 LS and twin 72mm turbos under the hood. Doing all the fabrication work himself, Simpson admits there are some challenges with the platform. “Making everything fit in one of the smallest engine bays I’ve worked with, all while trying to keep everything as aesthetically pleasing to the eye and as symmetrical as possible, was the hardest part of the build,” he admitted.

Simpson’s goal when fabricating the turbo system piping was to keep it pleasing to the eye and as symmetrical as possible…nailed it!

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The Nova was dropped down which resulted in almost no rake to its stance.

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Inside, an owner built 25.5 Cert cage surrounds the driver and passenger.

A Holley EFI dash is the only info source required.

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The car was back-halved and tubbed by Simpson.

A Dart block 421 LS was shoehorned between the factory confines of the Nova, if that’s not enough, then Simpson added twins.

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The Mickey T radials are tucked way up in the wheelwells of the Nova.

A fabricated 9-inch is hung by a 4-link and coilover shocks.

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New trim was in order throughout and the investment paid off with a nice clean finished product.

When I was tall enough to reach the pedals, I was grabbing gears on our deadend street Paul grew up with hot rods in his driveway and his father would always have at least one Chevelle or Nova when he was growing up. “When I was tall enough to reach the pedals, I was grabbing gears on our deadend street,” he said with a smile. Simpson started turning wrenches around the same time and never stopped. While he’s an Iron Worker by day, he runs his shop helping buddies build and tune their cars as well as building his own during off hours.

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The Nova was first back-halved with a Chris Alston eliminator kit along with the fabrication of the 25.5 (7.50 ET certified) chromoly roll cage. Moving rearward, a four-link rear suspension with 7” inch stroke custom valved coilover shocks hangs a fabricated 9” Ford diff with 40 spline gun drilled axles, Strange center section and 3.55 gears. A complete bolt-on front clip

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with struts and spindle mounts was used up front.

Appearance wise, sunglasses are recommended when the paint hits you on a sunny day! All body and the bright red paint was completed at Modena Collision In Modena New York and a black convertible roof and most of the original trim pieces were replaced to bring the car back to better than new condition.

Thompson Motorsports in Texas built a Dart block based 427ci LS (in the neighborhood of 1800hp) with a billet crank and rods and Frankenstein cylinder heads. A G1Pro custom air to water sheet-metal intake

Simpson admitted he had to work in the tightest engine bay confines he ever encountered when building the ’63, and when you look at the headers and hot side of the turbo you can feel his pain.

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Paul Simpson’s 1963 Chevy II Convertible Street/Strip Chassis Type & Mods:

Chris Alston Eliminator to back-half. Also has Chris Alston bolt-on front clip with spindle mount struts and custom brakes. 25.5 Chromoly roll cage with NHRA 7.50 CERT.

Nelson Racing twin mirror image 72 mm turbo’s with owner fabricated custom turbo system piping.

Electronics: Holley EFI.

Suspension:

Transmission & Converter:

Body & Paint:

Rear Differential:

Four-link rear suspension with a 7-inch stroke custom valve shocks. Veri shock canister spindle mount struts up front.

Paint and body was done at Modena Collision in Modena, New York.

Engine:

Thompson Motorsports in Texas provided a Dart based 427ci LS with billet crank and rods and Frankenstein cylinder heads. G1Pro custom air to water sheet-metal intake manifold. The engine is rated for 1800hp.

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Power Adder & Induction:

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Transmission is a custom built Powerglide with an aftermarket case and gear set built by Raymond Doughty.

Fabricated 9-inch rearend with 40 spline gun drilled axles, Strange HD aluminum center section and Pro 3.55 gears.

Years Racing: 17 Division/Class Run: Street car/no prep

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The team showing off the car, and their colors. From left to right: TJ Dirago from Modena Collision, Paul Simpson and Paul’s girlfriend Stacey O’Keefe “who puts up with the thousands of hours that I put into the cars”.

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october 2020 | RPM Magazine

Simpson does a no prep hit at a local event. The car can run mid 7-second quarter mile ETs.

manifold was used along with a pair of mirror image 72mm turbos. A custom Powerglide transmission built by Raymond Doughty with an aftermarket case and gear set transfers the boosted power rearward. Tuning wise, Paul handles it all himself with ease through a complete Holley system.

The Chevy II sees track time in any type of street car or no-prep class it will fit into, but for Simpson it’s also about the streets. “The car is street driven a lot,” Simpson reiterated. “It’s extremely fun to drive and very well-mannered on pump E85.

There’s nothing like cruising around Saturday night ’til 2AM, you know, 5 to 10 guys side by side at every light or any straight stretch of road.”

RPM

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