Tims 1954 Lead Sled
By Lars Krantz Translation Stefan Blautzik
FLORIDA. As I walk through the rows of cars at the Dearborn cruising in Englewood my eyes are instantly drawn to a metallic paint job soaking in the Florida sun. A metallic blue/green offset by a canvas tan top, topped off with the perfect amount of chrome.
Marveling over the style and flow of a 50’s custom done just right a man suddenly approached me. “The car can be yours”! Tim Cotton, sporting a pair of shades and a handlebar mustache introduces himself. I introduced myself and the verbal barrier between my Swedish accent doesn’t matter. No matter where in the world car guys all speak the same language. After the regular car meet talk I find myself invited back to Tims moonshiner shack 2 days later.
Pulling up, I’m overtaken by the southern charm of a simple old barn surrounded by palm trees and aged with patina. In Front of it sits an old gas pump and the beautiful custom. Overwhelmed with the beauty of the old barn, gas pump, and the custom Tim starts to tell his story. He bought the barn years ago, with an old farmer living upstairs, and plenty of Whiskey in the basement. Tim turns the page and starts on the customs. The body, a 1954 Ford Victoria, smiling with a customized Chevy grill with extra teeth. A 2.5” chopped top done with an old mercedes roof with trimmed and slanted windows. The hood was completely reworked to contour the rest of the remapped lines on this 54. On top of all that the small details like the frenched headlights make this car. A true custom done right with years of custom hot rodding and lead slead tricks. A beautiful rolling piece of art and culture. Tims been cruising the streets and breaking necks with his 54 Custom Ford for two years now. It’s finally time for him to let his baby go so he can get started on his next rolling piece of Art. Its very seldom that someone takes the time out of there day to tell their story. From gearhead to gearhead. Tims hearts and brain have been fueled with the passion and beat of an American V8. I’d like to thank Tim for giving me the opportunity to let Swedes listen to a a true American car guy story.