Hot rod builder creates a military masterpiece

When Schaumburg residents "Voodoo" Larry and his wife Susan purchased this 1931 Ford Model A two years ago from the previous owner in Iowa, the car was completely stock. After its short six-month build, the only thing left with an original Ford part number stamped into it was the body. Everything else was unbolted and either tossed aside or sold to make room for new and custom pieces.

If there's one thing this Stray Cats and rockabilly listening couple know well, it's custom parts and cars. Larry (whose legal name is Larry Grobe, but he prefers the "Voodoo" prefix) owns and operates Voodoo Larry's Kustoms, which specializes in hot rod metal fabrication. In the four years his Schaumburg shop has been open, the Grobes have seen close to 200 different custom cars roll in for all kinds of metal work ranging from minor body modifications and repair to full out, yearlong frame-off restorations.

Some of these cars are extremely unique.

Take for example a recent visit. The red Model A in the corner came in for a mild refresh. It's the original "Hot Rod Lincoln" owned by singer/songwriter Charlie Ryan and served as the inspiration for his '50s musical hit of the same name. Then there's the bare-metal 1929 Oldsmobile undergoing a complete overhaul. This four-door was once owned by notorious Chicago gangster, Al Capone, and was recently found at an estate sale whose elderly owner had purchased the car from Capone himself in 1936.

During the intense six-month build of his Model A, Larry squeezed in time after hours, on weekends and holidays to work on his Ford to get it in its present show-worthy condition. The first order of business was the roof, which had way too much altitude for Larry's taste. When the sparks settled, it had been chopped six full inches, yet still thinking there was a surplus of elevation on the car, Larry sectioned the frame another two inches, slamming the body down over the chassis. Once in place, the coupe was taken to St. Charles for the crew at Hired Gun Paintwerks to spray it in an original 1940s Chrysler green hue.

Upfront, behind the '32 grille shell and headlights, lies a small-block Chevrolet 350 V-8, which Grobe says is his "go-to" engine for builds like this. "I like small-block Chevy's in my cars, as speed equipment is readily available," Larry says. The car tips the scales at just shy of 2,000 pounds and puts down somewhere in the neighborhood of 375 horses to the rear wheels. Those wheels are sourced from a 1934 Dodge artillery piece, although they didn't roll across the European front with custom pin striping like Larry's has.

Inside the cockpit you'll find more vintage military throwbacks, by way of aircraft-inspired aluminum door panels and trim pieces, held in place with enough rivets to endure a "West Side Story" rumble. Larry chose to leave the Turbo 350 transmission uncovered and exposed, but fully polished it for added eye candy. The bomber seats are remanufactured units and look right at place. Larry scored the authentic B-52 seat belts from an eBay seller in Canada, which were still in the original packaging and had never been installed in aircraft.

Larry installed those belts for one particular, pint-size rider. "My daughter loves to go out with me in the car and they do a great job of holding her in place," he says. Surprisingly, it's not his preschool daughter who cuts their rides short. "I can't go all that far before I need to stop, get out and stretch," Larry says. After watching him compress his tall, lanky figure into the tiny coupe, it's a wonder he can even make it down the street.

But size hasn't stopped the car from getting out and about. Since its completion, the car has racked-up just over 2,000 miles bringing the traditional hot rod scene to a growing crowd, traveling to car shows as far away as Long Beach, Calif., for the Ink and Iron Show, as well as to local Schaumburg, Roselle and Barrington events.

Juggling car shows, customer vehicle buildups, running the shop, as well as being a father to two small daughters, it's hard to believe Larry has time to build machines of his own and of such high caliber as this custom Model A. Based on the work he's displayed so far, maybe Voodoo Larry does have some sort of magic up his sleeve.