Jeff Sharin of Whippany showed up in his purple 1930 Model A Ford with 18.5-inch-wide rear tires. ("They come even wider," he says.)
Sharin, like many hot rodders, mixes and matches under the hood. His Ford is powered by a 400 horsepower Chevy V8. The car is fast, but "There are police officers all over now," he says, "so you don’t get to pop it. Well, once in a while, but not too much."
The engine gets about 10 miles per gallon, but, as Sharin notes, "that’s not what you build it for."
Sharin, again like many hot rodders, cruises in the car on nice days in the warm months and works on in the car during the winter. He’s had the Model A seven years. "Every year you do a little more."
I must be guilty of stereotyping, because I was surprised to learn that Sharin owns Chester Florists in Chester. By day he sells plants and bouquets. Am I stereotyping hot rodders, or florists? Or both?