SEMA 2014 Award-Winning Car Painted With Axalta Brand-ChromaPremier

At the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) tradeshow, Axalta Coating Systems displayed a custom made 1932 Ford Sedan called Y’d Open at its booth. The car took home Ford’s Design of Excellence “Best of Show,” Mothers Shine Award for Excellence in Detail and Shine, as well as the honor of being one of three finalists in the SEMA Battle of the Builders. The hot rod reminiscent of a late ‘50s, early ‘60s design was fabricated and painted by Hot Rods by JSK. It has a traditional look even down to the paint color–Axalta’s Orange Crush ChromaPremier basecoat.

When asked what was the key to success with this three-year project, Jeff Kinsey, Owner Hot Rods by JSK responded, “I took my time and found the finest materials to use every step of the way. It has been a privilege to partner with Axalta at SEMA 2014.”

This is not just an old Ford restoration, as every piece has been newly fabricated from scratch. The brilliant Axalta color may shine on the outside but Y’d Open is flawless underneath as well as inside and out. The body resembles a Deuce Fordor sedan, but it is built with a custom frame with an S arch over the rear wheels. The back doors open like suicide doors on this four-door car because there is no B pillar to inhibit entry. This allows for easy access to the interior.

The hot rod runs on a bored and stroked Thunderbird 312 cubic inch real Y block V8 engine with chromed Laker style headers that flow into short pipes that come out of each side. The rare Hilborne fuel injection unit has been converted with modern-day digital controls. And for maximum drivability JSK used a T-5 Chevy five-speed with a custom designed shifter. When owner Don Smith of Mansfield,Texas hits the road in Y’d Open, maybe Axalta should change the name of its ChromaPremier paint color from Orange Crush to Orange Lightning.