Earlier this year, Flaming River Industries was asked to be a part of a very unique build by Southern California’s Bodie Stroud Industries for a special episode of History Channel’s “American Restoration” show. The car in question was a ’41 Plymouth Super Deluxe that was to be built for Carl’s Jr.’s 75th anniversary. (To those unfamiliar, Carl’s Jr. is the once SoCal fast food chain that owns Hardee’s that recently announced its corporate relocation to Nashville, TN.) Flaming River was joined by Aeromotive Fuel Systems, Inland Empire Drive Line Service, Inc., Mopar, JRi Shocks, KWIK WIRE, Coker Tire Company, Wheel Vintiques, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Mattson’s Inc. Custom Radiator/The-Fan-Man.com, House Of Kolor and Mike Lavallee of The Original Killer Paint Inc.
Strout wrote, “To commemorate the restaurant chain’s 75th anniversary, we restored a 1941 Plymouth Super Deluxe for CKE Restaurants CEO, Andy Puzder. Andy brought us the Plymouth in fair shape for restoration and customization, deciding that it made sense for a Los Angeles based restoration shop to take on this project because the burger chain origins. Puzder chose a ’41 Plymouth because it was in 1941 when Karcher and his wife borrowed the $311 (equal to $5,217 in today’s economy) against their Plymouth to buy the first hot dog cart that would become Carl’s Jr.”
Originally, the plan was to keep it as a strict factory restoration, but after Bodie and Andy discussed what they wanted to do with the car, they decided it was best to upgrade much of it including modern steering, brakes, suspension, air conditioning and custom gauges. Because the original plant wasn’t terribly reliable, particularly as plans for the Plymouth included a national tour before auctioning off the car (with proceeds going to Carl’s Jr.’s Stars for Heroes program supporting American military veterans), Stroud decided to perform an engine swap toa late model GenIII Hemi cranking out just shy of 400 horsepower. And lastly, “We also flew out our good friend Mike Lavallee of Killer Paint knowing his ‘True Fire’ flame technique would be the perfect finishing touch!” Stroud concluded.
