Missing Puzzle #93 - 1930 Ford Model A pickup by Bud Pearce ( 4 Bees? )

[Otto Puzzell]

Somehow, I failed to post two puzzles.  

Time for another Kool Kustom

For 1 point, ID this kustom and its builder.

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[Otto Puzzell]

Experts?

[Otto Puzzell]

Up

[Otto Puzzell]

...and out

[Allemano]

From a famous customs shop?

[Otto Puzzell]

From a famous customs shop?

While not as well-known as Winfield, Barris, etc., the customizer is relatively well-known. This is perhaps his best-known work, notable for its unusual (for a hot rod) powerplant. His customs have appeared in Rod & Custom and other period mags.

[Allemano]

Boxer engine?

[Otto Puzzell]

No, it's taller than that

[Otto Puzzell]

The builder has continued to massage this truck, including adding more chrome to the non-boxer engine.

Here is a more recent photo to help you along.

Lest you be temped to drop this photo into Google "search by image", remember - that's cheating. 

[Otto Puzzell]

What's that you're thinking? You think it looks like an inline six, overhead-cam engine?

[Wendax]

V12?

[Otto Puzzell]

No

[Allemano]

V10?

[Otto Puzzell]

I've already given you the engine configuration.

[Tom_I]

What's that you're thinking? You think it looks like an inline six, overhead-cam engine?

Yep, that's exactly what it does look like.

In fact, it looks like a DOHC six from a Jaguar of some sort.

That's enough information to find pictures of this car, but I haven't had time to go digging for the builder yet. Maybe somebody else will get there before I do? 

[Otto Puzzell]

A breakthrough

[Tom_I]

This one is tough to track down - there are photos of it, but next to no information.

However, I've found a couple of photos of the back of it, showing a decal saying "The 4 Bees", so I'm guessing that is what it is called, and it seems to be owned by a gentleman name of Bud Pierce, who built it in its original form (whatever that was) in the 1960s.

All I have to go on is this excerpt from a forum, linked to a picture of this car.

This car belongs to Bud Pierce and was built as a traditional type hot rod back in the sixties. In its most recognized form the car was named the "Four Bees". It was shown extensively and really was a fantastic little car. It was then retired until it was, unfortunately, brought back in the form you see here. I would love to see it return to the early form, but there is no way for that to happen now. But, what the hell, it is his car and who the hell am I to complain?

[Wendax]

One could read "The 4 Bees" on the second picture, but to no avail.

Is this an early picture of it?

[Otto Puzzell]

I don't know if that second picture is the same truck. The "4 Bees" name is new to me.

You are very close on the builder's name ( I have a different spelling, which is consistent across multiple sources).

Locked for you.

[Tom_I]

Thanks, but please unlock - I've spent too much time on this already... 

[Otto Puzzell]

As you wish. 

[Allemano]

After the hard work of Tom_I it was more easy than expected...

I've searched that forum for "Bud Pierce" and I detected the city from where the car might originates from. I googled both (name and town) and the result was the correct spelling of Mr. Pearce*. I googled again and Otto's car was one of the first results.

"This '30 Ford Model A pickup won Best Interior Award in 1968 and Best Rod award in 1969 at Detroit Autorama. Owned by Bud Pearce of West Seneca, N.Y., the truck has a '67 Jaguar engine and an all-metal body."

*again Google infantilized me, but for the first time to my advantage.

[Otto Puzzell]

Well done.