Some cars just have that look of no flash and all business at the track, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It could be a simple flat black paint job on a heads-up car, or a nasty power-adder sticking out from under the hood of a street car that gives off that look. John Hickman and his shop, Dyno & Performance in Arkansas, have built a 1934 Ford coupe that prioritizes performance before appearance, as what’s under the hood and on the time slip does all the head-turning that Hickman needs.

Hickman constructed a 25.4-spec chassis out of mild steel for the base of the build, and hung a Poli-Form 1934 Ford coupe race body on it as the basis for the project. The car has a 131-inch wheelbase and weighs a scant 2,553 pounds with Hickman in the car. In the rear, an RJ Race Cars four-link kit and Koni shocks keep the Dana 60 rearend in place that’s filled with 40-spline axles and 4.10 gears.

Making the power for this beast is a 9.2 deck Ford Racing R block that measures 392 cubic inches, has a Scat rotating assembly, and some Ross Racing blower pistons inside. The top end of the motor has a set of Brodix heads that have been heavily ported for boost, along with a custom solid roller turbo cam, and a C&S blow-through carburetor that sucks in all the methanol from the Aeromotive fuel system. The boost comes from a massive 91 mm turbo and helps the Ford make close to 1,000 horsepower on the dyno. Hickman has had the car out to the track only briefly, pedaling his way to a 6.0-second run in the 1/8-mile, with plenty more on tap.

Check out this video of Hickman’s hot rod making a rather rowdy dyno pull after the car had been completed.