Collector Classics: 1946 Ford Coupe hot rod

By his own admission, Lloyd Bingley is a stubborn guy. He was part way through customizing his 1946 Ford coupe when open heart surgery got in the way. After he got back at it, bone cancer hit and temporarily put his right arm out of commission. No problem, he would just paint the coupe with his left hand.

Lloyd grew up in Gibsons Landing where the CBC filmed 350 episodes of The Beachcombers comedy-drama series from 1972 to 1990 that popularized the British Columbia coast with its cast of log salvagers known all over the world. During that time, the hot rod and custom car enthusiast became a millwright at the local pulp and paper mill and then moved to Georgia for a four-year stint with a wire manufacturer serving the industry.

“Part of the deal was the company would move everything I owned including one car,” the 81-year-old recalls. “So, I sent my 1933 Ford coupe to Georgia where I completed my first chopped top.”

Lloyd Bingley’s friend Ken Tuppert holds up the original side window to show how much the roof line has been lowered in the 1946 Ford coupe. Ron Watts is looking on. CREDIT: Submitted

The hot rod was powered by an Oldsmobile engine. While in Georgia, Lloyd bought his wife a flame-painted 1940 Ford coupe. He also bought a 1939 Cadillac 60 Special which they brought back to Canada. He completely restored that car with a modern Cadillac power train and still owns it. Eventually, Lloyd opened a muffler shop in Gibsons while he built hot rods and customs for himself and friends on the Sunshine Coast. He was a founding member of the Coasters Car Club which organizes the annual 400-vehicle Sleepy Hollow cruise up the coastal highway followed by a show in downtown Sechelt.

Lloyd completed his chopped and radically lowered 1946 coupe in time for it to be the feature car on the 2021 and 2022 Sleepy Hollow Run T-shirts.  When he was too ill to drive his car to the meet, long-time friend and fellow Coaster Bill Quarry convinced him that the car had to be on display. Bill drove it to the show.

This is one radical custom car. Starting with a very rusty coupe that was missing a lot of parts, Lloyd began to craft the vision he had for a very low ‘old skool’ lead sled. Lloyd put his metal working and shaping skills to work cutting down the original roof and moving it forward so the rear window had a dramatic slope. He removed all ornamentation from the car and fabricated and welded in new metal so the body lines were smooth and flowing.

Lloyd added air suspension with a nine-inch range to raise the ’46 Ford coupe or lower it to the ground for that full custom effect.

The rusted and incomplete 1946 Ford coupe the day Lloyd Bingley trailered it home.

The first cuts have been made to chop the roof in the 1946 Ford coupe.

A hood that raises by itself is among the design features in Lloyd Bingley’s 1946 Ford coupe.

A louvered hood, 1953 Buick headlight bezels and a custom-made tubular grille are some of the features on Lloyd Bingley’s 1946 Ford coupe.

Lloyd Bingley’s 1946 Ford coupe features a tilt front end revealing a Chrysler hemi engine.

A Ford 351 cubic inch Windsor engine powers the 1946 Ford coupe.

The spectacular custom interior in Lloyd Bingley’s 1946 Ford coupe.

A roof-high floor shift lever is one of the ‘old skool’ custom touches built into the 1946 Ford coupe.

“Lloyd is a stubborn guy who insists on doing everything himself,” Bill Quarry says. “He has a vision, and he is determined to carry through with it.”

The car is painted green and gold with a full custom interior featuring ‘swirled’ stainless steel door panels made by the owner. The roof-high floor shifter is a unique custom touch as are the fender skirts covering the rear wheel openings. Both the hood and trunk have automated opening and closing systems. Lloyd added air suspension with a nine-inch range to raise the car or lower it to the ground for that full custom effect. The customized coupe is powered by a Ford 351 Windsor engine running through a C6 automatic transmission.

Lloyd has other custom cars at home including a modified 1939 Cadillac 60 Series with side mounted tires in the front fenders and a Chrysler hemi-powered 1940 Ford coupe with a tilt front end built for drag racing at the local strip.

Lloyd Bingley’s first car was a low mileage 1935 Chevrolet.

A young Lloyd Bingley after he chopped the roof of his 1933 Ford coupe in Georgia.

This flame-painted 1940 Ford coupe was purchased in Georgia 40 years ago for Lloyd Bingley’s wife.

This Flame painted 1940 Ford coupe built by Lloyd Bingley is powered by a Chrysler hemi engine.

Lloyd Bingley restored this low riding 1939 Chevrolet sedan.

The distinctive front-end of the ’39 Chevy sedan.

Lloyd Bingley’s restored 1939 Cadillac 60 Series with modern Cadillac running gear.

Lloyd Bingley partially restored 1981 Chevrolet El Camino.

His wish to get home to continue building custom cars has been sidelined with more health problems which has required an extended stay in Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. He shows visitors photos on his phone of the many cars he has built for himself or for friends.

“I’ve had a good life filled with lots of cars,” he says. “But there are still a lot of cars that I would love to own.”

He wants to get back in his shop to complete the restoration of his 1981 Chevrolet El Camino. The hope is it will be another Lloyd Bingley custom car ready for showing at next year’s Sleepy Hollow car show.

Alyn Edwards is a classic car enthusiast and partner in Peak Communicators, a Vancouver-based public relations company. aedwards@peakco.com