Builds
Each vehicle is crafted with utmost care and creativity. At Rob Ida Concepts you’re guaranteed quality work, along with stunning visuals.
-
Porsche 964 Turbo
-
Holman Moody Challenger III
-
Blue Mercury
-
Tucker 1044
-
Carioca
-
Torpedo
-
#7 Porsche 550 Spyder Replica
-
Rootbeer Float
-
RaZRback
-
‘50 Merc
-
Winfield Roadster
-
Roadster
-
Gyronaut
-
TTT
-
IdaTude 930
-
Hemi Healy
-
Guggy’s
-
Black Opal
Porsche 964 Turbo
This beautiful 1992 Midnight Blue Metallic Porsche 964 Turbo was starting to show small signs of bubbling underneath the paint. Knowing there was more rust and corrosion beyond the surface, we disassembled the body to find structural deterioration. We removed all rusted metal and fabricated new pieces, welded and finished to undetectable replacements.
Notice the ABS block out panels installed into door and window openings to protect the inside from the work happening on the exterior. We then chemically Stripped all of the painted surfaces neutralized and sealed all Steel panels, and Urethane bumpers.
Epoxy encapsulation was let to fully cure before Spies Hecker sealers and colors were applied. Some prior repairs were improved upon and panels brought back to correct surfacing.
All genuine Porsche rubber, plastics and hardware were used upon reassembly. The Clear Coat was hand sanded to 8000 grit then polished to high finish.
Holman Moody Challenger III
1962 Ford Holman Moody Challenger III
289 Ford V8, 4 speed T-10 Transmission, 9″ Ford Locker differential
Howard Kroplick’s restored Holman Moody Challenger III Ford. It was one year ago this week that we went to do the pre-purchase inspection of the project and now it’s complete.
This car was an early concept for Ford Racing to put a V8 engine in a small bodied car to turn an inexpensive mass produced passenger car into a race car that could be competitive with purpose built race cars at the highest level. Seen on the track competing against cars like Ferrari GTOs , Porsches, Listers etc.
Holman Moody had a talent to rearrange Ford passenger car components, tweak, modify and massage pivot points, balances etc to perform instead of bolting on race car parts from a catalog.
The custom designed Fastback Roof, door skins, hood top and deck lid were all custom shaped out of aluminum. You can see in one of the images that a wooden Buck was developed to help in design and fabrication by metal craftsman Lujie Lesovsky in 1962.
As seen in Tom Cotter’s book “Holman Moody The Legendary Race Team” the Challenger III had a total of 6” removed from its overall height. 3” removed from the roof and 3” removed from the center of its body.
Unlike many modified race cars, special attention to body work was taken in this project for a very finished looking car complete with trim and finishing touches.
We thank Howard Kroplick for giving us the opportunity to help bring the one and only Holman Moody Challenger III back to its former glory.
Blue Mercury
1940 Mercury Custom three window
Shelby GT500 4 Cam v8 with supercharger dressed to look like a vintage Arden v8
A completely redesigned body with steerable front skirts and fully articulated belly pan.
Owner: Jack Kiely
Tucker 1044
Tucker #1044
Original Franklin Helicopter flat six 335 CID
Tucker 1044 is considered one of the most accurately detailed and documented restoration of all of the 50 original Tucker cats produced. Ida Automotive executed the full restoration of this car with the historical accuracy supervised and contributed by Sean and Mike Tucker whom are are Great Grandsons of Preston Tucker.
This car was debuted at Pebble Beach where it took second place to the cat that is owned and presented by George Lucas of the movie fame.
This car won 1st Place and Amelia Island Concours D’Elegance and 1st place again Greenwich Concours D’Elegance.
Owner: Howard Kroplick
Carioca
1955 Tucker Carioca
4 cylinder Air Cooled Franklin aircraft engine
Starting with Preston Tucker’s renderings, engineering drawing are being developed to fabricate this very unorthodox type of car for the very first time. All pieces are being fabricated to bring Preston Tucker’s final automotive design to life.
Owner: Available
Torpedo
1946 Tucker Torpedo Concept Car
Porsche Flat 6 opposed air cooled and and transaxle
The original concept of Preston Tucker was finally being brought to life. Based on some loose artist renderings, engineering plans were being developed to fabricate each piece of this very unorthodox vehicle. Steerable fenders, 360 degree disc brakes, center drive with rotating seat assembly and an all handmade body.
Ida Automotive did not get the opportunity to complete the build and are no longer contributing to the project.
#7 Porsche 550 Spyder Replica
1956 Porsche 550 Spyder Replica
Reshaped replica body to resemble more of the original alloy 550’s from Porsche. all alloy interior, carb doors, cockpit cover. 2300 CC VW flat opposed four cylinder engine
Alloy interior, cockpit cover, reshaped body give this beck replica a more authentic profile.
Owner: Sergio de Caires
Rootbeer Float
1949 Cadillac Coupe
LS Chevrolet V8
Stock bodied with two tone paint and upholstery
Owner: Carmine DiGiovanni
RaZRback
1941 Willys Coupe
Corvette ZR-1 4 Cam V8 with 6 speed manual Transmission
Restyled roofline with curved windshield, removable targa style top, redesigned hood and fenders. Flush fitted headlamps, one off lugless wheels and custom made suspension and brakes. Built in 1999.
Owner: Rob Ida
‘50 Merc
1950 Mercury Convertible
Mercury Flathead V8 with McCulloch Supercharger and automatic transmission with overdrive
A redesigned windshield and folding convertible roof that stores away complete within the body. Finished in a solid medium green with burgundy leather upholstery.
Owner: Jack Kiely
Winfield Roadster
1932 Ford Roadster
Ford Flathead V8 with original Ardun overhead Valve Conversion and S.Co.T. Supercharger, 3 speed transmission and Halibrand quick change rear differential
Hot Rod pioneer and legend Gene Winfield built and maintained this car for all of its owners dating back to 1948. This car was Mr. Winfield first “customer job”. In 1948 he filled and leaded the cowl vent for its first owner. In 1953, Gene built the car to the way its seen today with the exception of a few changes (Ardun Installation being one).
Owner: Rob Ida
Roadster
1933 Willys
Supercharged 4 cam
“Roaster” built for S. Greg “Dirt” Homiller, this completely handmade car was inspired by a 1933 Willys design with a modern twist. A supercharged 4 cam engine, polished stainless chassis, all custom machines suspension, hubless brakes, and wheels with hidden lug nuts. A “swing away” steering column automatically moves with the drivers door action to allow easy access through a small door opening.
Gyronaut
Streamliner
Two 650 cc Triumph TR6 Trophy motorcycle engines
Designed by Alex Tremulis in 1964 (designer of the Tucker ‘48) and built by rider Bob Leppan, the Gyronaut X1 was a twin Triumph engined two wheeled motorcycle that was “The World’s Fastest Motorcycle” from 1964-70. Rob Ida and his team restored the original Gyronaut X1 for its 50th anniversary and brought it to the Bonneville Salt Flats with an Ida bodied Tucker 48 replica tow vehicle as a display of some of Alex Tremulis’ most notable works.
TTT
Twin Turbo Tucker
Mid-Engine platform, transverse mounted Cadillac 4 Cam V8 with twin turbo
A handmade new Tucker with modern engineering and mechanicals. This replica Tucker was been fitted with air ride suspension on a tube chassis, all modern comforts hidden within the 1948 styling.
Owner: Jack Kiely
IdaTude 930
1986 Porsche 930 Turbo
3.2 Flat 6 boxer with K27 turbocharger
Re-designed front and rear bumpers eliminating the accordion style bumpers . Fuel door mounted mirror, leather RS style interior with leather basket weave upholstery. Finished in “Blau Grau Hell” light grey paint.
Owner: Rob Ida Sold
Hemi Healy
1959 Austin Healey
354 Chrysler Hemi V8 with 671 GMC supercharger
In 1968 Bob Ida and his young cousin Vinny Quarato built a lower and lighter replacement to the previous BB/GS racer Willys sedan. The “Hemi Healy” proved to be a bit too short and radical as it stood straight up on its rear bumper. It was soon retired and sent of to the junk yard. In 2015 its was found and restored for Bob’s 70th Birthday.
Owner: Bob Ida
Guggy’s
1940 Willys
L88 Big Block Chevy 427 Hilborn mechanical stack Injection, 727 Pushbutton Transmission, 1957 Oldsmobile rear differential
A period perfect restoration of an A/GS Gasser that ran in 1967 and 1968.
Owner: Al Wester
Black Opal
1937 Chevrolet Coupe
350 Chevrolet V8 with Twin Turbochargers, automatic transmission, Ford differential
Restyled roof, curved windshield, reshaped fenders, custom body trim, Ida built wheels.
Owner: Jack Kiely