Summit Racing and American Resto Mods Team Up For Rutledge Wood’s Chevy Step Van

Summit Racing Equipment and several top parts manufacturers have teamed up with American Resto Mods of Buford, Georgia to build a 1949 Chevy step van for Top Gear on History co-host Rutledge Wood. Wood will drive the van on the 2013 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour. You can see the latest build photos and a video by Rutledge his own self talking about his newest automotive creation at our blog, OnAllCylinders.

Rutledge Wood is a gearhead’s gearhead. Not only does he engage in automotive antics with Top Gear on History co-hosts Tanner Foust and Adam Ferarra, he hosts NASCAR Trackside Live on SPEED Channel and collects vehicles like our T-shirts collect grease. Rutledge has owned over 55 cars and trucks, ranging from a 1966 VW Double Cab and the 1968 Dodge Charger that was Kyle Petty’s high school ride to a Buick Roadmaster Wagon and a 1975 Bricklin SV-1.

So it makes perfect sense that Rutledge’s latest project is an aluminum breadbox on wheels. The Chevy step van is something that Rutledge has been dreaming about owning since his college days.

“I used to pass a van just like this one all the time when I was at the University of Georgia,” recalls Rutledge. “The day I went to inquire about it, it was gone. So when I found this one, I knew I had to have it.”

The Project
Rutledge found the Chevy in late 2012 and decided it would be the perfect vehicle to take on the 2013 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour. Since it had to be the coolest breadbox on the Tour, Rutledge entrusted the build to American Resto Mods.

Mike Karbowski and the team at American Resto Mods began working on the Chevy in late 2012. The goal was to build something cool with big horsepower, but also make it reliable and comfortable for long distance drives like the Power Tour.

The Parts
American Resto Mods wanted to deal with the best when it came to parts, so naturally they came to Summit Racing Equipment...and naturally, we decided to help out. American Resto Mods gave us Rutledge’s wish list, and we got together with our manufacturers to make it happen:

• Chevrolet Performance 525 HP LS3 crate engine and engine controller kit
• Performance Automatic Street Smart 4L80E transmission kit
• Summit Racing headers
• Custom-made Be Cool Power Cooling Module
• ididit steering column and Touch-n-Go keyless ignition system
• Energy Suspension Hyperflex bushing kit, sway bar bushings, and motor/transmission mounts
• Vintage Air climate control system
• American Autowire wiring harness
• Classic Instruments Bomber Series gauges and bezels
• Yokohama Parada Spec-X tires
• EBC 3GD brake rotors
• Power Stop Z36 Extreme brake pads

We’ll be posting more build photos, videos, and updates on the Rutledge Van (it doesn’t have a proper name yet) at OnAllCylinders. You can also track the build on American Resto Mod’s web site (http://www.americanrestomods.com/1949-chevrolet-step-van/).