Henderson-built, double-engined hot rod to be displayed at SEMA

Gordon Tronson was lying in bed starting at the ceiling when the idea to build his Double Trouble hot rod -- a bright blue, dual-engined 1927 Model T Roadster -- came to him.

"It started as an idea on paper," Tronson, a longtime car builder and former Funny Car racer from New Zealand, said of his award-winning custom rod. "There were no plans, no paper, no blueprints, no nothing."

Tronson leapt into the project by ordering a fiberglass body shell from California and, six months later, his immaculate home-built hot rod was complete.

Next week, the Henderson motorhead will receive the ultimate validation for his roadster when it is displayed Nov. 2-5 with Ford Motor Co.'s lineup at Specialty Equipment Market Association, a private aftermarket-parts show held annually at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Of 69 semifinalists, 20 unique Ford vehicles, including the Double Trouble roadster, were chosen for display by the American auto manufacturer.

"It's the biggest honor any automotive person like myself could get," Tronson said.

The 1,400-horsepower Double Trouble features all-aluminum Ford 4.6-liter V-8 engines, double overhead camshaft, with 32 valves.

It has a custom-built 1.5-inch tube chassis, independent front suspension, ignition by Pro Com, a Griffin Thermal Products custom radiator and three-speed Ford C5 automatic transmission.

For more information and photos, go to www.doubletroublehotrod.com.

SEMA is closed to the public, but a car show in the convention center parking lot is free and open to everyone during show hours. See www.semashow.com.