My Way Or The Highway

1934 Chevy Coupe:

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

When it came to customizing his 1934 Chevy Coupe, Steve Fletcher wasn’t about to settle for second-best. A perfectionist to the core, Steve lives by a simple code: if it’s going to wear his name, it’s going to be done right. From the styling to the stance and the drive feel, everything has to deliver on all fronts.

Originally, the coupe was meant for Steve’s wife Karen, but when another project pulled him away and Karen later passed on the car, the Chevy got the full Fletch treatment. And that’s when things got serious.

What started as a gift quickly became a personal mission—less about compromise, and more about chasing a vision. One that would eventually evolve into one of the cleanest, hardest-hitting builds in the UK.

The Vision: Built for the Best

Just days after purchase, the car was trailered to Tim’s Suffolk-based workshop where the real magic began. The body was stripped to bare metal, laying the foundation for a no-compromise rebuild. First up? A serious chop. The original ‘34 Chevy roof was too tall for Steve’s taste, so Tim dropped it—2.5 inches at the front, 2 inches at the rear—delivering a sleeker, more aggressive silhouette.

From Rot to Righteous: A Foundation Reborn

The rot that had once plagued the coupe was dealt with in full. The entire floor was replaced, laying a solid base for what was quickly becoming a show-stopping machine. With the metalwork complete, it was time for paint—and Steve took the reins himself.

Twenty-three coats later, the result was a rich candy finish that turned heads in every direction. Then came the stance. Steve’s go-to? Air ride, of course. The original 9-inch rear axle was retained, but everything else in the running gear was replaced to accommodate a Dakota Digital Shockwave air system, giving the coupe an adjustable, jaw-dropping stance at every show.

Suicide Doors, Hidden Tricks, and Tailored Steel

With the chop came an overhaul of the door lines, swage lines reshaped, and the doors converted to suicide style with completely hidden hinges. Next, the boot lid got smoothed and de-handled—opened now by a sleek push-button actuator system for that extra “wow” factor. But the boot wasn’t the only place needing serious TLC. Tim turned his attention to the rear wings, rebuilding and widening them by an inch to fit the 22x10-inch Twisted Vista billet wheels. The front wings weren’t left behind either—rebuilt and extended to flow seamlessly into the running boards, which themselves were chopped and tailored to perfection. Even the headlamp mounts were massaged to eliminate the factory square look. Every panel, every weld—nothing escaped Tim’s meticulous hand.

Rolling Statement

Every inch of this 1934 Chevy Coupe was built to be personal, precise, and powerful. It’s not a catalog build. It’s not a clone. It’s a one-off expression of Steve Fletcher’s vision and dedication, transformed by some of the best hands in the UK rod scene. This car doesn’t whisper its presence—it declares it, in steel, leather, chrome, and attitude.

Built with vision, attitude, and zero compromises, this '34 Chevy Coupe is more than a custom—it’s a declaration. Steve Fletcher didn’t just build a car; he built a statement.

Transformation Begins: Strip, Chop, and Sculpt

To bring his vision to life, Steve turned to none other than Tim Hammond—one of the UK’s finest craftsman in classic restoration. The coupe had already gone through a revival at the hands of local Rodder Carl Powels, wearing a metallic lilac coat and cruising the streets. But Steve had something bolder in mind.

Interior Intentions: Italian Roots, British Flair

Inside, the transformation continued. Surprisingly, Steve sourced the front seats from a Fiat Multipla—yes, really—and had them stitched in fine beige leather. The same leather wrapped custom-cut panels across the floor in place of traditional carpet, giving the interior a clean, upscale finish. Beige carpet over mats added a layer of practicality. The dashboard didn’t escape the custom treatment either. Dakota Digital gauges sit up front, paired with a Vintec billet steering wheel and custom column. It’s clean, refined, and a little rebellious—just like the car itself.

Driven, Not Displayed

But don’t let the flawless finish fool you—this Chevy was never built to sit pretty behind ropes. Steve built it to be driven, and drive it he did. From local shows to long hauls, this Coupe has seen more tarmac than some daily drivers.

We first photographed it back in 2011, and even then, it made an impression that’s stuck with us ever since. The video we shot that day still exists—raw, unfiltered, and before the days of gimbals or quick fixes.

It’s as real as the car itself: loud, low, and 100% legit.

1934 Chevy Coupe: My Way Or The Highway

Steve Fletcher’s 1934 Chevy Coupe was transformed from a metallic lilac street rod into a candy-coated custom masterpiece, featuring a full roof chop, suicide doors, widened arches, 22-inch billet wheels, air ride, and a Fiat-sourced leather interior. With expert craftsmanship from Tim Hammond and meticulous detailing throughout, this build stands as one of the UK’s finest Street Rods.

4 min read

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