MAKING ITS DEBUTE, AT THE OAKLAND NATIONALS, IN 1987, WITH A TRADITIONAL CHROME FORD SUSPENSION, THE THIRD-PARTY STORY IS IT THAT IT PLACED 2ND. IN THE "BEST OF SHOW" COMPETITION.  THE ORIGINAL OWNER WAS SO UPSET WITH 2ND., HE HAD THE ROD TOTALLY DISASSEMBLED.  HE HIRED RICK SANTOS TO MODIFY THE 1964 CORVETTE 327, POLISH THE BLOCK, HEADS, AND TRANNY.  HE THEN SECURED  THE LATE JOHN "THE BILLET KING" BUTTERA, TO DESIGN AND HAND-FABRICATE THE CUSTOM BILLET TORSION-BAR FRONT SUSPENSION AND BRACKET ON WHICH  TO MOUNT THE FENDERS AND FOUR HONDA 1200CC MOTORCYCLE CALIPERS. THE CUSTOM REAR IDS SWINGARMS AND OVERSIZED DRIVE AXLES WERE FABRICATED TO ADAPT TO A JAG DIFFERENTIAL AND HUBS WITH INBOARD JAG DISC BRAKES. POLISHED CENTERLINES AND A FULL-SET OF CUSTOM HAND-ROLLED ALUMINUM FENDERS WERE FABRICATED.
THE OWNER LOST INTEREST, AND THE ROD WAS NEVER REASSEMBLED.  IT REMAINED IN STORAGE FOR THE NEXT 20YRS, UNTIL HE ANONOMOUSLY DONATED IT TO A CALIF. HIWAY PATROL CHARITY, FROM WHICH I ACQUIRED IT AT AUCTION, 2/08, UNASSEMBLED AND A TRAILER LOAD OF PARTS.  I AM CURRENTLY SORTING OUT PIECES OF THE PUZZLE, AND REBUILDING IT.

8/08/09 UPDATE -  FOLLOWING 18MO. OF REASSEMBLING, POLISHING, PAINT, WIRING, AND A FEW SNAGS, AS EVERYTHING ON THIS ROD IS CUSTOM, THE SANTOS MOTOR WAS RECENTLY FIRED UP AND TUNED, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 22YRS (See You Tube Video, Search: azcowbo) AND TEST DRIVEN LAST WEEK. THE REAR FENDERS AREN'T INSTALLED YET, AS THEY WERE DESIGNED FOR A 10" WHEEL, AND THE CENTERLINES ON IT ARE 12".
THE SANTOS/BUTTERA "BILLET-T" IS TRULY A ONE-OFF WORK OF ART BY TWO MASTERS, AS WELL AS A MISSING PIECE OF HISTORY IN THE EVOLUTION OF BILLET USAGE IN THE HOTROD WORLD.