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“The only thing I didn’t want to try was the patch panels on the rear quarters and the 2-piece steel hood,” says Woodward, who helped out with those tasks but let the boys at B&N Hotrod (Port Coquitlam, BC) take the lead on the hood, custom hood scoop, passenger side door skin and quarter patch panels.

“Choosing paint is always a problem for our family,” says Woodward. “We were going to car shows and looking for any Barrac uda we could find and a lot are just really plain Jane and you don’t notice that kind of car.”

Obscurity was not part of Woodward’s vision but during the two and a half year build he was always open to suggestions. The family finally decided on black and Woodward approached Bremmer to do the job. “I told him I’d like some stripes or maybe some red accents or a two tone of some kind.” They had approached Bremmer at the right time. “He had just met Curtis Hamm and was really impressed with his work so we went over and talked to him,” says Woodward. Bad Fish was born. Bremmer did all the final body and paint work and even came up with the name. “I had seen a drag car ’65-’66 Barracuda called Fast Fish and got talking to Ray and he has quite the sense of humour so that’s where we got Bad Fish.”
Bad as in good, of course.

Since the car was finished in 2012 it’s won several Best Paint trophies as well as People’s Choice Awards at a handful of shows. “The True Fire is the most outstanding feature, along with the Hemi, on the car and people are just drawn to it,” says Woodward.
Speaking of the Hemi, Woodward felt that the 5.7 Hemi in his ’39 Plymouth was too tame so he chose a carburetor fed Gen III 426-ci crate Hemi that puts 400 dyno tested horsepower to the rear wheels. To increase the fun factor he mated it to a Tremec TKO 5-speed manual transmission and a sturdy Dana 60 rear end.

The theme and build quality is ISCA show worthy but Woodward is more interested in chasing miles than trophies. “I have a few friends who always go to the Portland Roadster show and they’re trying to get me to take the car down there but I just don’t have the time for it.”

“It’s a huge amount of fun to drive,” he adds, estimating that he and his wife Ann probably attend a minimum of 20 car shows a year in their two Plymouths. “Biggest problem I have is finding someone to drive the ’39 so I can show both cars.”
The popularity of the car caught Woodward off guard and he’s often wondered when people will get tired of it. “I’ve thought at times well, are we going to repaint it? Are people tired of the True Fire. But no, it has not happened. We’re most critical of our projects and I know where all the flaws in the car are but I’m happier than hell about how it turned out.”

Hot rods commonly follow fads and no matter how nicely built many are ultimately forgettable.
Bad Fish is far from common and won’t have that problem.

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