Big Bertha

By Warren Madsen

Big. Art. Car. Rarely do these words find themselves together in the same sentence but these are just a few of the ways to describe Michael Leeds automobile, “Big Bertha.”

What began as an old hook-and-ladder fire truck three decades ago has completely evolved into a modern day version of a coach built roadster. Only this roadster has no equals, no ordinary hot rod can be parked next to it and be judged fairly. To understand this car is to understand its size. Over 5 tons. Over 20 feet in length. The drivers view is from10 feet off the ground. Over 1000 cubic inches comprise her V12 heart and she’s powered by clean propane. Massive body panels hang from her sturdy frame, the front fenders are 16 gauge steel and the rear boat tail sections are 18 gauge. Michael puts this into perspective, “there’s an entire Volkswagen in one of these fenders.”

To take on and accomplish a project of this size also requires large amounts of time. This is also true if you intend on teaching yourself the archaic art of coachwork building. The process had been invented in the early ‘20’s, mastered by the ‘30’s and nearly forgotten by the early 1960’s. This being the process of taking a car chassis or frame, complete with all running gear- engine, transmission, suspension, etc.- and building a unique body around it. The French are probably best known for this- designing delicate “tear drop” bodies, usually out of aluminum and placing them on small Delahaye or Bugatti chassis. Proof being that some of the best designs of that era now command multi million dollar prices at auctions. If the French had mastered the small and delicate side of coach building, then Michael was to invent and build the opposite end of the spectrum.

The old Seagraves hook-and ladder had been purchased from a junkyard in southern California for $250 and driven to Santa Cruz in the early seventies. This was already a large accomplishment given that the truck had been sitting for over 20 years and needed repairs just to get it moving. The vision for Bertha had solidified during Michael’s visit to the Harrah’s car collection in the mid-‘70s. A world-renowned glass artist, Michael was working on the Sly McFly’s re-fueling station at Cannery Row, and was studying a Mercedes SSK100 for a series of massive stained glass panels. A dual cowl SJ Dusenberg and the 1921 Hispano Suiza “tulip wood roadster” were two cars also there at the time that lent inspiration. Both of these designs rely heavily on the “boat tail” theme; tapered rear sections of the cars designed in hopes of achieving better aerodynamic efficiency. In a nice twist of fate, these cars became significant works of art in the process. These vehicles approached the scale of Michael’s project and fueled his vision. The tone was then set for what Bertha would become: a large boat-tailed roadster.

Beginning the transformation, Michael started with the front fenders. Built over wooden bucks and measuring over 11 ft. long, the swooping steel panels were complete in 18 months with the help of Donny Houseman of Mercury Metal Fabricating in Watsonville. Around this time Michael was introduced to another glass artist and hot rod freak, Randy Grubb. Randy urged Michael to complete his vision without compromising the design or cutting corners. With Randy’s help the wooden forms for the rear portion of the car took another full year to finish. Randy and legendary coach work builder Al Trumbly, brought the shape to life. Michael now endured countless 60 hour weeks building the industrial strength bodywork. Overall it took 7 years to finish the boat tail and rear fenders alone.

The interior would also be a significant under taking. Michael, a skilled woodworker as well, used a single giant piece of black walnut to finish the interior panels. The dual cockpits are framed in this unique wood and bordered with appropriate copper (originally refrigerator tubing) hand laid with excruciating detail. The finished product is perfectly placed in a car like this. Using a centrally mounted magnified analog gauge, the instruments inside are focused on the air compression systems that power the brakes, suspension and power steering. An ancient wooden steering wheel sits on the left with antique levers from a very early car placed nicely in the center of the wheel. The flooring is standard diamond plate, lending to the solid feel of this enormous ride. The transmission has been changed from a manual to an auto, with controls placed near the drivers’ knee. The custom brown leather bench seat compliments the walnut nicely and is a pleasure to sit in. The view out through the XK120 Jaguar windshield, shortened to create an aviation look, borders on towering, with yards of hood tapering nicely off in to the distance. In front of the motor you will find the original grill still in place attached to a mammoth hood with cowls cut along the sides for easy access to the V12. Atop the front fenders sit two antique headlights from an early Rolls-Royce. Around the back of the car you can appreciate the sleek tri-formed body and you’ll notice enormous dual exhaust large enough to keep a supply of softballs. When running, the exhaust smells of the propane being extracted from her 35-gallon tank. The wheels are standard Alcoa aluminum rims like those from any modern tractor-trailer and are sometimes seen hidden by “moon disc” hubcaps. Bertha has seen many different paint schemes throughout the years and currently she wears a flat pale yellow on her body and baby blue fenders caped with chrome and copper accents.

Although this roadster shares dimensions with a U-haul truck, cruising down the strip is no chore. “Driving Bertha is easy,” explains Michael, “but you really have to be in the mood.” Not because of how difficult she is to navigate, but rather because wherever Bertha goes people flock to her in droves. From toddlers to grandmas, people come unglued. “You’ll go into a store to get some groceries and you will come out and there will be a crowd. There’s nothing like it.” Michael says it took a long time to dial this car in, but now it’s a dream to drive. “I can go over [Highway]17 with one hand on the wheel, it’s so stable; [on the flat] she really likes to cruise around 80 mph.”

Michael denies having an idea of a “finished product.” His favorite aspect of Big Bertha is working on her- creating- and this portion of her life is coming to an end. Unfortunately for Michael he is not a maintenance person, and besides his shop, and lifestyle are not set up to keep an object (especially of this size) out of harm’s way. Most people who surround themselves with significant cars like Bertha only consider that they are merely watching over them until the next person takes over. Like Bertha, this transition will be big for Michael, but what big project is around the corner? “We just tracked down some 2500 cubic inch V12’s from some PT boats…” And so it begins again.

*Originally published in Good Times for Hot Rods at the Beach 10/04*