The hot rod aftermarket offers many parts and modern amenities that make driving our old cars infinitely more enjoyable. But sometimes, you must put some extra thought and effort into incorporating those amenities without disrupting the car’s aesthetic. Such was the case with the Vintage Air heat and A/C system in my ’41 Buick.
Vintage Air has been providing climate control for hot rods since 1976. Over the last nearly half-century they’ve developed components tailormade for a wide range of cars and trucks from the ’50s-80s in their bolt-in SureFit series. These systems integrate all the necessary components both under the hood and in the cabin without requiring that the dash or underhood sheetmetal be significantly altered. But as expansive as the SureFit line is, there isn’t a kit for everything, which is where their Builder Series comes in.
Builder Series kits are essentially custom climate-control systems. They comprise individual components, like the compressor and condenser, which are mounted in the engine compartment, an evaporator, usually installed behind the dash, and all the necessary hoses, louvers, brackets, wiring, and
