Back in the day nobody wanted an auto tranny - that's what your mom had in her car. A hot rod, IMO needs 3 pedals for the right sounds and action.
I too wonder about the frame mods. They start out a bit flimsy anyway, then cut out part of the crucifix and add several hundred horse power and...…As Jeremy Clarkson would say "How hard can it be?"
The part of hot rods I like the most is the clever 'problem solving' that goes into them. In this case, except for the frame alterations (may or may not be 'clever') it seems to have been ordered from catalogues - I see nothing new, no clever new approach - LS1, bolt on suspension kits, Ford 9", yada yada.
Having said that, black is the hardest color to do and this looks really sweet. Wonder how many miles the current owner has put on it (meaning, is it fun or scary to drive)?