Subject: Hot Rod Magazine Cover Feature Cars....
You likely have seen, but in case ya haven't: From 1948 on.... all brought back together!
http://www.youtube.com/embe d/AFKtlu-zL-w
Tim
Tim,
Roger and I had quite a few of those issues of Hot Rod Magazine and envied those California cars.
Fortunately, Roger spotted a 1935 Ford three window coupe with a Cadillac overhead valve engine for $100 and we bought it in the spring of 1962. It was rust free and chopped, channeled and Zed with an ugly Packard grill and several mechanical problems. Primer gray.
We worked on the rod the next two summers on the cheap, investing around $300 and then licensed and insured it and drove it in August of 1963. Tom and you sure enjoyed riding alongside me standing on the passenger Model A newly reupholstered bucket seat and grabbing the dashboard whenever I shifted. You were four years old and loved the speed. I drew a rendering of our vision in a violet color that a guy told us he would paint it for $35. As it was, the car made a good rat rod. In the fall, we towed it back to college 100 miles and I worked on it in our college auto shop, getting the engine running very well and taking a few rides around town.
In late September, 1963, my girlfriend and I and another couple were early for a street dance, so we decided to take a ride. Just outside town on a state highway going uphill just after dark at about 80 mph, a 16-year-old in a panel truck pulled out in front of us and I hit the brakes. The rear end of the 35 lifted up off the highway and we skidded to the left off the road sideways and down an embankment where the car rolled about 10 times and we had no seat belts.
On the last roll I was thrown out into the grass and received eight stitches on my knee caught under the dash as I left the vehicle. My girlfriend was thrown out, badly bruised all over and received cuts on one typing finger (she was a secretary) and on her head. My male passenger bruised his ankle badly shoving it under my seat. His girlfriend (later his wife) received one stitch to her eyelid. We were all treated at a local hospital that night and also returned the girls home the 100 miles to Marshfield.
The car was totaled and Roger traded it for a 1948 Ford two door sedan. Later, a 1940 Ford Standard coupe was placed on the chassis.
Ron
