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It had a stock ‘40 Flathead engine with stock running gear. After the needed repairs were done, a set of new tires and a good cleanup, the journey began.
I drove it some in high school before I graduated in 1956 and used it for cruising the local drive ins. It was the car that helped me find my future wife Mary. My younger sister asked me to pick up a friend of hers and bring her to our house. I gave Mary, who was 16 years old at the time, a ride in the coupe and ended up marying her 2 years later in 1960. She said she really liked the coupe and had fun riding in it. We have been married for 47 years and still have the coupe !
There were times I needed money for parts for my race cars and wanted to sell the coupe, but she convinced me to keep it. Had it not been for her, I would not have the car today.
I installed a 283 cu. in Chevrolet with a 4 speed transmission in the car in 1962. I drag raced the car for a while and had times in the mid 12 second / 110 mph bracket. The times were respectable at that time, considering I could still drive the car on the street. I eventually parked it for 28 years while I went drag racing in the AA/Comp. Roadster and Top Gas Dragster. I quit drag racing in the late 60’s and forgot about cars until the mid 80’s when I built a 32 Ford pickup. That ot me interested in building street rods again.
I took the 32 out of storage in 1989 and began the rebuilding prject that took 3 years to compelte. The frame had to have the drag racing suspension removed and all new suspension was installed into the stock boxed frame. It has a 9 inch Ford coil-over in the rear and a custom built torsion bar front end. The engine is a 355 cu. in. Chevrolet, with a 6-71 Supercharger and a Turbo 400 transmission. I built the hood, running boards and stainless steel radiator and gas tank. The floorboards are honeycomb aircraft aluminum.
I did all of the work on the car, except the machine work and upholstery, in my single car garage at home. The car was a class winner at the 1994 Oakland Roadster Show and was featured in Popular Hotrodding in May 1996. It was also the CHP Pick at the Golden State Nationals in 2004. Officer Hartley said he picked it because it was owner build, driven and had a really neat history.
We have driven the car for over 75,000 trouble free miles to events in Washington, Idaho, Montana, ORegon, California and Nevada and enjoy it as much as we did 50 years ago.
I think it is a really nice thing to have owned the same car for so many years, especiailly a hot rod. But the best part of it is the memories it has provided. The car has really been a special part of our lives since the day we met.
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