Words: John Gunnell
Wayne and Wendy Wendt’s Chevy Doodlebug is a hot rod tractor. There are a bunch of Ford based Doodlebugs around the hot rod hobby—but not too many Chevys. The Wendt’s car is considered a Chevy because it is powered by a four-cylinder Chevrolet engine from the late-1920s. But it is actually made up of pieces of different cars and trucks. It’s not titled or registered as a car, but they call it a Chevy.
Wayne found the Doodlebug in a barn about 20 years ago. In the fall of 2015, he dug it out of his woods for two reasons. First, his 20th wedding anniversary was coming up. Second, the Wendts live about two miles from Unionville in Symco, Wis., and Wayne knew that the 2016 Symco Thresheree (a farm show) was going to feature Doodlebugs. (Symco is also famous for the Hot Rod & Kustom Weekend held there).
After he dug it out of the woods, it took Wayne about six months to get the Doodlebug built. He had to find the engine online and get it shipped to his home. Then, he constructed the wood body, which really isn’t a “body.” There’s a seat, a wood floorboard and a flat bed with flare boards for the gas tank and a small load space. Wood-spoke wheels and antique truck tires are in the rear. Smaller disc wheels are up front. A few old gauges fit in the crude metal dash. The steering wheel is from an old Cadillac.
When World War II broke out, farmers found it hard to get new tractors. There were plenty of old cars around (mostly Fords) and many farmers converted the old cars into tractors called Friday Tractors, Scrambolas, Jitterbugs and Field Crawlers. DoodleBug was the name of a tractor kit made by David Bradley (initials “DB,” like “Doodle Bug). Other homemade tractor kits were offered under the trade names New Deal, Peru Plow, Thrifty Farmer, Sears & Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, Pull Ford and Johnson Mfg Co.
The conversion kits cost up to $300, but most farmers could simply whip up their own version. Magazines such as Popular Mechanics and Mechanix Illustrated ran instructions for building a “Handy Henry” from an old Ford with simple tools. The Handy Man’s Home Manual estimated the cost at $20. These “plan vehicles” had rubber tires, a truck rear end and two transmissions to ape the gear reduction that the kits included.
Farmers used these homemade machines to do just about everything a tractor could do, from plowing to stump-pulling. Doodlebugs needed good ground clearance, so running boards, fenders and other sheet metal parts were discarded. The seat was sometimes removed from the original car and bolted into the Doodlebug’s floor. Most had hitching points front and rear to tow with. Some included a small truck bed for hauling. And a reflective red triangle on the back of a tractor makes it legal on the street.
The preservation of Doodlebug tractors is popular in New England, upstate New York and the Midwest. There are events similar to the Symco Thresheree and several clubs serve collectors. The clubs often hold meets to demonstrate how their Doodlebugs perform in tractor pull.
As for Wayne and Wendy Wendt’s Chevy Doodlebug, the couple was surprised when it proved popular enough to win “Best of Show” honors in Manawa.
Websites of possible interest include https://www.symcoutc.com, www.antiquefarming.com/ford-tractors.html and www.newdealtractor.com. The following club is also helpful:
The Doodlebugs Homemade Antique Tractor Club
C/O Jeff Jenkins
286 Black Brook Rd.
Sanbornton, NH. 03269
Email: [email protected]
