Words & Photos: Gary Rosier
Did you ever try to get rid of something and it just kept coming back to you? John and Dottie Hartz of Port Orange, Florida tried just that. While maybe it was out of need, when times were tough, the really good things in life just turn out!
Originally, John bought this ’33 Ford in the early 70’s for just $250 and a Siberian puppy from his friend Tom Stewart. (Don’t we all wish we could go back to those times, knowing what we now know!) They had to sell it shortly after for the sum of $800.
They just had a third child, a daughter, so times were tough, and even the ’67 GT 500 (a 428 no less!) Shelby had to go! (Wish they had THAT one back, they said!)
They were always into cars, owning many early Corvettes (’55’s), a ’67 Mustang fastback and a ’37 Chevy Hot Rod, to name a few! It saddened him, of course, to let this ’33 Sedan go. The hope was to get it up and running because with the four doors, they could pile the whole family in and enjoy the car shows and cruising. It was not to be, at least not just yet!
Fast forward to the year 2000. John had always kept track of the car – who owned it and where. It had never been put back on the road. John’s fortunes changed and he contacted the owner of the ’33 – a deal was struck – only this time for $8,000! Remember, this was just a body, no fenders or engine, and the original frame. You couldn’t even roll it around, he says!
Now John and Dottie were fortunate. 56 years of marriage, 50 plus years as a pipe fitter (Local 669, Rochester, NY) where they resided just outside of Rochester, NY – in a town called Churchville. This is where the ’33 was first located and re-acquired.
John installed a new “Bitchin” firewall first. Then he repaired the hack job someone had attempted with the original canvas top. Once those two things were accomplished, a good friend of his, who owned Flathead Sales and Service, helped him with the frame. They also removed some of the X-Bracing and fabricated a new transmission cross-member for a big block.
He was able to locate a big block out of an old truck and a rear end out of a late ’70’s Bronco (it was a 9 inch with 3:25 gears!). The transmission came from a 1 ton Chevy truck. Slowly, it started to come together!
The motor was rebuilt with a .30 over clean-up. An Eldebrock manifold and 600 carb were added to go along with the Crane Cam. Hooker headers gave it an exhaust note and MSD Ignition lights its fire. A Turbo 400 transferred the big block’s horsepower.
Then came the big move south, which put things on hold once again. Once all the moving was completed, he was more determined than ever to complete the car. He enlisted the help of a few more buddies, lifting the now almost-completed body to the frame. ’33 “Steelies” with chrome trim rings and moon “dog dish” caps were next.
It rolls on 165/80R15’s up front and P225/70R15’s out back. Some fenders were located and painted, and he could almost feel Bonnie and Clyde’s approval. He was able to complete the car in just 90 days out of his modest garage.
His wife named the car and they had it pinstriped by “Pinstriper Bill” locally. She picked it up from the Sopranos, which they loved to watch on TV and saw it on a T-Shirt that John was wearing one day that said “You don’t know me – Witness Protection Program”!
I asked John about it and he simply said they love having the room to haul friends and family, the name was ok, but he laughed and said “I just call it my Junkyard Dog” so I said ok with me. Cool car, John!
