Hot Rods Lets see what we can find. Old Indiana Model A Hotrod

Hello. I don't post a lot but I browse quite a bit. My real name is Jeremy, I'm from Fort Wayne Indiana. In December of 2015 I purchased an old Indiana hot rod from a friend who basically didn't have the time to make it what he wanted. I have since slowly been collecting parts and dismantling what was, but Id really like to know more. Ive gotten some history but nothing complete. The modern images of this car will be posted below. This is what I know. I am, I believe the 5th owner of this car and it was last titled in 1966 according to the license plate that was on it. The last name on the title was John. I'll leave his last name out but I do have the title in my safe. He lived in the Allen County area and I'm not sure if he ever drove the car. He passed away some years ago and I know he has an ex-wife who is still living but I'm reluctant to contact her because well... I don't know these people from Adam.

The 3rd owner of the car, his name is Kevin. He gave me most of the info that I know. The car at one time had an Olds motor with 3x2 carb set up. and rumored to be a fast car for the time. This was info shared by Kevin's father who I believe went to high school with he person who built it. The car had a 38-40 front suspension and brakes, hairpins etc. An early Olds rear end. The car also had an Old radiator and '33-34 Model A truck front grill shell. The car is channeled about 4-5" over the original frame as well. The car had '50 Buick tail lights. It had a single hoop roll bar infront of the rear shelf. "15 wheels with slicks in the rear. The car was never chopped. It came with a very small brass fuel tank in the rear

At some point the front of the frame was modified and fitted with large coilover shocks and what I believe to be metal for a flat tow bar. The rear was C-notced(crudely) with large springs with home made perches. I have since dismantled a lot of this with visions of a more traditional hotrod build with a '32 frame etc. The more I think about it, the further I get into my build Id really like to know more about who had this car, what it was and if anyone knows anything Id be over the moon. Ive tried contacting a few locals including the Fort Wayne Street Rod Assoc. with no luck so I'm throwing this out to the HAMB. I apologize this is so long but I don't want to leave any details out. I appreciate your time. I can post more images if needed.

This is when the car was pulled out of the barn 6-7 years ago


This is the car when I moved it from storage in the spring 2016


Some random images I took after I bought it




Where I am with it now

 

You are definitely headed the correct direction. Have fun.

 

Kool piece. I would not hesitate to contact the Ex Wife and tell her why your there. I doubt she'd bite your head off or slam the door on you. She may have some real good info as well as photos. You can always run if you need to.
The Wizzard

 

I've heard that aging ex-wives mellow...will aging current wives would too. Well, it could happen....

 

I don't know why you would not reach out to the surviving spouse. Bring some pics of the car so she knows you're for real.
You may be very surprised at what she can tell you about the car. She may also have mementos she would want to see stay with the car; photos, club info, etc.
If shyness is a problem, bring a friend.
I just sold a Model A to a collector. I delivered the car a month ago. Just this morning I found a box in my shop I had forgotten about. It contained pics of the car from the mid 50's; wedd

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Weddings, teaching the kids how to drive, visiting friends, etc. Every registration from 1955-1991. A receipt from Sears for a rebuilt engine $110 -in 1955. I phoned the new owner. He's ecstatic about getting this stuff.
Like I said you never know what she may have held on to.
Reach out.

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Cool project - have fun finding history details

 

That car is cool. Great find, build away and enjoy!

 

Can't wait to see this build and the history that may come. Congrats on a cool hot rod! Go Hoosiers!

 

I appreciate the posts. Im going to look up the ex wife here soon and Ill keep this thread updated.


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looks like an old drag car - set up - with the engine back through the fire wall - hence maybe why a roll bar would be in it....my two cents....

 

it was suspected that it was set up for drag racing. the front of the frame had a sweep up too but that explains the rear end, the slicks, the possible flat tow bar set up and perhaps the additional front suspension.

Ill be doing some digging this week for contacts on the ex-wife or children.

 

I have done some more research but I'm coming up kind of empty. I have reached out to the previous owners son and daughter through Facebook. I have the number to his fiance' which I'll probly call her here soon provided I dont hear anything from the children. I was going through the title info and it seems that the car was purchased by John in 1967 and it was a bill of sale. I really wish I knew someone who worked for the Indiana BMV. The previous owner is something theyre not just going to give out willingly. Ive tried on my 56 Willys.

 

hey billy, one thing i do know is indiana only keeps info for 25 years. so if hasnt been plated in the past 25 they wont have any info on the car. sorry for that news.

 

Billy ..... I wouldn't change a thing on the Coupe.

Just add engine, gas and oil .
You have been blessed.

 

So much to report. John, the man that owned the car since 1967 I guess was not able to drive it. It did run and drive when he bought it according to his son but due to money and his health issues he didnt make any progress so it was garage kept. I was able to get a hold of John's sister who gave me the number for their brother Kent who knew more about the car than she would.

I rang Kent last night, he told me the car was previously owned by a local man named Walter "Terry" Recht. I spent all night scouring the internet with some info. I reached out to every local person with the last name Recht I could find info on. I received a message back on Facebook from a Brian Recht. Turns out that Walt is Brian's father! I sent him some images and its confirmed that Walt is the person who built the car, and is still alive! Unfortunately, he is having some health issues and is down in the IU Medical Hospital right now, but he was able to confirm with the pics that I sent to Brian, who then sent to Walts wife via text message that it was in fact their old coupe! His first question was "wheres the motor!" It used to run a 394 Olds according to Kent. I have more to share and will post more when I have more time.

Im over the moon right now!

 

Thought it might have been my Model A from the 60's, from Kendallville at the time, doesn't appear to be, thanks for sharing, good luck on your build!

 

Anybody have a spare 394 Olds lying around?

 

The plan for the car is to run a 327 with a man-a-free with 4x2


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Cool coupe

 

Glad to hear you made contact with the original Family. I understand SBC very well but in some cars they've become pretty Boaring even with Kool Fuel systems. I even run one in my Avitar Car but I never open the hood to show it. If you were to change your mind and go Old's I'd be behind your choice.
The Wizzard

 

So just some updates in the way of stories. I haven't received an update from Brian on his Dad and even when sending him more pics I didn't get a reply so I'll just leave it alone for now. I tend to expect people to be as communicative as I am but people have their lives too. So on to the cool stuff. Walter and Vickie were married in this car. They called it "The Rod" It was the only car they had at the time. They were married in the spring of 1965. The car was sold in 1967 so in that time this was the only car they had. Vickie said that she remembers the car didn't have windows(still doesn't) so she recalls it being really cold. The wood floor was, I guess what they sat on. The floor "board" doesn't have holes that would indicate there was ever a seat bolted in place which seems pretty crazy to me. This is something I'll have to ask about when and if I get the chance.

With the car being an old drag car, Walter and his friends had a make shift drag strip on I-69 before it was completed on the South West end of Fort Wayne. I guess this is how Walter would get some extra cash to run on the weekends at official drag strips like Bunker Hill. According to Brian, this car was a rocket to 100mph but was really unstable at that speed but I've taken the front suspension apart, I can understand why. Brian even said the car held its own against some dragsters as well. Walter was a true hot rodder at heart. He would work on the car all week to get ready for the weekends to run officially or unofficially. Before he was married he would push the car a few blocks away before firing it up because it was so loud.

Im sure most of this sounds like the epitome of hot rodding to a lot of us but it makes this car extra special to me that its local and has this kind of history. I will update when I can. Thank you.

 

So ... are you going to just do away with the chassis as it is?

Why not just give the car a 'freshen' and make it like it once was?

 

Cool find, subscribed.

I'm a fan of the SBC but I think it'd be a shame to put one of them in over the Olds. The more you learn the more I feel you'll want to return it to it's former glory.

 

I agree, I already have the 327 and the old speed parts for it. The original frame very crudely done and really needs replaced. Some pieces will be the same and Im upgrading what needs replaced. I have a '32 frame.


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I can get behind wanting to just build the car. That would be me also at first. Having a running motor is a plus and really moves things along. Personally I'd build it with the S.B.C. and get it on the road. All the while knowing it was going to get the Olds drive train in the future and make way for an easy change over once I had the Olds motor done and ready. I mean after all, Hot Rods are never really finished.
The Wizzard

 

you read my mind. If I come across an Olds 394 with 3x2 then its not out of the question at all.


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I hope the bobbed rear fenders are going back on??? Neat project! Half the fun is getting info from the cars past!

 

I unfortunately plan on running those fenders. Theyre made to fir those slicks. I will not being running those


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I had a summer job at Harvester in Fort Wayne in the summer of 1966. I remember seeing one hot rod on the street. I think it was blue. It might have been your car.