Hi guys, I was refered to this forum for help last weekend. I have an ALL STEEL 1931 Ford 5 window (unchopped). Supposedly it raced in the '50's and '60's and maybe the '70's in the Rahway NJ area. I would like to maybe restore the car to its race era condition. BUT I haven't got a clue about it. Here is what I know... I bought it on eBay in 2003 from Rahway NJ The Donoghue Family its a 1931 Ford 5 window.... it was white with a red frame and suspension Alot of body mods fenderless roof filled in visor molded into the roof flat woodplank dash drip rails gone 1964 tail light buckets rear roll pan 1932 grill shell and its only a 99 inch wheel base when I got it it had a 1967 Corvette 283 with a B&M 144 blower. a turbo 350 and a Corvette rearend. the body was bright blue metalic with a purple flec in it. old style flames from the glas firewall back. It was running an old side steer box and a firebird tilt colum. I have tons of pics of my mods....if that would help. BUT I want info on the car....how it ran in the good ole days. Maybe there is a website you guys know about? OR maybe you know the car...??? Please send me your input. Thanks ALOT BT BT066@aol.com
Right now I have a repro poster of the Seekonk Speedway Midget Auto Races hanging above my office desk. Sorry, that doesn't answer your question, but I thought it was interesting. I have never even been to Massachusetts, but the poster is cool.
I lived in Rahway most of my life...began noticing cars in about 1973. Unfortunately, never have seen that one. I'll check in with some of my "homies"!
I forwarded this post to VICCUSTOMS, who still lives in Rahway, and he is asking some of the older guys about it. One guy remembers a blue deuce, but it could have been this car. He's going to get back to us about it.
Anybody come up with anything yet? Seems like some of you guys must have this kind of research experience. Is there another forum I could post too? Am in the right catagory? I just need a break to get started.... Thanks BT
Does'nt ring a bell. If it has some kind of race history, search NJ race tracks, might find something there. I've been searching for info on my three window which raced in this area, nothing, and I at least have some original paint. Good luck!
'Same as Chopolds, I grew up in Rahway but I don't remember this car. I'll check with a couple friends from the area, maybe they can help. Good luck.
WOW ..Nothing like digging up the dead on this one !!!! I would have to say by reading this and having guys who lived in town there whole life..better luck next time
My buddy Jimmy D of Linden knows this car and the previous owner was his good friend Keith Donoghue who passed away years ago. Jimmy D painted the car and did the body work. The car was not originally from Rahway. He thinks he remembers it being from N. New Jersey. Jimmy D said he knows of no race history when the Donoghues owned it. Thats all the info I got out of him so far.
Thanks Leaky! I bought the car off eBay...shortly after he died. I didn't know what I was walking into. The family seemed very attached to the car. I thought I heard he died...working on the car? Does that sound right to you? This car is definatly an old hot rod. I dont think the Donahues actually know the history. I bought it...without really looking at it. Laying underneath...you can see the history. You scrape a little paint...and years of other colors flake off. I just wanted to pay them and leave them to morn. It would have been nice to chat with them and get more history. I love the car....and never put the headliner in it. I thought the son had said he died while installing the headliner. Kind of eerie....but I wanted to respect an old hot rodder! The BLUE and flames are awesome! I get alot of lookers because of the great job! Do you know if he did any of the custom body work? Thanks again for the help! BT Seekonk, MA
I have to grill Jimmy D some more. he said he did some of the body work. I recall now him saying the neighbor was the one selling the car for the family on ebay. sound right? if there's any race history its seems its pre-Donoghue owned. if you can get in touch with them that would be your next step to getting the history. If u cant get in touch with them, pm me and I'll see what I can do.
Like I said, this car has major mods. Its been shortened.... and the glass firewall didn't come from "Speedway"! Its so unique...I had to move the motor 3 inches forward to pull the distributor. Not to mention the way the visor is molded into the roof....with no drip rails. I have seen alot of cars.....this was done by someone with passion. I am trying to research "Jimmy D". I have some cool pics at the summer nationals he might want to see, Or perhaps he would appreciate seeing a pic of it burning out at the Winterport ME nostalgia drags? Thanks for your help and let me know of anything else you hear!
http://www.summernationals.com/05imageviewer14.html?popup=1#imageviewer I am not sure if posting a link is legal...lol. or if it worked. My buddies got together and enlarged this photo for my wall! Thanks BT
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