Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would own a 3W ♂️ I put the feelers out, called a few friends and ended up randomly calling a guy that posted a pic of this body, not to sell it but rather ask if anyone had a driver side door for sale. My pal took a screenshot of the ad just before it was taken down from FB market place. I connected a few dots, headed to the sellers house and drove home with the body, firewall, grill and passenger door. I already had a good ‘32 frame and big beam front axle so once I got home I mocked the body up and made it a roller so I could move it around. I did a little research on the body, didn’t get any great details but I’ll share what I found out. Nick the Bandit who is a member here purchased the car from the Connecticut auto trader roughly 25 years ago, brought it to stafford springs swap meet, sold the body with the doors to Dave Simard. Dave kept the doors, sold the bare body to another guy who collected the interior wood, passenger door and firewall…it sat….and sat until it was sold yet again to a fella in Maine….he too started to collect parts but couldn’t find a drivers door for a reasonable price…he collect several other parts during its stay in his garage. My plan is,,,, to find out the history of this unique hot rod, I’ll love to find out who built it, what it’s power plant was, did it run a hood,,, what were the taillights etc. I plan on keeping this car, building it, drive it and race it. I have a beautiful fully rebuilt Cadillac 390, .060 over pistons, idly cam, edmunds intake and a 4 speed. Does anyone recognize this coupe? It appears to have been Channelled about 10 inches, unchopped. The quarters were cut and raised to accommodate the Channel and the reveal around the wheel well removed. The wheel wells look like they were bolted in? Another neat touch is the lower deck lid panel, bridged and filled to hide the fat body reveal. From the inside of the trunk you can still see the original reveal. any help identifying this machine would be greatly appreciated. I’ll be doing a build thread here once the shops cleaned and I can move the car to the center floor. I have already started making the Subrails and steel b pillars, I’ll post pics of that soon.
Notice the notched L shaped steel on the inside of the wheel well, each hole had a cage nut, I’m assuming to hold a wheel well in?
Congrats Pete...Always enjoy your adventures in Hotrod...No help...but Tuffy comes to mind...Tuffy has a Hemi...but the mighty Caddy is right up there in period options...I like the 1x1" angle cut and fit around the wheelwells that you mentioned...how was it attached...plug welds, spot welds or the quarter wrapped onto the bottom flange and welded...it almost looks glued I'll keep my eyes peeled...I'm always snooping...
Looks like the mods were well executed given the time frame, we all know that you will make it a Winner. Hope you find more history to share!
It seemed pointless to buy new Subrails only to cut them up. I decided to leave the body channelled but not as deep as it was. I started fabricating Subrails using 1/8” steel plate, I want this car to be solid and stiff. I actually had templates from a past project to I just transferred them to plate and cut them out.
Oh Yeah...will watch this one closely. 'Love east coast style channeled but not chopped three windows.
Great find, you were right to jump on it. Noticed the doorjamb wood on the driver's side - - makes me wonder if you were lucky enough to get the steel covers for those. Or are you going to replace all the wood with steel?
The coupe came with wood B posts, above the door wood and some other pieces. I decided to recreate the wood from steel plate. I made tin templates, transferred them to my 1/8” steel plate and cut them out. I was careful to mark all the hinge holes. Before welding I slotted all of the holes so that later the doors could be full adjustable. I also made 1/4” threaded plates instead of installing individual nuts on each hinge.
Looks good. If you started making those steel door posts I bet you could sell quite a few. I know I'd buy a pair.
nope. I have the 39 standard with white running boards we were drinking moonshine on at trog a few years ago.
I am stumped♂️ these taillight holes are strange! ‘48 Chevy are too small, Kaiser are too small… I have a strange feeling they’re something like ford van
Are 58 Chev a possibility or would they overhang the opening...I'm not familiar with how they mount though...
I looked through near 1000 pics of vintage deuce coupes...no hits...many are on angles that don't highlight the rear area...but I keep snooping...
...This was close but I think its chopped...or is it, hard to tell...the other thing is there's a fender bead on the quarter and your's are cut off I believe...doesn't mean it didn't happen further in the future years past 55.. The other thing is no pics from behind...
@Pete, I just went through 'Cool Cars Square Roll Bars...2 close but I think not...so the search goes on... One thing for sure, whatever you do would no doubt would get a thumbs up from the Hotrodder back in the day...I know you think about the journey it's been on...it's part of the ambience of Vintage Hotrod after all...
I appreciate that! I will continue the search for the history on this body….I’m sure it’s out there it’s just a matter of time..
The red one has dual wipers...the black one has only one and that wheelwell bead is absent...so yeah maybe... I wonder if there are clues under the paint on your coupe
...Another...pros, big ass taillights in relative position, channel, wells potentially absent, cons...lower area below tailights not modded, absense of crude rear fenders attached on your coupe...
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