Hi everybody, I've known Ray for around 35 years and I've known his car for just as long. Ray is my Father-in Law. I've been married to his oldest daughter, Joy, for almost 31 years now. I've lost count, because I don't think the numeral system goes that high, of the number of car shows and cruise nights we've attended together. For awhile, we were going somewhere just about every night. It was alot of fun and Ray was and still is alot of fun. This is my first port here, or anywhere on any forum for that matter, and Ray has given me some photos to post here on his past and the past of his '39 and a few of the other cars he has owned. Will be posting soon.
For the first time I just thumbed through OSR, or was it the other one, and just put it right back on the shelf.
Here is the '39 when it was blue, taken in the early 1980's. When Ray told us he was going to change the color to black we all hated the idea and told him not to. But it turned out to be a good call since he was not able to find any one to duplicate the color for him. Once we saw the finished product, we all loved it!
.....i can relate to Ray when he told you guys how he said he was going to paint it a different color,,,,
I've been on the look out for this magazine and can't find 'em. B&N didn't have them. How often do they come out? Maybe Jessie will read this and kick 'em in the ass and get some to South Texas. It's a bitch when you hear so much about something and you can't find it anywhere. HELP!
We now can too, Sam. The pic shows a beautiful color blue in the 80s. The car was painted that color around 1967, so, it had a chance to age itself to perfection. The color is "Baltic Blue". I believe Ray told me it was an Oldsmobile color. He bought some and tried it on sections of the car, but he wasn't really happy with it so he decided on black.
Aman, the mag comes out bi-monthly. B&N is where I got ours. I'm pretty sure they could order it if they don't have it on the shelf.
Hey, y'all-- You should be able to find the magazine at Borders, B&N, Hastings, 7-11, Wal-Mart and any number of small, local shops. But believe me, you'd be doing us all a great favor if you take the extra minute to ask the little dude behind the counter wearing the laniard name tag to order the magazine if it's not on the shelf. They have to turn in the request to the manager and that'll get the ball rolling and get the magazine in your store. Every request helps! BTW, Ray called the other day and we had a great chat. He wants to thank Zerk again, as well as Mel and y'all for showing interest in his work. You made the guy proud, folks--and really, that's what it's all about sometimes... STONER
Even though our weekly Wednesday evening gathering at Beacon Street Grille was called off because of the weather, Ray was there in his '39 and stayed for a couple of hours talking with several people about his car. While Ray is not a computer guy, he is aware of this thread (thanks Kevin, Mel, et al) and would love to talk cars with any of you who might want to join us on a Wednesday evening. Bring your copy of the magazine and Ray will probably be happy to autograph it for you.
Agreed, Ed. I have photos to post and will try to post as often as I can. Forums are new to me so, please, be patient.
Here's a pic of Ray and the '39 taken next to his house in 1959. Sorry about the quality, this one didn't scan well.
Ok, So I'm on a roll now. Here's a bonus for you since it kind of goes with the last photo I posted. Here's Ray, standing next to the '39, parked in the same spot as the previous pic, taken in 2004. Ray looks the same, but the car's a different color!
Awesome post. He's a world away from the west coast but sounds like a stand up guy that I'd love to meet at our local cruises. Congrats on the Garage spread and having good friends and great memories. Jon
Thanks for all the positive feedback everyone. Here's one that goes way back. This is Ray with his '41 Ford back in 1951, making him around 19 yrs. old
Thanks Mike! Sometimes things just fall in your lap. I've been living in the same area as Ray for many years, but our "orbits" are different enough that I never met him or saw his '39 until a national magazine got published and it made the cover. Mooseandsqurl53, you're doing one hell of a job with those pictures and great commentary. I'm happy you were able to do this, as now the old photos are being shared with a huge audience and we can all appreciate them. Many thanks!
Hi, Zerk and everyone. Thanks for the feedback. There's more to come and I'll post them as i find them. Ray and I have been down a lot of roads together and clocked a respectable number of miles going to shows and cruise nights both with and without the '39. We've had alot of good times, as those of you that have met him can tell. So, to show my thanks, here's another of Ray taken in 1956, when he worked for Jack Lentz (Goldenrod). Note the dragon on the trunk lid of the car. Ray put it there. He dabbles in just about everything and art is no exception. He also painted one of those dragons on the tailgate of Jack's shop truck, which I believe was a Studebaker. Well, enjoy the pics and the day. I'm getting ready for work. See ya all later
I have a subscription, but I do a little (unauthorized) guerilla marketing that I encourage everyone do also. Coke and Pepsi and many others pay to have their products put on the shelves in certain spots, and to have more real estate in the big stores. I usually find the stack of GARAGE in the third row, behind the fish wrap magazines. I take that stack and switch it with one of the stacks on the front row, where people who have never see GARAGE, might happen by and pick one up. It may only stay that way for a few hours or a few days, but what the hell. I take it as my duty to all things tasteful and cool. Mike P.S. More Germ!
4T, they should put you in charge of marketing and promotion. Well, It's 5:30 AM and I'm getting ready to go to a truck show in Macungie, Pa. But, here's a couple photos. The first one is Ray and my Brother-in-Law Byron, or Ron as he's called, putting a flathead into a 1949 Ford F-1. This was around 1972. The '39 is keeping vigil in the background as it did always like to supervise all projects. I ended up buying this truck from him in 1979, and it became my daily driver for around 10, YES, 10 years. No matter what the weather , the flattie would start every time. True story, I was working at a welding shop part time, and it was around 1 degree out. I was on my way to the shop and a guy flags me down and asks me for a jump. He had a 2 or 3 year old car sitting at the end of his driveway with the hood up and jumpers already waiting to go. When I said I couldn't help him, he asked why and I had to show him the truck was still running on a 6 volt battery and his battery would have been jumping mine. I went on my way and this poor guy had to wait for someone else. I was also building my Model A at the time, and trips to Philipsburg for parts were not unusual for that truck. The second pic was taken in 1990, the day I was delivering it to its new owner, who still owns it today. I didn't want to sell it. You guys know how that goes sometimes. Another story, not to steal Ray's spotlight, this fellow called me up a couple of years ago, asking if I wanted to buy the truck back, which I had asked him to do. I went out with a buddy of mine to see the truck, which looked the same as the day I sold it to him, with some improvements. The guy comes up to me and says "Can I tell you something and you won't get angry?" I said OK. He says "I can't do it. I can't sell it. After I got off the phone with you, I took it out of the garage, washed it, and took it for a ride and I said to myself "what are you, nuts"". Enough stories, heres the pics, one from'72 and one from '90. Enjoy!
HEY!!!! Where is everybody? Do you know what it's like slaving over a hot computer all day and noone cares? Oh Well. Here's one of Ray with one of his '36 coupes. He had a couple of them over the years. I'd like to have one myself, but, the guy i know won't sell it to me. He's fixing it now, maybe I'll post some pics of that some day.
I don't think anyone has left, if any are like me, just a bit speechless. Just an awesome thread. What really matters about roddding, the people involved. Thanks to all from Jersey, cool mag, and especially Ray for the great stuff here.
Well, I'll just keep postin' then. The above pic was from 1955, by the way. I've had a long day. Good night.
So, noone's posting anymore. HMMMMMM. Went to the truck show at Macungie last weekend. Lots of really beautiful trucks, and I'm talking about cement mixers, dumps, tank trailers, really great stuff. Well, since it's just me here, I can tell more stories and nobody can do anything about it. So, the '49 pickup I bought from Ray, I remember riding the school bus to school and on Main St. there was an apartment building with an old ramshackle garage behind it with no doors. There sat a black Ford pickup. I looked at that truck every day from the bus. Then it was gone. When i started dating my wife, there was always a nice looking black Ford F-1 in the driveway that was said to belong to Ray. I was talking to him one day and asked him where he found the truck and he said pretty much "That apartment building down by the light with the old ramshackle garage behind it." Well, that solved that mystery. About 5 or 6 years later, I bought it and owned it for around 12 years. Then I had to sell it, which wasn't something I wanted to do. Sure would like to have it back. See pics above.
More pics please Sure would like to see some of those pics of Ray's buddy's cars, like the three-windows and roadsters. Any chance of getting them scanned? You're doing great so far! Also, heard that you did some good work on the F1 truck while you had it. Any more pics from the time you drove it? Thanks Al
I do the same thing! either i am not as weird as i thought i was, or there are a lot more weirdos than i thought!
This thread rules. I had the pleasure of meeting Ray a couple years ago at the Asbury Park Jalopy Jump n Jive. Myself and all the fellas in my club were awestruck by Ray's Ford, but most of all, by Ray himself. He answered all of our questions and really gave us a crash course in NJ kustom history. I don't think I'll ever forget the experience, since so rarely do we get a history lesson so pure and so free of alternate interpretation; sort of like drinking the water directly from the spring. My camera died when I want to take pics at that show, so I started this thread a while back. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68544
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