80 years ago in some U.S. Ford Manufacturing plant, my 1928 Ford Roadster was stamped with its build date on the firewall, 12-14-28. Strange how our these lil pieces of machinery have a life of their own to tell. Some 17 years after rolling off the assembly line, it would show up on the dry lake beds of El Mirage, CA. It'll soon be back on the road soon.
What a cool thing to think about. You could get on line and check the headlines for that day...might be neat I've often thought about who actually was the original owner of some of the cars I have owned. How did they feel as they were wheeling it out of the dealer's lot? How many neighbors gathered around? How many tickets did they get the first six months? Wonder if it's anywhere near the number I got in the first six months I owned the car. I had a 56 Chev BA 4dr wagon years ago...very good condition and I just used it to shag parts if it was raining too hard to use the pickup. Cleaning it up, I found the receipt from the dealer in the spare tire well, plus some grade school papers (homework?) under the rear seat....just makes you muse about how many kids got run back and forth between school, ball games, band practice, reform school (har har). Most hotrodders have cars of sufficient vintage to have gone through several previous owners. It's interesting to think about which one decided that the curb feelers were a good idea, or the mud flaps with the big red plastic ruby in the center, or the "Sea Lion Caves" decal on the back bumper, or any one of a myriad of things that folks have done in the past to 'personalize' their cars. I had a Healey years ago that had an assymetric hood scoop. Aluminum, well-formed, riveted on. The car was a simple 100-6 with the dual SUs - there was no good reason for the scoop (unless it had something on it before I bought it. Who thought THAT was 'neat'?? I didn't, but I always stick sbc V8s in my AH cars...so the hood was replaced with a stocker. Didn't mean to drift - just a Sunday night of melancholy memories and reminiscence. If I don't see you again - Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. In deference to those who are not into the "reason for the season" - have a good holiday anyway... dj
Yes, it's pretty cool that 28-9 Model A's kinda have a "birth" date. My '29 Coupe was stamped exactly 60 years before my wedding date. I also have 2 tanks that are only a few days apart in dates.
It's been in the family a loooong time. If you care to read a little, I've posted my roadsters history and my work on the roadster in 3 parts. Go here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232944 Here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2488194#post2488194 and Here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3221169#post3221169
Man THAT is the soul of a car. How many times have you sat in it while building just thinking of where its been, who owned it, how much they loved their new car, what was experienced in it, the events in history it stood witness to. All this history in a little ol' car, that is the soul we all speak of. I remember sitting in the cockpit of an Aussy P40 I was helping to restore that saw action at Milne Bay, where the Japs head their first defeat of WWII (At the hands of us Aussies!). What did the pilot experience? What were his thoughts? The terror of combat and the high of victory (This shot down a Zero in that battle) I swear to god all that was imprinted in the cockpit. Doc.
Right on the cowl above the bolted seam, On the tank. Drivers side. engine side. almost looks like a dent till you look real close. LOOK REAL CLOSE
Doc, That's crazy! Don't know why but I've always had a fascination for WWII stuff. I can't imagine what that would have been like in the cockpit during that time, let alone your experience. I used to sit in the roadster as a 4 or 5 year old boy (1968-69) when it stored in the back garage where we lived in Downey, CA. There was a small hole in the front of the garage door, big enough for me to squeeze through. It was a one car garage so I'd have to climb over the front fender to get the running board and into the driver's seat. I used to sit in the dark garage with only the light that peaked through the rim of the door. It only had a Army blanket covered seat spring then but I raced the heck out of that roadster. I used to come outta the garage covered in dirt. Funny thing is, I still get that same thrill sitting in the driver seat and I've never even driven the dog gone thing. Not as much dirt now. The 2nd owner of my roadster was my dad's cousin, whom served as a belt gunner in a B-17. He's also the one who'd raced my roadster at El Mirage. In some way, I am going to pay tribute to him on the roadster. Thanks for sharing, brought back some of my own good memories.
Thanks Niner, I should've posted the location. Mine was stamped upside down. Can't see it in the picture but it's in the same locale as you'd shown. See the red ring on the photo.
Shit. Just finished painting the firewall about 5 days ago. Think it might have too many layers of paint on it because I never noticed it. I'm not going searching for it now. Pete
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