You most likely know Bob Pierson's name from his savagely fast and just as beautiful '34 coupe that was at one time the fastest closed car in America. However, before Bob built that legendary coupe he had his hand in another. In fact, Bob was just se... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
Now that's my idea of a push car! Cool little story and who doesn't love the Pierson '34...I never heard the story of the '36...thanks Ryan, yet again, for a neat little bit of history
Great story, thanks! I love early custom 36's, my favorite car by far. I heard that 36 is still around but it's been street rodded and not worth taking back to it's original form.
The coupe is still around and Street Rodder did an article about it. I believe it was from a issue in the early 90's. From what I remember, it was painted bright red, bucket seats, SBC, IFS, AC, the usual street rod fair. I have it somewhere and will try to track it down.
That would b great if it's still around. Some atrocities could still be fixed, I'm sure. Fell in love with that car when I picked up the book, 'The History of Hot Rodding'.
It joins elegance and raw power. I just knew the pictures and nothing about the drivetrain. Now, I can say that I like this '36 coupe even more.
Yeah, I definitely alway loved this car since I first saw it. Never knew the whole story so it's cool to learn a bit more about it. I even think that this '36 ranks higher in my books then the calorie coupe. I just love everything about it. If or when it gets found....I got dibs!!!!
The Pierson coupe was also featured in one of the American Rodder swimsuit issues in its red Street Rod form. I believe it is/was owned by a Burbank Road Kings member at that time. There was also another coupe around at the same time (50's) that was owned/built by Jim Mckinley(sp). It looked like a twin to the pierson's coupe. I believe they may have even been friends. There was an article in a early 90's Street Rodder on McKinley's too. At that time, it was still around and in unrestored shape, I believe still owned by McKinley.
In 2003 at Speedweek I met Bob Pierson one day with my friends, Denny and Jack Slaymaker, who were running the blown flathead "Rigamortis" '34 3W coupe. He was selling posters, t-shirts, his book and models of the '34 coupe out of the back of his Subaru station wagon (which also happened to be his motel for the week!). It was my first time at Bonneville, and to actually be there and then meet the living legend was unbelieveable luck! We had a motorhome close by and asked Bob if he wanted to join us for a beer and sandwich. He came over and spent several hours with us and we were all spellbound by the stories he told us about how things were fifty years ago. The inside stuff of development of speed parts at Edelbrock, the compe***ion with Offenhauser, the personalities and lifestyles of all the big names back then,the fights with the guys that called him a "big dumb Norwegian" and more! We were all spellbound, and Bob chugged bears and ate his fill and never missed a beat or stopped telling us stories. I think he took an interest in my friends coupe and gave them some very simple tips and tricks that he used and he said that most guys didn't know them today. What an amazing hot rodder!! I wish I would have had a video camera that day. I have several pictures of Bob with us that day that I'll post if I can find them. Does anyone know how he is doing these days? Bob Pierson entertaining his audience <table style="width:auto;"><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From Bonneville Speed Week 2003</td></tr></table> Jack Slaymaker modeling his Bob Pierson autographed t-shirt in 2005 (notice the salt splatter all over him!)<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From Bonneville Speed Week 2005</td></tr></table>
Ryan, Thanks as always for my daily dose of vintage cars! But your "Office Space" reference had me choking back laughter at my desk! Thanks for letting me know that you in fact do have at least one or two thoughts that aren't HAMB related. Oh yeah, and the feature today rules! Mike
Great thread RYAN!! I used to see both the Pierson & McKinley '36 3WD's at Hi School in Inglewood from 1946--1950, they were the envy of all the guys at that time. They formed a prestigious club called the "COUPES", if I remember, just composed of 3WD coupes. One other member was Joe Torvick, another gearhead at that time with fast cars.
Hi Ryan Nice Post. When you were putting this together, did you run accross any details about his time in Denver. He was probably stationed at Lowery AFB and might have gone down to the Kenz and Leslie shop and visited with Bill. Would be interesting to explore. I believe that is Bill's back In the DTA Jacket and Pith Helmet in the Bob Rod**** photo of the 777 at the 51 Bonneville. Thanks again for the great post.
That is a *****in 36 3 window. My old man's got a book with that 36 on the cover......can't think of the ***le. I'm sure someone knows what book I'm talking about. Anyway killer 36 eh?
I was lukcy enough to spend a few Saturdays hanging out with Bob Pierson when I was 14/15 years old. I was working for a friend who was restoring a Kurtis Midget, and he befriended Both Bobs, (Meeks and Pierson) as well as Frank Curtis and others. When I graduated high school in 1988, my friend gave me Don Montgomery's first book... when I opened it, I found that not only Don Montgomery had signed it... but also that Bob Pierson had signed each and every photograph of all his cars. I'll see if I can get them scanned tonight to share with you guys. The inscriptions are pretty neat. Sam
Great post! Was the 36' in the American Rodder Black or Red. I have the "swimsuit issue" with a black 36' with a bikini gal next to it. Or was it a feature with out the model? I have a HUGE stack of AR that I can flip thru this evening to look for it. Chris
My students gave me the oddest looks when I started laughing after reading the "Office Space" reference. Thanks for the laughs. And what a *****in' 36.
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