Lost a Legend- Joe Mac, Ford Parts Obsolete

Before anyone thought old Ford parts were worth anything more than scrap rate Joe "Mac" McClelland was scouring the parts departments for Ford dealerships in the 1940s for old inventory they weren't using. He bought it cheap and opened a shop called Ford Parts Obsolete and ran it for decades in Los Angeles and later Long Beach, CA. He was the man behind the counter but also a true hot rodder with a ton of great cars to his credit. So a huge story, hopefully the Rodder's Journal will tell the whole tale someday. RIP Joe.

Marc Morton has his great '31 Sport Coupe.

Steve Caballero has his '35 3-window.

Keith Tucker has his Cadillac powered '35 Roadster.

 

Another legend passes - I used to own his 1928 Model A Special Coupe. Thanks for posting Jim.

 

RIP

To add to the list, Nick Radoumis, one of Joes oldest friends, has his chopped '27 coupe.

 

R.I.P. to a guy who has helped a lot of hot rodders get there cars on the road.
he will be missed.................................................................................

 

Rest in peace Joe!

 

Too damn bad! Had the honor of staying at his place in Corona a couple of times and helping him around the Antique Nationals on his walker, just a couple of years ago. Even when getting around became difficult, he just had to go the drags! One of his trannies still lives in my '37. A true hotrodder and gentleman. RIP, Joe.

 

A sad day indeed. RIP

Frank

 

R.I.P. drove out there one day to get one of those flathead cam spacer/ hockey puck thingies they had it in the cash register ? nice folks

 

We keep losing those who were a foundation of hot rodding as we know it. Just imagine what it must be like as they all gather "up there"!! Lotsa of laughing, lots of good-natured lying and more. Damn these years. They pass too quickly. R.I.P. "Mac".

 

R.I.P. Mac, he was a great guy..........another sad day.

 

Sorry to hear this.

In my opinion one of the absolute best pieces of hot rod literature ever written (by editor Bud Bryan) was the Rod & Custom article from around 1970 where Joe Mac thrashes his banger powered Model A sport coupe around the streets of LA just after a light rain. Priceless. This news makes me want to dig that issue out and re-read it.

 

That's one of my prized possessions- a signed copy of that mag. That's the car Morty owns now. If you think "traditional" is new- for guys like Joe it NEVER left- he had a slew of hopped up flatty and banger powered cars in the '40s, '50s, '60s '70s, '80s and up until he couldn't drive anymore. He only spoke dropped beams, juice brakes, '39 transmissions, banjo rearends and everything we love. During the street rodded '70s and '80s he was the go-to guy for stuff people just weren't selling or repairing anymore. He was still rebuilding '39 boxes a few years ago in his eighties.
Super hero among heroes.

 

That's too bad! Sounds like he was a great guy...

 

Sad day. I was in the store off Willow hundreds of times in the '70s'. Remember the car on the roof? R.I.P. Joe, Thanks for everything.

 

I have that issue, and like you loved the article. Joe Mac was indeed a treasure who knew what "treasure" there was in old Ford parts. His sport coupe was a roadmap of how you could mix and match Henry's hardware to come up with a truely unique old Ford. His Crager-equipped banger was as classic "gow job" motor. His banger driveline in that sport coupe, has always been an inspiration to me. We miss you Joe.

 

Sad news....What a great guy/Rodder....Heavens gettin' another great one!!

 

I always remember him as a fixture at the Long Beach Veterans swapmeet years and years ago. Bought a rebuilt 39 trans from him. More recently I would hear about him through Keith Tucker who would take him out to lunch in his 35 roadster once a week. For the past couple of years it sounded like the end was near. Another hot rod legend lost. RIP Joe Mac.
D.

 

Godspeed.

 

Loved the rod test on his sport coupe, didn't realize Joe was still around, until now. He also drove his Model AA truck down Baja, as covered in an earlier RandC, trading favors for anytime he broke something on it. What a Great Guy.

 

He did that Baja trip many times across areas with NO ROADS to collect tin! In an ORIGINAL Model AA truck! Badass!

 

Rip...

 

Sad to see these guys leave us. Bought from him long time ago
RIP

 

Sorry to hear that Joe has passed. I had the great opportunity to go into the "Back Room" when he was in L.A. that was like uncovering a buried treasure. Godspeed Joe - RIP.

 

Keven and I were coming back from Riverside tonight and we thought about Joe and wondered how he was doing. Got home and read this and had chills up my spine. RIP JOE--TV

 

Wow Jim...
Sorry to hear about Joe's passing, my buddy just showed me this post
I'll keep his family in friends in prayer tonight!
I'm away for a trip this weekend, but when i get home on Easter Sunday, i'll pull the '35 out for a spin around town in his honor, say a prayer for him as the engine idles and thank him for all he had done for the hot roddin community those past years.

I feel very blessed and honored to be owner of this fabulous and beautiful vehicle and i'll will keep Joe's legacy alive as long as i have the Ford coupe in my family.



Rest in Peace Joe!

Grace and peace†
cab

 

I am so glad you have that car Steve and have learned how special it is. Someone else might have torn it apart- I'm so glad I was part of you getting it and learning about our hero. Let me know what city you live in or your hometown because I have a collection of 76 Gas Station Travel decals because Joe put them in ALL his cars. I'd like you to have one in the rear window of the '35 as a reminder of Joe. Thanks Jim

 

Used to go there in LA, bought a new rear fender from him in '58 for my deuce. sad to hear he was a good guy.

 

Thanks Jim, sending you a PM

 

Sad news. Never had the pleasure of knowing him but his sport coupe was and still is an inspiration to me.

 

Sure sorry to hear of Joe's passing!---When I started building my 32 roadster in 1962 & living in Torrance,Ca., I knew the best place to go for the parts I needed at that time,----The Ford obsolete store on Florence,(with the model T on the roof), first guy when coming thru the door was usually ol' John (what ever happened to him?) Then Joe Mac would usually drift over & see what was going on, or just yak.

Years later after finishing my roadster (1968), & becoming a member of LAR club in 1971, I used to greet Joe at roadster exhibitor entrance every Fathers Day when we held the 1 day show & swap at Great Western bldg., city of Commerce.

Joe always showed driving the same roadster & quiet as he was, always had a BIG smile & positive attitude!

Later, when he moved the business down on Willow, I was hand making 32 headlite bar bolts as a part time thing, to finance some chrome work here & there, back then, 32 bar bolts were almost non existant, I ran into Joe at a local swap meet one Sunday, & he was interested in buying a few sets from me, so from that point Joe was the spring board to me selling to other Ford obsolete shops around the L.A. area!

Hard to believe, that was about 40 years ago!!!!!!! JOE MAC R.I.P.------------Don