Some of you know my 29 coupe and the recent 32 Ford Fordor I bought just before Christmas but I have not told you about this car. I bought it a week after the 32 because I have been looking for an A roadster and fell short more than once when one was available. This one came up for sale and was located downtown Detroit in the Murray Body Building, was stored there for 40+ plus years. The Murray body building now being used as an art fair but where this car was hidden was the original building, kinda cool.The car was in pieces, here and there but what I found was pretty much a old hot rod roadster that was taken apart and never put back together.I got a 46 59A motor with it and a banger that both run. I have been working on the car off and on and fixing the badly done patches in the body. Both doors woudn't close so we cut all the bad patches out and doors close now. This is just a glimpse of what pops and I have started but I think you get the feeling. Check out the old army decal!
VERY cool! Even better to see you & pops in the car together, great stuff. Look forward to watching your progress Dan
Thanks guys, I was pretty stoked when I went down there to pick it up. Chris, in a way, watching your build thread about your roadster kinda got me hooked on them, I have always liked your car. I need to put the wheel wells in and fix a small part of the subrail but other than that it shouldn't take much to get her on the road. I am going to run mechanical brakes on it and build it as a pre-war car. Going to have to figure out the seat because we are sitting on the seat riser in the pic and don't want to sit any higher. I also got a top with it that was never cut down to match the windshield.
What do you guys in roadsters do with your seats when the windshield has been chopped? I don't know how many inches were taken out of the windshield, chopped way back when, how tall is a stock one?? I am sitting on the seat riser right now and that is where I want to sit. Section the original riser? I have a bottom seat frame and springs that was near the car when I bought it and it fit but when you sit on it, your knees hit the steering wheel. I got the wheel wells ready to install and bought quarter patches today. I have a new NOS upper panel above the trunk coming from Berts. I do want to replace the panel below the decklid but want to use an original, so the somewhat ratty one is staying for now. I am also going to order the full wood kit for the body, but that might be next. All I want to do is work on this thing!
I would love to try and find some history on it but the old guy I bought it from says he bought it in the 50's and can't remember from who. This is the Murray body building that I found the car in, it is now called the Russell Industrial Center. The building was built in 1915 and was finished in 1925. Alot of Ford sheetmetal came out of this place. The second picture is where the car was actually laying, in pieces. The very bottom level of the building.
Got a little done on the roadster this weekend. The wheel wells were very poorly patched with parts from a hood way back in the 50's and they needed to be re-done. I cut the bad out and the subrail on the driver side was non existant. I found a patch from a 29 coupe and used it to fix the rotted sections. Turned out pretty good. I am building this car to drive and have fun so the paint/rust is staying and whatever I fix will just get a shot of primer. Wheel well patches and lower quarter patches are next.
I have done a few things to with the car since I last posted but not much, this spring has sucked so far. I went to the Folwerville swap and got an original 29 roadster top, an original inner trunk panel, and a set of original roadster handles for 121.00! I put the top on and have begun chopping it to fit the original chopped windshield but I have alot more to do to make it look right and still function. What do you guys think? Leave it entirely off or go farther with it? I think the back needs to come down more. BEFORE: AFTER:
Looks awesome man! I can't believe how much better it looks from when I saw it only a few months ago. Killer!
love it man.neat find for sure in that cool old building.check out my build on my 28 roadster..i have a top that was on mine when i got it.its chopped,you may be able to see how it looks.my windshield isnt cut as much
I used a middle seat out of a 90's Chrysler Minivan on my roadster. I know that it doesn't sound even remotely traditional, but it sure made a difference. With it bolted to the floor, I am sitting about where the stock seat riser was. It fits just about perfect, and I was able to move the seat further back. It's got way more room than a stocker. The roadster looks awesome. -Mitch
Thanks guys, making the roadster a roller was the best part so far, getting the body fitting better hasn't been much fun but it's getting there.
It's a just cause, stay with it, will be great in the end. My nephew lives in Waterford, my uncle in Union Lake. That is all my ol' stomping grounds, but from a long time ago. Good luck with the Roadster ! Johnnie.
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