Bob Drake Cancels 1940 Ford Coupe Project

Just saw a post on Fordbarn that Bob Drake has cancelled his 1940 Ford coupe project and that Carpenter's is buying up his parts. Sure hope this is not true. Anyone know for sure?

 

Yipes! Heart stopping news if it's true infact.

 

That would really be a shock as Drake has been developing this project for such a long time. If it's true, there must be some extenuating circumstances. Hope someone knows the whole story.

 

I got Cushmaned by carpenter and dont want to get Forded, will take that car of my buy list!!

 

I hear that is infact true. But....

 

Plenty of 40's still out there

 

In todays economy the project did not make sence to me. There is still a large supply of them out there.

 

I guess if you could afford a repop you could afford an original. I wish I could!!

Bill

 

Bob is on here. Maybe he'll fill us in?

 

A friend of mine was at Carpenters a few days ago and they had a pile of new 40 Ford fenders. The story goes that Drake could not pay the folks who stamped them ... so Carpenter bought them and paid for the tooling also.

This came from a Dennis Carpenter employee.

All the new fenders will be Dennis Carpenter.

 

Well, I would have to say the fenders are the most important part. Good rears are really hard to find.

 

Good i cant stand Bob Drake....
I met him in person not very nice the conversation we were involved in, but that is close to the chest.

 

Well, the Duck stepped out too far on this one I guess. I don't blame him for cutting his losses and selling the tooling etc to Dennis. That will help out both companies and the hobby still gets some nice (I hope) correct 40 stuff. He surely had more tooling and other parts in the works so who knows what will be coming.

 

I was watching his progress online and thought it was an incredible feat to pull off. Since I'm a big '40 fan, I hope it keeps going.

Bob

 

Gloating over the misfortune of someone who has done so much for the old car hobby is uncalled for on this forum.

 

The Duck is just a regular guy like any of us with personality quirks that make some folks avoid him like the plague and others tolerate pretty well.
This isn't his first party that got cancelled and it probably won't be his last but he is a survivor.

 

The first body is at Hollywood Hot Rods.


Sent from a pay phone

 

Yeah, if you are perfect then say what ever you can back up.
It's a hobby for some and a livelihood for others, we all have a choice, we are sharing information not stomping on someone who tries to make it good.
Nothing is perfect, that would suck big time.

 

Drake has some really great re pop things, as well as special things, Such as the elec wipers kit for the 40 pickup. It took forever to get it, but worth the wait. I keep looking for someone to get steel 40-41 truck fenders coming......

4TTRUK

 

i would think a project this big was started before the economy went in the dumper.

 

The dumper that our economy went into began to fill up in late 2007.

Bob

 

I bet that it's not just the economy....

Seems like for what this body was going to cost you could get a solid project '40. With a title. And a VIN. And a frame.

 

So Dennis Carpenter's is going to spend time making a new '40 Ford when they haven't even finished their catalog of parts I actually need?? Every time I go in there they don't have what I need and end up having to order from Mac's.

Well at least someone is keeping the dream alive!

 

yes but he was going to sell just panels as well as compleat bodys for those who needed to finish a existing project. this is so sad to me.

 

This is to bad
Id suspect a lack of pre orders and oppressive government BS is to blame.

 

What is Street Rodder magazine going to do about their road tour car this year?

 

I'm into early Fords, not the stuff Bob Drake produces, that '40 project had to be a huge investment, I hope he broke even. The economy sucks, seeing anyone loose money is not a good thing. Bob

 

Just because ones personal taste to create their dream car doesn't make it successful. I would have thought a 1934 3 window coupe would have been a better investment as they go for big bucks. Or a 36 3 window. But then again, these are my choices and I'd never think about the cost to reproduce these would be feasable for one person/company to take on.

 

That's too bad. I enjoyed watching the progress even though the 40 Ford isn't on my top ten list.

Now if anyone ever starts repopping 34 Coupes....I'll have to find a way to lay down a deposit.

 

your dreams have been answerd! steve's auto restorations has been at it for awhile.1934 3 window. now where's your down!