Customs Back in the Family. . .after 51 years -37 Ford

My persistence has finally paid off. After 4 years of saving, buying, selling and swapping I was able to put enough scratch together to purchase an old family car, my Uncles 37 Ford Club Cabriolet.

I remember my dad telling stories of my uncle and how he used to help him after school putting the car together.

Originally my Uncle was a dirt track racer who used to race at the now defunct Sanatoga Circle track in Sanatoga, Pa in the mid to late 50's. He won this car in grudge match against one of his rivals. My dad tells me he helped my uncle drag the car home as it wasn't much to look at. My uncle was a body man who worked at his brothers garage during the day and painted cars for himself at night. He was the go to guy in the P-ville, Spring City, Royersford area to have you Hot Rod or Custom painted. He actually painted all the hot rods in the movie, The Blob, including the Rexroad roadster that was driven by Steve McQueen and the Pete Petermans 40 Ford.

He was a man with a family and not a whole lot of extra cash to spend but he was able to finally get the car back together and on the road in 1961. He owned the car until 2002 when he ran into health issues and sold it to Les Pursell who was bugging him for years to buy the car.
Les passed away in 2009 and his wife Fayetta had decided to sell the car. I first saw the car for sale three years ago at the Duryea Days Labor Day show in Boyertown in 2009. I told myself that I had to buy the car and have it back in the family. After 3 years and a few price drops I have finally aquired the car. I can't be more estatic. I have had a big smile on my face ever since I drove it home. When you get into the car, its a time warp back to 1961 when the car was built.

Its a 1937 Ford Club Cabriolet series 78 with a with a 1940 Flathead with single Stromberg 97. Car has old fenton headers split into dual exhaust. Running a dual pont crab style distributor. Still on 6 volt. Car is still in the Black Laquer paint my uncle painted it, it shows its age but still shines. Top is a creamy white that has faded into a darker off white. Car is running the stock Wide Five wheels with the stainless spider wheel covers running skirts in the rear.

Immediate plans are to drop the rear a few inches, put wider whites and drive her. -Fryguy

 

Good for you..It must feel great to drive a car that was driven by your Dad & Uncle.

 

What a story - good for you! Now, drive the wheels off of it .... !

 

really cool car, and the story makes it even RAD'r ...!

i like the plans you have for it.

 

Time was those "spider" wheel covers were very very expensive to buy. Club Cabriolets are rare birds and very attractive in a stodgy grandfatherly way. A treasure from family history that should stay in the family as long as anyone cares.
Enjoy.

 

Great story, great car! Good for you.

 

Dang that car is COOL!!!

 

Absolutely beautiful

 

Good for you very nice car

 

wow. Super neat car. Congrats.

 

A feel good story if I ever read one. I love the car too...

 

Awesome. It will look even sleeker and flowing with the rear lowered a tad more than the front. I like the idea of wider whites too.

Im happy for you, and happy to hear the car is in hands that wont ruin it.

Have fun

 

Glad you got it back! Beautiful Cabriolet.

 

Now that's sweet

 

Awesome! And I love your plans! It as meant for you to have that car

 

Doesnt get much cooler than that.

 

Wonderful story. I hate you (not). Gary

 

Very cool ............neat car

 

Congrats man. That thing is sweet. Is it black or dark maroon ??? Or something else ??

 

That car is beautiful.
lucky you to get it back.

 

Beautiful car and I admire your persistence........! Like your plans too!

 

car looks great! glad you were able to get it back. hope this doesn't mean the buick will never get done.

 

sweet car and a nice story.
Al.

 

Thanks all for the kinds words and encouragements. Its been a joy to get the car into my garage. I am slowly going over the car to see what needs to be updated or replaced since. The PO kept her in good running shape so not too much to be done. Its kinda hard to tell from the pics but the car is a Black Laquer and the bodywork has help up nicely over the years. There is some acne in the paint that looks to be moisture coming through. Other than nice its in very good shape.

I still have plans to finish the Buick and now that I have a larger garage I can now move the Buick in there and start to finish her up as well.

I am going to post some pics of the interior as well, its a nice view into how things were being done in the late 50's early 60's.

I was finally able to figure out how to pull the top down last night and enjoy some top down cruising, lol.

 

what a great backstory--keep us updated with pictures of your progress and the final product. Good job with your persistance--nice to see someone where it paid off in the end. Now get off the HAMB and get cruising.

 

Cool car, cool story, I have never seen a car like this before! I like it, congrats to a nice buy with a great family history from the past.

 

Fantastic story and congrats!

 

Thanks Flatred. The Club Coupe Convertible was not a high produced car in '37 only 8000 or so not quite as rare as a roadster that only 1250 were produced. I have not seen too many around and can count on my hand how many I have seen in person.

 

Very cool story , very cool car . Congrats getting back in the family !

 

Thats great. Story. History. Wow.