Anyone know if Tom is a member here? He has (or had, not sure) one of my favorite '46 Ford coupes - very distinctive in a killer orange toner finish, all buggy sprung but with an original pair of 16x10 ETIIIs tucked into the rear fenders. He had a spread in American Rodder back in the early 90's. I was just wondering about his car and whether he still had it or was one of us on here. Thanks, Steve
I don't know if he is a member here, but that car kicked ass! I saw it a couple of years ago at LARS if I'm not mistaken. That thing influenced my Plymouth's build a bunch back in the early nineties.
Yep - it's why I began my hunt for ETIIIs back in the day before Scott was recasting them, when only 150 pairs existed. I'll try to scan and post some pics tomorrow. Steve
I know Tom and he is not a member here, he is too old school. He still has that BITCHIN car and still drives the shit out of it! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The ONLY thing I would have ever changed on this car were the front wheels to something 15 or 16", and the steering wheel back to stock. At the time though, there really wasn't much in the way of 16" wheels or tires that would have worked with the rears. Something strange has happened to these and indeed all late forties cars in the last decade that I never thought I would see. They have been embraced by the custom guys to the point that if you talk to anybody with one and ask what they plan, the first word is "taildragger". AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH! They make such cool little hot rods, that it seems a shame to see them stanced like a dog cleaning it's ass on the floor and flying along at 25 everywhere they go. Like I said, this car and a couple others HIGHLY influenced my '48 Plymouth build 21 years ago. I still can't see my car in any other color on "completion day" than hugger orange.
Tommy and his wife Carol are (were) part of the goodguys staff, since 1984 or so. Tommy also was 2nd owner of Pete Chapouris' '50 Chevy maroon/silver semicustom. I dubbed him the "Gene Vincent" lookalike...
That's the car I thought of when I read your post. Seen it plenty of times when I was fortunate enough to live in Nor. CA. Really sharp car.
Tom also owns and drives a 33 Ford roadster that Sam Foose built, he bought it from GG Meadors, I see him almost every year on his scooter at GoodGuys Plesanton, neat guy.
Thanks Chip - that's it! Love that car and agree on your take on hot rod vs. custom - these cars make killer hot rods! The other one that was a big influence for me was Fat Jack's - I LOVE how he stanced all of his rides and the cool, clean details like narrowed, smoothed and tucked bumpers and just enough trim and other brightwork to break up the large expanse of sheetmetal. BEANED OUT is still one of my catch phrases when I talk about weedwhackin' low cars! Steve
15" front Halibrands would be killer on a ride like this and I happen to have EXACTLY this setup - original 16x10, two-piece ETIIIs for the rear and 15x4.5 and 15x6 Halibrands for the front (depending on which would look the best - I think the slightly wider footprint you can place on a 6" wheel would be better on such a full-bodied car). Oh, and I'd include either a pair of the elusive 345 55 16 BFGs for the rear or vintage Firestones Grooved Rears to give it a lot more sidewall and a wider footprint as well. Steve
Nah, see I always dug the low profile on the back. The higher side wall on the front didn't jibe with me though. I at one time had a pair of 15X6" Halibrand Big windows that had a 2" backspace that would have been beyond tits on the front of that car with like a 205/55-15 on it. But again, that's me. I too flipped with Fat Jacks stuff back in the day. I fell hook, line, and sinker for his advise of "Pick the tires and wheels you like, mock it up, and build the car to fit"! Still do that. Hell, that's exactly what ElPolacko and I did with the Plymouth, and you'll note that the cover of my issue scanned above is a bit beat up - That's because it sat on the Plym's cowl during lots of the build! It's all about the stance... Insert gratuitous picture of said Plymouth here:
Steve, do you remember the '46 sedan that they did a "Road Impressions" article on in American Rodder about the same time? It was kinda similar in that it was a simple hot rod, complete with Halibrands at all fours and a buggy spring suspension that was set up for more or less "canyon carving". It would take a bit to find it, but if you don't object I might and post it. I don't want to roll your thread too far off topic.
Hey Chip, I think the sedan you are talking about is a Washington blue one built by Bob Bouder for Vern Luce. That car was bad ass too. Real low, I spent some time in that one on a bombing run from so cal to Pleasanton in record time. Would love to see pics of that one again... Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
If I remember correct it had 8's on the front and 10's on the rear. Blown away by that at the time. I also recall that the car was fully restored first then Bouder dropped it to the ground with all bolt on parts as such that it could be turned back to stock. That car was fun to drive!!! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Chip, I forgot about Bauder's sedan - he has built some killer rides over the years - I think I remember he had worked on a '32 roadster (it may have been Steve Coonan's) and he found 2 pairs of original two-piece 16x10 ETIIIs and narrowed one pair down to run them on the front on little 195 or 205 radials - crazy set up given the rarity of the wheels he modified. Steve
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