Event Coverage The Orange Crate goes down the strip

Yeah, I remember reading about this car many years ago.

 

The important thing is: It's a....

 

I remember seeing the car at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds Car Show/Swap Meet in Silverdale, Wa. many years ago. Now I see this posted, and it's just another reason I'm sorry I did't go to the Eruption Drags this year. Next year for sure! Please bring it out again. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Calling Al Drake ... calling Al Drake ...

 

Pontiac power?

 

Here is some info, no guarantees on how accurate it is or if and when it was for sale. If posting this is not OK to post I am sure someone will delete it.

If you ever found yourself around the hot rod show circuit in the early 60s, you may remember an innovative ride from Oregon dubbed “Orange Crate.” While it’s been years since this iconic show car was in its prime, the citrus-colored Ford has appeared once again in the hot rod world, this time for sale. As we found out from Bangshift, the curiously unique Orange Crate hot rod is currently available on RacingJunk.com. But don’t whip out your check books just yet. The cl***ic show car comes with a price tag north of $100k.

Back in 1959, a Portland Oregon man by the name of Bob Tindle set out to get himself a hot rod. He bought a ‘32 Ford Sedan that already had some traditional rodder touches, like a chopped roof and molded rear fenders, but the car was quickly changed into something a bit more unique.

After the hot flat-head engine was exchanged for a late-model Oldsmobile unit with six carburetors, originally built and run in a ’57 Corvette that belonged to Dave Bell, the ‘32 hot rod was raced. Though the car was tuned by Keith Randol, who later went to Indy with a RollaVollstedt-owned racecar, and the car gave quite a show on the track, Tindle decided he wanted to get into the show circuit.

A custom ch***is was fabricated for the car out of hand-bent 3-inch Shelby tubing to start off the new build.

The hot rod also received an adjustable suspension in the front and a Halibrand Sprint Car quick-change setup in the rear, as well as wheels, from an old Sprint Car. The Olds engine was rebuilt by **** Maris and enlarged to 417cui.

The new engine build also brought a Potvin blower and Hilborn injectors, as well as a new B&M Hydro transmission. The entire setup was good for 600+hp and made the car an incredible show car as well as fierce track compe***or.

The new build got its fair share of chrome, which lead to the unique design used under the Orange Crate name. Wanting all that chrome to be shown off instead of hidden, Tindle asked that the entire body be built so it could tilt up for show displays. With the help of anti-flex support members, Randol created the unique tilt feature you see today. The body of the car was then finished in Naples Orange paint after it was completely smoothed by Von’s Body Shop, giving the car its well-known Orange Crate designation.

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We don't need to count the trophies Orange Crate has won to see just how special this iconic hot rod is

In just two short years, the hot rod went from traditional to extraordinary and the show circuit took notice. In 1961, the car won the Best Compe***ion Car award at the Winternationals and took home the America’s Best Compe***ion Car award at the Oakland Roadster Show.
In 1962, the car made its way onto the cover of Hot Rod magazine in February and went on to once again win at the Winternationals. By the end of 1962, the car was widely known across the country, so much so that the Revell toy company created an Orange Crate 1/24-scale model car kit based on measurements taken from the actual hot rod.

Orange Crate once again took home the ***le of America’s Best Compe***ion car at the 1963 Oakland Roadster Show, but the car was retired from the show circuit shortly there after.



Just like many iconic cars of the pre-muscle car era, Orange Crate then sat in storage and virtually disappeared for years. By 1965, Tindle had sold the car that was later picked up by drag racer Ted Gord in 1975. Although plans to restore the car were discussed the car remained with Gord virtually untouched until now, though the car has been shown by Gord several times.

Orange Crate is now up for sale on RacingJunk.com in its unrestored condition for $150,000. This seems a bit steep but we are talking about one of the most well-know and innovative hot rods of the early 60s, so Gord might just get his asking price. The ad for the car expires in June, so you’ve got at least a little time to mull the six-figure price tag over and convince your significant other that the memories the car brings back are worth the expense.

 

You guys do know the kits are available again, right? Gary
http://www.hobbylinc.com/Ford-Plastic-Model-Cars-Trucks-Vehicles

 

F.Y.I. To help you understand. This piece of History has been pretty much out of sight to all since it's Show life ended almost 40 years ago. The starter had not been engauged since the early 60's. I do believe all 4 tires are the only set ever put on it. If you had any idea what the current Custodian had to sacrifice to get his hands on it you'd just ****!! To get it to it's current stage was no small undertaking. To see my Friend behind his wheel putting it in gear for the first time was Priceless. For him to Haze a set of near 60 year Old tires would have been Foolish and He is no fool. Those of us there watched a piece of History start a new page in it's very Historical life. I can ***ure you there is plenty more going to be written in it's life and this was just the first step.
The Wizzard

 

Very cool, always loved that car as a kid, I'm in the same boat with the $ilver Dollar, really want to get it out for a few light p***es, but safety first!

 

Why would he want to go out and thrash of piece of automotive history and break it after putting in countless hours and money? I applaud my friend for his huge effort to bring it back to life and have it out there running for every ones enjoyment. I wish I could have been there to witness it. Great job Steve. It has come a long way since the late 70's when I sat in it in the back of a dusty old garage on the outskirts of Tacoma. You rule.(Oh, You might want to make sure that seat is clean, I may have left behind some ancient DNA sample. Maybe a blacklight might help you find it)

 

*****in'...

Great Sensations for present cats, obviously. Love that engine profile/ compression. AT***UDE.

 

That made my morning ! Just to hear it is awesome. Congrats on your hard work , preserving a true piece of hot rod history.

 

I've gone faster through a toll booth.


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Agreed.

 

You all ***** about him not running the **** out of the car it has not moved understand its own power in 40! Years he didn't know if it was going to shift or do something crazy that was a shake down system check be thankful that you even got to see it he could have taken it to the track on a day no one was there but he let all of us see a piece of history come back to life even if it was a slow p***

 

It,s funny that all the guys *****ing about how the owner drives it,never stepped up and bought it when it was for sale.
Talk is cheap guys

 

I completely agree with how they ran that car -- it is priceless and to risk standing on it and putting it into the wall or the crowd would have been foolish. Great just to hear it run!


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