Hot Rods The unlikely hot rod history of a 1940's era california roadster

So neat. Great story.

 

My friend Bob Wilson of Wilson Welding and Machine Brakes did the honors on the rear crossmember. This works good with a "T" spring but note that it is hard to get the rear as low as some like it with this method. Benefit is that the floor does not need to be clearanced.

Also in the photo below shows how I did my seatback. The plywood backing on the seat back have holes that correspond to the protrusions on the tubing. Works real well.

 

I love the old tractor wishbones. Are the 2-5/8" SW's in your dash the same ones that came with the car?

 

Thanks for showing us how you got that great stance without sacrificing trunk space or "C-notching" the frame.

I intend to do this on my own frame, but as I have an "A" spring and a tudor floor cover for the crossmember, I will recess the crossmember into the floor.

Can anyone tell me the distance between the floor and the top of the rails on a 32 trunk floor?

 

Alchemy, those radius rods are something else. I think that is dirt track stock car stuff?? The hudson ch***is were used in some roundy round stock cars. Baffling to me. The gauges are the same. The h2o needed a new sender and the oil temp too. Thanks.

 

look to be the same radius rods.

 

Stock Hudson ch***is 1937. The other picture shows a sprint car with a bend in the radius rod but not a Hudson.

 

Great story, cool provenance! Cool hot rod.

 

I thought they were 8N Ford tractor wishbones, but the Hudson seems more likely. Something I've never seen before.

 

yes alchemy - they are 9N or 2N Ford tractor I'm sure....8n's are a little smoother....sold a pair at a swap meet a few years back - go figure...is what I did...

 

This is the owner in the late 40's through I believe 1951. His name is Sid Kayman. He raced some of the hardtop stock cars of the day at the tracks around St. Louis. He worked for the owner of a wrecking yard. Sid told me that he drove the roadster all over the place when he had it. He would drive it around the small circle tracks for entertainment during the intermission. I lifted these photos off of King Ch***is thread on Sid.

 

The picture in my avatar is the John Ryan car. It is the car that I patterned my build after. The picture comes from Don Montgomery's out of print book "Hot Rods of the Forties." I still need to put on a hood to get more of the look. All the gauges are '40's correct. Here it is now.

 

Thanks @KKrod for Sharing the journey with us...Please keep this thread updated as your finishing touches evolve.

 

Well I talked to Sid Kayman today. He is 85+ years old and has a 435 horsepower mustang that he drives so still young at heart. He told me the story about when the '32 roadster was sold. In 1950 or 1951 he went into the Navy I think he said because of the Korean war. He did not have any place to store the roadster so he let a friend keep it for him until he could come back home. When he got back home in 1952 he went to his friend and asked him about the roadster. He told Sid that he sold it for $250 dollars. Sid was really upset and thought his friend had sold it for more and kept the money.

Sid said that the Edmunds heads for the Lasalle engine had cost him $250 alone. He also said that the Lasalle engine was used with a '40 ford driveline. Column shift 3 speed.

 

That's about all of the story. Everything else will probably remain a mystery. Looking at the construction of the ch***is the car was updated with the plated front frame rails and the Hudson radius rods at the same time. Could have been done when the LaSalle engine was installed? I am guessing that was done in St. Louis. What was it like before that. When was it channeled? How did it get to St. Louis by the late 40's? It was not a show piece but a common roadster.

Thanks for following along!!

Here is what it could have looked like in California. This,


or this.

 

Cool history! Thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks so much for sharing those details and providing the pics. What a special car. You are very fortunate to be able to track it back as far as you have and make contact with previous owners. Super cool!!

 

Thank you qzjrd5 and ct1932Ford. Glad you enjoyed it. I have to add this photo from Woodiemike thread about his dad and uncle and the Pasedena Roadster club. Wish mine looked like this back in the day. I really like this car.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/lakes-pictures-p-r-c.943878/page-17

 

Great story, with great pictures. Thanks for posting all of it.

 

Wow. I really enjoyed this story and am impressed by your researh. Thank you.

 

Very interesting story. I am glad that you were able to do***ent so much and preserve the spirit of the Roadster

 

s55mercury66, ClarkH, and elgringo71 , Thanks for your comments. Who knows, maybe more history will turn up. Only thanks to the hamb.

 

Very cool roadster, Karl -- Thanks for sharing the history of it with us. It sure looks good the way you've built it, too!

 

Very neat story!

 

Great looking original roadster KK Rod, but have you every considered getting rid of the SBC and putting a flathead back in it? In my opinion that is what a 40's Hot rods needs.

 

What a great story and car. Congratulations.

 

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