Eddie Anderson was a popular comic actor in the late 1940s that would eventually appear in over 60 motion pictures. He was a**** the highest paid performers of his time, and an avid sports car enthusiast. Contemporary production sports cars were not enough to satisfy his interests, so he devised a plan for a special personal car. The design of the car was created by his friend and fellow racing enthusiast, Roger Evans Bacon. Anderson chose Emil Diedt to transform the design into a road-going vehicle. Diedt resume included a long list of successful and impressive race cars including the Miller Fords, the Brady Special, Blue Crown Speicals, Novi Indy cars, and Nat Round's rear-engined Offy. Together with the help of Charlie Faw, this 'Rochester Special' was created by 1952. The elegant body sits on twin-tube frame rails, and powered by a 331 cubic-inch Cadillac overhead valve engine. There are Lincoln gears, Norden racing type steering, a Halibrand quick-change rear end and dirt track style suspension with tubular shocks and radius arms. The lightweight aluminum body was finished in white paint with blue side scallops. It is believed that Anderson paid $20,000 to have the car fabricated. This very steep price did not seem to bother Anderson, as he now had the ultimate road-going racing machine. In 1953, Anderson returned the car to Diedt's shop to have the fenders skirted, and to repaint the entire car black. It was well used by Anderson over the next decade. By 1960, it was in need of a restoration. It was brought to Bill Moore Imports in South Beach, California, where it was dissembled. The work was never paid so a mechanic's lien was put on the car. It was sold to Don Ingle who had intentions to re-***emble the car, but was going through a divorce, and eventually decided to get rid of it. He traded with his friend Dutch Covey for a 1941 Ford Convertible. While in the car of Covey, which lasted just a year and a half, the car was re-***embled and returned to running condition. The car was traded for a Model A Pickup. The history of this car for the next 2 decades is unknown. In 1989, it was in the care of David ****erfield of Coloma, California. At this point in history, the car was dismantled, though very complete. All of the major components were in good condition. In 2002 the current owner purchased the car and began an extensive restoration. The work was performed by Moal, Inc. of Oakland, California which cost $300,000 to complete. The original paint scheme was used to complete the car and it is fitted with a correct 331 Cadillac engine with Offenhauser heads, Edelbrock Manifold and three two-barrel cabs. There are aluminum Alfa Romeo drum brakes, Halibrand quick-change rear end and magnesium kidney bean knock-off wheels. The interior features Smith Warner gauges, period correct four-spoke wood rim steering wheel, and ivory and blue tuck-and-roll upholstery. The car has never been publicly shown or raced since its restoration. In 2007, it was brought to the Gooding & Company Auction held in Pebble Beach, California where it was estimated to sell for $300,000 - $500,000. Bidding failed to reach the necessary level to satisfy the cars reserve; it remained unsold. The Diedt was built by Emil Diedt, a famed Indy car fabricator in the 1940's and 1950's. Diedt's resume included successful racing cars such as the Miller Fords, Blue Crown Special, Nat Round's Rear-Engined Offy, and the Novi Indy Cars. The twin tube frame rails that extended through the fenders provided mounts for removable bumpers. Charlie Faw crafted the all-aluminum body. The car features a Cadillac 331 cubic-inch V8 overhead valve engine, Halibrand quick-change rear end and Alfa Romeo drum brakes. Eddie Anderson, a comic actor who appeared in nearly 60 movies and played the role of Rochester Van Jones on the Jack Benny Show, commissioned Emil Diedt to build the car based on drawings done by his friend and fellow racer Roger Evan Bacon. The car was to be street legal but also capable of competing in sports car club of America Races. The expense to build this car in 1950 was $20,000. The 2008 Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance, in Rochester, Michigan, is the first time 'Rochester's' car has been publicly shown since its restoration in 2002. ARTICLE & PHOTOS FROM CONCEPTCARZ.COM
FYI...the pale yellow coupe in the background of the first photo is a rare Hudson Itallia. One of only a handful (11?) of limited edition, European produced bodies on '54 Hudson Jet ch***is.
Recently read the article and looked at the pictures of Eddie Anderson's roadster. This car was built by my father Marvin (Charlie) Faw and I have numerous pictures of the car after it was built in Los Angeles and have always wondered where the car ended up. The current owner of the car would probably be interested in these pictures and I would like to have more information about the car and it whereabouts now. By any chance do you know who the current owner is? If so, can you please have him contact me. Thanks!
McKee Thanks for the additional pics and info, I will research this a little further. If you have any additional info I would appreciate it. I will scan some of the original pics I have with Rochester in the car, My father {Charles Marvin Faw} is in the background and Emil is sitting in the Indy car next to him. I also have pics of the car being built!
Gary F ... you might try contacting: Jim & Stacey Weddle 121 Plant Ave Webster Groves, MO 63119 ... or try contacting him at his place of business: James D. Weddle (Managing Partner & CEO) Edward Jones Co. P.O. Box 66906 St. Louis, MO 63166-6906 314-515-2000 ... I'm about 98% sure this is the same Jim Weddle that owned the car when it was shown at the 2008 Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance.
hemi, thanks very much for that info, im going to try to contact him asap and hopefully find out where the car is, where are you from in the bay area? im goin to try to scan some pictures that i have of "eddie" actually in the car right after it was built in l.a.
Hey nice story! im from Rochester & there was a Anderson radiator shop here & he had a 34 ford pickup that sat out front with Anderson radiator on the doors. i thought thats what the post was............. Rochester Minnesota.
the above picture is eddie in the car in front of the shop it was built in. this next picture is eddie and emil diedt next to each other in seperate cars ( my dad charles marvin faw is in the background.)
this was taken when eddie brought the car back to the shop to have it painted black and the fenders changed.
Who would have known about Rochesters car interests. Vey interesting thread, I really like this car! Now when you see him in a old Jack Benny skit or movie, you know he was going home to that cool sob everyday, cool.
In the 60's it was a heap in a junkyard in what is now Carson California I thought it was a modified Kurtis. I owned a couple The yards owner was a 'piece of work' and trying to buy the car only resulted in a price increase. I gave up. So it sat in the rain for years till the yard dissapeared I can tell you the car didn't look as good as in any of these photos and got worse sitting there.
If this car were a "lowboy", it would remind me of the Apache roadster that shared a cover with the Bean Bandits car!
Very cool, This is one of the nicest roadsters of that era - and there were a lot! I found this posting after doing some recon, after reading about the car in a magazine given to me by an Uncle years ago. He gave me a stack of Hot Rod, Motor Trend and many others all from the 50's. I read and re-read them all the time. I've posted up some info.
The Jalopy Journal
