Okay so my Godfather and hot-rod building mentor is delusional. Inspired by the current "rat-rod" phenonenon, he wants to to get crazy on his '39. First a bit of history. The car is a '39 standard coupe and was the first hot-rod I have ever laid eyes on. He did it it the mid-eighties. Red, Big block chevy and steel wheels with wide MTs. Then sold it and bought it back about 5 years ago. The car is complete and perfect, but going to gets its second hot-rod incarnation. Last night he told me what he was thinking about doing. He wants to radius the rear fenders just above the tire to give the perception of an open wheel, run a 30's mercedes grille on the front with no fenders. He claims that it will be "revolutionary" and that it will be like nothing anyone has ever seen. I think he is crazy!!! Please...I need some pics of traditional '39 coupes to help pursuade him back into reality.
Yeah do it! I will trade you some really nice radiused rear fenders (40) and buy the rest of the expended sheetmetal/fenders grille etc. Heck, I'll even pick it up! TP aka zibo
Read this old post & show him...... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66760&highlight=roadtrip Kev.
Yeah, it will something that nobody has ever seen or ever wants to see. Don't let him ruin a good 39 Ford. Type 1939 Ford into your computer search box and start looking for pix.
Hey, Maybe he should take up golf instead? Please insure that he's gettin plenty of fresh air, and keep him away from those idiot cable hot rod shows! Swankey Devils C.C.
Seriously. It is HIS car. Let him do what he wants. People say I am ruining a perfect original '55 Tbird. SCREW THEM!
Geez, this is a toughie. We all LOVE '39 Standards and we all love our Godfathers. Here's an question -- how many '39 Standards are out there? How many of your Godfathers are out there? If he wants to do that to his '39 (IT IS HIS '39, RIGHT?), could you maybe sneak in a '63 Falcon and TELL him it's his '39? If he accepts that, you're in. But if he says "WTF are you talkin' about?!?! That's a freakin' Falcon?!?!", then he's still in his right mind and wants to build a statement rod, and I think he should be given that (right? -- privilege? -- allowance? -- freedom?) . It is HIS, isn’t it?
man with all you guys yelling leave him alone its his car i dont want to hear a single one of you coment on a post bashing some fugly car, and how they fucked it up. becaues thats what hes about to do and your saying go for it
There's a big difference between some no-nothing wannabe twerp butchering a fine ride, and one of the people who've been there and maybe lost a screw or two, wanting to build the abortion they thought was pool back in 1957. Them of us old enough to lose a screw or two might say -- "HEY, I BOUGHT THIS THING, IT'S MINE, AND I GET TO BUILD THIS RIDE BEFORE I TALK TO JESUS!!!" I say this as an AARP member whose best friend has some really scary thoughts about a 1950 Jeepster and a 1952 Chevy. The only thing is -- he had the same thoughts back in 1958, when he was a Junior in high school. Do I pull his ticket or do I say that if he still wants to do it some fifty years later, he gets the "Go-Ahead"? Consider what you might want to do to a 2005 Chrysler 300 in 2060, and what your Grand Embryos might have to say.
when he is done, if it is ugly, so what. Its still his car, not like he is wanting to come and butcher your dreamsycle Larry
Take away that crack pipe, shoot him in the head, take his keys, and I'll meet you at the fork in the road just outside of town.
It is said that we own these cars and should be able to do what we want to them. I kinda look at it differently. I feel I am just the steward of these objects of the past. We are the people who volunteered to take history and bring it to the masses. Its one thing to throw a different drivetrain in. It another thing if the qty of the models are a dime a dozen. Yes, I realize if this attitude was evident during the 50's we wouldnt have seen some of the beautiful custom creations by the Barris's of this world. But a 39 STANDARD??? I think i'll be sick...
A 50 year old bad idea is still a bad idea! Just because an old fella's doin' it doesn't mean it should be excused! Farmcal, tell him to find another project to do that to!! It even sounds horrid!
Just be sure to grab all the parts he removes and maybe try to find him a set of old butchered fenders to use and save the pristine parts to put it back after he stands back and says "Oh, dear god, what have I done". It's metal, it can be repaired.
seriously! bet you were all wishing friends had stepped in on the 100's of "WTF is this car?" posts I've seen. Taking a nice '39 and "rat rodding it", or "gasser-izing" (sic?) it is one thing, but this? Damn, inexcusable
OK then, Just hide the mercedes grille.(he does have the grille allready does,nt he ? ) Reminds me of one of those Gazelle roadster kitcars with the mercedes grille and the VW engine in the rear.
tell him to do all that but USE FIBERGLASS FENDERS, and save the steel, he's gonna need em later,It will look like shit and other rodders will tell him so.If he's been it that long, he must have some rodder buddies that can set him straight.
here's a butt ugly concept I whipped up, couldn't find any standards with fenders already gone, for good reason, this was a '37
That was my first thought. This guy probably knows his shit, and knows you well enough to get you going. If he really is serious, help him pull the front clip off and mock up the Mercedes grille in place. If it looks like shit, he'll know, if he still likes it, let him do it and just make sure he saves the pieces he pulls off. Sounds like it's an 80's style streetrod right now, so he's not going to do that much damage.
Maybe you should tell him that all the guys here said that it's a great idea and he should get started right away. Then grab your crowbar and start towards the car.
I realize my car is not complete yet, nor will it be customized to the extent he is suggesting. But, if he would like to see a 39 Standard Coupe project car in step by step pics, have him check out my website's link on this car: http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/1939ford-project.htm There are lots of pics of the teardown and the beginnings of the reassembly of the car. Might make him reconsider what he is proposing. They were great looking cars....kind of an art deco look. Most people steered away from these Fords (38 deluxe and 39 standard) but once you get your eyeballs around a nice redone car, they look real sharp! PS: Listen to the others suggestions about saving the original sheet metal and using plastic if he insists on doing the project. Once he cuts those nice fenders, they won't be worth shit....
If this was some other car I'd agree that the owner can do whatever he wants to. But, butchering a '39 Std is just WRONG!
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