J.Ukrop submitted a new blog post: The Hunt for the Waddill Roadster Continue reading the Original Blog Post
The audacity of taking something like this apart, should be a war crime prosecuted in the bowels of The Hague.
That car is perfect. I don't usually care much for body mods, but the raised wheel arches look perfect. But what really caught my eye was the 4 link suspension, which must have been a big deal in 1954. Also, I really like nailheads.
My father knew Bill, he installed the McCulloch supercharger in my dad's '55 Chevy in 1955. They went to some races together and my dad tells stories of riding around in his heavily chopped ('52 Ford?) pickup. Bill would tow his '32 sedan to the track to race, and race the truck too. My dad turned to sportscar racing in '56-'57, so they lost touch.
Great post! I’m always a sucker for a hood too off, hood sides on, shot but this one is especially fun to study
Joey, you should also get a copy of the book his daughter published, I think it was called ‘ the original Hot Rodder’ ( I’ll have to double check when I’m at home), great book with lots of Michigan Hot Rodding history.
What's the deal with the plate on the frame with what looks like a steering arm attached to it? I don't recall seeing something like that before.
What’s in front of the distributor: That’s the coil, don’t recall the make. frame plate:?I’ve seen a lot of cars from the 50’s era where they cut the frame and plated it for a different steering box, not everything was done as nicely as we’d like to think.
Image 1:Bill Wadill, Dennis Lesky and John Hall with the sedan now owned by Dennis. Image 2: Early image of the Sedan Image 3: Burt and Bill Pierce with the Wadill Sedan (still owned by Dennis) in 2007 taken at the Lansing Car Show. Bill Pierce purchased the sedan from Bill Wadill in the late 50s when Bill built a Henry J to replace the sedan to go drag racing
They moved on to other cars and they just didn't mean much. I've got a few speed parts on my Model A from a '32 roadster hot rod that was built in 1949 by one of my dad's buddies. By the early '60s it was just taking up space in his garage, so he blew it apart and sold most of the pieces because he could get a few more bucks parted out than as a whole. Luckily for me he saved a few bits because no one would give him any money for flathead stuff (I wish he would've saved the Kinmont brakes). He took that money (and then some) and bought a brand spankin' new '65 Shelby Cobra. I only saw that car once or twice, he sold the Cobra in the late '70s after he'd raced it for a decade and it wasn't worth much either, then he bought a fancy new Fox body Mustang (um... yeah). It only doesn't make sense from today's perspective, but it all seemed like a good idea at the time.
It's a shame the roadster hasn't remained intact, it happened to a lot of old rods in the 80's and 90's, and all those builders who did that really felt like they were improving the car. That's why when survivor cars are found, it's so important not to make changes to them. We may think changing this or that will make it more attractive or easier to use or whatever, but once it's changed the history of it is damaged. Rusty, smashed hulks and unfinished project cars need builders, survivor cars need caretakers.
I couldn't agree with you more on your thoughts, Squablow, they need caretakers.... Joey you zeroed in on a fine roadster, witch version do you prefer, the four bar with the tube axle, or the I beam with wish bone? That Trend Book 102 should be required reading for any Hot Rod builder. Jimmy shared the whole book here on the H.A.M.B. somewhere. I only hope the family can locate Mr. Waddill's roadster....
Here is Trend Book 102 as posted by @Jimmy B : https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/hot-rods-trend-book-102.709168/
There was a post on here several years ago of someone showing their original roadster body find/build and they had replaced the quarter panels with new brookville quarters because they were raised similar to the ones on this roadster. don't remember who it was but I know that the quarter panels he removed were sold on ebay as I seen them listed shortly after on there as well. Not sure if that body could be this one or not but maybe someone remembers the post and can link it here for comparison.
Hi Joey! Thank you for starting this blog about looking for my Dad's '32 Roadster! I still have not found it, but I think it is still in Ohio and is orange not blue as stated on my pdf. I see that you know Kelli and Charlie Hascall in Oregon. I know them on-line! This car won second place at the very first Detroit Autorama in 1953. The Frank Mack car that is currently in the Petersen Museum won first place. At the 1954 Detroit Autorama, the '32 roadster won Best Engineered car; and I still have both of these trophies. I did write a book about my Dad and it has done very well and has even gone overseas. I have them on eBay for half the cost of the one in the link provided above. I think you need a copy for reference, so please email me your address to let me know where to send one! I think you would like it and would know several people in the book. Thank you so much for writing about him--I was very emotional when I found your blog. Kathy Waddill Ridley
I think this is the truck that Big A was talking about above. It is a 1953 Chevy that took first place pickup at the 1955 Detroit Autorama and this is a picture of it on display in 2017!
Does anyone remember this post? Does anyone know who purchased these quarter panels on ebay? They are very distinctive! Thanks in advance. I will take just pieces!
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