Projects 1949 Shoebox Ranchero Build

Well, congrats @jakesbackyard , it appears that all your hard work has paid off!
The Ranchero was duly recognized as "Best of Show" at the 51st Annual Sisseton Car and Motorcycle Show this past Saturday.
I was not there, but here's a screenshot from the host club's FB page:

 

Thanks Terry. I’m not much of a trophy guy, but that one was voted on by the 140 participants. Pretty humbling. It’s got almost 500 breakin miles now and goes down the road pretty nice.

 

You mean like this? Ford Single Spinner Ute from Aus

 

Awesome result that's well deserved!!! Peer awards are the best.

 

Nice goin'! That's one trick lookin' Rancho!

 

Bads ass Bo!

I just came across this thread. Only 4 years late (three if you don't count 2020... who wants to remember that)
I was on pg., 3 when you posted the hinge covers and have had yet to see the finished product. The covers are period perfect. Reminds me of the covers GM's woody wagons used. I'm a fan man!

 

Absolutely beautiful Jake! @jakesbackyard I spent the whole evening going through this thread without peaking at the end of the book. The color is perfect, everything works in concert. The accolades and, now, trophy, have all been well earned sir.
I take back my previous comment about 2020, it was your most productive year! I hope your son is well and continues to thrive!
All I can do is draw 'em, you conceive of and build 'em!
I hope you don't mind my sharing my Factory "what if" for a tri-five (1956) Pontiac I call the Safari Tomahawk. It, clearly Nomad/Safari wagon based.

 

Wow, Jigger, the Tomahawk looks fantastic! would make a nice project, well done.

 

Someone needs to build that Tomahawk!

 

Thank you for the kind words. I have been an admirer of your work and follow you on FB. I asked and received your permission to use an image for our lunch get togethers. The Safari is cool.

My son is doing great. 2020 became the way to “geterdone”. Couldn’t do much else so concentrated on the Ranchero. My shop is in my back yard so it was easy to isolate and work. Now the fun is in the driving.

 

I wanted to get there this year but had some stuff to do with my son who lives in Fargo. Wondered if you might use that chance to get a few miles on your new ride. I wasn't aware that the participants voted on the Best of Show award, so you're right - that's pretty cool. Again, congrats and enjoy the drivin'!!

 

I thought that was you. I can't believe I didn't check into your posts sooner. Thank you for your kind words and support. I'm glad to hear your son is doing well! Seems we will be in touch neighbor (one state removed)

Thank you gentlemen. I really don't want to steal Jake's thread so I'll be brief. The Ranchero inspired me to share the sketch but I have a buddy @safari-wagon who has a project vehicle I was hoping he might have the guts to cut up... ... That... or give it to me. Ha Ha!
I did start in on an AMT '55 Chevy model kit to see how it looked in non-3D, digital (aka) old school form. These pics are from before I cemented things in place. Pardon the paint, My airbrushed it when he was 10 or 12 then abandoned it for video games, Ha Ha! It actually looks better in person. I'm considering the Pontiac conversion... a ton of work!

 

Jake, you did an incredible job on every aspect of this car. To me the Auz ute is fugly and has some serious design flaws. That five window look is just flat wrong, the ugly slant to the rear of the cab, the fugly rear window and the June bug slope to the bed sides are all just wrong. Ugly.
My dad had a 49 convertible back in the 50's so I've always had a special place in my heart for thoebox Ferds. It's a dicey thing, messing with factory lines. Builders often do things that just don't quite look right. Sure all those 50's builds in the mini car magazines are cool in their own way, but they all have a bit of a heavy handed chunky funky custom look to them. I've fiddled enough with photo editing software to know that turning a Fordor into something else is dicey, that chopping a round roof is difficult and a millimeter is a mile when it comes to design lines.
Just found this thread via your post in the sticker shock over pickup prices thread. Thanks for the treat, you deserve all the generous praise that this build thread is righteously full of.
Perfect, perfect perfect.

 

I put a little over 1500 miles on the Ranchero this summer. Not as many as I had hoped, but all fun miles. Drives and rides great. Very enjoyable cruiser. Had a couple mechanical problems, but neither hampered the driving. This cruise last week was after installing new intake gaskets and it seems to have stopped the oil consumption problem. I still have an Fmx tranny problem, but will hopefully solve that this winter. It was a great summer and with a little luck I might get another cruise or two before any heavy snow.

 

Very kool!

 

Are you taking it to Florida for the winter?

 

Well done my friend.

 

So while sitting in a waiting room today I happened by this thread for the first time in a long while. My FMX transmission turned into a three month project last winter. I decided to rebuild it myself with some help from a friend and a good dvd set for it. After out and in three times and an additional drop the pan and go through all unboltable components it works great. I’ve only put about 600 miles on it this summer, but it cruises along great. Lucky enough to be chosen as the NDSRA Pick at one run in June putting the Ranchero in the running for NDSRA Car of the Year. June was so darn hot I’ll have to think about A/C for next year.

 

Congratulations! I love how this came out. Funny how as we get older AC seems to be more important!

 

Congratulations, the recognition is well deserved!

 

Those FMX's are heavy s.o.b.s with that cast iron housing and a p.i.t.a. to rebuild. Kudo's for rebuilding it and making it work!

 

Well done winning the Trophy. All your hard work got its just deserves.

 

Always thought them Aussy Ute's ugly. Never could understand the idea of the five window.

 

Nice to hear from you, Jake.

 

Well deserved recognition on your great job and vision. Many have tried, but you pulled it off beautifully.

 

Congrats! Well deserved for an awesome build!

 

Best Ranchero conversion I have ever seen

 

Nice honor bestowed on the Ranchero at yesterday’s annual meeting and banquet.

 

Love to see it with white walls, 1 inch or more ..


REALLY like it !!!!

 

That is quite an honor. Congrats.