Hot Rods Gray Baskerville 1932 Ford Roadster. Any info on the details?

Just something I saw in 50 years of Rod & Custom.

 

It was parked next to Pat Ganahl's 33 sedan at Pat's Memorial.

 

That's correct!!!!!!!!!!----We never would let him exhibit with finished cars at LAR shows, even tho 'ol basketcase's roadster was "*****in"

 

Cripes, even the Monterey Concours displays INVITED hot rods now!!!
Whatup LARS?

 

I think the headlights are Dietz. had some on a Meyers snowplow early 70's

 

This is Chris. Jim is my dad. Here's my contribution to the necrobump.

The headlights are in fact Dietz (I believe 809s)

Windshield is late Model A ('30-'31). It has a round cross-section, unlike a Deuce.

According to Chapouris, they painted it a Mustang color contemporary to the times. Bright Red is the likely shade.

If I was to get upset about LAR declining a car, it would be Isky's roadster. The thing's like the Rosetta Stone of hot rods. I think Rodney belongs outside with his people.

Unless something drastic forces our hand (knock wood), we will probably never paint it. We maintain it as a testimony to the people who played a role in that car's life, and restoring it would pave over their stories.

I use the term restore because there's no clear place to draw the line on that car. You'd have to fix the rust and the bubbling cowl, and various cracks, which means stripping. Then all that wonderful old chrome would look dingy. And let's not forget the upholstery. It would look a little out of place.

And are you going to just put the ****py looking old details like the wonky bead between the cowl and dash back in? Even I would have a hard time NOT straightening the driver's door.

Why not just repaint the primered spots? Nothing will match that hazy old acrylic enamel. Some pretty important people have something to do with the finish on that car, and most of them are gone. We're historians, and those so-called flaws are conversation starters if nothing else.

Finally, a lot of people (some who I really respect) would keelhaul us if we touched that car. And that probably includes most of you.

As far as we're concerned, we'll let the next caretakers burden themselves with those decisions. I respect the opinions that it needs another shave-and-haircut. I even agree to an extent. But right now it's very authentic to the way Gray had it. Which is pretty authentic to the way Paul Horning had it.

The wear is consistent throughout (ch***is withstanding). It's far from suffering. And it looks fantastic, like a teddy bear with its fur loved straight off.

 

I agree keep original!

 

Chris, your response shows that you and your Dad are the best caretakers for this reet roadster! Drive on, Sirs.

 

For those who don't know Jim Shelton, and those that do will attest to this; Jim is the PERFECT caretaker for Gray roadster.

Mick

 

At Monterey the primer spots and faded paint are a big part of it's history and in turn our history from when we often saw the car in the background in a shot or more likely in one of his fellow photographers shots.
If you read and most likely you have more than once, the criteria for being in the "roadster area" of the LA Roadster show, They requre finished paint (no primer) and interior and a few other things on their list ***ide from being an open car between certain years. Their show, their way, Ya'll can park that one over there in the special vehicle section but not in the "roadster" section. Pretty much like a lot of events where only select cars get in the "prime show area" and others get parked "over there".
Reminds me of when I went to Pleasanton in 1998. I was toddling down a row of cars across from the vendor area and the teather car building and there in the row with women pushing baby buggys past it was George Poteet's Sniper. Not powerparked out on the lawn but just in the row with other cars. Walked way around back to see what was out on the other side and back there was Notbloom's Wagon that was hot in the shows about that time sitting out in the corner by the fence. No special power parking spot for it either. Some cars just don't need a prime power parking spot.

 

It’s perfect just as it is- the teddy bear statement is exactly how I feel about it. Chris- thanks for letting me sit in it in the pits at Bonneville in 2002, just after you guys became its caretaker.

 

Chris, @greenfuzz , good to hear from you and have your input.