Projects Sam Brolliar T’ribute Roadster

Hey everyone, this will be the build thread for my tribute to Sammy (Sam) Brolliars famous T street/lakes roadster. Will start out slow as I’m in the process of buying a house but eventually we’ll get there.

 

Here is the roadster I am starting with. Not in great shape but buildable shape. Purchased from a fella on FB marketplace that had listed a “Flathead engine” for sale. I asked if he had anything else for sale and he said “I have an old roadster body, I believe is model t in my garage loft”. We struck up a package deal for the body, engine and “misc parts” and I made the trip down to NJ from NH for The Race of Gentlemen and picked it up on the drive back.

 

Getting some mock-ups in is crucial to any build! I have a repop filled 32 shell I’ll likely use unless an original comes up along the build.

 

I’ve always loved that first photo. This should be good!

 

Me too, that’s only popular photo of Sam’s T but I’ve seen it so many times and have definitely found myself hooked on it. Stance, color, smooth hood and tall headlight bar is just the epitome of cool on this model T

 

Good luck with the build! That original photo turned up on The Old Moror website this week.

Bob

 

Let’s see now, flathead, check, frame, check, build plan, check, looks like you’re off to a great start. I like it.

 

I'll definitely follow along with this build. The body at least has a turtle deck with a trunk lid on it, puts it ahead of most bodies I find around.

 

Looks like a 1926 body, great to have the doors and cowl match, there are so many subtitle differences on the 1926-27 bodies

 

Your three window build was awesome, count me in for this one as well

 

Haha thank you! I’m definitely excited for this one!

 

The trunk lid is absolutely perfect with no rust that being one of the more difficult pieces to come by I’m definitely happy about that. The rest of the car needs patches but still happy with the body.

 

Good to know, I am not well versed in the differences in the 26-7 bodies

 

I appreciate that! I’ll continue working on that one as I build this car!

 

I’ve since found more pictures and info on Sam Brolliar’s (not Broiler as I previously thought his name was spelled) roadster I know Sam worked at a Mobil station on East Colorado Blvd. around 1949 as a Mechanic. He was in the Pasadena Roadster Club at that time however it’s a little unclear if he still had the '27 T roadster that he built in ‘47 or if he had sold it by then to move to the Ardun powered roadster he apparently was building a few years later. He worked at that Mobil station for a while and later moved to the Azusa area.

Here are a few photos I’ve found on here of who I believe to be Sam (leaning against driver side of car looking at the camera) and early shots of his roadster most likely around 1947!

 

Following. Have a similar pile of parts but with a '26 Touring body.

 

What’s the plan?

 

I couldn’t help but colorize and clear up these photos. Trying to see how the headlight bar was made and other general parts/pieces

 

This car is the "best", but She's the "Bestestt". That girl had it going on. Isn't she the Butt girl ,on the roadster with the curvy door at mirage, and the one smokin a cig in the mocked up T? Looks like she's had enough of the boys that day.

 

Hahaha no I don’t think she’s the same girl but I could be wrong. I don’t believe I’ve seen the “butt girl” from el mirage lol

 

I find your project quite interesting. I really like how you colorized the photos. It makes everything more lifelike and makes a lot of the details stand out.
I am currently working on the original Don Welsh 1927 roadster. In the photo of the seven cars in that lineup the Sam Brolliar roadster is second from the end on the one side and the Don Welsh roadster is second from the end on the other side of that lineup. Don Welsh and Sam Brolliar were in the same car club, the Pasadena Roadsters, and I would assume they would know each other quite well.
I see the Sam Brolliar roadster looks to be on a Model A frame and has a 1932 heavy axle up front. I'm wondering if the Sam Brolliar roaster is still in existence today or has it been lost to history?

 

I have the Model A frame up on wheels with V8 banjo rear. Currently has a dropped I beam in front which may get changed to either a stock 32 heavy or 37 V8 60 tube I've got. Also has Buick finned front drums and 40 Ford wheels. Probably going to change the Buicks out for 40 drums so I can run the 17" KH wires in that pile. The 59AB is rebuilt with a tall tatersfield intake, two 97s and a '39 trans. The '26 touring body needs a lot of work but is doable. All this has to wait till I get on the stick and finish my 48 F1 panel.

Lee

 

Thank you, that’s very cool how is the project coming? Post up a picture of it if you want! Yes it appears to be an A frame with chopped deuce shell, juice brakes and unsplit wishbones as low as you could go.

 

Awesome collection of parts! Sounds like a killer Tub!