Ok, so I bought this '32 that was on ebay, lovely purple metalflake, with big tufted interior w****d over the doors, where the 3 window roof was cut off back in the 60s. I had this great idea to put it back as a 3 window, went to a rod shop that builds the Dearborne deuce, said they'd sell me the parts for the top. That was before I bought the car. After I buy the car I find out the parts won't fit at all. So I say screw it I'll just re sell it, no luck, Ok I'm thinking I'll gut the interior, cut off the 3 window windshield, put on a Duvall, get some Blitz Black, and just drive the wheels off it. But that windshield is the last straw, if I cut that off, probably never be put back to a 3 window. I've already made a mockery of a '32 Roadster, don't know if I can bring myself to do it to a 3 window, although someone else has already done some bad, bad things to this poor car. So I know there are a lot of very creative guys, and gals on here, so lets hear it, what would you do if you were in my shoes ? Sorry but I've given up on the picture thing. Just believe me it's ugly. Also I can not afford the original parts, even if I could find them, to restore it right.
Here isthe completed auction: #220035487364 End time was Oct 11-06Doodlrodz This looks like it. Call Brookville & use their stuff, The crown of the top is much nicer. This car looks like it's alot of work, but I'm sure if ya talk ta Kenny he'll hook ya up with stuff that fits. After looking @ the auction pics.I think that it has potential but again, I have no idea what you paid for it,or how much money you have to spend to make it right. Guys like Marcel could make you a top. It may cost a few thou $ but it would be pretty nice when it would be done. Are the inner door structures still in place or did they just gut the doors & weld just the outers solid? I noticed that it is channeled also, How is it mounted to the frame?
Brookville parts will probably fit. That Dearborn thing does not look right at all so no wonder the parts won't fit. Brookville will sell you smaller sections from parts that were rejected.
Yes the doors are welded shut, I tried Brookville, and they told me I'd have to buy both side sections, and the rest of the stuff for the top, way out of my price range. I love that black cut 3 window, what is the windshield ?
Here are his pics. http://www.hotrodhucksters.com/chad/hotrodch***is/PC080006.JPG http://www.hotrodhucksters.com/chad/hotrodch***is/PC080004.JPG
well it would look kinda like a 32/33/34 roadster. I,ve seen one done that way, same reason, done bac in the day. 3 windows were primo in the 50,s more so now, but every now and then somebody would cut one up. One of my neighbors was the most hated guy in town, he raced jalopies and you know what they looked like after a month of racing, he cut up many a 3 window. short of having Marcel build you a top I dont see many other choices.
I say what is done is done. cut what's left off, DuVall it, gut the interior and drive the piss out of it! if it were me I'd also have to figure out how to get the doors back in working order...
I would just use it, not make it into a project, don't worry about the body, it is what it is... there are going to be "half done" and even "not started " project Brookville bodies for sale in the next few years, guys with plans that never eventuate. I am 12000 miles away and I still found a Brookville 29 roadster body at fire sale price in the US . Project had never got going. Think of it as the ch***is for a 3w project that you can drive while you build the rest of the car. Drive it ..just like it is ..like it or not , lots of cars were done like this "back in the day". The body was probably "unrepairable" when it was cut up.
Drive the piss out of it for now the hell with what anyone thinks. Have some fun with it before you tear it apart save you money .Take time to think it through talk with the right people and than decide what to do don't rush this can be fix three window or roadster.
Thanks guys for the advice, sounds like just drive it. Would like to get some history on the car, I've been told that it came from the Niagara Falls N.Y. area, any HAMBers out there remember it ? Was yellow back then. Thanks everyone for your help.
I'd drive it as is. At least it was done back in the day, so you don't have to explain to people why you whacked a 3 window! And please, no flat black!
Except for the red wheels, I kinda like it as it is!! I'd put on a set of 60s vintage mags with appropriate tires and drive it! It's got a cool personality to it!!
I think I'd drive it...remember, after Brookville makes a more than a few of the "new" 3 window bodies, there will be more than a few banged up parts from their production..and the prices for the will go down....you can then sell off the chunks that you don't need to save this body too to recoup what you've spent...I can see someone needing, say, a quarter panel, when all you needed was the turret for the top... Keep plugging away on locating the parts...and you'll eventually be able to get the pieces you'll need to rebuild this body. I got into Model A's because I never did see a 32 Ford that was for sale....there were more of them around, and I just sort of fell into being a Model A guy...I do think that in time you'll find the stuff you'll need... I'll probably end up buying a set of banged up roadster quarters to save one of the butchered A coupes I've got....they do sell the less than perfect panels at a sizable discount...I was told by Kenny Gollahon to just give them a phonecall.
Maybe pull the interior out and check out how what they actually did to the top of the body and the doors ? You might get lucky and find the doors are only brazed or tacked welded rather than fully welded. If they are butchered beyond repair, then chopping the screen off and making it look more like a better roadster wouldn't be so bad an option. It's not like there is much of the screen there anyway.
Drive it as is, don't get in a hurry to do anything. I would take my time and piece the top back on the car. even if it take you 5 or 10 years to get all the pieces to put the top back on it, you can drive the hell out of it NOW. Even if I had to buy both sides from brookville to get the top back on it I would, after a few years brookville WILL have some misstamped stuff that you can buy to get the top back on the car. Just do not get discouraged, just enjoy the car while you are hunting up parts.
Here is a quicky photoshop of the car with a DuVall and the current interior -OR- a seat and "door panels". I left it in bare steel and painted everything that was previously red a dark grey. This could be done on the cheap and without a lot of time. Maybe change the plug wires color, valve covers, swap the air cleaners, and loose the iron cross logo on the front tank...
That's really cool, makes me want to go stip the paint off now, thanks alot it really helps to be able to see it like that, I think the interior, and the purple metalic really need to go. Wish I liked computers, I'll bet that's a ball to do, and a really useful tool. Thanks again.
Jeez man I agree with a few others ... drive it ... have fun!!!! I can remember a few cut down coupes in this area when I was just a kid (still a kid but a few years older ) I would have givin my right nut or maybe both for a car like that! It's just soooo kooool!!! I wish I could find a pic of a rod (3 window / roadster ) out of the Winnipeg (thats Canada) area that I have to post 'cause it was just too kooool. Channelled , doors welded shut , wide whites... etc.etc. Got to get in my archives!!! Maybe some other HAMBers from Canada got a pic. I believe the guys name was Mickleson.... could be wrong on that it's been a long time. Anyhow don't change that ride for what it's worth... but then again it's your car.... enjoy it!!!
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